Sweet Time of Prayer

John and I met with the CESI San Pedro team and the Lord allowed us to have the most insightful, deep and honest conversation we have ever had with these pastors.  We have struggled for almost two years with trying to get CESI started here in Concepcion .  Several pastors have said that they share the vision, but when it comes time to carry out commitments, no one follows through.

  On Thursday the pastors admitted and even confessed to issues of control and pride in their lives.  They confessed that they have not wanted to have lay leaders involved in CESI and have tried only to involve pastors.  They admitted that there were issues of pride as well as jealousy and fear. Sadly, many of these strongholds are related to the history of missions and  mission work here in Chile .

  After a sweet prayer time I asked the pastors what God was saying to them about how we should proceed.  They all agreed that the best way to proceed is to have each of the five pastors release lay leaders from their churches to be involved in CESI as teachers, coordinators, mentors and other ministry roles.

In a few weeks I will be meeting with these lay leaders and will begin to form a new CESI Concepcion team.

     Unknown to us, Jerry, UWM missionary in Temuco , had a meeting on Thursday night with the CESI leaders with whom he has been working.  During their meeting the pastors confessed many of the same things the Concepcion pastors mentioned and along with the pastors in Concepcion , acknowledged a need to change.

  This is not just about starting a CESI training center.  It is clear that this is about a refining work that God wants to do in HIS church!  These two issues, PRIDE and CONTROL, mentioned by pastors in both groups, are indeed two strongholds in the Chilean church.  Several weeks ago I began praying that God would deal with these issues first in my own life, then in the lives of those in His church.

As you pray for Chile , please ask God to:

        1.  Bring spiritual health, healing and revival to the Chilean church.

        2.  Use the Chilean church to reach those in Chile and around the world who do not yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

As you pray for the UWM Missionaries in Chile ask God:

        1.  To give us wisdom and discernment as we work alongside our Chilean brothers and sisters.

        2.  To continually work in our lives, to make us more like Jesus so we will be ready to be used by Him!

  When we came to Chile , two years ago April 23rd, we believed that our role would be to help start training centers, using the Omega course, to prepare church planters.  And while this may be God's long-term plan, I believe that He first wants to use us to help bring revival to His church in Chile!

- Vikki , Chile

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