Surprise...

What a great day!  As we have been encouraging our staff to get out and spend more time with the coaches, J and Victor went to a meeting with Rigo (a volleyball coach in Villa Liberacion who has participated in several camps) yesterday afternoon.  This was meant to encourage Rigo, pour into him and begin the relationship of discipleship between Victor and Rigo.  But, God had more important plans and ideas for the afternoon.  When J asked Rigo if he was a Christian, Rigo's response was, "not right now."  As J asked him what was keeping him from becoming a Christian, Rigo responded with "no reason really, I just haven't done it."  At that point, J encouraged Rigo to make any decision, to not stay on the fence.  As J further thanked Rigo for allowing us and others to preach and do devotionals for his team even though he's not Christian, Rigo responded with, "It's good for me and God is everything." 
When J heard this he asked Rigo, "So you believe in God?" 
Rigo- "Of course I do, there is a God." 
J- "Ok, then who is Jesus?"
Rigo- "Jesus is God's Son who was sent here to die for our sins."
J- "Do you believe this?"
Rigo- "Yes."
J- "Would you say that Jesus is Lord?"
Rigo- "Yes."
J- "I have a surprise for you.  You may not know it, but you are a Christian."

Much of the Christian culture here (and around the world) focuses on what we do and how we behave.  So, Rigo's reaction was incredulous to "being a Christian".  (Rigo's face was reading something like... ok this guy's telling me I'm a Christian when I know I don't do the right stuff.)

J- What do you think God wants from you?
Rigo- no answer
J- God just wants to know you.  Our sins separate us from the God who made us to know us.  He sent his Son to take the punishment for our sin so that when He sees us, He doesn't see sin but sees Christ and He can have a relationship with that.  So in all the things we do, reading the Bible, going to church, etc. if we do those things to look up and say God, you see what I'm doing, then we are missing it.  But when we read the Bible, we should do so to learn who God is and to know Him better.

This was a lot for Rigo to take in because the idea that to be a Christian we have to do all these things is so ingrained (which I think many of us struggle with). 

Please be lifting up our brother, Rigo, as he discovers and explores the freedom He has found in Christ. 

Then (as if that wasn't enough), we had our individual meeting with one of our guys and let's say the Holy Spirit was working.  We started these meetings as a way to discuss their work, their receipts, their responsibilities, pray with them and ultimately pour into them.  But yesterday, J got to spend an hour pouring into him with scripture and lifting him up with his current struggles. 

Please be lifting up all our brothers here as they undergo life in general and continue to grow with the responsibilities God has given them within AIM.

On another note, Luis Chingping is doing as well as can be expected.  He is actually going to start joining us during our weekly AIM meetings.  And a note of encouragement he told J the other day was, "These last 2 weeks have shown me that AIM is not a ministry, it's a family."  Praise God for the brotherhood we have in our staff, our coaches, the Pastors, and all the other community leaders who are willing to dedicate their time spreading the Gospel through sport and to raising up the youth in these communities. 

Much love!

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  Romans 10:9