We are asking the Lord to raise up leaders for the Guanano church. This is an important step of progress in the growth of a maturing church. The book of 1 Timothy has been our textbook as we have looked at leadership in the church from God's perspective. The believers are beginning to embrace God's principle that how we live is as important as what we teach. When Paul says to Timothy that as a leader in the church he must be an example of LOVE, FAITH, PURITY, this message is beginning to resonate throughout the Guanano church. They have had the sad experience of trying to witness to their friends, but getting laughed out of town because they were still drinking in very public situations and failing morally on a frequent basis. Now they are growing in their awareness of how important the way they live really is. Regarding these things, Mario says, "We have never loved people before. And yet we find frequently in God's book, the words, "Love each other." From the number of times we read this, we know it is important as far as God is concerned. And yet we've never had love like that. When someone else messes up, we say, "That's his problem." We talk to each other any way we want without considering the consequences. We scold, we criticize, we yell, but we seldom love. God's the only one who has the kind of love he's talking about. He's the only one who has that kind of purity. This is the only hope we have of becoming who he wants us to be. As we study His word, and obey and walk with Him, it becomes possible to us to have love and purity too."
We have a couple men in the Guanano church who seem qualified to be elders. They love God's Word and his people. Their relationship with their wives is exemplary to all. But in the past, when they were young, sinning believers, they lived with other women. This is true across the board. How does God want us to apply his standard "husbands of one wife" as we think about appointing elders? Must we wait for this generation to pass, and a second generation of more obedient Guanano believers to grow up before we can appoint elders? This first generation is learning how to obey and walk with God for the very first time. They have had no previous examples to follow. It has taken many years for them to understand that God did far more when he saved them than just deliver them from eternal condemnation. He made them "alive with Christ" so that they might cherish what He cherishes and be part of his forever family. We need God's wisdom to recognize who He is engifting and providing to lead the Guanano church. Thank you for your prayers.
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