Unsung Heroine

Hello - This next Sunday the 19th of February Alejandra's and my good friend Lina Castillo (soon to be Lina Castillo Vargas) is going to be giving the message in Duitama's Refuge Church... I think that's awesome! but even more awesome, is the fact that on the 25th of February Lina and David are getting married... Hallelujah! They're a really cool couple, and Alejandra and I are so lucky to have them as friends.

...In the remarkable story of how the city of Duitama currently hosts two new churches, I feel like Lina is really the unsung heroine in the middle of it all... While a few guy friends as well as Alejandra and I contributed significantly in getting these churches off the ground - Lina not only left her home city of Bogota to start the first church with us - she also got a job and stayed in Duitama to help keep it going even while Alejandra and I as well as my two other friends left Duitama behind...

She kept up relationships with new believers; she dealt with the complaints of older believers who started getting plugged into our assembly; and she helped organize the meetings while she faithfully attended them. She baptized a few of her friends and pastored them day in and day out; and she led worship as well as shared in the breaking of bread on multiple occasions...

She's reached out to people that others wouldn't; she's had a good attitude when others haven't; and she's been persistent when others gave up. She's always been humble in her service to the Lord, and she's been sensitive to other people's feelings even when it would have been easier to just think about herself. She's led by example when doing so meant helping from behind the scenes; and she worships the Lord with her whole heart, and greatly respects the Word of God. Best of all - now she's bringing her super cool soon-to-be husband to Duitama to join the team, and Alejandra and I are really pumped up to work with them together now.

They've both known each other since they were like 7, and church has always been a part of their lives. They're both really hard workers and great musicians; and they're both fun and adventurous go-getters that are always up for having a good time.

Following Jesus with them feels like what it was meant to be; and inviting others to come along with us is as natural as watching the Super Bowl together (which really isn't that natural here in Colombia).

Anyway, I think that's one of the most interesting pieces of news going on right now, and I felt excited to tell you about it, so that's why I just did...

Maybe by me scheduling Lina to teach the Sunday after this one some of you have your eyebrows raised right now; but believe me that my reasoning behind all of this isn't just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. I've studied the Scriptures at length in this regard, and I consider the Bible as my supreme authority. I wrote an essay about women being free to exercise all their gifts of the Holy Spirit in the whole church context recently, and so you can check it out in the attached file if you like... Just as a heads up though - it's in Spanish - so it may be a little tricky to read (sorry)...

At the end of the day, David (Lina's fiance), Alejandra, and I want to stand up for women like Lina (who is clearly a great Christian and who definitely has a few very important spiritual gifts); and so please know that our intentions are not to cause division or tear the church down. Our intentions are quite the opposite - and we believe that even in this (or perhaps especially in this) - more glory will be given to God...

That, without a doubt, is what we're always wanting to fight for.

Thank you for you friendship, Sam and Alejandra