The Importance Of A Father

Day 3 of 4 in the mission field meant starting a second church plant today. We arrived in our barrio, stepped foot into a large church (by Cali standards; traditional service of 150) and immediately were whisked upstairs where our excited pastor, Andres (pictured with his wife), showed us the church's children's ministry.

Nearly 30 children were gathered upstairs, and as well-mannered as a private school in Connecticut. Labeling these kiddos at-risk may be an understatement. Most of the children walk one hour each way, by themselves, to the church where they are fed (provided by the church) and educated (teachers are church volunteers). Don't think daycare here as a building with a drop-off lane out front .. the kids are on their own and most reside in a communal property where a Coleman tent may be an upgrade to what they call home.

How did we ever leave that area of the church this morning?

I spent lunch across from Pastor Andres at the church and asked his story, knowing that somewhere in his 37 years was an experience which had sown a deep passion to care for these lost children. You could see the love in his eyes from the morning with "his" kids.

Pastor Andres talked briefly about his childhood, then touched on choosing the nasty trifecta of becoming a hitman and a pimp and a thief. As a sidenote, the value of humanity in Colombia according to Pastor Andres is staggering ... the pricetag for a hit might be 80,000 pesos. Sound like a lot? That's $40. Break it down further and that equates to three days of work in Colombia ... at minimum wage.

His life turned when he broke into a home and his crime partner was shot in the mid-section and paralyzed. He then witnessed the power of prayer ... friends of his partner who were Christians crying out to God, and seeing his friend receive healing from the paralysis.

Pastor Andres accepted Christ, changed his ways, found a good church (where he met his wife) then started his church three years ago (children's ministry two years ago). Still looking for a connection to the children's ministry. I went deeper with Pastor Andres: was it power, money or anger which pushed him into such a nasty lifestyle? (Or maybe a movie, from the Blog entry earlier in the week.)

"Anger," Pastor Andres said without hesitating. "Anger at my father."

Early childhood memories of his father were centered around witnessing physical beatings ... either his mother or himself being the victim. His father then left home before Pastor Andres was 10, and for the next 16 years he admitted to waking up every day trying to figure out a way he could find his father, and kill him, for the abuse and the abandonment.

"I don't want these kids to experience what I experienced" Pastor Andres said.

Hence the connection. The kids are in great hands.

Before his father died last year, Pastor Andres witnessed his father return to the neighborhood, walk into his church and tell his son how proud he was of what he had become. It's one of the greatest memories Pastor Andres has in his life ... evidence we'll treasure approval from our fathers any way we can get it and no matter what evil have fathers have done to us in the past.

One more day in the mission field introducing Colombians to a relationship with their Heavenly Father. His love never ceases, and He never abandons. Pray for our strength, and pray for our peace to leave so many emotional situations in God's capable hands once we depart our barrios.

Blessings,

Dave