Ripples

In 2011, Pam took a small group of women from Summit Church to Southern California to attend the Women’s Encounter at Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch, CA. That small nucleus of women formed the beginning of a team of servant-leaders that would lead two Women’s Encounters every year for the ensuing six years. The Encounters proved to be one of the most transformational ministries we’ve ever experienced.

The enduring relationships Pam established with her “encounter ladies” was her favorite part of the ministry. Pulling together two Encounters each year was a Herculean task. The “servers” invested an enormous amount of time and effort. And they forged a precious bond-of-faith that continues today these many years later.

This weekend, four of Pam’s “encounter ladies” have come to Costa Rica at their own expense to speak at an ECF-sponsored Women’s Conference. Each woman has a story of great pain and great victory. Each had their speaking and leadership gifts honed as they served with the Women’s Encounter. Each one will be a tremendous blessing to those who attend the one-day conference.

We never know the ripples that follow when we step out in faith. Pam had no idea that her trip to SoCal would lead to years of fruitful ministry in Nevada, and, then, 12 years later, to continue to bear fruit in Costa Rica. The nature of faith is believing that God is at work, stepping out in obedience, and trusting him with the results…both seen and unseen.

I hope you have experienced a spiritual wake from the impact of your steps of faith. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promise Land. They are standing at the Jordan River at flood stage. The river forms an impassable barrier to cross for the 2+ million Israelites. God tells the priests who are leading that they must step into the water before the river would stop flowing.

Humanly speaking this meant they would look “silly” to the Israelites looking on. (Faith-steps often look foolish to those watching on the sidelines.) The Jordan River was at its highest stage of the year. I’ve seen where this took place. In that era, the water was 30+ feet deep and at least a quarter of a mile wide. For God to stop the water would be a mind-boggling miracle akin to the parting of the Red Sea.  And it wouldn’t happen until AFTER the priests stepped into the water as an act of faith.

Have you ever done that? Have you stepped out in radical, almost crazy-looking faith? Have you done it recently?

When we do, and when God acts according to his great faithfulness, the ripples we make can impact the cause of Christ for years to come. ECF is experiencing it this weekend.

The Women’s Conference is called Living Beyond. Heather Steward, Nicki Miller, Lisa Buchanan, and Annie Hoon will share their personal journey of choosing to walk by faith “living beyond” personal tragedy, pain, illness and heartache. I know each of their stories. It takes my breath away when I see them still standing in Christ, let alone smiling and experiencing joy.  It is a tremendous honor to have them share with us in Costa Rica.

I want my life to make ripples for Christ. I hope you do, too. But we can’t do that by staying safely in the boat. To quote John Ortberg, “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.” Pam is doing that. Heather, Nicki, Lisa, and Annie are doing that. 

Are you?

The "Ding" of Christian Community

WhatsApp is a communication app that is widely used around the world. It offers clear no-cost internet-based communication. Nearly every person and every business in Costa Rica uses WhatsApp. One widely used feature is the ability to create group chats. This has proven to be an amazing tool for fostering community within English Christian Fellowship.

Pam and I are currently part of two ECF small groups. We host a Rooted discipleship group in our home on Saturday morning and we are part of Tuesday evening Belonging Group. Both of these use WhatsApp group chats to stay connected.

A few weeks ago, our Rooted chat “blew up” with the news that a member of our group had lost his job. Once he shared what he was facing, the chat was deluged with heartfelt prayers and genuine concern. My chat is not on “silent mode,” so every time someone responded, I heard a “ding.” All afternoon, my phone went ding, ding, ding and, then, ding again.

What was happening was incredibly beautiful. Someone was facing a legitimate crisis, but they were not facing it alone. They were blanketed by messages of concern and prayers from a family of believers who genuinely cared. It was amazing.

One of the great tragedies of today’s society is that far too many people go through life alone. Yet, God designed us to thrive best in community. He created us to need other people in our lives. This is one reason God wants us to be fully engaged in a local church. We need other people around us and others need us in their lives, too.

The need for friends may be enhanced even more living in a foreign country. Many people speak English in Costa Rica, but not everybody does. And when life gets tough (as it does for all of us at some point), it is incredibly helpful to have friends to cheer us on and to lift up our arms.

