God Leads His Dear Children Along

God has been at work in my life during the last few months with regard to planting a church in Green Bay. When I first received the call almost a year ago, my idea was that I would focus on Anglo people first, and then reach out to Hispanic people once the church was established. However, God has been redirecting my thoughts through His Word and through circumstances. Now it looks like not only will the church-plant target Hispanics right from the start, but that God will be using me to reach out to Hispanics at home in Marinette and in Green Bay prior to moving the latter city sometime in 2010. Here's why:

1. God began by surrounding me with people who could give advice.
As I looked toward Green Bay and began attempting to compile resources that would help me to plant a church, God began bringing person after person into my life who had a burden for Hispanic people, who knew how to minister to them, and who knew others who could provide additional advice and resources toward that end. I found this all to be very exciting, but there is a big problem--I do not speak Spanish. Granted, I hope to be ministering to Hispanics in the United States where many of them have learned at least enough English to get by, but I would either need to become fluent enough in Spanish to be able to communicate the Gospel, or God would need to provide someone who was fluent. I began praying for the latter.

2. God saved Brandon Gauthier.
Before I began praying for someone who was fluent in Spanish, God was already at work in Brandon's life. Brandon is a young man who has been a friend of my pastor's son for many years, but was unsaved until this summer. Through several big events God brought him to the point that he would be receptive to the Gospel, and he trusted Christ as his Savior. His salvation alone would be a great praise, but there is more, because in addition to the great zeal he has as a new believer to see other people saved, he is also fluent in Spanish, and has a particular burden for Hispanics having spent every summer of his teenage years in Peru.

3. God directed me toward Hispanics.
While the above events were playing out, I began praying that God would lead me specifically through His Word as to what people group I should make my focus in Green Bay. I remembered that when I had prayed about going to Green Bay in the first place, He had directed me through specific verses. I asked that He would do so again. The answer was quick in coming. Almost as soon as I began praying these words came to mind: "And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation" (Romans 15:20). This verse is significant because while there are not enough Bible-centered churches of similar faith and practice in Green Bay, there are none (to my knowledge) that reach out to Hispanics. This verse has continued as my answer with each subsequent occasion that I give thought to the topic.

4. God has put me in contact with Hispanics.
In addition to the other things that God has been doing, He has begun putting me in contact with Hispanics--primarily through Brandon, who delivers mail for the Post Office both in Marinette and in Green Bay. Last week my family was able to visit an unsaved Hispanic family in Marinette, and last night Brandon told me of a Peruvian lady in Green Bay who is a Baptist, but who has been unable to find a place to worship because she does not understand enough of the service. She asked if we would be willing to come down and do a Bible study with her and others of her acquaintence once a month. I look forward to meeting this lady and finding out more about her testimony and background. I am also praying for the salvation of the family I mentioned, as they have attended Twin City Baptist, and know a couple other families from the church.

Please pray for my family and I as we continue to pray for God's leading and follow the guidance He has given so far. Pray for us also as we begin learning Spanish.