What Would it Take?

This is not an AG church... and this is not a regularly scheduled service. Pastor Marcelo Centineo has been sending his youth to our AG Bible School in Cordoba, central Argentina, for several years. Since I have preached in the school numerous times, he heard about me from his students and has contacted me several times during the last year asking me to not leave his church out when I am in the area. All I had to offer him was a Friday night which was not a regular church night. They started the service at 9 PM to allow those that work to get there. 

Each one of these little faces represents a potential future life dedicated to serving Jesus. Offend one of these little ones and it would be better for you have a mill-stone tied around your neck and be cast into the depths of the sea! If that is truly Jesus' warning, how precious these little treasures must be in His sight! Hey! What are you doing to reach out to them?  

This little guy is asking, "What in the world is going on here?!"

"Now, Jesus, please bless these kids and their parents.  I want to see them all in Your heaven!"

It was after 11 PM when perhaps one hundred souls from little children to the aged were pouring out their hearts to Jesus around the altar.  
It makes me ask, "Lord, what would it take to restore frequent prayer times around the altar in our USA AG churches?"

Ralph

   

Doll Meets Doll

 

The little doll on the right is Victoria, the pastor's granddaughter. Occasionally a three year old child will be frightened by Felipe the moment he opens his mouth to talk. Not little Victoria!  

The moment I took Felipe out of his case she didn't hesitate a second. She jumped off her chair and ran up to me and reached up for him. I lowered Felipe down and he got a wonderful hug... 

and maybe some sweet kisses... and he loved it! 

Victoria had grown up watching Felipe's video and now it was love at first sight.

I would say that's a pretty good group for a Thursday night! 



Pastors Angel and Lily Gras felt God calling them to this growing tourist city of Merlo in the foothills of San Luis province, sold their home, purchased property and built this first part which will become the church vestibule. They hope to complete the building as the church grows.

So often God blesses me with the honor of ministering to blossoming churches and dedicated ministers of the Gospel!

Ralph 

How to Have a Happy Easter

Several special friends sent me Happy Easter greetings.  Thank You.  I did have a very happy Easter indeed!

A sharp looking young man did not respond to the altar with the others, Easter Sunday morning.  I went back to greet him and talk with him.  He said he wasn’t ready to receive Christ as His Lord and Master… yet.  I prayed for him to get ready quick since opportunities like this one don't happen every day.  

About 30 minutes later he was hanging around up front greeting some friends that were rising from prayer and I thought I detected a hungry look in his eye.  I asked him, “Are you ready now?  If so, sit here beside me.”  He sat down and opened his heart to the One Who died for him and Who had walked out of the grave to give him a life of victory over the enemy of his soul.

It really was a Happy Easter…  For him and for me!  He has taken his first step into a new life!  He starts a new job with a construction team this week.  He will need our prayer backing.  Would you join me in praying for him?

I have not included his name or picture in respect for his privacy.

Ralph

Blessings for Seniors and the Little Ones, Too

Last Tuesday I ministered in La Pampa province in the city of Realicó.  The church was packed to capacity with people even standing in the doorway.  Pastor Carlos Farías and his wife had been married the very same day as Frances and I.  He, like myself, is now widowed.  At the close of the service I requested that this 91 year old, vibrant man of God bless me!  

Sunday morning... What's going on? Felipe is charming kids and adults alike.

Sunday night: Oh how I wished you could have been in last night’s service in the city of Coronel Moldes, just to catch the "taste"!  I arrived at 6:30 PM during the closing time of their children’s Sunday School.  About 40 kids were singing at the top of their voices and doing hand motions to the words.  Not a bashful kid in the bunch!  Even the 11 and 12 year old boys were enjoying the hand and body movements with the songs!  At 6:45 PM all the kids filed out to the kitchen for a “tea.”  This gave me 15 minutes or so to set up my instruments, do a sound check and program the projector to teach a new (old) chorus for the adults.  

All the kids were back with their parents for the 7 PM service.  The church was packed and excitement was high.  This church has no musicians at all.  They play video recorded songs with the lyrics projected on the screen and the people sing with all their hearts.  

On one song the girl who was leading turned off the background music and had the whole church sing "a capella".  And WOW did they belt it out!  This was the exact opposite of some churches that have a wonderfully talented band of musicians and singers doing a marvelous show up on the platform with almost nobody singing in the congregation… as happens far too often it seems to me.

Ema, the beautiful young lady that was leading the worship, helped me with Felipe's suitcase.

Just before my sermon, I taught them an ancient chorus that impacted my life when at 11 years old I heard it for the first time:

“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me
All His wonderful passion and purity
Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”

(by Albert Orsborn/Tom M. Jones)

Then I preached on my favorite theme: Jesus

At the close as usual the front of the church was filled with kneeling people, including this darling little two year old girl, plus many youth and the elderly… this time they are simply pleading for Christ’s beauty to become visible in their lives. 

Tomorrow I leave the Cordoba province and am scheduled to start ministering in the San Luis province… again with services every night in a different place and 3 services on the weekend… plus an optional fourth children’s meeting on Saturday morning that a church is requesting and I haven’t yet given confirmation. 

