I was in a Starbucks in Lima early this morning, and a Peruvian friend came up to me and solemnly expressed his condolences over the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as we mark the 7th anniversary of the attacks today.
I grew up in Boston, where the two planes departed from that were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center twin towers in New York. I knew a woman on one of those flights. She attended the same church as me near Boston. She was a grandmother who was on her way to Los Angeles to visit her grandchildren on September 11. She never made it.
Everyone knew someone who died on September 11. The pilot of one of the hijacked flights lived near the parents of my sister-in-law. One of the flight attendants who was killed lived a few blocks away from where I grew up. Everyone knew someone who died that day.
As I spoke with my Peruvian friend at Starbucks this morning about the 9/11 attacks, I reminded him of some little-known facts. 6 Peruvians died in the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11. People from over 90 different countries were killed that day. Colin Powell was in Lima, Peru, on the morning of 9/11 at the time of the attacks, meeting with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo.
The 9/11 attacks have given us an opportunity in international ministry. Here in Peru we share the story of the 6 Peruvians who died that day, as well as the people from 90 countries who perished, to show how the terrorist attack was launched not only against the United States, but against the world. The 9/11 attacks also have given us an opportunity to tell others how no one and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not even death or the sword, and how we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:35-38). We also have used the 9/11 attacks to share God's promise found in Revelation 21:4, that in heaven He will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.
The events of September 11, 2001, were a tragedy on an international level. It is now up to us to use this tragedy to show others the internationality of it, and to use the opportunity to lead others to the feet of Christ.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Ute? What's A Ute?
"Did you say 'ute?' What's a 'ute?'"
That was the question that Fred Gwynne asked in the movie "My Cousin Vinny" when he couldn't understand Joe Pesci's New York accent.
When Joe Pesci said "ute", he really meant "youth."
My dusty, well-worn Webster's Dictionary defines "ute" ... er ... "youth" ... as "the time of life marked by growth and development; the period between childhood and maturity."
Webster apparently wasn't Peruvian.
Here in the land of the Incas, "youth" appears to refer to anyone who isn't married, whether they are 18 years old or 58.
We have begun a couple of different ute/youth services here in Lima, and each time we do it we discover that folks who aren't "utes", age-wise, attempt to be part of the service. Their justification is that until they are married, they are still part of the "ute" in the church, even if they are closer to retirement age than high school.
I'm serious. We've had people in their 50s who want to be part of our "ute" service. I've seen the same thing in lots of other churches in Lima, too.
We have diplomatically explained to these folks that "ute" means students at Flamingo Road Church, and we also have started a new small group for singles who, according to our FRC-Lima definition, no longer are "utes."
It's a little comical on one hand, but this is also a sensitive area for some people, and we truly cherish our older singles at FRC-Lima, and we want to accommodate them as best we can.
The moral of the story: be like Fred Gwynne. Ask "What's a ute?" in whatever country in which you are located, so as not to assume certain age parameters, or to hurt anyone's feelings, or in any other way damage your ministry.
That was the question that Fred Gwynne asked in the movie "My Cousin Vinny" when he couldn't understand Joe Pesci's New York accent.
When Joe Pesci said "ute", he really meant "youth."
My dusty, well-worn Webster's Dictionary defines "ute" ... er ... "youth" ... as "the time of life marked by growth and development; the period between childhood and maturity."
Webster apparently wasn't Peruvian.
Here in the land of the Incas, "youth" appears to refer to anyone who isn't married, whether they are 18 years old or 58.
We have begun a couple of different ute/youth services here in Lima, and each time we do it we discover that folks who aren't "utes", age-wise, attempt to be part of the service. Their justification is that until they are married, they are still part of the "ute" in the church, even if they are closer to retirement age than high school.
I'm serious. We've had people in their 50s who want to be part of our "ute" service. I've seen the same thing in lots of other churches in Lima, too.
We have diplomatically explained to these folks that "ute" means students at Flamingo Road Church, and we also have started a new small group for singles who, according to our FRC-Lima definition, no longer are "utes."
It's a little comical on one hand, but this is also a sensitive area for some people, and we truly cherish our older singles at FRC-Lima, and we want to accommodate them as best we can.
The moral of the story: be like Fred Gwynne. Ask "What's a ute?" in whatever country in which you are located, so as not to assume certain age parameters, or to hurt anyone's feelings, or in any other way damage your ministry.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Ambassadors
This week my wife, Dorcas, and I attended a luncheon with representatives from the United States Embassy in Lima. The US Embassy reps were there to share updates and new information with American expats about visas, passports, and absentee ballots, particularly in light of the November 4 presidential election in the USA.
