THE ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

SENT TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH

By:
Rev.Bienvenido Js. Acosta R.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”
Matthew 28:18 – 20
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”.
Acts 1:8
I – THEY WERE PREPARED TO BE WITNESSES:
They were twelve men, common men. Some of them were just fishermen as the children of Zebedee were. They were born and raised in small villages next to the Sea of Galilee. They had not wealth, nor political or military power; they were not VIPs at all. His Lord and Master was a Nazarene who claimed to be the Son of God and who had commanded them to follow him leaving their business, families, relatives and relationships behind. They walked around Palestine land preaching “…the gospel of the Kingdom…” Jesus, the Master, showed his divine nature trough his thaumaturgy:
He was able to turn water in high quality expensive wine; he could multiply a few little fish and a couple of bread loaves in food enough as to feed up large crowds of followers that went hungry after them, some of these people had the expectation of a miracle that would take them out of their physical limitations, others, were seeking for truth in Jesus’ speech, others were disguised Pharisees and Scribes trying to catch them in a fault against the Law. He could with authority to cast out demons from unclean people, to make whole a poor woman who for a period of twelve years had a blood medical issue. He could speak to the fiery tidal waves of a stormy sea to calm them down pronouncing a simple phrase like: “Be still” and he could even bring out people from the realms of Death. So, these twelve men of Galilee were front row witnesses of Jesus’ powerful deeds.
II – THEY WERE CALLED APOSTLES:
That’s why they were called “Apostles” a term coming from Greek language Ἀπόστολος, (apostolos) meaning “someone sent out"
Their training for mission seems to be started when Jesus sent them out two by two to proclaim the gospel. Accounts of this are rendered in Mark’s gospel, chapter 6:7-13/Matthew 10: 5- 15/Luke 9:1-6
They were equipped for the mission, Luke states that:

“Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority” (9:1)
They were totally equipped for the work of evangelization, to carry out the task would take them courage, strength, wisdom, and power to destroy Satan’s strongholds everywhere they would go, they were given Power and authority,
It is very significant the fact that they were no given power alone; they were given authority which is much more important because authority is the conditions necessary for a good use of power. Many people today have power but not authority. Exercising power without authority is tyranny.
The church has been given power and authority to proclaim the kingdom of God on this earth.

III- THEY GREW IN NUMBER:

The scenario is the same but something have changed, twelve preachers are not enough and we can see according to Luke 10: 1-12 that it took another seventy people (some ancient sources states that Jesus sent seventy two) to keep the mission work going, not only in Judea but in Samaritan territory as well .
The number seventy has its root in number seven which mean perfection and completion so seventy points to an aperture to the universality of the gospel and of the church.

IV- THEY WERE SENT TO THE NATIONS:

Forty day had passed since the risen Lord appeared to his disciples, he taught them many things and very soon, the day of his triumphal ascension into heaven had arrived. They were at the top of a certain mountain in Galilee; they found the Lord there and worshipped him. Jesus declared his authority in heaven and on earth and ads:

“Go therefore and make disciple of all nation…”

V- THEY OBEYED THE COMMANDMENT:

Now, the number of the disciples had grown up to hundred and twenty, they were not longer twelve, eleven or seventy. The outreaching of the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ began in Pentecost when they were empowered on such extraordinary way that the whole city of Jerusalem was shook by a horrific explosion; fire was coming out of the head Jesus’ followers and they were enabled to speak out the gospel in most of the languages of the different ethnic groups of immigrants in the country.
God was showing his favor and grace to immigrants too; blessing them with the truth and light brought by a clear and understandable proclamation of the Word of God.

VI – THE PROCLAMATION TO THE NATIONS IN CHURCH’S
HISTORY:

Proclaiming the gospel among other nations was the main goal of early Christian church in Jerusalem. The fact that God is interested in gentiles is very evident in Jesus’ final words to his disciples. In the pouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers in the upper room, there are some accounts in the book of acts about directions given by the Holy Spirit to lead the church in their mission among gentiles.