Just ask the guy who lost his job in my Rooted group. He was blown away by the love, care, support and prayers he received.

Pam and I hope that you are connected to Christian community through a local church. At ECF, I am fond of saying that we are Bible-Centered, Love-Saturated and Outreach-Focused. We are intentional with all three core values.

However, being “love-saturated” means we take seriously Jesus’ challenge: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) If we miss experiencing this love, we miss the guts of the community that Jesus came to establish.

Whether or not you use WhatsApp, I hope the next time you face a personal crisis that you hear “ding, ding, ding” from people reaching out to surround you with love and prayer.  We cannot thrive by isolating ourselves from others. We need love. We need other people in our lives. We need to be connected in healthy Christian community.

BTW:Pam and I hope to lead another trip to Israel early this December. If you are interested, click here.

Deep Gladness Meets Deep Need

As part of an ECF small group, Pam and I are exploring John Ortberg’s challenging and humorous book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. Last week, I came across this insightful quote from Frederich Buechner. God’s calling is “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”

This has certainly proven true in our lives. Our deepest gladness comes from using the gifts, talents, and opportunities God has provided to advance his purposes. Years ago, in the film Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell tells his sister, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”  God had gifted Eric with an incredible ability to run fast. And when Eric ran, he felt God’s pleasure because he was using the gifts that God had given him.

In a similar way, Pam and I feel God’s pleasure when we use the gifts that he’s given us. Using Buechner’s terminology, this is our “deep gladness.”

As far as the world’s deep need, this never changes. The world needs hope. The world needs justice. The world needs change. The world needs kindness. In sum, the world needs Jesus.

As a teenager, I remember hearing over the airwaves an arresting song by Dionne Warwick called “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” Some of you will remember its beautiful melody and heart-felt lyrics. This was long before I had a faith experience. But the song resonated with the ache in my soul even as a teenager. Then, and now, the world has been filled with hate, acrimony, selfishness and evil. What the world needs now, is love, sweet love. And his name is Jesus.

God’s calling is “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” We are experiencing this in new ways in Costa Rica. ECF is now cresting over 100 people in our Sunday services on a regular basis. Seeing God’s purposes prevail brings us deep gladness. We’ve seen this in Chile, in Wisconsin, in Nevada and now in Costa Rica.

In our last blog, we commented about how much energy was required for our recent mission trip to Chile. I mentioned that we felt like we lived an entire month crammed into one week while in Chile. It was exhausting to the max. Morning, noon and night pouring ourselves out. A vacation it was not!

But we’re glad we went. We’re glad that neither fear nor the need for comfort held us back. And we’re also glad we came to Costa Rica. It’s not been a vacation. We’ve still not made it to Europe to see castles and cathedrals. But we’re fulfilled.

God’s calling is “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” That doesn’t mean it will be easy. Later in his book, John Ortberg comments, “Everyone in Scripture who said yes to their calling had to pay a high price. So will you and I.”

That said, I wonder if you have allowed your life to be put on cruise-control. Lately, I’ve been repeating this phrase with some regularity: “Don’t die until you are dead.” Is there another challenge that you’ve been avoiding that would allow your “deep gladness to meet the world’s deep need?” What’s keeping you from launching out?

Chile 2023

Pam and I are wrapping up our 7-day mission trip to Chile. We joined a team from Summit. Everyone one of us has poured ourselves out. I feel like I live an entire month crammed into a week on these trips. Pam and I were concerned that we could keep pace with the jam-packed schedule. But, by the grace of God, we’re still standing (and smiling) as the trip winds up. We will be back home in Costa Rica on Saturday morning.

Several nights we ministered in churches. These services ranged from contemporary with Hillsong-style worship to traditional music. Regardless of the musical style, people worshipped with passion and energy. All of the services were more than two-hours in length. Some lasted three-hours. Years ago, Pam and I played a part helping to establish the foundation for these churches. It was a treat for us to see old friends and long-term ministry colleagues.

Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM until about 2:00 PM, Pam and I helped to facilitate a workshop for Rooted. Rooted is an amazing discipleship experience which is transforming churches around the globe. It’s the best combination of head-hand-heart discipleship that I’ve ever seen.

