As I reflect back on this week, the team was blessed and humbled by the generosity of the family and their church family to a delicious fish plate with fried banana chips, chismo and tortillas. They felt humbled as their new friends gave their all for them. One team member shared how this could have been their meal for later and they gave it to us. First time team member and new pastor to Coats Baptist was in awe of the graciousness these beautiful people exhibited to all of the North Americans and their neighbors as well. The entire team was treated well with lots of love from the Hondurans. The children were always around waiting to be loved and to love the North Americans. The house was becoming a home while our first timers were also building relationships with their new pastors and even each other. A lot of these guys work together and being here helped them build a more personal relationship with one another. They were able to simply share with each other about their day and their devotions at night have been enlightening for all of us but especially for the men on the team. Each night one of these gentlemen have touched on how to be a godly man with the Lord first, family and then other areas of their life. Josh's devotion was on godliness and righteousness. We all make excuses for our sins in life, but there is not any excuses. We need to confess our sins daily and put them at the foot of the cross. Josh's scripture reference was from 1 Timothy 4:6-11. We are to be faithful by being active in the Lord's work. We need to be truthful to the Lord. The next evening Brad shared from 1 Timothy 3:1-11 how to be a godly leader in your home at church or at work. We should set the example of godly men wherever we are. I find it impressive how these two gentlemen pulled from the same book of the bible and shared similar facts and thoughts and it was what we all needed to hear.
Pastor Neal did a first which was sit down with the lady of the house, Dunio, and got to know her with a big help from Meida. Pastor Neal and Meida spent a lot of time this week sharing with the different folks who showed up. But this particular morning Pastor Neal took time to talk to Dunio. He asked her three questions: 1. How did she meet Omar? 2. How did she come to Christ? 3. Why are we building this home for you? Duino accepted Christ when she was 18 years and was married to the love of her life Omar, 11 years ago. Omar accepted Christ 4 years ago and they were living with someone else or renting I believe and wanted a home of their own. God had blessed them with their property they just needed a home. Pastor Neal said she is getting her first home. He can now pray for this to be a home where Christ will live daily around these four walls of concrete blocks. He said he was praying for Omar to be the godly man, (which we have been talking about each evening in devotions) and Dunio will be the Proverbs 31 woman of noble character. Thank you Pastor Neal a first timer to Honduras to open up and really want to connect with the people more personally and spiritually than materially. We encourage teams to do just what you have been doing all week.
We are grateful for a lot of first this week and hope their will be more of these firsts as many more new folks come and share in this beautiful place, Choluteca, Honduras.
Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
8 In the same way, deacons[b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. I Timothy 3:1-11
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Command and teach these things.
I Timothy 4:6-11
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