Finding Jesus Among the Least of These

That great 21st Century prophet, Bono, once said about caring for the poor: This is no burden. This is a great adventure. I would agree. And more than an adventure, it is a great privilege.

I am writing this from my hotel room as the rest of the team ministers in 3 churches and one women’s conference. This Journey has been so packed that there has been virtually no time for me to sit down and write updates. I think that is a good sign. Now where to start?–There has been so much packed into the first week.

Normally, we begin with 2 days of team orientation; this time, there was ministry to do from Day One, so we simply integrated teaching with on-the-ground training through experience. Monday morning began with 5 members going to the local radio station to speak. The response was so positive, the manager asked for this to happen every morning; Mika taught and different members spoke every morning. Some of the young men on the team jumped right in with a building project on Monday morning. It was surprising to see just how much they accomplished in one morning. In the afternoon, we went to a church in Chinandega where young adults from around the city gathered for teaching on healing, justice and how to release the power and presence of God’s Kingdom. About 150 attended.

On Tuesday, the team went to a local high school where they did a drama they had prepared, shared testimonies, sang and preached. There were about 400 students there. At least 80 came forward to receive Christ (more put their hands up, but in the crush of people, some simply couldn’t get to the front). In the afternoon, we returned to the Young Adult conference. After teaching and ministering to these young people, we sent them out onto the streets of the city for 30 minutes to pray for the sick. It was quite a stretch for them–none had ever done this before. But about 85% of them swallowed their fear and went out, along with our team (it was their 1st experience like this, too). 30 minutes later, they came back like a different group of people–excited, loud, and sharing stories with each other. In just 30 minutes, pain left, a woman with very limited vision was healed, 10 people on the streets gave their lives to Jesus. It was an amazing half hour.

Wednesday was our first clinic. We were at a very poor village (barrio) called Alex Kenton just a few minutes from Chinandega, but it was like being in a different world. The people lived in shacks made of tin, black tar paper, even cardboard–all without windows. I don’t know how they can tolerate the heat; the temperature here is typically 34-38 degrees (that’s about 92-100 for our American friends). While people waited to be seen by the medical team, the prayer team got to work. Many were healed while waiting; when others saw their friends healed, a number of them gave their lives to Christ. One delightful thing for Christina and I. While we were in this barrio last July, Christina prayed for a woman who could not have children. When she saw us, both she and her mother beckoned us over. In about 3-4 weeks she will be giving birth! This is a village where Impact Nations has been working to help train church planters who are part of El Shaddai. As a result of the clinic, the door-to-door ministry and the evening out door meeting, there are now at least 65 new believers in the village.

On Thursday, the team went to another high school. This one is a public school with about 800 students. The principal invited us to share the Gospel and pray for the sick. The team was given about 90 minutes and the whole school population came to the gathering. Like Tuesday, students came forward to receive the Lord. I remember what the peer pressure was like for me in high school, so I was once again amazed to see them come forward in front of all their friends.

Last November there was a riot in the maximum security prison. Since then, there have been no outside groups allowed in the prison. As well, the riot led to replacing the warden. On Wednesday, Osvaldo, Rossy and I met with the new warden for 90 minutes. It was an excellent time. I found it interesting that the new warden for the men’s prison is a woman–I have been in a number of prisons in the past few years, but have not seen this before. It turns out that she is a strong believer. She told us that it is her hope that all the prisoners and the officers will give their lives to Christ. We then had an opportunity to pray for both her and her assistant (who is not yet a Christian); God met them both powerfully.

So on Thursday, Impact Nations and El Shaddai were the first group to come back to the prison. We were invited to set up a LOUD sound system and broadcast it to the cells. After music (Kelly is an incredibly anointed singer who sings in Spanish), Osvaldo preached the Gospel then invited the prisoners to put their hands up if they wanted Jesus. It was a powerful sight to look across the yard to the cell windows and see hands reaching up all over the prison. Afterwards, we fed 1,000 prisoners the most nutritious meal they will have all month (the rest of the time they only get rice and beans). I also met with the warden to discuss her request of a bakery being started in the prison. The profits from selling the bread to inmates families and in Chinandega would go to providing more nutritious meals and making improvements in the prison. We will see what develops. El Shaddai has also been invited to keep coming back. We are discussing the possibility of setting up Proclaimer groups, much like they is currently happening in 5 different villages. This will allow the inmates to meet in groups to hear the New Testament and to have discussion. The warden is also asking El Shaddai to work with the 110 prison officers. God has opened a wonderful door for those in need. Jesus tells us that when we minister to those in prison, we are ministering to Him (Mt 25:36).

What a privilege.