1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:04,010 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,510 --> 00:00:08,410 Speaker 2: Hi there, and welcome to the Praying Christian Women podcast. 3 00:00:08,850 --> 00:00:11,610 Speaker 2: I'm Jamie Hampton, and I am really excited today to 4 00:00:11,670 --> 00:00:15,130 Speaker 2: be here with Susanna Sharp. Susanna is the Director of 5 00:00:15,210 --> 00:00:19,259 Speaker 2: Operations for Impact Latin America. And originally, she's from the 6 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:23,540 Speaker 2: Dominican Republic and has served in cross-cultural leadership roles across 7 00:00:23,579 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. She holds an 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,659 Speaker 2: MDiv at Wesley Seminary, Global Missions, and Theology. She's passionate 9 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:37,100 Speaker 2: about evangelism, leadership, development, and making Jesus known around the world. 10 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 2: And today we're going to be talking with Susanna about 11 00:00:40,450 --> 00:00:43,870 Speaker 2: what Impact Latin America does. She's going to share some 12 00:00:44,090 --> 00:00:47,610 Speaker 2: really amazing stories and get us all on board to 13 00:00:47,650 --> 00:00:51,729 Speaker 2: be supporting Impact Latin America through prayer, through financial partnership, 14 00:00:51,850 --> 00:00:53,330 Speaker 2: and any way that you feel led. 15 00:00:53,390 --> 00:00:57,130 Speaker 1: So Susanna, welcome to the podcast. Thank you, Jamie. It's 16 00:00:57,170 --> 00:01:00,470 Speaker 1: such an honor to be here. Yeah, it's really exciting 17 00:01:00,490 --> 00:01:01,010 Speaker 1: to have you. 18 00:01:01,530 --> 00:01:04,230 Speaker 2: Before we get into talking about what you do and 19 00:01:04,330 --> 00:01:07,619 Speaker 2: just the amazing ministry of Impact Latin America, I wanted 20 00:01:07,780 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 2: to ask you what we ask all of our guests, 21 00:01:09,860 --> 00:01:12,740 Speaker 2: and that is, what's your favorite prayer closet? And that's 22 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 2: in air quotes because it could be, it doesn't have 23 00:01:15,180 --> 00:01:17,300 Speaker 2: to be an actual closet or a room. It could 24 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 2: be totally off the wall. It could be, you know, anything. 25 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,150 Speaker 2: Where do you feel close to God and like to pray? 26 00:01:24,650 --> 00:01:28,070 Speaker 1: That's such a great question. I am going to answer 27 00:01:28,110 --> 00:01:31,330 Speaker 1: it in different ways. I have had a literal prayer 28 00:01:31,390 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: closet before. I remember in an old apartment we lived in, 29 00:01:35,740 --> 00:01:39,860 Speaker 1: I had something set up with an ottoman, books, the Bible. 30 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,300 Speaker 1: It was amazing. During this season in my life, I 31 00:01:43,420 --> 00:01:46,459 Speaker 1: do not have such a closet. But what I am 32 00:01:46,660 --> 00:01:49,620 Speaker 1: using as a just special place where I connect with 33 00:01:49,660 --> 00:01:53,190 Speaker 1: the Lord is my bedroom. And one of the newer 34 00:01:53,250 --> 00:01:57,300 Speaker 1: things that I've started doing lately that has really strengthened 35 00:01:57,390 --> 00:02:01,740 Speaker 1: my prayer life is I purposely kneel. And it's a 36 00:02:01,820 --> 00:02:07,460 Speaker 1: discipline that invites my body to be part of prayer, 37 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 1: to connect with God. But it also minimizes distraction. We 38 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,820 Speaker 1: live in this age of distraction. And I'm not sure 39 00:02:14,870 --> 00:02:17,890 Speaker 1: if this happens to you, but sometimes I'm praying and 40 00:02:18,490 --> 00:02:21,490 Speaker 1: Another thought comes in or someone knocks on the door, 41 00:02:21,650 --> 00:02:25,850 Speaker 1: whatever it is. Kneeling and just connecting and being focused 42 