MEXICO – The word brother or “hermano” is widely used among Christians in Mexico to not only refer to a biological brother but also any male Christian with whom you share mutual respect. Well, something very significant as well as sweet (significativo y dulce) arose out of the prayer time of the Mexican AC Conference annual meeting a couple of weeks ago. After the formalities and business of the day were complete, the hermanos gathered together at the conclusion of the meeting in prayer to seek God’s direction for themselves, their individual churches as well as the conference.
God’s Word tells us “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them.” Well, I’m sure there have been times in each of our lives when we have felt that our prayers may only have reached the ceiling, while at other times, the presence of the Holy Spirit was so evident that you could sense nothing but humility in the Spirit. Let me testify that this prayer time was the latter.
At the end of the prayer time, each of these hermanos, as well as everyone else in the room in prayer, found themselves on their knees with their hands raised in adjunct humility praising God. God spoke to each of the hermanos individually through an impression of his Holy Spirit to “go.” Go, band together and help Hermano Francisco. Go, drive 24 hours straight, sleep on the pews of the makeshift church, and spend five days serving and encouraging a brother while he works in helping at-risk families who live in such a dangerous area that we can’t disclose the location in this story. Then, cross the Sea of Cortez by car ferry and spend five days serving and encouraging Hermano Juan with his church plant before starting the 24-hour drive home.
Make no mistake, this call to action will not be without sacrifice to each of the pastors. Each will need to trust the Lord to raise even the shoestring budget they will operate on. Each pastor will depend upon his own congregation to support the work, fill in the speaking roles while he is gone as well as find a way to replace the loss of income from his vocational job.
As each of the tear-laden brothers came out of prayer, they formed a circle – a band – and held hands as they testified of their individual yet collective call to go. When asked who would act upon this call from God, each hermano around the circle responded, “Sí, Papi sí.” Yes, Father, yes. What a precious opportunity for us to get yet another glimpse of how God moves within his body of believers. Let us keep this band of brothers in prayer as they pursue their call.
