by Terry Hickey
The Power Ministry team designed the ministry week with Sunday as a day of rest (not originally their idea, of course; although they certainly have thought of everything else!). We were challenged to rest in the Lord; to shut-off any concerns of the day … and to simply be ready to encounter the Lord through the day.
Worship/Devotions and Communion took place at the Nopalero Community Center in the outskirts of Reynosa, Mexico. this center was built during the 2014 Power Trips, and serves a very poor community that perches on a thin stretch of land between a river and a canal. Pastor Richard challenged us from Hebrews 12:1-3, to throw off everything that hinders our walk with Christ, and to remain in the race of following Christ until the Lord calls us across the finish line.
Sunday service at Alianza Christiana (The Dome Church) in Reynosa, a church of about 10,000 people, is something to experience. After being greeted by an eager and extremely friendly group of the Alianza teens we were treated to a hot lunch. The teens served as table hosts at lunch, and then served as interpreters during the worship service. Given the pastor’s very charismatic, animated and passionate presence on the platform, you would never have guessed that our 1:00pm service was the fourth time that he had both led the worship and preached today!
Our 1:00pm service ended two hours and ten minutes later … and no one got up and left when he went that extra ten minutes! Given what we viewed as a language barrier, and only being able to pick up key words here and there, perhaps we did not receive the full impact of the song lyrics or the message. But what was un-mistakenly clear and almost tangibly visible was the passion of the pastor and the people …. no interpreter needed when the Spirit is moving!
We spent the latter part of the afternoon back at the Rio Bravo Orphanage, where we heard two unbelievable testimonies about how the Lord is at work in the border area of Mexico from Reynosa to Matamoros. Our first speaker has experienced the scripture, “with the Lord nothing is impossible”, come to life.The Lord has miraculously opened doors to allow his team to set up vibrant prayer groups within the civilian and military establishment within the past four years!
Missionary Mike Mcgee, one of our team members, related the real life story of Lety Salazar who within one year of her unpredictable election as the Mayor of Matamoros has cleaned up a corrupt government, driven out other satanic corruption; and is publicly reclaiming her city for Christ!
… “With the Lord nothing is impossible” …. even a late night Sunday dinner at Rudy’s Barbecue … as we close out our day of resting in the Lord (with napkins at hand!)