Deepening Relationships In Costa Rica
An update from Joselo Mercado, Lead Pastor of Iglesia Gracia Soberana in Gaithersburg, and Emerging Nations Representative to Latin America…
Pura Vida is the phrase that describes the people of Costa Rica; it is their Aloha, which can translate to the Simple Life. For the Ticos, it is a way of life, including their hospitality, kindness, and desire to be good hosts. Our family experienced the Pura Vida for the full 22 days that we spent in this beautiful country.
The primary purpose of this trip was to deepen relationships with three churches in the process of being adopted by SGC and create other relationships with other churches with which we have shared values. We want to learn from the churches in Costa Rica and be able to model SGC's values as a family to the pastors with whom we interact. It is unlikely that pastors in Costa Rica will spend a year in the Colegio de Pastores; due to this, the Latin American Church Fund decided to send us to spend ample time with the churches in Costa Rica. With this in mind, on June 8, Kathy, the children, and I left for this nation in Central America.
For the first four days, we were located in the coastal city of Jaco. We were able to rent an apartment with a kitchen where we received pastoral families to spend time with them for three days. Kathy cooked Caribbean food, and we spent long hours developing relationships. We spent time with the families of Rodrigo Fournier (House 2:42 in San Jose), Allan Mongue (Sovereign Grace Cartago), and Chespi Sandoval (Casa Vida Playa Azul). These days were days of creating more trust in relationships and getting to know each other as families in a more profound way.
The first weekend I had the opportunity to preach at Casa 2:42. There were three meetings, and on Sunday afternoon, we had a time of communion with the church leaders. This included pastors and ministry leaders. It was an exceptional time that allowed us to connect with this precious church. From Monday the 14th to the 16th, I returned to the United States for some ministerial meetings. Kathy stayed in Costa Rica with Joey and Janelle, and each day they met with the wives of these three pastors.
The second weekend we had the opportunity to visit the town of Tamarindo in the province of Guanacaste. There we shared with Pano Rojas, a former member of SGC Louisville for the three years whilst he studied at SBTS. We also got to meet Alex and Lynn. Alex is the other pastor of Casa Vida Tamarindo. It was a time of sharing and seeing the grace of God in this local church and the many areas of affinity that we have. You can preach the word to this precious church on Sunday, in both English and Spanish.
We returned to San Jose on Wednesday, June 23, to give a class at Casa 2:42 on biblical leadership based on Acts 6. That day the church sang my birthday since I had turned forty-seven the entire day. We ended the day with several meetings, including Grace Church elders who wish to consider being adopted. Then on the last weekend of our trip, I gave a marriage seminar and preached Sunday in Sovereign Grace Carthage. We had sweet communion times with the Allan Mongue family.
We hope to make similar trips to other places in Latin America in the coming years. Kathy did an excellent job of connecting with the ladies, and I am so grateful for the testimony of Joey and Janelle. During these 22 days of their service to the church, their attitude towards mission brought glory to God and encouraged all pastors about the power of the gospel in a pastoral family.
We returned with great joy as Christ was proclaimed, relationships were deepened, and pastors were encouraged.
