Evangelism Weekend

This weekend we had a guest pastor come and preach for an evangelism crusade weekend. His name is Rafael Gradilla. He's originally from Guadalajara (and therefore Mexican), but he and his family live in Seattle where he pastors a church. It was a total blessing to have him here.

Friday night he preached just for the church and encouraged them in leadership. He talked about the blessing of being a leader as well as the responsibility. He preached about Steven and Phillip and how they were faithful in the smallest thing, beginning their ministry as deacons feeding the widows at the table. And because they were faithful to the Lord in the smallest things, He placed them in greater and greater influences and ministry until Steven ended up a martyr for Christ and Phillip ended up preaching in Samaria, thus fulfilling Christ's word to the disciples when he said they would preach with power when the Spirit came upon them and would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judah, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world. It was an encouraging word in so many ways, and the ministry time was precious indeed!

On Saturday, we had the service in our new church facility. It's not anywhere close to be completed or ready for regular services. However, we did finally get electricity, and the sanctuary floor and platform have been completed since March. So, we moved all our sound equipment over there for the evening, rented 130 chairs, and set it all up. It was a great time, and what a precious moment to be witnesses to the realization of a HUGE dream -- that being this church facility and the unifying of our current church bodies and the harvesting of even more souls for the Lord! It was so incredible! The pastor spoke about the excellency and power of the name of Jesus Christ. What a blessing, and again, an encouragement! And of course, more amazing ministry time afterward!

The service in the new sanctuary...you're actually only looking at about half of it! You can't fit the whole thing in a picture this close!

The youth during worship

Pastor Rafael Gradilla preaching on Saturday

Then on Sunday morning he preached the Sunday service. He spoke about the blessing of living under the filling and influence/guidance of the Holy Spirit. He spoke from 1 Samuel when Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel and the results of living under the filling and influence/guidance of the Holy Spirit:
1. Filling of the Spirit and living out of the fruit of the Spirit in us, namely love.
2. Authority.
3. (oops...I forgot this one, but I'll fill it in when I get the audio sets..forgive me)
4. Divine provision.
5. Becoming a new person.
6. Power to do all that is put before us to do.

Again, the ministry time was powerful. The Lord was moving (of course) all weekend. Lives were changed. Lives were saved. Hearts were healed. Sins were repented of and forgiven. Lives were filled, etc!

Sunday morning service with Pastor Rafael

I found myself challenged at every step in my own personal devotion, in ministry, in attitudes and thought, etc. It was a time of renewing and challenge. Quite an answer to prayer, really. Now to make sure that I continue to daily seek to be faithful in the little things, to remember who's power lives in me always, and to keep in step with the Spirit first and foremost in all things! It sounds easier than it is, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!