Matters of Life and Death
I was speaking with one of WME's missionaries earlier today and we were discussing the situation in Honduras. As we talked I reflected again on the circumstances we have just had in the work.
On the last blog post I shared how that 2 pastors that were about to receive CPM training were murdered on the day of the training. This event did not happen specifically because of CPM, that is to say, not because of persecution for the sake of the gospel, but rather as collateral damage in the ongoing drug war in Honduras. Honduras has the number 1 murder rate in the Western Hemisphere (approximately 10 times Mexico, and 3 times Colombia). These pastors were in the crossfire between 2 drug traffickers and the police/military. While this was not "persecution" it certainly was "spiritual warfare".
What I shared with the missionary was the fact that this project is just over 3 years old right now. It officially started in May 2008 when the first workers were trained by Randy and Keith Travis. It seems that though there were many challenges in the first 2 years (remember near civil war for nearly 6 months in 2009) since mid year 2010 the fight has become harder. Since then, 5 people who have been connected in some way to the work have been murdered. 3 of those 5 have been killed in the last month!
The first person was killed in Guatemala, and this was a person that Randy, Keith, and I trained in January 2010 in Mexico. He took a megavoice to begin studies in Guatemala and we have subsequently learned was killed...although I do not know the circumstances. The 2nd person to be killed was a member of one of the DBS studies and his death has been a real difficulty in that particular area of work, something the enemy has tried to use to discourage the others in that particular study. Both of these things happened in 2010.
Then this month, July 2011, the 2 pastors were killed on the day of their training and we just heard that a potential person of peace in another region was murdered.
It occurred to me that this is a sign of increased warfare. Let me put it this way: The project has been ongoing for 3 years and 3 months. In 3 years and 2 months we had seen 2 violent deaths. Then 1 month ago we launched the 300 prayer group and 3 people have been murdered since then. Now, I don't share that to discourage, rather I am encouraged. The prayer level for the HCPM work has seriously increased and we have already seen answers to specific prayers (which are being shared in the emails to the prayer team members!) At the same time, as God's people are increasing prayer and the work is moving forward, the enemy has ramped up his opposition and 3 people have paid with their lives.
So now is the time to keep the prayer going and intensify the prayer cover. Thanks to everyone who is praying, and if you want to join the 300 prayer group send me an email with your name, address, and email to: dparish9@cs.com
What is happening in Honduras is truly a matter of Life and Death. But not just life and death in terms of this life. What we are fighting for is exponential discipling and church planting movements to sweep Honduras and all of Central America resulting in thousands delivered from Eternal Death and brought into the glory of Christ's Eternal Life.
On the last blog post I shared how that 2 pastors that were about to receive CPM training were murdered on the day of the training. This event did not happen specifically because of CPM, that is to say, not because of persecution for the sake of the gospel, but rather as collateral damage in the ongoing drug war in Honduras. Honduras has the number 1 murder rate in the Western Hemisphere (approximately 10 times Mexico, and 3 times Colombia). These pastors were in the crossfire between 2 drug traffickers and the police/military. While this was not "persecution" it certainly was "spiritual warfare".
What I shared with the missionary was the fact that this project is just over 3 years old right now. It officially started in May 2008 when the first workers were trained by Randy and Keith Travis. It seems that though there were many challenges in the first 2 years (remember near civil war for nearly 6 months in 2009) since mid year 2010 the fight has become harder. Since then, 5 people who have been connected in some way to the work have been murdered. 3 of those 5 have been killed in the last month!
The first person was killed in Guatemala, and this was a person that Randy, Keith, and I trained in January 2010 in Mexico. He took a megavoice to begin studies in Guatemala and we have subsequently learned was killed...although I do not know the circumstances. The 2nd person to be killed was a member of one of the DBS studies and his death has been a real difficulty in that particular area of work, something the enemy has tried to use to discourage the others in that particular study. Both of these things happened in 2010.
Then this month, July 2011, the 2 pastors were killed on the day of their training and we just heard that a potential person of peace in another region was murdered.
It occurred to me that this is a sign of increased warfare. Let me put it this way: The project has been ongoing for 3 years and 3 months. In 3 years and 2 months we had seen 2 violent deaths. Then 1 month ago we launched the 300 prayer group and 3 people have been murdered since then. Now, I don't share that to discourage, rather I am encouraged. The prayer level for the HCPM work has seriously increased and we have already seen answers to specific prayers (which are being shared in the emails to the prayer team members!) At the same time, as God's people are increasing prayer and the work is moving forward, the enemy has ramped up his opposition and 3 people have paid with their lives.
So now is the time to keep the prayer going and intensify the prayer cover. Thanks to everyone who is praying, and if you want to join the 300 prayer group send me an email with your name, address, and email to: dparish9@cs.com
What is happening in Honduras is truly a matter of Life and Death. But not just life and death in terms of this life. What we are fighting for is exponential discipling and church planting movements to sweep Honduras and all of Central America resulting in thousands delivered from Eternal Death and brought into the glory of Christ's Eternal Life.
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