By: Laritza del Carmen Mora
But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. –Jeremiah 20:9
This time of service has fueled the fire and zeal for the work of the Lord within me. Just like the prophet Jeremiah, I have done everything to contain it, but I can’t anymore.
On the weekend of February 25-27, 2023, I had the opportunity to coordinate the Maximum Mission together with my Missions Mobilization team. We titled it “Nazarene Outreach” because we aimed to reach non-believers in a community where the Church of the Nazarene is starting up.
Pastor Yunior Sánchez and NYI Vice President Ruth Encarnación were very helpful in planning and executing the activity. We dedicated two months to praying, planning, and creating new strategies that would be appropriate for the community: one of them was “Tell me your story” with the elderly.
One of the participants, Danny, testifies: “Sharing with the elderly and praying with them was very powerful. Listening to them tell their stories and give us an overview of their youth taught me as a young man the importance of valuing every second of life and being grateful for the time I have.”
The community was impacted with the message of love and compassion, and 13 adolescents and children made confessions of faith.
Another young woman, Ariza Quiterio, was also moved: “The community played an important role in this time of service. They loaned us chairs, tents, and spaces to connect with the children and teens while we shared the word of God with them. I could see a hunger to listen in the people and their desire to make a difference in their community.”
As coordinator of Missions Mobilization in the Southern District, I am happy. My longing is for the people of my district to embrace missions work and fan into flame the gift within them to seek and reach the lost.
Transform the Globe 