The Earthquake in People’s Lives

img_4768.JPG          Pastor Juan said, “I called my children and repented to them and told them I love them; when I get home I will also repent to my church and tell them I love them.” We hear testimonies of restitution and an embracing of agape values in place of works in most every conference we do. But during the earthquake in Peru, as the church and relief agencies were mobilizing quickly, I thought, “Who is attending to the emotional ‘earthquakes’ in people’s lives on a day to day basis?”           While in Peru we heard of a pastor who had built a very large church over many years. Many other churches were started all over the country as a result. A pastors network developed and they all loved this leader because he had a gift to make these various pastors feel supported and encouraged. Unfortunately today he has left his wife of many years and is living in the US with his secretary. I know of a very similar story in Manila, Philippines. In India—most pastors physically abuse their wives. As a minister, you minister what you are. So what is coming down from these pastors as a standard over the men in the churches they preach in every Sunday?          We believe in ministering healing and loved based values, not placing ministry above family, not having identity in how big we can grow our ministries. If we can stem the tide of the earthquakes in people’s lives, we can effect even more relief in families than in cases of natural emergencies. For every leader that begins to embrace these values, they will in turn influence all they minister to. Thank you for helping us in this task!

Peru (Flight Delays, Earthquakes & Illnesses)

img_4745.JPGIt was 6:40pm and we were halfway to the airport when our car started shaking. I thought someone was pushing on the back of the taxi. The furthest thing from my mind was an earthquake. I was so in shock it never occurred to me to be fearful. It went on and on. People on the sidewalks began running and weeping. We realized later that this earthquake was probably much worse near the epicenter. It was. More than 380 died! Our host was in contact with one pastor whose church had completely crumbled to the ground. A nearby prison also had collapsed and 600 prisoners were loose compounding the problems of looting. People had to stay near their damaged properties armed with guns.           The couple traveling with me (Bob & Kelly Parr) had flight delays from Miami, hence our trip to the airport here in Lima. Their rescheduled flight was delayed 10 minutes in landing which without would have landed them right during the earthquake with possible catastrophic results.           A few days later on Sunday I got food poisoning and had to miss the morning service. Luckily Bob could cover for me at the last minute (I let him know that morning). Then Bob had a sore throat for several days and our missionary host had stomach problems. We really got under some health attacks on this  trip!           Despite all this warfare, all three of our conferences went very well. People’s hearts seemed to have been shaken open. One person noted how soft and open even the men were. God is good!