One morning, we participated in a serve-experience with the Rooted trainees. We spent two-hours cleaning and polishing a local fire station. We also brought food and goodies. The fire personnel were blown away! And our Rooted trainees had a blast!

Two evenings our team also participated in creative outreach events planned by one of our teammates. Over the years, I’ve been on more than twenty mission trips like this. And the two-nights of outreach on this trip to Chile were the most creative and well-executed that I’ve ever been part of. The events targeted young adults and children. The music, the dramas, the face-painting, and craft centers were off-the-charts.

During the day, we also had a team work at Bethany Center. A few years ago, a fire ravaged the area, and the main conference building was burned to the ground. A new facility is being built on the foundation of the building that was destroyed in the fire. It will take a few more years to complete the reconstruction. But our team advanced the work significantly.

One of the highlights of the trip was hearing detailed plans of a new missionary training program that will be launched by our churches this year. The Iglesia de Cristo Latinoamericana was birthed by the missionary vision of a local church in Southern California. Now, these churches want to raise up a new generation of mission-minded young adults to reach emerging generations with the love of Jesus. Amazing!

Warmly,
Steve and Pam

PS: Please pray for English Christian Fellowship. Giving has risen robustly since the church began growing last year. In January, we averaged 100+ in attendance each Sunday. But, at the same time, giving dropped precipitously. Please pray for giving to rebound quickly.

Being Sick in Paradise

Generally, we try to write about positive things in this blog. Pam and I are both glass-half-full kind of people. We see the bright side in almost every situation. But not every day in paradise is a great day. So, in full disclosure of the good, the bad and the ugly, I want to share what’s it’s been like to be sick in Costa Rica.

I don’t get sick often. That’s a blessing, for sure. But this past week I have been sick.

I started feeling “off” Sunday afternoon. By Monday morning I knew something was going on. But true to form, I thought I could blow past it by swimming laps. I’m not sure where I picked that up. But for many years I’ve tried to swim my way out of illness. It didn’t work. I felt worse by the time I got out of the pool. And I kept feeling worse through the day.

By nightfall, I was pretty sure I had a bug. So, I pounded down some NyQuil and went to bed. But I woke up at 1:15 AM with the most raw sore throat I can remember. Honestly, it felt like someone was welding by tonsils to the wall of my throat with a blow-torch. It was getting worse by the minute. So, I put on my sweat pants and headed to the ER.

Fortunately, there is no traffic where we live in the middle of the night. I arrived five minutes later. There were no other patients, so I saw the doctor within two minutes. He spent a few seconds with me, looked down my throat and said, “Yep, you have tonsilitis.” Five minutes later, I was checking out of the pharmacy a handful of antibiotics.

Once back home, I downed the first horse-pill of Augmentin. Why do they make Augmentin pills so large? Yuck! To get them down, I have devised a system where I crush the pill between two spoons and plaster the crumbs with jelly and swallow a few pieces at a time. Call me a wimp if you like. But it’s the only way I can down horse-pills.

Tuesday and Wednesday my throat was still on fire…like a raging forest fire. Very, very ouchy. I canceled my meetings and stayed at home. Pam has been Florence Nightingale.

By Thursday I started to feel a bit better. But not nearly 100%. At this point, I still plan to preach on Sunday. I hope people are not alarmed by the new FM-tone in my voice. Please pray for me.

Being sick in paradise is no paradise.

Christmas 2022

Greeting from Pam! Steve asked me to write this year’s Christmas blog. Where has the time gone? We have now been living in Costa Rica for just shy of a year and a half.  2022 has been a year of learnings and blessings (“God hugs”).  We hope your Christmas Season is blessed and that you take the time to thank God for all he has done for you. 

 I’d like to share our “God hugs” from 2022 so you can see the many answers to our prayers as we give God the glory for the things he has done.

 1.      Lucho and Gaby walked into English Christian Fellowship in February after seeing a billboard.  A few weeks later, Lucho became our Worship Pastor. What a blessing he has been to ECF and to us personally!  Lucho’s story is full of redemption.  A few months later, Gaby became ECF’s treasurer.  Her experience in business has been invaluable. 

