Nicaragua Recap
A group of five of us, from both Mars Hill campuses, recently traveled to Masatepe, Nicaragua, to work on some projects with a ministry that Mars Hill supports. One Collective is a community transformation ministry working to provide better resources for a stable community, while also seeking to live and proclaim the gospel of Christ among the local people. One way One Collective does this is through operating a farm, which is used to teach agriculture and provide food for the community.
Since Mars began a partnership with One Collective in 2016, the workers have used nearly every square inch of the property to plant fruits and vegetables and raise pigs and chickens. One additional ministry out of the farm is called “La Posada de Lucas,” or, “Luke’s Inn.” Construction is almost complete for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, where residents will both recover from their addiction and learn a useful trade.
One Collective also runs a local bistro that serves coffee and food, but the most impressive thing about this ministry is its effect on the community. People from Masatepe come in and out of the bistro all day, and the staff lovingly interact with them. The environment of infectious joy, both from the missionaries and the Nicaraguan staff, makes Beto’s Bistro stand out as a light in this community that only last year experienced a lot of tension during the Nicaraguan crisis.
I had the great privilege of representing Reaching & Teaching International Ministries with the group of pastors that meets monthly for prayer. I was investigating the possibility of RTIM starting a site for pastors in need of theological training. The response overall was very positive, and we are currently looking into dates for next year to begin a program of theological training for the Central region of Nicaragua in Masatepe.
Out of the entire week, one event stands out and has greatly impacted my life. One evening, Sam Holt and I had dinner at the home of a man known as Don Beto. Don Beto is a leatherworker and a missionary. He makes shoes, bags, accessories, but he also travels all over Nicaragua to areas where people do not know Christ. He’s been doing this work for decades and is one of the humblest men you’ll probably never meet. Take my word for it.
During dinner, I was speaking at one end of the table with Don Beto and his granddaughter. Sam was speaking with our interpreter, Amanda. Somehow they got on the discussion about the doctrine of perseverance (i.e. eternal security). After some time, Amanda decided to ask Don Beto to explain his own position. He went to the sala, pulled out his enormous, worn Bible, and began to explain his view from Hebrews 2. He concluded that a person who doesn’t continue in faith will forfeit salvation.
“No rebuttal. No argument. Just a humble consideration and a willingness to change one’s views simply because he was shown it from Scripture.”
At the other end of the table, Sam asked Amanda to interpret for him. He carefully explained three different passages from Galatians 3 and Philippians 2, among others. Sam was patient, Amanda’s translation was faithful, and Don Beto just listened. When Sam was done, I expected a serious rebuttal. But Don Beto simply smiled. First off, he said that Sam explained the Bible like a “scientist,” which we all found funny. Then, Don Beto said, “This is like what the Bible says in Proverbs 27, where iron sharpens iron. We have been like two pieces of iron, and I have been sharpened. There are people who believe things simply because it’s what they’ve been told, but you (Sam) have clearly shown me what the Bible teaches. You need to come back and teach us someday.” No rebuttal. No argument. Just a humble consideration and a willingness to change one’s views simply because he was shown it from Scripture. It was a profound moment. A combination of Don Beto’s humility, Sam’s courage, Amanda’s concentration on words and their meanings, and the Spirit’s enabling, made this an illuminating engagement. And the whole Body of Christ is the better for it, when each part fulfills its function.
The Lord greatly used the other members of the team, which there’s not enough space to describe here. But I thank the Lord for what I got to witness in Masatepe. I look forward to deepening our partnership there in whatever way the Lord establishes.
Brian Argo
Serves as Associate Worship Pastor at Mars Hill- Fairhope Campus as well as Reaching and Teaching International Ministries