God is good!  My little year 2000 Peugeot diesel powered car is running well.  I have been eating and drinking with several friends that are suffering colds and even fevers and sometimes sharing with others the same drinking glass.  Thus far I have contracted none of their symptoms, praise God.  My energy level is high… and my spirit is renewed in every service… again and again... walking down the street, in my hotel room or when I am driving down the highway.  

I am so very blessed to be able to enjoy such a wonderful retirement!

Ralph

Highway Blocked

Yesterday I set out from the city of Realicó en province of La Pampa to reach the city of Río Cuarto en la province of Cordoba.  It should have been only about two hours of driving.  I was only 12 miles from my destination when I saw a huge billow of black smoke rise into the sky on the horizon ahead of me.   I feared a tragic scene might be ahead with a serious accident.  All traffic was stopped and two fire trucks were at the scene.  A double decker modern, inter-city bus was in flames.  

Cars and trucks were backed up and parked everywhere.  I spoke with some of the bus passengers that were standing around.  The bus driver had parked alongside the road and ordered everyone off the bus.  Then he attempted to open the compartments below where the luggage was stored, but they were stuck and could not be opened. 

Everyone stood at least a block away and watched all their personal belongings, computers, clothing, personal documents, everything go up in smoke.  Even as the firemen poured water on the fire there were several loud explosions, perhaps as tires exploded. I took a few pictures and talked with a few people.  All were thankful that there was no loss of life.  All traffic was blocked.  

I waited for about 30 minutes and consulted with a fireman about when the highway might be opened again.  He answered “At least 45 minutes more, perhaps much more.”  I decided to return to the only alternate route… back-tracking about 30 miles and going 100 miles out of my way… but assuring me to be at my hotel in time for a rest and to be ready for the night’s service. 

And what a blessed service it was!  I have been ministering in churches packed to the doors in small towns every night.  

God is good!

Ralph 

Following is a copy of my today’s SOAP devotional journal. 

S= Scripture 

O= Observation 

A= Application 

P= Prayer  

Do not feel obligated to read it.  I just tossed it in for anyone who might be interested.     

                                   Holy Poverty

S.  Ps 34:6  This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.  King David

Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Jesus

O.  David recognized his great need that could only be satisfied with riches that the Lord God could supply.  He saw himself as a poor man.  Perhaps he was rich in worldly wealth, but his need for an intimate relationship with his God made his riches seem as nothing.  His was a poverty of the soul… a yearning for closeness to His God.  Jesus declares that those who have this “poverty of spirit” will become heirs of the kingdom of heaven. 

A.  My danger is that I become self sufficient, satisfied with the blessings of the past… living on yesterday’s manna… or confident in my self-imposed morality or generosity… as though I deserved a close relationship with my Maker.

P.  Oh wonderful, merciful Savior and God: I cry out to you in my poverty.  I often walk among the poor and needy here in Argentina.  You have made me rich in worldly wealth which I never expected. You have blessed me with good health beyond the normal.  Yet my heart bends low before Your throne and in deep poverty of spirit I cry out to You, my Lord and my God.  Restore to me day by day the intimacy with You that makes my soul sing.  Once again my spirit needs to bubble up with the freshness of Your love and mercy.  May I never become complacent or satisfied with yesterday’s experience!  Prepare my heart.  Cleanse me.  It is You that makes me holy, forgiven of all confessed sin of thought or action.  Now, cleansed by your shed blood, once more, usher me into Your holy place to sit down in peace with You, my Maker, my King, my Savior and the Lover of my soul… to bask in the glory of Your presence.  Amen.

Less than four hours advance notice!

It is after midnight and I just got back to my humble little hotel room.  The strangest thing happened here in this city.  A very fine pastor here had scheduled me for tonight, Thursday (like many it was not a regular service night.)  And for the first time in over 20 years of ministry both he and his wife had forgotten all about announcing a special meeting with a visiting minister.  Now it just could not happen.   

At 5 PM we chatted over a sandwich in his kitchen.  Suddenly he said to his wife, “Why don’t we call together just the lay workers in the church for Ralph to speak to?”  He asked if I was game and I said even if there were only 4 or 5 I would be thrilled to share with them.  He made only 4 phone calls reaching his 4 top volunteer leaders, who are leaders of other leaders… to inform them all using phone, Facebook and Twitter to meet at the church in less than 4 hours.  I was astonished to see 50 adult leaders there with hungry hearts! 

I wasn’t well prepared and took a text and forthwith wandered all over the place trying to tie my comments into something coherent.  The response was outstanding.  God was obviously present. 

Some had already left when I remembered I had brought my camera and yelled to stop some that were already going out the front door.  They got on the platform steps for this picture.  After everyone had hugged my neck and most had gone home I was driving out of the parking lot.  A tall young man in his 20s tapped on my window.  I opened the door.  He squeezed my hand and was hardly able to speak through the tears as he told me how much his heart had been touched! 

