Thoughts along the way

Episode 21: Authority and Presence

His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us no other choice.

-John R. Stott

We follow the One with authority and presence. For those of us who follow the One who has overcome death there are no un-crossable borders. There are no authorities above Christ! 

The fact that He has authority in heaven not only gives us hope, it ensures our success. Because of His athority no weapon formed against us will prosper, all who raise up against us will fall. By His authority He vindicates us. 

The fact that He is with us, His very presence compels us to join His mission. When we pick up our cross daily and follow Him, we follow Him in life, through death and into eternal life. All of which happens along the path of His mission. 

May we trust completely in His authority. May we follow closely in His presence. 

With much love,ff7ede2e-fa12-4cbb-9c20-5456d1070373 The Downings

Friend, if you enjoyed this thought along the way we invite you to click here and listen to Episode 19. 

Throwback Thursday

Throwback To a Boy And a Butterfly
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A few years ago our mission path took us to the butterfly sanctuary in the cloud forest of Mindo. Mindo is a convenient halfway point between Quito and our churches in Tonsupa. We enjoyed watching the kids try to get the butterflies to eat out of their hands. Elias is holding a butterfly with clear wings. He was so proud of himself.

We invite you to click here to learn more about our story. 

With sh much love,

The Downings

Ministry Story, Thoughts along the way

Ministry Story: Prayer

Have you ever thought about the powerful impact your prayers have? Prayer is the life line of the missionary. When you partner with us in prayer you are truly walking along side of us through thick and thin.

Will you join the prayer community that was spoken about in this podcast? Your prayers can have eternal impact! We invite you to partner with us in this important way! Just Click here to join our prayer vine.

With much love and prayers, 1D9AE994-DBCF-4306-B3B5-871C03069AB0The Downings

Together Tuesday

Together Tuesday: The Millers

Meet the Millers,

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Dave and Barbara work through the Lausanne Church Planting Network and the 220 Challenge to encourage church planting and disciple multiplication across the Churches of God and other evangelical churches in Latin America. They are also working to raise up a new generation of leaders through organizing and planning the International Forum and other regional events for the Church of God.

We invente you to click here and read their story!

Our first encounter with the Millers was when they spoke at the Newton Falls Church of God. We were serving the church at the time. The clarity of their calling stuck us as they spoke of their ministry in Bolivia.

We are honored to call them co-laborers for Christ!B539B0A3-D676-4555-AF9F-DF99456E88FC

They recently began a Go Fund Me campaign to help a young man from Cuba who is fighting cancer. We will be giving to this worthy young man after our next remittance, we invite you to donate alongside of us! Just click here for more information!

We invite you to pray for them as they work tirelessly planting new churches in Latin America.

Together our prayers make a difference!

With much love, C7277E17-6D98-457E-AFCC-1E3289BD0CA8The Downings

We invite you to meet the Jones family. (Click here)

 

Have you met the Todd family yet? If not please click here!

 

Thoughts along the way

Episode 20: Awake

 

Many do not recognize the fact as they ought, that Satan has got men fast asleep in sin and that it is his great device to keep them so. He does not care what we do if he can do that. We may sing songs about the sweet by and by, preach sermons and say prayers until doomsday, and he will never concern himself about us, if we don’t wake anybody up. But if we awake the sleeping sinner he will gnash on us with his teeth. This is our work – to wake people up.

-Catherine Booth

To wake people up…but how? How is our work best done? How do we wake people up? Do we need to update our songs, add lights and a fog machine to our church buildings? Should we change our theology and soften our message? Shall we focus on social programs and building projects? Perhaps the church should concede the cultural war and stop offending sinners. Would it wake people up if we abandon our moral stances? Maybe if we break from our history our tradition then people will wake up. Surly if we build a separate building for the youth, offer separate services based on preferences people will wake up.

Of course all of that is misguided at best when done to wake people up. Isn’t it interesting that we often call upon the church to change instead of calling the sinner to change? The only way to awaken the sinner is to proclaim the Gospel. Everyone has sinned. The wages of sin are death, but the free gift of God is eternal life. Whomsoever will believe in the Lord Jesus will be saved. 

One of the best summaries of the Gospel is found in 1 John 3:23 “This is [God’s] command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another.” Believe in Christ, his death and resurrection and you will be saved. Then you will live a life marked by love, that is the effect of salvation.

May we be torchbearers of this truth. May we seek to wake people up! 

With love,C7277E17-6D98-457E-AFCC-1E3289BD0CA8 The Downings

 

 

If you liked this devotion click here for Episode 19: Presence

Throwback Thursday

Throwback To a Selfie
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We travel a lot on our mission path! This is one of our favorite selfie shots that Tim 2 took a few years ago on one of our journeys. We were on the country road going through an eucalyptus lined areas. We were on a trip to the Cangahua church located in the country side. Cangahua is one of the oldest rural parishes in the Cayambe canton. In the southwest of the parish of Cangahua is the inactive Pambamarca volcano, in whose wasteland, pucarás (military, municipal and religious stuctures) were built, possibly by the Caranqui Indians or by the Incas. Every 29th and 30th of June the celebrations of the Sun or Inti Raymi is celebrated in this area.

Have you heard our podcast about Hot Culture and Cold Culture? If not please click here!

With much love,

The Downings

Ministry Story, Thoughts along the way

Ministry Story: Heavy Hearts

We eagerly await the day when all things are made new! Today’s ministry story happened during the first year of our ministry here. We invite you to journey with us through this difficult ministry encounter. Be prepared to be touched by this sad story.

 

With much love, ff7ede2e-fa12-4cbb-9c20-5456d1070373The Downings