Life at MABTS

a glimpse into daily life at mid-america baptist seminary

Posts Tagged latino

Bent Tree / Opening Nite

Apr 21

Posted by Ryan in life at mabts | No Comments

I am in an amazing period of learning in my life. I get to sit under professors that guide me and challenge me for several hours in the morning and then in the afternoon put those things into practice as we work with Hispanics. One of those places in which we put into practice what we’re learning is Bent Tree.

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Bent Tree is an apartment complex in which we are working. We had our first service/interest meeting a few weeks ago. I was fairly certain no one would show up. I was envisioning us gringos staring at each other for the evening. I was wrong.

Five adults and five kiddos showed up. Three families were represented. It was a blast. We’ve had two more services since then and a few more come each time.

We’re working our way through Charles Brock’s Buenas Nuevas Para Ti.

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José

Mar 10

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José jumped out of his vehicle and asked me if anyone answered the door. I had been knocking on his front door while he watched me from his vehicle. I had no idea he was there. As I turned to leave I noticed him talking on his cell phone. He seemed upset. I immediately thought that this might not be the best time to be at this home, so I headed straight for my car. That’s when he jumped out. I told him that no one had answered.

He picked up the phone and told the person on the other end that he would call them back. “Who are you looking for?” he wanted to know. I swallowed. “I am a church planter. I just wanted to meet you.” He looked at me and I could see that tears were filling his eyes. “There are no coincidences.” he said. “Ok.” was all I could muster unsure about what he meant. José began to tell me how he had just been talking to his mother trying to share Scripture with her to encourage her as she was having a very difficult time right now. He then told me that he had become a follower of Jesus, but did not attend a church. “Can you teach us the Bible?” he asked. “I would love to.” I said. He just stood there and waited. “You mean right now?” I asked. “Yes.” he said.

He gathered his family (3 generations) in their living room and set a swiveling desk chair in the middle of the room for me to sit in. We prayed together and applied Colossians 1:15-20 to our lives. The next day José called me and asked if I could come back every week. I will be meeting with José and his family on Saturday evenings. Please pray that José will continue to lead his family toward God. Pray that I will have wisdom in knowing how this family might fit into a new church plant.

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English

Mar 8

Posted by Ryan in life at mabts | No Comments

María is one of the sweetest people we have met since we started church planting in Memphis. She is around 30-years- old and is struggling to raise Arlette on her own. Arlette just turned two, but is significantly behind where she should be developmentally. She doesn’t speak much. Also, she cannot use her arms or legs. She goes in regularly for therapy and has been undergoing a series of surgeries to help her begin to gain use of her limbs. It has been humbling to see Arlette begin to warm to us. She, at first, didn’t want anything to do with me. This probably had to do with the fact that she was suddenly separated from her father by something very much beyond their control.


(María babysits the girl in the photo during the day.)

María is one of the sweetest people we have met since we started church planting in Memphis. She is around 30-years- old and is struggling to raise Arlette on her own. Arlette just turned two, but is significantly behind where she should be developmentally. She doesn’t speak much. Also, she cannot use her arms or legs. She goes in regularly for therapy and has been undergoing a series of surgeries to help her begin to gain use of her limbs. It has been humbling to see Arlette begin to warm to us. She, at first, didn’t want anything to do with me. This probably had to do with the fact that she was suddenly separated from her father by something very much beyond their control.

Amanda has begun to meet with María at least once a week to study English. María is a very diligent worker and has a strong desire to better her English. She wants to understand what the doctors are telling her about her daughter.

María and Amanda aren’t only studying English, but they are becoming friends. Please pray that Amanda is able to share with María the reason that we love her. Please pray that María will open her heart to the One who turns ashes into beauty.

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Mapping

Jan 18

Posted by Ryan in life at mabts | No Comments

I have to keep track of where people are, who they are, what I know about them. It’s just a part of church planting. That takes a lot of organizational energy. One of the ways I stay on top of the game is by mapping Latino households. It helps me keep track of who is where and what contact has been made. It also helps me get an overview of the flow of people and response.

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