Isn’t God good?  Tomorrow, Friday I have another service in this same city, but in a different AG church.

Ralph

Angels to the Rescue!

Check out my office.  I just arrived at Carmen de Areco where I will have a service in a few hours.  The hotel room has a little table and a chair, but the 25 watt light bulb is not bright enough to see the keyboard of my computer. 

However there is a nice little window here in the bathroom and good lighting and actually the toilet seat is quite comfortable… ha.

I have just begun my travels to the interior. Hallelujah! Some small towns have only one hotel and this one is not bad at all, just a very dark is all.  

I have internet service almost anywhere now because of Ana, a precious Taiwanese girl that got me a portable modem that plugs into my USB port and who insists on paying the monthly bill. I have discovered over the years that the Lord often uses His people as His “angels”. And Ana is certainly one of them. 

Then this afternoon as I was loading my car to the hilt to get on the road, God sent me another angel. I don’t even know his name. He knew me, but I don’t remember him. He looked at my neat little car and asked me if my vehicle verification certificate was up-to-date. He looked at the windshield verification sticker and saw that it expired in late March. They check yearly for smog, lights, brakes, shocks, windshield wipers and much more. I had forgotten entirely! Now I had no time to go three hours round trip to the verification station for my area. I had a service tonight in Carmen de Areco, 90 miles away. But my "angel" told me where another verification station was located practically on my way.  I told him that last year the provincial station like that one refused to do mine because my car is registered in the Federal Capital. He told me, "Just give them the green registration card for your car and your drivers license and they just may do it for you." 

I was really concerned about this since I am going to go through many police check stations in the interior on this trip and some of the policemen search for anything you are lacking to get a “tip” which is another word for bribery. I thanked the "angel" and took off while praying out-loud to Jesus. “Please Lord, let them verify and update my windshield certificate in spite of the fact my car registered in the Federal Capital.” I knew that without the Lord my chances were slim. But I did just as my "angel" suggested. I handed the girl my green card and license. She checked in her computer and handed my documents back, saying, “Your car is registered in the Capital. We don't do those here.” I said, “I know that, but I haven’t time to go there for my verification.”  “Okay,” she replied, and in 15 more minutes I had my new sticker in the windshield… good for another year!!!  Without my personal “angel” I would almost certainly have been trapped at the first police check and in trouble every place I travel.

Thank you, Jesus, for your "angels". There is no doubt!  You are taking care of me big time!

Ralph

The Wide Spectrum

Today is Friday. Exactly two weeks ago I arrived in Argentina.  Thus far I have had the joy of ministering 12 times in a wide social spectrum and an ample variety of activities. My only frustration is that something wonderful happens every day and I have no time to write the stories.

Last Sunday morning I enjoyed ministering again in Pilar with Joel and Lili (who is holding Felipe's suitcase) Diaz. They are starting a new church in a borrowed building in a low income area. A downpour of rain meant parking my car in deep mud and stepping out into the gooey stuff to carry my instruments inside.

In spite of the rain the place filled almost to capacity. Little kids and some of their parents had hurried through the mud to not miss Felipe with his Bible stories.  

And several new people took their first steps toward Jesus Christ, the Giver of a new and better life that leads to a glorious eternity with God.

I never cease to enjoy the faces of little kids with their big smiles as they pet Perfume and watch Felipe.

That same Sunday night I was in an established church in Escobar city with Pastor Quique Cruz. 

At the close many of all ages came forward to kneel in prayer, to worship and seek an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  

Tuesday I ministered in another well established church in the city of Gran Bourg. They do not have a regular Tuesday night service, but they, like many others, created one just for me. I had not been there for 15 years and young parents that knew me and my Felipe when they were little children, now brought their kids and neighbors to enjoy his antics. The wonderful love of Jesus often attracts these new people into His tender arms of forgiveness and cleansing.

Wednesday I ministered in the city of Los Polvorines. Check out this team of clowns that go to a city park every week to reach new people for Jesus. 

The man in the blue shirt on the left gave a powerful testimony of escape from his former addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Perfume and Felipe showed up... 

and all listened intently to my simple message of how Jesus stooped down from above to walk among us and lift us up to a new life.

Later I preached in their partially finished church building. This family and many others expressed a need for special prayer.

These cities are among probably 100 or more suburb cities that make up the 14 million people of greater Buenos Aires.  

 

Finally last night, Thursday, Pastor Pablo Colona took me into a gated community called Nor-Delta. This is a huge relatively new area on the edge of the great Parana Delta. 

Pastor Pablo (red shirt) stands with one of his church couples in their lovely home.  He and his wife are planting a new church in this high income area populated mostly by executives of large corporations, etc. 

On Sundays they meet in a rented hotel. Thursdays they gather their core team in one of these mansions. We met in the home of a Colombian executive of a petroleum company. They brought their kids to enjoy Felipe. 

I then gave them a devotional from God's Word and the kids stayed to listen with fixed attention.

From the most humble and needy to the wealthy. We are all needy. Each one of us, no matter our social position is in need of Jesus Christ the Savior.  A song says, "To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him."   

Ralph