Tolontag 500
24/06/24 14:23
We returned to the church at Tolontag because the other Sunday the pastor took us to one of their daughter churches for the anniversary and we didn't get to see the mother church. Yes, they do have 500 in attendance! The youth hold their own service in another sanctuary and the kids in another. Even so we received special treatment as guests: the ushers gave us a special parking space, the first elder greeted us in our seats, and we were invited for a "snack" after the service. (For them a "snack" is chicken, potatoes, salad, and a drink!) I'm more impressed by how well they're organized than how many members they have. The pastor wasn't there because he had taken the youth to another town to practice evangelism.
Meeting with Pastors
17/06/24 13:22
Once a month, a group a pastors get together for breakfast and fellowship. Faby's brother in law has invited us to join them several times. At the last meeting they asked me to share a reflection this time. I used a personal study I had developed last year: interpreting the Ten Commandments in their positive meaning. (See example below.) I received an excellent response! They even asked for a more detailed copy of what I handed out. For me I wanted feedback from my theological ideas. We meet again next month.
Indigenous church in Tolontag
10/06/24 12:38
I had always heard about this indigenous church in Tolontag, only about 15 minutes from our home. We decided to swing out that way. I still had the telephone number of the pastor, and he was around! We received a generous welcome with a tour of the church. The church has one thousand members! and is extremely well organized by the pastor Festo into small cell groups and Sunday school classes. Pretty impressive. The sanctuary is stadium size and is surrounded by 35 classrooms! I met pastor Festo at the seminary in Riobamba as one of my students, but he is now the professor of 250 leaders in his church. Tolontag is an indigenous community in the mountains and the church functions likewise. A completely different dynamic from a city church.
Our park
03/06/24 08:59
The park in front of our house continues to be "our ministry site." As part of our community service, we rescued a large, wooden tourist sign that was to be thrown away. I needed help to put it back in place. Who lended a hand? Our local alcoholics in the park! Glad to help.
We've also made friends with a couple of social workers who are assigned to help drug addicts and alcoholics on the street. We met in the park. Both of us trying to wake up Pedro, who was taking a nap on the sidewalk. It's their job. It's our ministry. Interesting teamwork.
