Setting Up

We have now been in Argentina for over a month. We are setting up. We moved into the house we are renting on May 02. We start our language school this month. Things are progressing quickly! We practice our Spanish every day and are improving even before starting language school. I have the opportunity to give the offering devotion at church every Sunday night. It is great practice for me. It consists of sharing a Bible verse on giving, expounding on it for a few moments, and praying for the offering. It is only 3-5 minutes but it is all in Spanish and it is stretching me.

We are loving it here in Argentina. We are not just learning a language here, we are also learning a culture. Setting up is teaching us a lot about how things work here. I am very thankful to have made friends with Christian brothers in the church who are actively teaching me how do things here.

Serving Together,

Patrick, Leslie, Lily, Piper, and Ivy Henry

Cultural Tidbit: The Siesta

One of the cultural things we are learning about is the siesta. The siesta is a time during the day where Argentines eat lunch and rest. It usually begins around 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM (the actual time is not set). Because of this, many businesses close during these times. This makes things interesting for us. As I type out this letter, we are about to go look at some furniture, but it is 12:19 PM, and most of the stores are about to close for the siesta. We are learning to do this kind of shopping either earlier or later. If you are not careful, the siesta will creep up on you and you missed your opportunity and adjust your schedule accordingly so that you can go to the stores at 3:30 or 4:00 PM. Today is a good example of that. It is not a bad thing at all, just something we are learning and adjusting to. The siesta is not observed by everyone, but it is certainly a part of the culture of Argentina.

We have briefly looked at the first two chapters of The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. I am currently reading this book again and I am getting so much out of it! Chapter three addresses “Consecration”. The word “consecration” is defined as “the devoting or setting apart of anything to the worship or service of God.” Jesus selected men and spent time with them. He expected the men to forsake their former lives and devote themselves to Him. Jesus didn’t beg them to follow Him and try to keep them by promising them anything and everything they ever wanted. Jesus didn’t have these men follow Him on their terms. They followed Jesus on His terms, and that meant devoting themselves to Him. Here is a passage from chapter three.

Jesus expected the men he was with to obey him. They were not required to be smart, but they had to be loyal. This became the distinguishing mark by which they were known. They were called his “disciples,” meaning that they were “learners” or “pupils” of the Master. It was not until much later that they started to be called “Christian” (Acts 11:26), although it was inevitable, for in time obedient followers invariably take on the character of their leader.

The simplicity of this approach is marvelous if not astounding. None of the disciples was asked at first to make a statement of faith or accept a well-defined creed, although they doubtless recognized Jesus to be the Messiah (John 1:41, 45, 49; Luke 5:8). For the moment all they were asked to do was to follow Jesus. Of course, clearly implied in their initial invitation was a call to faith in the person of Christ and obedience to his Word. If this was not comprehended in the beginning, it would be perceived as they continued in the way with the Master. No one will follow a person in whom he or she has no trust, nor sincerely take the step of faith unless he or she is willing to obey what the leader says.

Coleman, R. E. (2006). The master plan of evangelism (pp. 43–44). Grand Rapids, MI: Revell.

Jesus’ plan to advance the Gospel to every person was by men He trained. He selected men and trained them. How did Jesus train them?

The Master Plan of Evangelism is a wonderful book that attempts to explain “the Master’s plan of evangelism”, hence the name. There are a lot of things that we take and make better. The first plane flew for only 12 seconds. That plane has been improved upon and made better as years have gone by. I remember watching a commercial that advertised showers in a specific airline’s plane. The Wright Brothers would very surprised at how far the human race has advanced their first flight. The same story can be told in almost any area of technology as well as the advancement in form and function in many areas from beds, to bottles, to books (now we have “paperless” books)! While in many areas we take an original plan and improve upon it, I don’t believe Jesus’ plan for world evangelism can be improved upon. I think we should strive to hold to the plan that Jesus used. That plan of advancing the coming Gospel was through men He trained. Chapter 2 of the book covers the topic of “Association”. Jesus invested His time into those men. I encourage you to read The Masters Plan of Evangelism. Here is a small passage from the book…

Having called his men, Jesus made a practice of being with them. This was the essence of his training program—just letting his disciples follow him.

When one stops to think of it, this was an incredibly simple way of doing it. Jesus had no formal school, no seminaries, no outlined course of study, no periodic membership classes in which he enrolled his followers. None of these highly organized procedures considered so necessary today entered into his ministry. Amazing as it may seem, all Jesus did to teach these men his way was to draw them close to himself. He was his own school and curriculum.

The natural informality of this teaching method of Jesus stood in striking contrast to the formal, almost scholastic procedures of the scribes. These religious teachers insisted on their disciples adhering strictly to certain rituals and formulas of knowledge which distinguished them from others; whereas Jesus asked only that his disciples follow him. Knowledge was not communicated by the Master in terms of laws and dogmas, but in the living personality of One who walked among them. His disciples were distinguished, not by outward conformity to certain rituals, but by being with him, and thereby participating in his doctrine (John 18:19).

 Coleman, R. E. (2006). The master plan of evangelism (pp. 33–34). Grand Rapids, MI: Revell.

I am re-reading “The Master Plan of Evangelism”. This is my favorite book I have ever read (outside of the Bible). It is an incredible book that really changed my view of ministry. I encourage you, please read this book! The author examine’s the life of Jesus and His “master plan” for winning the world to Himself. One thing that is very clear is that God uses His people to get the message of the Gospel to every person. Does God need people? Not at all. God is all powerful and could easily get this message to every soul by angels, by writing in the sky, or by even speaking audibly to every person in the world in their own language. Even though God does not need people in order to advance His Gospel, that is the method that He has chosen to use. Here is an excerpt from the book, I hope you enjoy it. You can buy the book by clicking this link.

“It all started by Jesus calling a few men to follow him. This revealed immediately the direction his evangelistic strategy would take. His concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes, but with men whom the multitudes would follow. Remarkable as it may seem, Jesus started to gather these men before he ever organized an evangelistic campaign or even preached a sermon in public. Men were to be his method of winning the world to God.

The initial objective of Jesus’ plan was to enlist men who could bear witness to his life and carry on his work after he returned to the Father. John and Andrew were the first to be invited as Jesus left the scene of the great revival of the Baptist at Bethany beyond the Jordan (John 1:35–40). Andrew in turn brought his brother Peter (John 1:41–42). The next day Jesus found Philip on his way to Galilee, and Philip found Nathanael (John 1:43–51). There is no evidence of haste in the selection of these disciples, just determination. James, the brother of John, is not mentioned as one of the group until the four fishermen are recalled several months later by the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:19; Matt. 4:21). Shortly afterward Matthew is called to follow the Master as Jesus passed through Capernaum (Mark 2:13–14; Matt. 9:9; Luke 5:27–28). The particulars surrounding the call of the other disciples are not recorded in the Gospels, but it is believed that they all occurred in the first year of the Lord’s ministry.

As one might expect, these early efforts of soul winning had little or no immediate effect upon the religious life of his day, but that did not matter greatly. For as it turned out, these few early converts of the Lord were destined to become the leaders of his church that was to go with the gospel to the whole world, and from the standpoint of his ultimate purpose, the significance of their lives would be felt throughout eternity. That’s the only thing that counts.”

 Coleman, R. E. (2006). The master plan of evangelism (pp. 21–22). Grand Rapids, MI: Revell.