As we move closer to Christmas the stores are telling us that it is the season of stuff; electronics and shoes (or electronic shoes) will make us happy. I hope we know it’s not all about things. But lately I’ve been learning more about the ministry of stuff. Between teaching assignments and preaching opportunities, I’ve been doing some painting at the Baptist Federation building. Along with theology and Bible classes, American Baptist Seminary of the West taught me how to paint as part of the maintenance crew. In a country with lots of barred windows and metal gates (to protect from petty theft) and lots of humidity, painting is not just a matter of style or vanity; it keeps things from rusting and falling apart.

In La Guacima, the Mansion of Light Baptist Church is moving toward opening a community center/daycare to combat prostitution in its community. The church has committed leadership and enthusiastic members, but the building needs some work: accessible restrooms, doors, and windows that let air in and keep burglars out. The church building is simple, but spacious and clean. In a community with lots of tin shacks and no parks, the church building is a refuge, a safe place for families to worship and kids to play. The members are raising money (tamale sales, clothing sales, etc) for the building improvements. Soon they will be hosting work groups from sister churches in the U.S. who will work alongside of them and help them move forward in spite of limited resources.

Recently, while my hometown of San Diego, CA, was in flames, the rains wouldn’t stop in Costa Rica. While we weren’t affected here in the central valley, the northwestern part of the country (along with Nicaragua) experienced terrible flooding. Schools and churches have been collecting diapers, clean water, and food to help relieve some of the suffering. Whether in Central America or Southern California, victims need to hear more than “we’re praying for you." They need stuff, and helping hands.

There is a tendency in Christian circles to downplay the importance of stuff and of buildings and focus on the “spiritual.” But God became flesh in Jesus, and Jesus talked about cold cups of water, fed the five thousand, and came to save the whole person and the whole world. To ignore the physical is to fall into dualism, an unnecessary division of matter and spirit that’s more Gnostic than Christian. In other words, to paraphrase C.S. Lewis, “God loves stuff; God made stuff.” To ignore physical need, to deny the importance of shelter and of safe places to meet and play is to miss an important aspect of the good news.

As we walk toward Christmas, please pray for generous hearts that meet all kinds of needs. Also, pray for our Christmas Open House on Dec. 2nd as we celebrate the incarnation and collect needed supplies for a local orphanage.

Other Prayer Requests

*The project in La Guacima and Pastor Xinia

*The coming of work groups and building projects.

*Jamie’s college application process and her battle with mononucleosis.

*Opportunities to share Jesus this Christmas season.

*Micah as he helps his Spanish teacher collect notebooks for needy students.

*Micah and Jamie as they play for the volleyball championship.

Thanks for your giving to the World Mission Offering, and for all of your support and prayers.

Gary