“For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have – Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:11
- 1 Corinthians 3:11
Chris & Korey led our morning devotion and the topic—hope wins. What a great way to start the day, because what a day it would become! Hope, a feeling or expectation and desire for a certain things to happen. Our hope was to Make Disciples—More and Better Disciples!
The kids were off school today so we made a couple adjustments to the normal schedule. We had one session where the kids had a chance to play a 3 on 3 game. The progress in five days was tremendous. We continued our spiritual teaching with hope. Revelation 22:20-21, He who is faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. Every day we presented a color to describe the gospel. Today’s color was blue, representing Christ as the Living Water! Jesus replied in John 4:10 to the Samaritan woman like we would reply to the children Loma Linda—“If you only knew the gift of God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” Praise be to God, later that night the children would ask for that Living Water! Then we had a chance to play against some of the local dads with the kids watching to give them a chance to see a game being played. The Spirit God would move once again at the courts with one of the moms pulling us aside and telling us a story about her son Carlos. He did not go out and play in the park with the other kids and he is very shy. He was reluctant on day one, but by day two Carlos was in the park early and practicing the drills at night. She showed her appreciation for our visit by making a Nicaraguan dish, Arroz con leche. Her heartfelt thank you made the trip worth it. I am sure there were a lot of stories like Carlos’. We saw so many transformations taking place but none greater than what we saw in church tonight.
In life there are winners, there are losers and then there are people who have not discovered how to win. God used nine men and the game of basketball and made winners this week! Our hope was to bring revival to Loma Linda, to be the Face of Love. When it all ended we discovered all Loma Linda needed was some coaching, some help and assistance, a little support and insight, and a different strategy or plan of action to make some adjustments that would open up the key for a whole new future. Teaching Jesus Christ through sports would give them access to unlimited power that they have within themselves and with that, their lives would be changed forever. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, Paul speaks about that strategy, I planted the seed in your hearts, Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. In Loma Linda, Pastor Uriel, planted the seed with establishing his church, Iglesia De La Nueva Jerusalem and reviewed the gospel message with the colored basketballs and Mountain Christian Church Barrio Basketball Nicaragua Mission Team, along with Jeff Izzo, came to water through sports. And we accomplished that, with over 50 children coming to Christ! To God be the Glory! Sunday we were welcomed guests but in five days we have become family. It was not easy to make it through the tear filled service where even the “tough kids” and “cool kids” were emotional. We were able to take and hand out pictures of each kid along with a Bible and T-shirt. What a Glorious Night! To God Be the Glory!
We are so thankful for the leadership of Tod Hall. God used him mightily to balance nine personalities and led us in battle!
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