On Saturday, July 11, I drove 6 hours south to the city of Orange,
California. Pastor María Eugenia Martinez is from Argentina. She
announced that she has known Frances and me since she was 13 years old.
For years María Eugenia and her husband Rev. Hugo Martinez worked together in
Christian Education and planting churches in Argentina. For a number of
years her husband even served as National Superintendent of the Union of the
Assemblies of God. Later they moved to the USA where they established Hope
International Seminary of Theology (www.hopeseminary.org, an internet-accessed Bible
based course with students in various countries and languages. In 2003
they accepted the challenge to serve as pastors for a struggling Foursquare
church in Orange, California. Although Pastor Hugo Martinez passed away
with cancer in 2010, María Eugenia continues to pastor the church… and without
doubt is doing a great job at it.
Left: The year was 1978. Pastors Hugo and Maria Eugenia Martinez asked
me to dedicate their third baby girl, Marce (Pronounced Marsie.)
Right:
Beautiful Marce yesterday at Her mother’s church. However, there is more
to this story than meets the eye. While still very small, Marce was
diagnosed with a rare abnormality. She had no thyroid glands and could
never grow and develop normally. Hugo and María were obviously deeply
concerned. I recall having Evangelist Duane Driver, (presently living in
McMinnville, Oregon) with us at the time, and ministering that Sunday in their
church. Duane was doing the preaching and I was translating.
Together with Frances we all laid hands on this little child and believed the
Lord for healing. They tell me that she still has no thyroid glands, but
with God’s miracle touch has developed normally. And now she is married
and 7 months pregnant with her own baby girl in her tummy. I hadn’t seen
María or Marce for 15 years.
What a privilege to minister in their church on the 12th
anniversary of their service as Shepherds of this growing flock! A
team of graceful, dancing, tambourine-playing girls were dressed in uniform
beauty. Felipe was sure that they were angels… because, he says, “Angels
dress like that.”
A group of youth performed a drama with Christ defeating a very evil
looking devil.
Pastor María Eugenia called up front her voluntary workers, naming each
one’s position and honoring them for their faithfulness. One of the
secrets of rapid growth of our Argentine churches is the careful preparation,
formation and maintaining of a faithful team of volunteer workers. USA
pastors, “Hello! Observe and learn!”
A little Hawaiian flavored music is often appreciated by our Latin
American people.
They rent a beautiful church facility in hours when not in use.
After presenting Perfume and Felipe for both children and adults, I led
them in a dedication chorus to accompany the Word God had given me.
After the message, I invited little children, youth and adults to
surrender their lives in dedication to their Savior.
At the close I requested that the children circle and pray for me while
the adults joined in. I believe God listens to children, too.
After dismissal, there was a dinner with legitimate Mexican food and a
beautiful cake. What a celebration!
Ralph
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