January 23, 2009
Dear [FIRSTNAME],

We went shopping today. That is to say, I did a lot standing around and sitting in a car. I did buy something. But I didn’t have enough time to look around the place that had interesting stuff to look at (see sentence two).

I feel like I’ve been here a month already. I’m not used to being on the go non-stop. And the amount of information to process is overwhelming.

Today we learned about MI’s church planters, what they call Community Transformation. (Sorry for the abbreviation, but I’ll explain the need for anonymity.) What an awesome title: community transformation. I love it. Isn’t that what the church is all about? Isn’t that what Jesus came to do? He not only transforms individual lives but whole communities. That’s the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And it’s good to be a part of Trinity, where not only Paso is being transformed but also the entire world, including here in India.

We heard the testimony of several church planters who are finishing up their training. It makes me realize two things about myself. My life is easy. And I’m a wimp. Why would anyone be willing to face threatening phone calls, beatings, burnings of their homes and churches, threats to their families, and death…all for the name of Jesus? This is the privilege that these men are willing to dedicate two years of training to and then their lives to, so that they can live each day not knowing when or where or how they are going to be beaten and killed…all for the name of Jesus. Even the director of MI is on an extremist group’s hit list  (thus no name and the abbreviation).

It was REALLY hard to listen to. Painful. Partly because I hate to hear about people hurting. Partly because I wonder what I would do if I had to face suffering for Jesus. Most of the Christians driven out of Orisa have not renounced Jesus. Some have.

It would be easier to close our eyes. It would be easier to give in. But there is an Evil One. And he hates us; he wants to destroy us; and there are many who are willing to be his tools. And we, as God’s tools, fight back only with the weapons of love and prayer and the Word of God. And we know that the final victory is ours.

I’m proud of our congregation for the money we’ve given to these church planters who are fighting the battle for love and compassion and transformation. I pray that we continue to give, to give as God has blessed us. Billions of people depend upon our love, the love we have, who have such an easy, comfortable life, who have been so richly blessed by the love of Jesus.

When I think that my son was so blessed to be born in America, when I look at these poor little ones born here, and yet they quote Scripture and sing praise to God, and they will be the ones to transform India for Jesus.

In Christ,
Pastor Steve

swillweber@trinitylutheranpaso.org

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