This week I made my first of what will be 32 visits in the next 3 months to churches and projects affiliated with the Baptist Federation of El Salvador.  During September I’ll be touring the Western Region of the country, known for it coffee and slightly cooler climate. Visit #1 was to the city and surrounding communities of Ahuachapan.

Ministry in Ahuachapan is a little different from your standard Baptist church in El Salvador, or so they say... I’ve spent the past 6 days walking dirt paths in communities where Pastor Felix has been instrumental in helping out in some of the poorest rural communities in the country. This small congregation has helped build more than 60 homes in the area, opened a health clinic for one of the nearby communities, and joined an agricultural cooperative whose harvests now benefit more than 10 families in the area. The list goes on and on.

What makes these ministries unique is that when this church in Ahuachapan offers to help out, there are no “evangelistic” strings attached. In El Salvador this is fairly unusual.

When I was asked to preach on Sunday the first passage that came to mind was Isaiah 61. In the few days that I have visited here it is crystal clear that this congregation embodies the call to holistic ministry, service to the “poor and the brokenhearted”. After a bit of congratulating and encouragement to continue the good work, the sermon ended, most everyone went home.

Suddenly Felix was tapping me on the shoulder.  “Kim, we need to pray!” Felix introduced me to Norma who had just told Felix that she wanted to accept Christ. Norma has been attending off and on for the past few months, and was moved by how this body of believers takes care of their “neighbor”.

Honestly, I was really surprised! This hadn’t been the goal of my sermon at all. And the funny thing was that we’d completely forgotten to give and invitation at the end of the service. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it is the first time I have been an active participant in this kind of faith decision.

Last night I was reflecting on my experience this week and was reminded that when we preach a holistic Gospel, it needs to be just that, holistic. The text in Isaiah talks about serving the poor, the brokenhearted, and it also reminds us “this is the moment that God has chosen to offer us salvation” Isaiah 61:2. We are agents of change in our communities; God is the agent of transformation in our lives.

May God surprise you with a first this week that transforms your life.