Acts 13: 2
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 8:26-40
According to this story God is interested in bringing the gospel to Ethiopian people and in his infinite wisdom He sent Phillip to teach a high dignitary of the nation, a person who could be highly influential over his own people and over the whole nation.
Paul journeys can be another example of God’s interest in gentiles.
Acts 10: 9-20
A vision makes Peter to understand that the gospel is for every human being no matter color, race, ethnic group or whatever. The fact is that God is interested in the whole mankind.
Being so, the mission of the church is Universal the gospel has to be preached to “all tribes, languages and nations”
Church History states that the apostles went preaching to the nations.
Mark went preaching to Egypt and founded some Christian churches in Alexandria. ( ·)
Matthew went to Ethiopia, Mark went to Partia, and Bartholomew went to India.
John went to Asia and preached in Rome too.
The outreaching of the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ has been always part of Christian Church’s works. Along twenty centuries of Christian History “the fields ready for harvest” have been always in the vision of the Church of Jesus Christ.
If we take a look to overseas mission history in the America of nineteenth and twentieth century we will find great names as;
Adoniram Judson, John Patton, Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, Albert Schweitzer, Pearl S. Buck, William Carey, David Brainerd, John Williams, Robert Morrison, and in more recent times missionaries like Nate Saint, Peter Fleming, Roger Youderian, Jim Elliot and Edward Mc McCullough who gave their life for the salvation of Auca tribe members in the jungles of Ecuador.
Today, we have a precious opportunity in America, we no longer need neccesarily to go overseas to start mission work.Nations are coming toAmerica even before pilgrims arrived in Hudson Bay
There is not a family in America that can claim not to have its roots somewhere else, your family ancestors may have come from Ireland, Scotchland, Germany, Sweeden, England, Italy,France, Switzerland, or any other part of Europe, they may have come from Russia,China, or Escandinavia in ancient times and it is logic to suppose that if they came from beyond the seas, they may have just cross the borders of their own continent to come to America.This is why there are actually 30 million of Hispanic working in this country,most of them areMexican but think in million of Asian, Jews, Arabic, and other ethnic groups living in USA. Do they need to hear the gospel?






· Eusebius. Church history II 16.1


LEARN ABOUT OUR MISSION WORK:


We have two small Hispanic congregations: One in Fort Dodge, Webster County, and the other in Clarion, Wright County, in North Central, Iowa. Every Sunday at 10:30 A.M. we have a service at the chapel of First Presbyterian Church.
The attendance is on a range between 20 and 30 adults and some children.
The music for the service is provided by a Karaoke system, everybody can sing reading on a screen. I always make at least a new karaoke song every week. People enjoy singing and praising the Lord.
After welcoming the people and make some announcements we have 3 Bible readings according to the lectionary for Sunday
We ussually have an Old Testament reading, another reading is from the Epistles, and finally the gospel for Sunday which is read while the congregation is standing. The preaching generally comes from the read gospel, but it may vary according to the needs and circumstances of the gathered people.
The same system is used for Clarion too. the attendance there is lower on a range of 7- 15 people every Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
There are families from Eagle grove, Webster City and Humboldt attending to services. I travel very often to visit with them and keep in touch by phone.
In addition to the service we have some fellowship after it. take a look at this video about Mother's day celebration at Clarion United Presbyterian Church.




LASTEST NEWS:
On June 28 we will have a summer clothes giveaway for Hispanic families at First Presbyterian Church (Shalom Center) in Fort Dodge from 9:00 Am to 4:00 PM. This activity is sponsored by FPCHURCH and the Hispanic congregation.
If you have good clothings that you would like to donate and you live near fort Dodge, Iowa, send it to:
Hispanic Ministries,
First Presbyterian Church,
Fort Dodge, Iowa, 50501.
THE NORTH CENTRAL PCUSA HISPANIC MINISTRY
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Hispanic Ministry activities report for May 2008

HELLO TO ALL MY PARTNER IN MINISTY IN ALL PCUSA NORTH CENTRAL IOWA PRESBYTERY.!!!


HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR APRIL AND MAY 2008
Tuesday, April 1st:
At 6:00 A.M. I got together with Presbyterian Men In Fort Dodge, Iowa for Bible a breakfast where I shared some biblical insights with them at " Hickory House"
At 1:: pm I went to the Staff meeting at First Presbyterian Church and at evening, my wife and I went to Webster city to visit with Hispanic families there.
Wednesday, April 2nd:
Went to Clarion, Iowa and visited with different Hispanic families involved in Church activities every Sunday evening. I gave away flyers written in Spanish inviting people to church services on Sundays.
Thursday, April 3
I took some preparation time looking forward to the delivery of my sermon on Sunday, April 6 at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge.
I went visiting with two Hispanic families sharing the same house in Fort Dodge. They promised to attend the service on Sunday.
Friday A pril 4
Finished my sermon and some other pendind things. then i went out to visit with people who had no attended church for a couple of Sundays. I went to the junkers to the south part of the city where some men who are regular attender to church were working. I could see and talk to them.
Sunday, april 6
Preached twice at Fpchurch in Ft. Dodge. ( Traditional & contemporary services)Hispanic folks came to the contemporary service.
Tuesday 11
All day long in the Hispanic Ministries office. at 1:00 o' clock I went to the staff meeting at FPChurch in Ft. Dodge.
Wednesday 9
In clarion, visited door to door, at evening when the workers come back from work.
Thursday 10
I took some time of preparation in the morning for Sunday sermon. In the afternoon I headed to New Providence for M&M meeting. Came back home at night.
Friday 11
In the office typing bulleting and sermon for Sunday services in Fort Dodge and Clarion.
Sunday 13
Service in Fort Dodge at 10:30 AM followed by a lunch served in the classroom next to the chapel.
26 adults and 6 children attended in Fort Dodge.
In Clarion:
19 adults and 3 children attended in Clarion
A religious Service was held at 7:00 pm followed by a Taco dinner for all the attendants.
Tuesday 15
On tuesday morning a Hispanic woman who attends every Sunday to our service in Fort Dodge came to the Hispanic Ministry Office requesting for some help for his case.
She was assaulted and attacked by three women and a man (all mexicans) when she was coming out of her working place.They caused her severe wounds. she tried to defen herself and was charged with criminal chargesThe police was looking for her, she came to my home I did not want to move from there I told her that she could not be hiding forever and suggested to look for an attorney. We went to see one and had a long interview where I was the interpreter. The lawyer called the police station in Humboldt, Iowa,and one of the deputies said that there were not an arrest order against her and therefore she should come and render a declaration. When I Went with her, after an interview, they gave her some forms to sign. I told her not to sign anything unless a lawyer is present.She refused to sign and was put in jail, I came back home.Next day the lawyer obtained a release order for her.
Wednesday 16
Gone to Clarion the whole day long. Routine visit in homes at evening. A man came in the morning requesting that I fill out some social security forms for him which I gladly did.In the afternoon, a woman brought some forms from a service agency in town requesting from me to fill it. I did it too.
Thursday 17
Preparation time in the morning for sunday Service. At 3:30 in the afternoon I went to a law office for an interview with the assaulted woman.I served as interpreter.
Friday 18
I took some preparation time typing printing and copying bulleting for Sunday.
Sunday 20
26 adults present and 5 children in worship in Fort Dodge
there were in Clarion 14 adults and 6 children.
Friday 25
On friday 25 I had a meeting with Juanita Rosa a pastor for "IGLESIA APOSTOLICA RENOVACION EMMANUEL" located at 73 Mayflower Avenue,Stamford Connetticut. she came home with pastor Claudio Valdez and his wife Juana. We interchanged and shared experiences.
Sunday 27
Services in both places: Fort dodge 27 adults and 9 children attended.
Clarion: 12 adults and five children.
Tuesday 29
All morning in the office. I had a visitor from Iowa Central College who came to visit with me about English classes in Clarion. She brought some English teaching books to be used in the classes there.
There is a Mexican who faithfully attend the services on Sunday. Three years ago he was involved in a car accident and spent two years in Harding county jail after that he had to go on parole and probation and have paid thousands of dollar paying fines.He came to my office requesting translation and interpreter services for his case I called the lawyer acting against him and asked about a third man mentioned in the court papers who was involved in the accident and never was arrested or charged, nor even mentioned by that lawyer. I told him that Tomas was not the only guilty and asked why they had charged him with all the burden of the case. i told him that I was willing to call human rights comission. Several days later the case was dismissed by a judge.
Now a civil demand has come back on him and I am trying to support and take pastoral care of him as much as I can provide. Please, pray for him.

