How a Bilingual Church in La Paz Operates

JameeJune 19, 2018Uncategorized

When we started Destino Cristiano nearly 5 years ago, we didn’t know that it would organically evolve into a bilingual church. Like everything that has happened at our nondenominational church in La Paz, God has worked out the logistics of having a bilingual church in Mexico. At our first service in our downtown location, there were 5 Americans, so we had an English only church service.

But not long after, a Mexican family joined us. And while the mother (Esperanza) and 2 daughters didn’t speak a word of English, the teenage son could speak enough to help us all have a conversation. And when asked why she was coming to our church when she couldn’t speak English, Esperanza said that she felt the Holy Spirit was there, and that was good enough for her.  This family attended our church for 1.5 years before her husband, a marine, got sent to the mainland. Meanwhile, more Mexicans came, and after a while, a translator arrived. And the rest is history.

Today, Destino Cristiano is a bilingual church whose pastor is American (learning Spanish as she goes) and whose leadership is mostly made up of Mexicans, but with an American couple helping things to operate. And while there are many bilingual members at Destino Cristiano Christian Church in La Paz, there are also people who can’t speak a second language. But the beautiful thing about the family of God is that love is a universal language. And we have become a blended family!

Here’s how our bilingual church operates:

The music: We have one English song and 3 Spanish songs during worship. We usually learn both the English and Spanish versions.

The preaching:  The pastor speaks in English and has a Spanish translator. There are sometimes guest speakers whose first language is Spanish. In that case, the sermon is translated into English.

The fellowship:  It’s all about assimilation at Destino Cristiano. The Americans and Canadians who are members and visitors want the cultural experience of participating in a bilingual, bicultural church.

 

Destino Cristiano – Making Jesus famous in the city of La Paz.

How to Think Like a Missionary

JameeDecember 7, 2015Uncategorized

Tips for Mission Trips

If you’re planning to go on a missionary journey or to travel with a mission group, you should seriously consider how to think like a missionary. While you may be excited about travelling and the adventure that awaits in a foreign country, remember that the church or organization you’ll be visiting is focused on the work of their ministry. Therefore, to think like a missionary, you must first understand and connect to their vision, to their city, their people and to their projects and programs.

Get familiar with the pastors and leaders. Don’t be afraid to write ahead to ask questions so you can discover their passion and purpose. Begin to pray about how God can use your strengths and skills while on the mission field. Although it’s impossible to completely understand the mind of the missionaries, its important to put your personal agenda aside for the their sake and to do your part in building God’s Kingdom in their region. When you do this, you are opening yourself up to unexpected experiences and blessings.

To think like a Missionary, you must put yourself in their shoes. They have left their home, family and friends to pursue their call in God. And while leaving home to become a missionary may sound romantic, that is rarely the case. Life is usually harder with a burden for the people and the region. They must do more with less. There’s a new language to learn and cultural differences to understand. Plus, there’s an ongoing need to fund the mission.

The following are a few more things to help you think like a missionary:

  1. Missionaries are not on vacation:  If you are with a group, most hosts will plan some activities around the natural beauty or nearby recreational opportunities available. This is to add to your mission experience, but it is not the main focus.
  1. Complaining is futile:  Be willing to do without what you think you need.
  1. Missionaries want help. They don’t need more work.

A missionary journey should include fun and be an adventure. But remember, utlimately, it’s a mission for God and you are serving Him. Keep Mark 10:42-45 in mind:

“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Learn more about Destino Cristiano’s Mission Group Opportunitites.