"Visitors and the Gospel"

Yesterday we had two older men visit. One was Luis. We have been praying for him for a few weeks now. One afternoon during Semana Santa, we were up at the building dropping something off and he came by and started talking to me. People in Mexico (because of the Catholic mentality), expect the building to be open all the time, but we haven't started "office hours" yet...we are too busy outside the building ;) We invited Luis to come to the prayer time and he has showed, but quickly left for work. Sunday was the first opportunity we have had to actually talk a little more with him. He told me after service he really enjoyed Omar's class and seemed to get a lot from the lesson as well.

There was another man, probably mid to late 50's, that reeked of Alcohol. He slept through most of the sermon, but one thing I noticed was an AIMer that went to sit by Luis and ended up sitting by the other visitor as well (b/c they were on the back row and the man walked in mid service). I was proud to see Carl growing in his ministry...though I have seen a lot of growth in him in so many other ways as well. I'm pretty sure that Luis was offered "a study", but I wonder if anyone offered the other man a study. He told me his name and called me "brother". I didn't hear his name well and when I went to get a card for him to leave his information, he was gone. Even in the fact that I'm referring to him as "the other man" should tell you it wasn't EASY for me either. My point is not to condemn the church in any way, rather it is an observation that we are often called to do things a little "uncomfortable" and some times don't step up to the plate. It reminds me of a story one of the missionaries told me. He said that one day he had a study with 3 young men and all three showed up DRUNK! He told me that he didn't know what to do. He was angry at first, but then he decided to take them to ice cream to sober them up a little. Because of his patience and efforts to share the gospel, one of those 3 young men is, and has been for years now, one of the ministers at that church plant in Toluca! Please keep these men in your prayers.

I would also ask for prayers on behalf of David. He really struggles with so much and has been abused and tossed out like the unwanted left overs. Because of his past, he is causing many problems among the congregation and yesterday he said he was leaving the church for good. He has done this before, but the problem was worked out. For the church's spiritual protection, it is probably best that he is not around, but we don't want to see him fall away from Christ. Gossip and other problems eat at the church like a cancer! Please keep him in your prayers! Thanks for partnering with us in this effort to spread the Gospel in Leon, GTO!