HISPANIC MINISTRIES,THE CHURCH AND THE SYSTEM:

Wherever I have gone in Iowa to speak about Hispanic Ministry I have heard the same question:

Do you think that the Church should involve in helping "Law breakers" "Illegals" "undocumented people" ?
Here is my answer:
If the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of calvary was to save them too; then, the Church is involved in this process since two thousand years ago.
He died for the "undocumented", "illegals" and all these "vexing Aliens" working in the hog farms all over Iowa State and the whole nation. Otherwise we will have to erase the chapter 61 of the book of Prophet Isaiah from the bible.
Isn't it curious?
In many ocassions Jesus was acused of being a "Lawbreaker" by pharisees and scribes.

TAKE A LOOK OF THIS VIDEOS ABOUT POSTVILLE RAIDS.

I agree to the fact that illegal immigration is a problem for this country. I agree to the fact that mexicans and other smaller hispanic ethnic groups are breaking the law. They cross illegally the border, they use fake identity and stolen social security numbers, some of them have crimminal records. I do not blame on immigration officers, they are just doing their work defending the legal system.

Here is my homework assingment for you:

Provide answer to these questions:

Is the USA Government sincerely interested in stopping illegal immigration or not?

Could all this situation be used to support a determined political platform propaganda, bringing to the people a false sense of efficiency and power?

Do illegal workers benefit the economy system leaving behind them millions of dollars of unclaimed money every year?

Does a more advanced, sophisticated technology exist in this nation to provide a new format of Social Security Card rather thant a simple piece of cardboard with a number and a name on it that anyone can reproduce?

Could it be a card with photo of the bearer, fingerprints, a chip with DNA information of the person to whom this card was originally issued? A bar code that allows to ascess to the personnal files of that particular person and nobody else?

If it can be made and the goverment has plenty of information about all this Iam wondering why things remain as they are and nothing seems to be done to this respect?

ABOUT HISPANIC IMMIGRATION AND MINISTRY IN USA:


LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING AT SAN CLEMENTE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CALIFORNIA. WHITE AMERICANS ARE WELCOMING HISPANIC TO THEIR CONGREGATION.

They have rehearsed the spanish phrase: "Bienvenidos! Nuestra Iglesia es su Iglesia" that means in English: "Welcome! Our church is your church"

Baltazar is a Mexican who works for a roofing company they move from state to state doing this work. He spent about two and a half month living in a hotel room and he was told about the hispanic church at First Presbyterian in Fort Dodge, Iowa, somebody gave him my business card and he called to our office and very soon I went to his hotel and brought him to church.

Very soon my family and I shared with him and we found that his four children and wife back in Mexico are christian too. We had a very good fellowship and he used to pray and read the word of God on sundays services. before the company move he wanted to leave a testimony behind about how significant is for a christian itinerant foreign worker to find a church where to worship in his native language and how he felt welcomed in our congregation.