Christ the Cornerstone
We enjoyed worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Iglesia Evangelica de Segovia.
We were welcomed and seated near a man who introduced himself as Christian from Equador and said that he was a Christian Christian!! I told him that my name was Brenda and he told me that HIS wife’s name was Brenda and she is from Columbia. It is a small world!
We sang many hymns in Spanish. They were easy to follow and we have no trouble singing loudly and passionately even though the words are different than ours and our understanding is lacking. Our hearts know the words. God hears them. Could this be what it is like to speak in tongues??
The pastor, José María, gave a sermon on my favorite parable -The Prodigal Son from Luke 15. I know this story so well but I always learn a little more each time that I read it even if it is in another language. We have all been prodigals at one time or another by leaving the comfort of our Father’s house because we think that there is something out there that we are missing. (Book suggestion: The Prodigal God by Tim Keller.)
People in the congregation opened their own Santa Biblia, the Spanish Bible translation. A Peruvian brother showed us the scripture that the Pastor was speaking about and we could look it up on our cell phones on the Bible Gateway app in English.
Here are a few verses:
And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. – Luke 15:13
The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. – Luke 8:14
Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15
Christian’s daughter had just turned five. The birthday girl went to the front of the church and received a prayer of Blessing and then we sang Cumpleaños Feliz!
Christian works at a hotel so his English is very good and he translated this exciting news.
The church is having a weeklong celebration for the printing of the New Testament into the Fala language spoken by an indigenous Spanish people group. The culiminating event is on Saturday. They will travel to San Martin de Trevejo give over 2000 Fala people their own printed copies. Imagine reading about the good news of Jesus Christ for the first time. In fact, this is the first book EVER printed in their language. It is a “Gutenberg Moment” for their culture. (I looked up the Fala on Wikipedia and some information conflicts but regardless, it is a big moment!)
This week long celebration begins with a presentation by the translator. We listened to a cell phone conversation that was transmitted over the microphone. You could have heard a pin drop.
Next, they will hear from the director of the organization sponsoring the translation. http://proel.org
They will watch the movie End of the Spear. I have seen this inspirational journey of five missionaries who travel to Ecuador to tell a dangerous tribe about Christ and were killed. This story picks up there and tells the miraculous happy ending. Be sure to watch the real footage after the credits.
If you want to know more about indigenous people: http://joshuaproject.net
PS While finishing this post in Avila, we ran into a couple from Atlanta who had been worshipping with us in Segovia. It IS a small world after all!
I love this post! I can just picture you all! And I love Prodigal God by Keller. I have to laugh when you say it’s a small world. It does seem to be taking you a long time to get around it! Enjoy every minute and every mile. Much love, Ann
So interesting to read about your worship experiences and sabbath connections.
Wow Good bless the Fala people!!