Let’s pray for pastor Paco who for the next seven days will be part of the Lausanne World Congress in Cape Town South Africa.
What is this congress?
The Lausanne World Congress is a gathering of 4200 Christian leaders from 200 different countries of the world. This is the most diverse global gathering of followers of Jesus in all of history. Many of those in attendance have undergone tremendous hardship to take the gospel to their own people. It’s a tremendous honor to have pastor Paco representing, not only us, but our neighborhood, our church and our city in the midst of the global family. It has pleased our Lord Jesus to grant us a voice among the nations represented in South Africa.
What is the Purpose of this Congress?
More than 30 years ago evangelist Billy Graham together with 100 other world leaders sensed the Lord’s leading to convene a global gathering of believers in order to re-frame Christian mission in a world of social, political, economic, and religious upheaval. 2400 Christian leaders from 150 nations attended that congress in Lausanne Switzerland in 1974. A second congress in the Philippines saw 3000 representatives from 170 countries of the world gathered in 1989 to respond to the practical and theological questions of their day. Cape Town 2010 is the third of such congresses. Much has changed in our world since the last gathering. The delegates will have the task of praying, discussing, listening and agreeing as to the best ways to respond to the needs of our changing global reality with the transforming love of Jesus.
A Word from Pastor Paco:
Greetings from the southern-most western tip of Africa! Our part of the US delegation arrived into Cape Town last Thursday, October 14th after 18 hours of travel that took us from Atlanta to Johannesburg and finally to our destination in Cape Town. The congress begins early evening on Sunday. I am writing on Friday evening with a few impressions up to now.
Around noon I took an exploratory walk through the city. The old ring of the city reminds me of my home town of Tampico, back in Mexico where I grew up. Both cities are important ports filled with colonial looking buildings, vestiges of Dutch and British imperial influence, and a fresh ocean breeze in the air.
So, I was walking through a park when all of the sudden I heard someone yelling “Pastor Paco, wait!” As I turned around there was Daniel Buys, a young man who had spent a year serving our youth @ New Life Little Village through Mission Year. He then left as a missionary to Oaxaca, Mexico. He is here as part of the 300+ army of young volunteers who have come to serve from all over the world to make of this congress a successful event. They have been @ Cape Town already working for a week. Along with him was Rachel, also a young volunteer. They quickly gave me the news of their engagement. Theirs was the first engagement among “stewards” (as they call the volunteers) in this congress. I could not hold back the tears of joy thinking of the many gifts that our Lord always has reserved for his people. It was a double surprise to find a good friend while taking a stroll through the city—much like we would bump unto each other while walking through the neighborhood back home—and at the same time getting the privilege of celebrating in their tremendous joy. I was the first to be blessed with praying for this adventurous young Christian couple. By the way, many greetings from Dan and Rachel.
Registration began later on that afternoon. It was a sight to beheld seeing the waves of delegates from every corner of the globe arrive and greet each other with hugs, smiles and King Jesus in their hearts. What a beauty to see the people of God being family to one another even if in the natural we might appear to be perfect strangers. While in line I met Nick, a Chinese raised in Canada who has been planting churches among Muslims in northern Nigeria. The combinations are so amazing! I also had the joy of meeting Cornelius Constantinus—think of that name for a moment—he is a Romanian professor who has just this week being called to become the head of a seminary back home. Cody is a young man from Oklahoma who along his wife has been planting churches among Nepalese refugees in the northern suburbs of Chicago. My heart is humbled at the great privilege of meeting these 21st century heroes of the faith. And like them are many more. Can’t wait to hear their stories. May our faith be impacted by their lives.
Spring in southern Africa is in full bloom so having shaken many a hand I decided to go for a run along the pier. The population in South Africa is a mix of white Afrikaans, black Africans, and several hues of skin color including people with Indian heritage. Plenty of music and multiple languages flowed from restaurants and stores as I ran through the port.
Towards the middle of my run I was distracted by a loud bark coming from the lower pier at ocean level. As I leaned out from the top pier there was a large—cow size—seal taking in the afternoon sun on the lower pier with several other seals joyfully swimming in the ocean water. What a shock to have an animal that back home I have only seen at the zoo, and here it is enjoying its natural habitat. I was no more than 10 feet above the seal when it saw me, just gave a loud bark and went back to sun tanning.
It was such a surprise for me that I called some people walking by to come and see my discovery. A white African lady came closer, leaned out and waved me off with the words: “we have plenty of those around here!” Isn’t it funny that in Chicago we have an overabundance of squirrels and rats, and here they have too many seals and penguins.
That night I came back to my room to find an email inviting me to speak to the US delegation for our gathering on Monday evening. There are about 400 US delegates. I am grateful that this Monday evening—around noon Chicago time—I will be presenting our case before our brothers and sisters from the US. I am enthuse with the idea that on the other side of the planet people will hear of what God is doing through you and New Life back in Chicago.
I will see you in a few days. For now I beg you to keep this congress in your prayers. I also, personally, covet your prayers for me. My great desire is that God would infuse my heart with a love for our global family
Pastor Paco
Cape Town, South África
Ps. Some of you might be interested in knowing that this morning I attended Sunday worship at Hillsong South Africa. The place was standing room only with several hundred people waiting outside for a seat in the next service. They were celebrating the purchase of a brand new building which will soon be their church’s home. The largest night club in South Africa will soon be filled with worship to Jesus through our brothers and sisters @ Hillsong. Bang! Another goal for the King!
