The Church is a People Print E-mail
Do you remember this song? You may have learned it in Sunday school as I did. The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people. I’ll never forget that phrase, my first picture as a young child of church. MBMS International also has a picture of church and believes that it really is the Hope of the world, the chosen vessel to share Jesus with those who have not yet heard the Good News. That’s why we have chosen to send our missionaries “to the ends of the earth” in church planting teams.

In Acts 2, an image is revealed to us of the first Church or team of believers. This group of Jesus followers were focused on community, generosity and worship. “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” What an attractive picture that must have been to people who had not yet experienced Jesus!

All across the world, our church teams are working to create similar environments through holistic approaches and programs, intentionally caring for the whole person, inviting them to encounter Jesus. Lidia Funk, one of MBMSI’s church planting missionaries in Lima, Peru recently shared with me how a dear friend of hers found her way to their church.

Elicia Borelli Nieto, 22, grew up with her father, uncle, brother, and grandmother. As a child she first learned about God and the Bible through a Jehovah’s Witness neighbour but mostly lived according to the teaching and influence of her nominally Catholic family. Elicia had lots of friends, many who were not a good influence in her life, but by the grace of God, she avoided making bad choices in her youth.

Two years ago, a friend invited her to an MBMSI summer ACTION team program and there she met Jose and Esperanza Prada, pastor of the Lima MB Church and MBMSI missionaries. In 2006/7, she made good friends with the TREK team and with the ACTION team again the following July. Elicia then made a decision to follow Christ!

Elicia is growing in her faith and joining our discipleship program to learn more about God. Recently she shared that her attraction to our church and ultimately to God came through the love, compassion and patience she saw from the church leaders. Lidia is so grateful that God allowed their church to be a part of his plan for Elicia and praises the Lord for the transformation in her life!

How similar to Acts 2 – this Church in Lima, through faithful worship, extravagant love and generous community, is seeing people added to their numbers. Isn’t it exciting? The Church is changing the world as lives are transformed by Jesus Christ.
 
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