 2.     We had six billboards along the area’s main freeway the first half of 2022.   Those billboards attracted scores of new guests to ECF from throughout the Central Valley.

 3.     We began ECF’s relaunch at the Aloft Hotel. It provided a right-sized place to meet while the church was still fledgling. ECF grew in the Aloft from 30 people then to 50 and then to 70. 

 4.     Once we outgrew the Aloft, we moved to the Hilton Garden Inn. This larger venue gave us more room to grow and attendance now averages 90+. The Hilton also has ample space for our thriving post-service fellowship time. This fellowship time has become a weekly highlight.

 5.     The Lord also provided resources to buy the additional equipment that was needed for services in the Hilton Garden Inn.

 6.     Ministry leaders stepped up to lead our growing Greeting Team, Children’s Ministry Team, Prayer Team, and Mission’s team.

 7.     Out first two Rooted discipleship groups met from April – June. Two more groups met from October - December. These have been awesome.

 8.     ECF has a growing presence on Facebook, Instagram and Google attracting Costa Rican young adults that want to practice English who are looking for healthy friendships. 

 On A More Personal Note…

9.     In May we moved out of our rented house and bought a home in a centralized and safe neighborhood.

 10.  We have found great doctors and great medical care in Costa Rica.

 11.   We had Nicole and Travis and Terry and Becky visit from the States.

 12.  Pam’s three sisters spent a week in Costa Rica with constant talking and laughing.

 13.  In June, our Bond Family Vacation was a blast in Big Bear, California.

 14.  Steve climbed Chiripo (the highest peak in Costa Rica) with friends from Summit and swam two open water swims in the Pacific Ocean. 

 15.  Steve’s 50th High School Reunion was a huge success and there are plans afoot for another reunion in 5 years.

 16.  We had fun-trips to Monte Verde and Volcan Arenal in Fortuna. Both areas are among Costa Rica’s top tourist attractions.  

 17.  We led a group of 24 to Israel.  It was a blessing to tour the Holy Land with friends from Sparks. We are planning another trip to Israel in early December 2023.  

 18.  We updated our “new-to-us” house and remodeled the kitchen.

 19.  We’ve seen our kids and grandchildren several times this year and stayed in each of their homes. 

 20. Pam spent time with Tommy in Portland, Oregon for his 37th birthday. 

 If you want to continue reading, here are some learnings from 2022…

1.      Cane Toads are the largest toads in the world and extremely poisonous.  In our new house, they come out at night during the rainy season.  So, during the rainy season, we take Millie out at night on a leash. 

 2.     Things take longer in Costa Rica.  Everything.  Plan on extra time to get to appointments. 

 3.     The World Cup is a BIG DEAL.

 4.     Costa Rican Spanish has MANY different words from Chilean Spanish.

 5.     Recipes may take 2-3 times before they come out right.

 6.     Geckos can be ANYWHERE in your house….be sure to check your underwear before you put them on.

 7.     There is nothing that is impossible for God to do! He is truly a God of miracles.

 8.     God brings us who and what we need in his perfect sovereign time.

 9.     Sloths are still the most adorable creatures God has made (with the exception of our little Millie!)

Making Lemon-Aid Out of Lemons

Church planting requires creativity. Sometimes circumstances require midstream adjustments. These pivots can “make or break” a church plant. Years ago, when we planted Summit, a church-planting axiom was “blessed are the flexible, for those are the ones that survive.” This has also proven true with English Christian Fellowship.

The most recent example has been with our new meeting location. The Hilton Garden Inn has been a spectacular blessing for ECF. It is larger with a more upscale ambience and offers many more amenities than our previous hotel. As a result, since we relocated last month, ECF’s attendance has risen by 20%.

However, there was a wrinkle in the rental contract we knew about ahead-of-time. Two Sundays this year were previously committed at the Hilton. This meant we would need to pivot both Sundays. “Blessed are the flexible, for those are the ones that survive.”

After pondering our options, we decided to rent a movie theater adjacent to the hotel for both days. This would keep us in the same vicinity and not require moving to an entirely new location. But being in the theater changes how we do worship, how our greeting team operates, how we do children’s ministry, and how we set up our fellowship time following the service. Basically, it requires a complete ministry re-tooling. “Blessed are the flexible, for those are the ones that survive.”

