The Pastor’s Conference has now come and gone. The pastors are referring to this as the “El milagro de la conferencia” (The miracle conference). Saul and Miguel shared with the pastors that when Saul, Miguel, and Brad begin talking about having a conference we had NO money to do it. We believed God wanted us to have a conference and we had been praying that God would provide the finances. Because if we did not get any money for the conference then we would not have it. Thanks to many of you God provided the money through you and we shared this with the pastors Saturday night. Brad also shared that many of you were praying for the pastors and for this conference. So, Sunday morning they had a time of prayer for those of you who were supporting this conference through prayer and/or finances.
We had thirteen pastors attend and three that couldn’t make it. One (Oscar) was doing a wedding but his wife Mercedes was able to attend. They co-pastor one of the churches in Tegucigalpa. Another pastor (Ramon) did not attend and we're not sure why. And the third pastor who we were hoping would attend so he could receive encouragement and love chose not to attend. Please pray for he and his family.
The pastor’s arrived Saturday night at 6:00 and were treated to a wonderful supper of eggs, beans, cheese, totillas, crema, coffee, horchata (a rice based drink), and brownies prepared by Bessy (Saul’s wife), Dorís (Raul’s wife) and Cindy. After supper we had a time of worship and then Miguel (the president of the pastors) shared about a thirty minute devotional from 1 Peter 5:1-11. After the devotion each pastor had an opportunity to share something that was on his heart. Then the pastors discussed some business/operational issues and ideas and we called it a night about 10:30.
Sunday morning we started about 7:15 with breakfast, prepared by the ladies again, and then Saul gave about a 20 minute devotion also from 1 Peter 5:1-11. After the devotion we begin the day long seminar entitled “Cómo Manejar el Dinero Según la Biblia” (How to manage money according to the Bible). Each pastor received a folder of information which included: lecture notes with many Scripture references, a sample budget, and about 15 other one page handouts. There were six lessons plus an introduction. Each lesson begin with the pastors breaking up into groups of 3 - 4, reading the scripture references, discussing what they meant, and writing down what God showed them from the His Word.
Brad taught the seminar and he was nervous about how the topic would be received and having to speak Spanish all day. Turned out the pastors loved the topic and with their help everybody was able to communicate.
About 11:00 we took a break for lunch that was prepared by the same three ladies plus Miguel’s wife, Eduarda, joined them to help prepare the lunch. It was even better than supper the night before.
The seminar ended a little after four and then we had a time of praise and prayer followed by Santa Cena (Communion/The Lord’s Supper). It was powerful. Many were on their knees during much of the worship time.
We ended the evening and the conference by taking all the pastors, all those who helped cook, along with four children to Applebees for supper. The pastors had a great time eating, laughing, hanging out together, and experiencing something that many have never experienced. To make a perfect ending to the evening when we were leaving Applebees one of the trucks would not start. So here we are in the mall parking lot - Saul behind the wheel with Cindy in the passenger seat and about eight, or so, of the pastors pushing the truck around the parking lot trying to get it to start. There was much laughing and joking as we tried again and again to get it started. Finally it started and away we all went very happy, very encouraged, very challenged, and very full. It was great conference - the pastors said so.
Thank you so much for your prayers and for the financial support. This was the first Pastor’s Conference of what we hope to be an annual event along with a family retreat for the pastors and their families once a year with the two events being separated by about six months.
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