The vision for James Project of Latin America included having the children involved in community ministry. They had been on the receiving end of ministry and needed to understand the importance of making a difference in the lives of others. I didn’t know how the kids would feel ministering to others nor how the community would respond to them, but we were about to find out.
Our church helped start a church in La Rinconada, a little town that sits halfway up a mountain from Monjas. This aldea (town) consisted of a few homes and had the reputation for witchcraft activity. We heard stories of people in Monjas hiring a witch from this area to pray for healing for themselves or a family member. Others hired witches to put curses on an enemy. Many people thought there needed to be a church, but because of fear, the idea never took root. Pastor Josue* and his wife were members of our church and felt the Lord’s leading to establish the first church in this area. We desired to assist and encourage them.
Our pastor, people from Shadow, and many church members planned an event that fitted well under the title “Occupy.” Many times in the Bible God spoke to the people to occupy a specific area in His Name. The story of the Israelites going into the Promised Land took place according to God’s command to those people. The little metal building being used for the church needed declaration over it as God’s church. We determined to come against the enemy, who had terrorized that area for generations. Although it was a dangerous town, we knew that if God had called us to this place, He would provide protection for all of us. That thought quieted the concerns I had, but I resolved that we would be cautious and use the wisdom God gave us.
The girls decorated Shadow’s school bus, and armed with Bibles, kids, house parents, and music blaring, we went to La Rinconada. As I drove my car up the winding road, I shouted to the girls in the car, “Look at that!” I pointed up to the sky. We saw huge rays coming down from around the clouds forming a portal. Listening to the excited murmurs, I strongly felt God’s love and favor over us.
The girls had been prepped in what to do, and, upon our arrival, they all took their stations. Some of the older girls stayed outside to encourage the curious to come inside for the service. Our men stood as guards in various places around them. Some of the other girls ushered people to a chair. Praise and worship soon echoed over the mountain, drawing a larger crowd of people to see what was causing so much commotion. Shouts of invitation went out to them to join us inside for a time with the Lord. Soon all of the plastic chairs were filled and pushed tightly together, leaving little of the concrete floor uncovered. The girls ministered in prayer and gave words of encouragement to the townspeople who went to the altar. I loved watching the kids feeding into the lives of others.
After the service, our cars caravanned behind the bus, while we prayed for the new church and the community. A selection of teens from church carried a torch jogging in front of the bus[ Did they job in front of the bus?? You need to say.]. After a certain distance, they passed the torch off to another group of teens, and continued in this manner until we all reached our home church in Monjas. In our hands, hanging out of the windows, many of us had Ziploc bags filled with oil. We anointed the area with the oil as we drove, representing the presence of the Holy Spirit. The singing, shouting of praises, and horn honking sent out the message of the Lord’s presence. The intentions of all the activity became part of the local gossip within hours of our travels up to the church and back. Everyone then knew about the new church, and the Shadow girls experienced community ministry.
*Name has been changed.