The first Sunday in the theater was a few weeks ago. Our second Sunday is December 18. It has been exciting to see how God has worked upstream to make lemon-aid out of lemons.

For example, a few days before we met in the theater the first time, I realized I had several “movie-sermons” in my database that I had filmed at Summit. It occurred to me that showing a “movie-sermon” might be an excellent use of the huge movie screen in the theater.

And was is ever! Instead of bemoaning having to use the theater, people came out of the service buzzing! The “movie-message” impacted our church family powerfully!

A second example is coming up December 18. That is the second (and final) time we have to vacate the hotel and use the theater.

It just so happens that the final game for the World Cup will take place at 9:00 AM (Costa Rica time) on December 18. Now, I realize most of you are not huge fans of soccer. But we live in Costa Rica and these folks are WILD about “fútbol.”

So, we’ve decided to open the theater at 9:00 AM for anyone who wants to watch the World Cup Final on “the big screen.” We will hold our church service immediately after the championship game…and we will use another “movie-sermon” for our teaching. “Blessed are the flexible, for those are the ones that survive.”

Pam and I wanted an adventure in this season of our lives. Guess what? We are having the time of our lives! Thanks for praying!

Warmly,

Steve and Pam

The Smell of Poverty

I once heard a well-known pastor say that it was good for him to travel somewhere in the world at least twice a year so that he could “smell poverty.” He realized that living in the manicured suburbs surrounding his large church insulated him from the realities facing much of the world.

Pam and I have discovered living in Costa Rica that it’s much easier to “smell poverty.” We don’t have to travel across the globe, it’s as close as just out side the gates of our well-protected neighborhood complex.

A humanitarian crisis that has not received much international attention has been the mass exodus of refugees fleeing Venezuela. Due to an economic collapse from failed Marxist policies, seven million Venezuelans have sought refuge in other countries.

I first became aware of this crisis on our last trip to Chile. At one of the church-services we attended a group of 10 Venezuelans were welcomed after having traveled by bus from their home country. They were professionals: teachers, accountants and computer types. But the situation in Venezuela was so desperate, they fled with the clothes on their back seeking refuge in Chile. The church we attended that evening had marshalled resources to purchase clothes, kitchen appliances and furniture to help them get settled.

This crisis continues unabated. We see it every day in Costa Rica. Venezuelan refugees are on almost every street corner pleading for food and money. Most are families with small children. By hook or crook, they have gotten this far from Venezuela. Now, they are intent on walking 2,800 miles north from Costa Rica to the USA—the promise land. Seeing these families huddled under umbrellas to protect their children from the sun and rain is heartbreaking. I wish I had an answer that could make a difference.

Now, before you stop reading this, I want you to know that I believe it makes sense for the USA to have a reasonably well-protected border. I understand that. On one level a border wall makes complete sense.

But Pam and I are sitting on the other side of that wall right now living in Costa Rica. And seeing these refugees in the streets pleading for help makes the issue much more visceral. This is not about politics. It’s about people. It’s about children.

Imagine the horrific conditions that precipitated the Venezuelans’ risky and potentially life-threatening journey. Can you imagine how tenuous things must have been “back home” that you would throw caution to the wind and walk thousands of miles to the USA with only a backpack on your shoulders?

When we lived in the USA, we stopped watching the news because it was so depressing. Not watching the news allowed us to insulate ourselves from the pain much of the world experiences. But we can’t do that here. We see and smell the pain daily.

Last week, we took ECF’s two Rooted groups into downtown San Jose to feed the homeless. Our group of 20+ walked narrow streets littered with homeless providing them with a welcomed sandwich and bottled water. One street in particular caught my attention. From one end to the other both sides were smothered by Venezuelan refugees.  I asked where do they go to the bathroom? Where do they shower? What do they eat? No one seemed to know. If that sight doesn’t break your heart, you’d have to be dead.

I said a moment ago that I wish I had an answer. I wish I knew a way to solve this crisis. But I don’t.

However, I am glad that I can’t hide from these problems like I did when I lived in suburbia. Shutting off the news didn’t help anyone. It was only protecting my heart from hurting.