As we spoke with the US Embassy people after lunch, I was reminded of the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV), when he says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us."
The Embassy officials at the luncheon were there on behalf of the US Ambassador to Peru, and the Ambassador serves here in Peru on behalf of the US government. The US Ambassador represents his country here in Peru, seeks to promote the US to others here in Peru, and strives to improve the relationship between the two countries.
As Christ's ambassadors here in Peru, or anywhere else in the world, that's exactly what we do, too. We serve God instead of the US government, we represent Him before others, we promote Him to others, and we strive to see others improve their relationships with Him and His Son.
The work of an ambassador can be difficult and challenging, but as Christ's ambassadors anywhere in this world we know that we are representing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and there's no bigger or more important responsibility or representation to be found on this planet.
As we spoke with the US Embassy people after lunch, I was reminded of the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV), when he says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us."
The Embassy officials at the luncheon were there on behalf of the US Ambassador to Peru, and the Ambassador serves here in Peru on behalf of the US government. The US Ambassador represents his country here in Peru, seeks to promote the US to others here in Peru, and strives to improve the relationship between the two countries.
As Christ's ambassadors here in Peru, or anywhere else in the world, that's exactly what we do, too. We serve God instead of the US government, we represent Him before others, we promote Him to others, and we strive to see others improve their relationships with Him and His Son.
The work of an ambassador can be difficult and challenging, but as Christ's ambassadors anywhere in this world we know that we are representing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and there's no bigger or more important responsibility or representation to be found on this planet.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Gas Pains
The cost of a gallon of gas in the USA these days is around $3.50-$4.00 a gallon. The public is howling and the two presidential candidates are making all sorts of promises about how each of them will bring the price down.
In Peru a gallon of gas is $5.50-$6.00 a gallon.
Give thanks, USA, for cheap gas, at least by international standards. Be thankful that you don't have to fill up your tank in Peru!
In Peru a gallon of gas is $5.50-$6.00 a gallon.
Give thanks, USA, for cheap gas, at least by international standards. Be thankful that you don't have to fill up your tank in Peru!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Football ... Or Football?
Tonight the National Football League kicks off the 2008 season with a game between the Washington Redskins and the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands will be packed with fans sporting the jerseys of Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress, and the TV ratings will be off the charts.
And not a single Peruvian cares.
Oh, you'll have some expats in Peru (such as myself) who will thank Jesus tonight for DirecTV, but your average Peruvian wouldn't know the difference between Jason Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor.
However ... if you start to engage a Peruvian in a conversation about La Alianza or Los Universitarios (a/k/a La Crema or La U) or Cienciano ... then you've hit a hot spot!
For those of you who don't know, those are three of the most popular football teams in Peru. Umm ... that'd also be known as soccer to those of you up there in the USA.
Sports is another way to ingratiate yourselves to the locals when you are doing international ministry. Look, I'm an NFL fan (Go Miami Dolphins! Go Ricky Williams!), and I always will be, and I do thank Jesus for DirecTV, but I also know that if we're going to have an impact here in Peru, then I'd better learn the names of some teams and players here.
Learn all you can about the most popular local sports and pastimes, wherever you are. Know the names of some teams and star players. Buy a jersey or a cap. Learn to play the sport. The last time we were in the Amazon jungle, we played soccer with members of the Yagua tribe on a scrubby little field in the community where they live on the banks of the Amazon River. They ate it up. So did we.
Knowing and playing the most popular local sports wherever you are can bridge gaps and build bridges in a lightning-fast manner.
And not a single Peruvian cares.
Oh, you'll have some expats in Peru (such as myself) who will thank Jesus tonight for DirecTV, but your average Peruvian wouldn't know the difference between Jason Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor.
However ... if you start to engage a Peruvian in a conversation about La Alianza or Los Universitarios (a/k/a La Crema or La U) or Cienciano ... then you've hit a hot spot!
For those of you who don't know, those are three of the most popular football teams in Peru. Umm ... that'd also be known as soccer to those of you up there in the USA.
Sports is another way to ingratiate yourselves to the locals when you are doing international ministry. Look, I'm an NFL fan (Go Miami Dolphins! Go Ricky Williams!), and I always will be, and I do thank Jesus for DirecTV, but I also know that if we're going to have an impact here in Peru, then I'd better learn the names of some teams and players here.
