Mill Creek Blog

It sort of feels like Acts 20. You know, the passage where Paul says farewell to the leaders of the Ephesian church...

 Well, ok that's a bit dramatic. He said a final farewell...I'm just saying "chao" (good-bye). Anyway...this is a dear church and I've come to love them.

I preached part 2 of my messages on Acts 1:6-8. It was about Christ's preparing the disciples for world-mission. He gave them a

• New priority: kingdom versus politics
• New power: the presence of the Spirit
• New purpose: to be witnesses
• New program: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, etc.

 It was very enjoyable to preach. I had a lot of discussion about the message--about the passage--after the services were over. I think this is one mark of a "successful" sermon!

Afterwards dinner with some old friends--in particular "Fabian" who was a teenager in the church when I started coming down here. Now he has a family and is a spiritual light in his family some 3 hours from here. I met "Christian"--a German youth living in Argentina studying Physics and attending the church. Very interesting guy.

The church was full...downstairs and the balcony section. This is a thriving church...much opportunity and much passion for missions. That was evident during the services. Reports from their works in LaRinconada, Cachi, and among the Mapuche Indians. Sam then presented a need to come alongside Hondurans working in Calcutta, India. They are going to raise funds to support this work as well. Awesome.

I'm far away. But in some ways Centro Crecer feels like Mill Creek.

Read Pastor Pauley's blog updates while he is in Argentina. 

I will be back at Mill Creek this Sunday (Sept. 12) and we will continue our walk through Mark. Looking forward to being with you all again!   --Gary

Sept. 12: Mark 15:16-32, Execution--the murder of Jesus. Also on this Sunday I will report back from my trip to Argentina.  

Sept. 19: Mark 15:33-41, The Death of Jesus. More than a death...God was "in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" (2 Cor. 5:19). What does that mean? What does it mean to you that Jesus died on the cross?

Sept.  26: Mark 15:42-47, The Resurrection of Jesus-the question the skeptic must answer. There are a number of ways to explain away the historical accounts of the resurrection--but upon examination they are not very impressive. What really happened?

Oct. 3: Missionary Rudy Johnson from Cusco, Peru. Rudy was serving in Lima, Peru when Pastor Pauley visited there as a 14 year old boy. This began a long standing friendship. Rudy is responsible for over 90 churches being established in Peru. At age 71 he abandoned his retirement in Miami and returned to Peru. In the Andean city of Cusco he established a camp for children that houses over 200 kids and is yielding amazing fruit for Christ. Don't miss hearing Rudy!  Watch a video of Rudy talking about the work here .

As I was preparing to write this I was thinking through what I wanted to say in Spanish. I guess that's a good sign...

 Since I wrote last the weather has changed. It's now really nice. Yesterday was probably 70.

After writing previously, I spoke to a small group of men--those who now make up and will comprise leadership of Crecer as they adjust for growth. I spoke about Mill Creek and the things we learned growing over the years. Benny Mereshian was present (pictured). Seven years ago Benny and his wife Paula visited Mill Creek when we were meeting in the school. Benny is a primary leader at Centro Crecer.

Yesterday I spoke again at an asado (BBQ) that was for a larger handful of leaders in the church here. I spoke about ancianato, eldership. I spoke about what leadership is in ministry, and a little about leadership structures in churches. Centro Crecer is in the process of rethinking their structure as they have grown and need to reflect the growth in the way they do things. I think it was well received. I know I received the asado very well. Mmmm....

Last night I spoke to a packed house at the church. I am looking at Christ's preparation for the church to share the Gospel throughout the world. In Acts 1:6-8 I am walking through our new priority, new power, new purpose, and new project. Last night I covered the first two.

Heather is getting to know people. She spent the night with "Flor" and "Tochi" last night. I have known these girls for a number of years. She was in good hands--some of the cream of the crop here. They really hit it off. Heather helped with an activity for Jr. High girls yesterday and she was really pleased with how it went.

I'm writing this on Sunday morning. We are going out to breakfast with the Masters. No Sunday morning church here...only Sunday night! It was so good to connect again last night with old friends from this congregation. I began my time preaching by giving them greetings from the congregacion de Mill Creek. They know the name "Mill Creek Community Church."

Very cool.