Community Of Nations

Our church started a Latino church plant called "Comunidad de Las Naciones" (Community of the Nations). The church is situated in the middle of the Latino population explosion in Charlotte (Charlotte and Kansas City have the fastest-growing Latino populations in the country).

Alejandro Ruz came from Chile with his family to begin the church. He had previously planted a church in Paraguay. Ale is a Vina (pronounced "Vinya" and which means "Vineyard," and the word Vina should have a tilde - that squiggly character that looks like a little worm - over the "n," but I don't know how to make that on my keyboard) pastor and came in April of last year.

Ale is building the church on the basis of relationship - relationship with the Lord and with each other. Worship is reaching new levels in the Spirit as the people learn how to enter in. There is a flow of people from Latin America as they come to visit their friends and relatives. Lives are being touched and Jesus is lifted high.

I studied Spanish for 6 years and majored in it in college. I had been a very average student in high school until I took my first Spanish course in 10th grade; that lit a fire in me and I excelled in an academic subject for the first time in my life. It must be related to my facility with music and poetry. Although I never used the language professionally, I kept it alive within myself by thinking in Spanish and translating different things to myself.

Three years ago, Pat felt led to begin studying Spanish and to get a passport. She urged me to get a passport but I couldn't see any reason why. (Which must indicate that she's more spiritual and prophetic than I am.)

Then came the Latino church plant, which we are both deeply involved in, and an upcoming mission trip to the church in Paraguay in July which we're both going on. (I got a passport.)

We've been waiting and waiting for God to use us. I felt like Moses must have felt on the backside of the desert tending sheep for his uncle. Suddenly one day there was a bush burning, which he turned aside to see, and which changed everything.

The world is changing. The mission field is at our doorstep. The bush is still burning. And so am I.