But I think if Jesus was walking the earth today, he would walk the streets of San Jose, like we did the other night. I think Jesus wouldn’t bury his head in the sand like I did when I lived in Sparks. I think Jesus would hand out as many sandwiches as he could, help in whatever way he could and mitigate as much suffering as he could.

Pam and I are grateful to God on many levels for bringing us to Costa Rica. In previous blog posts, we’ve talked about the beauty of our new home country. We’ve talked about the joy and growth in our new ministry. There are countless positive things that we have experienced in this new chapter of our lives.

But we’re also thankful that the Lord has brought us closer to pain, closer to hunger, closer to things that we used to shut out of our hearts and minds. It’s not easy, but we are better for it. I think the pastor I heard long ago was right. Everyone should be in a place where they can “smell poverty” at least a few times a year. In our case, it happens every day.

Warmly,

Steve and Pam

Israel 2022

I am writing this blog at 37,000 feet on the plane as we return from ten-days in Israel. Pam and I had the honor of leading 24 people on a whirlwind tour through the Holy Land. The experience can be very impactful. More than simply sightseeing, our trips to Israel have proven to be deeply spiritual experiences. This trip was no exception.

I’ve asked those who were with us to share a few thoughts about the trip…

·       “I’ve traveled my whole life and have great memories, but nothing as meaningful as what I experienced this week in Israel. What I learned and where I walked combined to bring my faith to life.”

·       “There were countless memorable moments on the trip. But three highlights were praying and reflecting in the Garden of Gethsemane, walking where Jesus walked and taught and standing in the tomb where Jesus possibly was placed before he rose to life again. Visiting Israel made the Bible come alive!”

·       “This trip has opened my eyes and heart to the truths of God and Jesus. I now have a clearer understanding of what I read in the Bible. I can visualize it. I see the events through new eyes and I can feel God in a way I did not before.”

·       “When I return home and sit with my Bible and with my notes from this life-changing trip, the Bible will come alive from everything I’ve learned, seen and experienced. My most impactful experience was sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane praising our Heavenly Father and surrendering to him and his will for my life.”

·       “Our trip to Israel has imprinted in our hearts God’s Word, his intention and his indescribable love in a way we have never experienced before. To physically see and touch the land our Lord and Savior was born in, lived in and ministered in is life-changing.”

·       “This was our second trip to Israel and it blew away our expectations. Our guide’s biblical explanations brought the Bible into living color. She dug deep with her knowledge and passion for the Bible and for Israel. This was a trip of a lifetime.”

·       “Being in the Holy Land makes the Bible even more alive. Experiencing the history, culture and people is powerful. It has blessed my spirit and my faith.”

·       “’It is better to see and experience something once, than to hear about it a thousand times.’ (Anonymous quote) I came to the stomping grounds of Jesus and I’m leaving with a full heart overflowing with his love.”

·       “I am overwhelmed by the history, culture and excitement I have felt reliving the incredible biblical story. My favorite place was on the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount. I could sense the presence of Jesus teaching there as a young boy.”

·       “We have to say that you need to put this trip at the top of your list of things to do and places to go.”

·       “The reality of Jesus went deep into my soul as I saw sites where Jesus walked, taught and prayed.”

·       “The Word of God has become more alive and we have been washed and filled with his joy and love for us.”

·       “The most amazing thing to me was to see all the places where end-times prophecy will be fulfilled…the Valley of Armageddon, the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem…so exciting! The most special time with the Lord was at the Western (Wailing) Wall. As soon as I touched the wall and started praying, I felt alone in the presence of God even though I was surrounded by a crowd of people.”

·       “What I probably enjoyed most about my trip to Israel was our guide’s passionate and thought-provoking perspective. I also fully enjoyed the adventures of walking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel and floating and mud-masking in the Dead Sea. In addition, the reaffirming of my baptism in the Jordan River was very special and won’t be soon forgotten.”

·       “Traveling through Israel where Jesus walked made the Bible come to life in unimaginable ways. It strengthened our faith and gave us chills to see living proof of the Bible. The history and culture made it even more special.”

·       “For me, the Mount of Beatitudes and the Garden of Gethsemane made lasting impressions. To pray where Jesus had prayed was very impactful. The entire journey has strengthened my faith and created memories which will last a lifetime.”

