April/May 2021 Wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay

For still the vision awaits its appointed time…If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3   

Six hundred years before Christ, Habakkuk stood, a watchman on a wall, and prophesied his inspired message to the sinful people of Judah that God would use the wicked and extremely cruel nation of Babylon to execute judgment on them for their own moral decline, wickedness, and injustice. Habakkuk didn’t understand the plan that God had divinely revealed to him to write and to proclaim, and he questioned God’s fairness in causing his people to suffer under those more-wicked Babylonians. Nevertheless, Habakkuk had learned to trust God by faith. In His own time, the Lord eventually would save His people from their sins, rescue them from their enemies, and wipe away every tear from their eyes. They’re still waiting. Habakkuk’s message was for Judah over 2600 years ago, and his message applies to us today. If God’s answer seems slow in coming, “Wait!” he says. “It's on its way. It will come at just the right time.” 

Our Huichol brothers and sisters have been traveling “under the radar” to share the love of Jesus, to continue to disciple young believers, and to resume OANSA (AWANA) activities in the more remote villages during all this time of lockdown. Due to Covid restrictions, options for “commercial” travel for people who don’t actually live in the mountains are not opened, but the Huichols are like stealthy jaguars, more restless than ever, and determined to head through the hills to share the Good News. The church at La Bendición held a big gathering last month to celebrate the Resurrection, and believers from villages throughout the Sierra Madre made their way to the celebration.

Eighteen new believers from Vizcarra, Tutuyekuamama, Los Pinitos, and Guásima del Caimán could not wait to be baptized! Despite some of the government-imposed crazy changes to methods of ministry (Temporary, I hope!), there have been many answers to prayer at just the right time for which we can be thankful. 

The church at La Quemada has been working and waiting for a very long time to replace their meeting place. Years of driving tropical rains have eroded and cracked their old adobe building making it unsafe and unusable. A friend from the Tepic church who works for a block-making factory offered to donate the forms and the time to teach the brothers from the La Quemada church how to make their own. They got the lessons and the materials and ran with them. The foundation was laid, the block is finished, and the walls are up. 

Only the roofing is left, and that’s been provided for by brothers and sisters who love them and the Huichol work. All we need now is to get it to the village. (That’s all!) The believers from this village church have suffered much persecution of all kinds, yet they have generously given love in return, sacrificed like their Macedonian brothers, and continue reaching out to multiple neighboring communities of unbelievers with the Good News. It’s invigorating to see how they take God’s mandate and promises seriously, and it is faith-building to see how God has provided resources for them as they have offered their whole hearts for His service and waited for God’s appointed time…They know by faith: If it seems slow, they must wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 

Custodio is their pastor. He’s a gentle giant who has worked alongside José López on countless missionary journeys. Custodio has led multiple people to Jesus, including the very first believer (Luisa) from the village of Los Aires a whole day’s journey on foot from La Quemada. Now, Hilario is the pastor of that amazing church that was in the process of installing the roof on their own village church 16 years ago when Kirt graduated to Heaven. At last, Custodio’s own church will have a building in which to meet and a roof in place. It seemed to be so slow in coming, but they have worked and waited patiently. Their answer is here at just the right time. 

They know that “Church” does not mean a place to come and sit; instead, it’s a vital team to help people meet and follow Jesus. No pandemic can thwart God’s Kingdom! Habakkuk assures us that though spiritual decline will get worse before it gets better, the Lord will be faithful to rescue His people: If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.