Published Wed, Dec 10, 25.
Written by Jared Duran.
Looking Back and Ahead
“I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
You have by Your power redeemed Your people…”
Psalm 77:11–15
Looking Back
As we arrive at the end of another year, I am continually reminded of the many exhortations in scripture to “remember”. It’s so easy to be on “autopilot” constantly moving from one thing to the next (especially during the holiday season), and often we can miss an opportunity to look back, remember, and celebrate what God has done.
Here are some things I am looking back on and celebrating over the last 5 months that I have been here in Argentina!
Prayer in the Church
Since the time I arrived at the church here in Mendoza, there has been a huge shift in the culture of prayer. Twice a week, there are devoted times of prayer, but the change is so much deeper than just a change in scheduled meetings. Each of our Sunday services now ends with prayer ministry, and people are stopping to pray for each other and offering prayer way more regularly. A few weeks back, one of our midweek groups had a very small turnout, and the few people present decided to devote the entire time of the group to prayer! Clearly, God is drawing the hearts of his people here more and more towards prayer.
Ministry on the Streets
It was so exciting that as we prayed and asked God for ways to be a blessing to the city of Mendoza, He was so quick to answer! We have continued to go out to the streets either once or twice a week to offer food, prayer, and company to those living there. A few more people from the church have gotten involved, and the church has decided to start financially supporting the work as well!
Trip to Cordoba and John’s Visit
At the end of November, Pastor John Aureli from the Mission Vineyard in San Antonio, Texas, came to visit and encourage the church here and also in Cordoba! I was given the opportunity to travel to Cordoba and spend time with the leaders of another church there. The time was incredibly sweet and encouraging. We got to celebrate with the church as they baptised a whole family from one of the neighborhoods they minister in!
Afterwards, John and I traveled together back to Mendoza, where John led our community in a powerful time of waiting on the Holy Spirit and listening for how God may want to minister. The whole church walked away from the time excited and encouraged to continue in the work God has given us.
Looking Ahead
What’s especially beautiful about the psalmist's example of remembering in Psalm 77 is that he is using this remembering of what God has already done and what He has proven of His character to look ahead. The Psalm starts in a place of despair, but through remembrance of what God has already done (even long before the author was born), the psalmist arrives at a confidence that God will continue to display his faithfulness and love despite circumstances that would contradict this idea.
So, in light of all God has already done this year, here are some of the things I am really excited for next year. Please join me in praying for:
The official start of a public Sunday morning church service for our English-speaking community! We have pulled together a team of a few leaders who are already praying and planning through what it’s going to look like to start this service in the new year. Our meetings have been really encouraging, and I am so excited to see what God does!
Expansion of the Street Ministry. We have been dreaming together about what it could look like to expand the work we are doing in our ministry to the poor. We have been reaching out to some of the shelters in our area and looking into appointing a few leaders to lead more groups going out. I’m so excited to watch this move from a small group going each week to the whole church getting involved in different ways. From cooking and cleaning to prayer and giving rides to church, there are so many ways for our entire community to start being involved in what God is doing!
Partnership Meeting in February. This coming February, all three of the Argentine churches that are part of the partnership we be getting together with the American churches in Buenos Aires for a time of encouragement, prayer, and fellowship! These gatherings always encourage a deeper sense of belonging and help to fight off the threat of isolation and loneliness that so often accompanies leadership in the church
My hope and prayer for each of you is that even right now, you could take one moment to remember something good God has done in the last year, give thanks, and then think of how He may be wanting to move this next year. I hope your holidays are filled with excitement and hope for things to come! Thank you all so much for all your encouragement and prayer through this first part of my time here in Argentina!
During my time at home in Fresno over the holidays, I will be meeting with mentors and praying for direction and wisdom as I make decisions about the future. Please join me in prayer, and feel free to reach out! I hope to see many of you when I am home this month!