I first heard about Power Ministry when a friend of mine, Adam Othman, said the Lord had put it on his heart if I would consider coming on a trip to Mexico with him. When I asked him about the trip he told me but he also said “the trip” was really too hard to put into words. The tone in his voice made it appealing. And the look on his face made it even more appealing. What little I knew of Adam, I had just met him at a church Bible study, was that he was very passionate about serving the Lord and serving other people. Especially the weak and needy. So I went on the trip. I am on the 5th day today. I am tired, sore and ready for some rest. I’ve heard of men talking about their families, their lives and their struggles. From the strongest to the weakest in the group, and only the Lord knows who those people really are, they all have a growing passion to glorify the Lord and make their lives count for His Grace. I knew there was going to be construction and ministering to the needs of the people. But I was surprised about how much prayer went into the preparation and implementation of every decision and every move. Other than the chances to minister to others and a chance to fellowship with the guys on the trip I guess what I would say has most impressed me—and there is way too much to share in this brief amount of space—is the quality of people that Power Ministry “partners” with! I just spent today with a man named Pat Schmeling ministering to the prisoners and the poor of Acuna. He is a man who will, and is, paying whatever price is required to reach another soul for Jesus and be used by God to bring all who want to into His Kingdom. The other is a pastor named David Burkett. He is definitely a man who is, and will, greatly impact the people of Nuevo Laredo Mexico. I would say of all the people I met on trip he was the one my heart resonated with the most. He has a South Carolina accent and speaks fluent Spanish. But his vision for what he sees the Lord doing, and preparing to do, in Nuevo Laredo Mexico is really challenging. Not in a condemning way but in a godly way. In a way that makes you want to see the Lord do the same things in your own life. And that is what I am leaving this trip with (I still have two more days to go): I have seen what the Lord can, and is doing, through a remarkable collection of believers. But I am wanting to see the Lord do the same things in me. Not for my glory—but for His! It is requiring me to get out of my “comfort zone” and “stretch muscles” that I haven’t used for a while. But being around these men has showed me a new way of looking at things … people … and the whole world around me! It is definitely going to require more of the power of the Holy Spirit working in my life and probably more time working with the Power Ministry!