Pam and I are thankful to have played a small part in helping our Israel travel-family experience God’s love and grace in new ways. We are beginning to plan a trip for late 2023 tracing Paul’s missionary travels through Southern Turkey, Greece and Rome. We may also organize another trip to Israel in late 2024. If you might be interested in joining us for either of these spiritually encouraging experiences, please let us know.   

Warmly,

Steve and Pam

An Extraordinary Sunday

Sunday, October 16, English Christian Fellowship moved to a new and larger venue. We moved our worship service to the Hilton Garden Inn, located about one-mile from the hotel where we held services for the previous ten months. It was an extraordinary experience from beginning to end.

We had a record-breaking attendance with 107 people. The included 20 first-time guests who shared their contact information. That is an all-time high for us for new guests. Breaking the 100-barrier is especially significant given that less than a year ago ECF’s attendance was hovering around 20 people.

For the past few days, I have pondered why this growth-spurt is happening. One reason, for sure, is the pent-up need in the San Jose area for another thriving English-speaking church. I never cease to be amazed by the number of English-speakers living in this area. This includes native English-speakers and Costa Rican English-speakers. About 50% of our newly emerging congregation are Costa Rican nationals who are choosing to align themselves with ECF’s vision and values.

A second reason for ECF’s growth-spurt has been our leaders who have sold-out to reach more people for Christ. A growing church is LOTS of work. In every church I’ve served I have told my staff team that one reason many churches don’t grow is because growth requires tenacious effort, problem-solving and additional energy. It is much easier to maintain the status quo. But ECF’s leaders have “stepped up the plate” in a huge way.

For example, our worship and tech ministries invested hours and hours to learn how to use new equipment and to get everything set-up so the service could take place smoothly. No one asked them to do this. They did it voluntarily with passion and commitment because they own ECF’s vision to reach more people.

Our welcome ministry did the same thing. Team members arrived early, positioned themselves in their locations and made sure each person attending ECF was loved well and touched personally before they ever walked into the worship center.

ECF’s children’s ministry team also stepped up like never before. In the new hotel, we have two large rooms to use for children’s ministry. So, now we offer classes for two separate age groups. (I hasten to say that ten months ago there were no children attending. Now, every Sunday new families are arriving.) To accommodate this growth, our children’s team has been meeting faithfully during the week to master their new curriculum and to learn the new technology required to use the curriculum.

A third (and more basic) reason for the growth-spurt is that we have more room at the Hilton Garden Inn. With more seats available, we have capacity to reach more people. There is an inexorable law of church growth that once 80% of the seats are occupied, a worship room is effectively full. In ECF’s previous location we were effectively full for the past few months. Now that we have more seats, we are reaching more people.

I believe another reason for the growth-spurt has been vision-clarity. Several months ago, we framed ECF’s vision with three tags lines: Bible-Centered, Love-Saturated and Outreach-Focused.

ECF is unabashedly Bible-Centered. We believe all 66 books of the Bible are God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

ECF is Love-Saturated. Jesus said the greatest single apologetic for his people would be our love for one-another. Our vision is to palpably love each and every person who comes through our doors.

And ECF is Outreach-Focused. We do not exist primarily to serve ourselves. We are not an inward-focused church. We exist to reach others who are not yet with us with the life-changing message of Jesus. 

One final reason for the growth-spurt has been the generous financial support from friends in the USA. When we first arrived in Costa Rica, we assumed that international churches like ECF would be completely self-supporting from local giving. I have since learned from other international church pastors that the majority of churches around the world like ECF receive ongoing outside support to help fuel their ministry. While I continue to passionately exhort local generosity, I now realize that ECF would not be growing like it is without the ongoing help from friends from afar.

Undergirding each of these reasons for ECF’s growth-spurt is God’s amazing grace. Pam and I believed that God had called us into a new adventure when we left the life and ministry we loved in Nevada to move to Costa Rica. This past Sunday at the Hilton Garden Inn we saw tangible fruit of God’s grace. It was extraordinary.

Whenever God prompts you to step into a new adventure of faith, I hope you say “yes!” Pam and I are sure glad we did!

Warmly,

Steve and Pam