Church of the Bridge

This dedicated couple, Pedro Ibarra and his wife Gertrude, just married in 1972, took a small failed church in a corner of the large city of Quilmes, southern suburb of Buenos Aires.  For several years they struggled along with only a handful of people.  Little by little over decades they outgrew small rented buildings and finally purchased this theater on the main avenue downtown. 

This picture is the second Sunday morning service (10:30 AM) where I was ministering yesterday… and the first service (8:30 AM) looked just like it.  You would not be allowed to pack a building like this anywhere in the USA.  Pedro’s wife, Gertrude, was off preaching in another of their newer churches in an adjoining city where they lease another hall for about 500.

About 12 years ago, they purchased a full city block in an industrial area and built a sanctuary for 2,500.  That’s where they do their Sunday evening service with a totally different congregation… also packed to the walls.  They had intended to move their “theater church congregation” to the new location, but although their faithful congregation had sacrificed to purchase the land and build the building, they opted to remain in the theater.  So now they have two churches and a third one recently started.

Last night in the large new sanctuary, the workers in white kept this wonderful mob of kids from climbing the steps up to the platform.  I have seen it many times before.  Like water flowing up-hill… a mob of little kids almost always creeps slowly up onto the platform until they are reaching up to touch Felipe.  Ha!

  

I love this shot the photographer took.  It says, “Daddy, Look at that!” 

Smiling faces of all ages… hundreds of them.  I love it… and so does Felipe.  Jesus knows and loves every one of them.

I had just dismissed this huge mass of kids to go back to sit with their parents and was beginning to preach when… POP… all the lights went out!  No amplified sound.  The whole neighborhood had a black-out.  I grabbed my accordion and we all began to sing in the total darkness.  Suddenly I was surrounded with little flashlights aiming at me.  God was with us even in the dark.  Ten minutes later I had just given up the idea of preaching when suddenly the electricity was restored and I was able to finish my message followed by a blessed, extended time of prayer on our knees at the altar.  Good job, God!

I thought afterward how good it was that the lights did not go out with that mob of kids still up front… and all trying to find their parents among 2,000 or more out there in total darkness.  That might have been havoc.  

I believe God gave a fresh new start to many last night… both new visitors and long-time Christians alike.  The Gospel of Jesus is all about new starts.

Ralph

**What’s with the church name: “Church of The Bridge”?  The downtown theater church is located on the main central avenue right next to a bridge that spans the commuter railroad.  The name refers to its location, but doubles for Jesus, the Bridge to heaven for us unworthy, repentant sinners.