New Phase of Life
WorldVenture gave us the green light. The International Bible Church (IBC) interviewed us and voted. Then, on Sun. May 18, IBC officially called me to be the interim pastor. This will last for no longer than 1) June 2009, when we return to the US for a year-long home assignment, or 2) a full-time, long-term man is found to lead the church. I am very excited to serve with the current elders under the direction of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Though there are 12 different nationalities that make up this one body, they are all united by the common belief that God's word has absolute authority over our lives and we live to love God and love others. In addtion to preaching weekly in English, I will be helping with the already established Spanish-speaking, Argentine community that is part of our congregation. This will help keep my Spanish sharp as well as help me to learn the ins and outs of ministering to Argentine nationals.
Some reasons we felt this was a good thing to do:
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We are called to make disciples who make disciplemakers from everywhere to everywhere. When people come to Buenos Aires, whether for a year or three or thirty, they are all in need of growing up in all ways to be like Jesus. We have always wanted our impact to extend beyond the borders of Buenos Aires, even beyond Argentina. So, when people (from whatever background or location) come and learn to glorify God even better, then they will have a greater ability to magnify Jesus through their lives when they either move on to another location or back to where they have come from. We feel our role can actually help srengthen the global, invisible church as God would strengthen people while at IBC so they may be better able to spread a global passion for the supremacy of God in all things for hte joy of all peoples in Jesus Christ to any church they move on to.
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Pastoring a church will give me credibility with Argentines, even if it is an English-speaking church. This experience will help me to better identify with the unique challenges of pastoral ministry in Buenos Aires. This will also give me a chance to develop my preaching and leadership abilities, which are essential in helping to train Argentines local or cross-cultural pastors.
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This will force me to depend even more on God by faith in his future grace. It is utterly important to continue to force myself to trust in God in very real and risky ways. I feel very underqualified to lead a church, especially one of the quality and history of the IBC. Having self-confidence is a deadly, worldly philosophy. What I really need is God-confidence. So, by putting myself in a situation that I absolutely know is beyond me will serve greatly in making me more aware of that not only do I need God, but all those who sit under my leadership need Jesus; they do not need Greg! I hope this ministry will better enable me to say with John the Baptist about Jesus Christ, "He must increase, I must decrease" (Jn. 3:30).
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Though affecting the time we can spend on our Argentine ministry, this will increase the quality of that time. We need to become more diligent in buying up the time for the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). With less time to play with, we will be forced to learn how to use our time for the greatest impact. While we have labored hard in the strength of God to raise up a work here in Buenos Aires, it is not to the point that we are over-run by it. The ministry is very fluid and seasonal. Right now, the Argentine ministry is decreasing, which has freed up more time to dedicate to the IBC.
There are other reasons too, but these are some of the reasons that had the biggest impact on us when we decided to begin the candidating process. For the next year, we will be splitting our time between the IBC and our other, previously established ministries. May God keep us trusting in him for his future grace!