Learn all you can about the most popular local sports and pastimes, wherever you are. Know the names of some teams and star players. Buy a jersey or a cap. Learn to play the sport. The last time we were in the Amazon jungle, we played soccer with members of the Yagua tribe on a scrubby little field in the community where they live on the banks of the Amazon River. They ate it up. So did we.
Knowing and playing the most popular local sports wherever you are can bridge gaps and build bridges in a lightning-fast manner.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
"This Is Church"
It goes without saying that preparing and executing impactful services every Sunday is a key objective of any church that wants to bear much fruit. At the same time, however, it is important to remember that so often the small stuff can lead to a great harvest as well.
Recent my wife, Dorcas, and I had the opportunity to attend the Willow Creek Association Leadership Summit, and Bill Hybels said the same thing. He talked about the importance of doing the small stuff and the little things. Hybels said about these things, "This is church."
"This is church."
Bill Hybels hit the nail on the head with this one.
When we are listening to a taxi driver talk about his life's struggles, or when we are having a cup of coffee with a man whose marriage is crumbling, or when we are going to a clinic with a pregnant teenage girl because the father of the baby has abandoned her, or when we are receiving a 3:00 A.M. phone call from an anguished mother whose son has just been in a car accident, or when we are trying to find a job for a man who is having trouble putting food on the table for his family ... "This is church."
It's very important to focus on the bigness of a well-executed and impactful Sunday morning service.
It's just as important to focus on the bigness of small acts of kindness which show the love of Christ to those who desperately need it.
"This is church."
Recent my wife, Dorcas, and I had the opportunity to attend the Willow Creek Association Leadership Summit, and Bill Hybels said the same thing. He talked about the importance of doing the small stuff and the little things. Hybels said about these things, "This is church."
"This is church."
Bill Hybels hit the nail on the head with this one.
When we are listening to a taxi driver talk about his life's struggles, or when we are having a cup of coffee with a man whose marriage is crumbling, or when we are going to a clinic with a pregnant teenage girl because the father of the baby has abandoned her, or when we are receiving a 3:00 A.M. phone call from an anguished mother whose son has just been in a car accident, or when we are trying to find a job for a man who is having trouble putting food on the table for his family ... "This is church."
It's very important to focus on the bigness of a well-executed and impactful Sunday morning service.
It's just as important to focus on the bigness of small acts of kindness which show the love of Christ to those who desperately need it.
"This is church."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Brother, Can You Spare A Sol?
Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, has said that it takes super-sized cash to do ministry. He's right, of course, and I'd add that it's also important to know if that super-sized cash is going to be in dollars, euros, pounds sterling, pesos, shekels, drachmas, or denarii.
Here in Peru, the national currency is called the sol. Right now, one US dollar equals about 2.80 soles (I know because I checked the exchange rates this morning). In recent years one US dollar was worth up to 3.50 Peruvian soles, but the value of the US dollar has weakened significantly around the globe. This impacts our ministry here in Peru. For example, we used to pay the rent at the cinema where we have Flamingo Road Church in Lima in US dollars, but now the cinema management requests payment in Peruvian soles. Since the value of Peruvian soles has risen as the value of US dollars has dropped, this means that we are now paying more to rent the cinema. Other local businesses in Lima with whom we have a relationship, such as printers, parking garages, and cafes, also now request payment in Peruvian soles instead of weakened US dollars.
The ebb and flow of currency and exchange rates is something that you simply have to get used to if you're going to succeed in international ministry. A rising US dollar would certainly be of benefit to us, but we have learned to bob and weave when it falls.
Here in Peru, the national currency is called the sol. Right now, one US dollar equals about 2.80 soles (I know because I checked the exchange rates this morning). In recent years one US dollar was worth up to 3.50 Peruvian soles, but the value of the US dollar has weakened significantly around the globe. This impacts our ministry here in Peru. For example, we used to pay the rent at the cinema where we have Flamingo Road Church in Lima in US dollars, but now the cinema management requests payment in Peruvian soles. Since the value of Peruvian soles has risen as the value of US dollars has dropped, this means that we are now paying more to rent the cinema. Other local businesses in Lima with whom we have a relationship, such as printers, parking garages, and cafes, also now request payment in Peruvian soles instead of weakened US dollars.
The ebb and flow of currency and exchange rates is something that you simply have to get used to if you're going to succeed in international ministry. A rising US dollar would certainly be of benefit to us, but we have learned to bob and weave when it falls.
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