A World of Comings and Goings

Before we assumed the ministry in Costa Rica with ECF, we were told that the international church was different from the typical church in the USA. To be clear, international churches are located in major population centers around the globe. These churches generally host a wide variety of people from different nations. In other words, they are not all from the US or Canada. For example, at ECF we have people from Belgium, Venezuela, Uruguay, England, Scotland and several other nations.

We gather to worship in English. For many who attend international congregations, English is not their first language. But it is the language which allows us to connect in our worship and service of King Jesus.

Over the past year, Pam and I have been personally discovering some of the nuances of the international church. Not everything is apples-to-apples with churches in the USA.

One distinct difference is that the international community tends to travel more frequently and for longer periods of time than typical American church-goers. For example, since many of the ECF congregation have extended family in other nations, when they travel, they may stay an entire month. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for someone to approach me after church to let me know they will be gone for three or four weeks.

Another nuance is that internationals are more transient that the typical suburbanite in the USA. I realize that there is also great mobility in the states. While serving at Summit for 23 years, we saw literally thousands of people come into the fellowship and then go out to all corners of the nation. But this is accentuated exponentially in the international community. In fact, is it so acute that I was told if I could not adjust to this “coming and going” I would not survive serving an international church.

So, two weeks ago we bid farewell to a lovely family from Canada who had been with us for ten months. Last Sunday, we said good-bye to a Russian refugee who had been waiting for many months for his visa into the USA. The international church is much more like a river than a lake. Most people stay for a season before being pulled downstream to another location…usually another country.

This is one reason most international churches are relatively small by US standards. ECF has been averaging over 60 people recently in our Sunday service. This is not large by any measure. Our vision, of course, is to continue growing and reach many more people. But the highly transient nature of the international community makes it especially challenging to maintain a consistent pattern of growth.

Nevertheless, Pam and I continue to enjoy the challenges and joys in this new ministry. As we cross the one-year mark of our time in Costa Rica, we praise God for all that he’s done…and, by faith, believe that the best days are still up ahead!

Warmly,

Steve and Pam