Dear Beloved of God,

Maybe I should change my name? I'm not the same guy I was last week.

  John Shroyer and I just returned from our six-day trip to visit believers and servants-leaders in Barranquilla Colombia, South America.  I've always been passionate about God's global vision of outreach, but my visualization of Word Over the World has increased ten-fold.

  We stayed at the loving home of Martin & Myrna Mendoza and met several times with believers from Colombia and Venezuela.  Juan & Leilian Cabrera and nine others drove 18 hours to Barranquilla to be involved in the activities.  During the adventure, John and I taught at two open meetings of over 100 each, and were involved in ministering groups which helped in the healing, deliverance, and blessing of around 50 believers.  We were also involved in training meetings of their EISYS leadership group from each country.  They have weekend meetings, once a month for three years; then ministry assignments are made available to the graduates.  We witnessed great dedication to God, detailed mindedness, self-sacrifice and love-motivation throughout our days there.

  We don't make these journeys o see the world" or "to experience other cultures."  Our joyful objective in visiting believers is the same as that of our first century family:  confirming, exhorting, ordaining, praying, commending and speaking.

Acts 14:22, 23, 25a:
²² Confirming [espisterizo-to establish more, strengthen more, make more firm] the souls of the disciples, and exhorting [parakaleo-to call to one's side in order to exhort, encourage, comfort, instruct or beseech] them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 
²³ And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to [committed or entrusted them to the care of] the Lord, on whom they believed. 
^25a And when they had preached [from laleo-had spoken] the word…

  One goal that I've had since Sara and I relocated to Tipp City in August was to make sure that I understood the heart of WHY we travel to other areas and countries.  I didn't want to run around the country and world mistaking busyness for progress or hectic activity for true advancement of the Gospel.  Through this resent journey, God greatly clarified for me the remarkable value of believers visiting each other to build up and encourage each other for the overall edification of the church.

  God is not American.  God is not English.  God's favorite food is not McDonald's.  He isn't limited to a two-story ranch in the suburbs.  The American Christian community doesn't "own God;" nor are we His Social security.  God and His people speak with the universal language of faith, hope & love.  His favorite dialect is our prayer by the spirit.  The love and power of God work anywhere at anytime, with the same efficacy.  He has called us to take effort to stand together; and to stand with a global mindset.

  The Word Over the World is God's vision.  Let's keep it ours until we hear the trumpet.  Thanks for your support of CFFM.  We love you and thank God daily for the honor of serving you, your family units and your home fellowships.  Love to hear from you!

Brought (& jazzed about it)

Kevin Guigou / kguigou@woh.rr.com