00:02:26,550 --> 00:02:30,630 Speaker 1: really helps. And what I started to realize is that 43 00:02:30,730 --> 00:02:34,530 Speaker 1: I learned this from my mom. So I remember growing up, 44 00:02:34,930 --> 00:02:37,830 Speaker 1: my mom was a prayer warrior, is because I still 45 00:02:37,850 --> 00:02:40,269 Speaker 1: have her around, thank God. But she would be the 46 00:02:40,450 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: kind of woman that at 4 a.m. I would hear her. 47 00:02:44,350 --> 00:02:47,260 Speaker 1: She's praying and she had this whole prayer hour. And 48 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: I remember looking in and saying, what's going on in there? 49 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:53,740 Speaker 1: She would just be kneeling and praying. And then after that, 50 00:02:53,780 --> 00:02:57,490 Speaker 1: she would go on with the day, pack the lunches, etc. 51 00:02:58,030 --> 00:03:00,510 Speaker 1: And now I get to kind of like piggyback off 52 00:03:00,550 --> 00:03:02,350 Speaker 1: of that and see the fruit in my own life. 53 00:03:03,270 --> 00:03:05,050 Speaker 1: I love that. There's so many good things about that. 54 00:03:05,190 --> 00:03:08,910 Speaker 2: So the kneeling, I don't think we've spoken to anyone 55 00:03:08,930 --> 00:03:10,829 Speaker 2: who's brought that up. Like we've had a lot of 56 00:03:10,870 --> 00:03:14,090 Speaker 2: different answers, but I love that element of kneeling. I 57 00:03:14,470 --> 00:03:17,890 Speaker 2: find for a long time in my prayer life and 58 00:03:17,910 --> 00:03:20,450 Speaker 2: relationship with God, I felt like, oh, I don't have 59 00:03:20,490 --> 00:03:23,470 Speaker 2: to be legalistic. I don't have to have a certain posture. 60 00:03:23,530 --> 00:03:25,750 Speaker 2: I could pray anywhere. And I'm kind of getting in 61 00:03:25,810 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 2: my sort of middle age, like I'm starting to find 62 00:03:30,030 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: so much value in ritual and liturgy and things that 63 00:03:36,060 --> 00:03:39,180 Speaker 2: I can accept and really embrace because I know that 64 00:03:39,220 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 2: they're not making, you know, the act of kneeling isn't 65 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,210 Speaker 2: somehow supernatural, but the act of kneeling can bring you 66 00:03:47,270 --> 00:03:50,410 Speaker 2: into the presence of God in a way that because 67 00:03:50,470 --> 00:03:53,570 Speaker 2: you're changing your posture, it's like taking your shoes off, 68 00:03:53,660 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: you know, and feeling like you're on a hallowed ground 69 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: or like sometimes in church, I'll be, the pastor will say, 70 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:02,340 Speaker 2: it's time to pray and I'll uncross my legs. 71 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: I just have this thing. 72 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:05,180 Speaker 2: I don't want to be sitting like with my legs crossed. 73 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: I don't know why. 74 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: And the prayers would be just as effective if I 75 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 2: were standing or walking and I do that sometimes. But 76 00:04:11,470 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: I just love that, how it removes distractions, but it just, 77 00:04:15,260 --> 00:04:18,300 Speaker 2: it's like a cue, like a body cue, like it's 78 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 2: time to pray. And I'm prostrate before God in reverence and, 79 00:04:23,540 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 2: you know, just recognizing His holiness with your body. 80 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:31,070 Speaker 1: And it's so cool. Yeah. And your mom, what a. 81 00:04:30,790 --> 00:04:34,070 Speaker 2: Blessing for her, for you to see her. Like a 82 00:04:34,110 --> 00:04:36,210 Speaker 2: lot of times when my kids were younger, I would 83 00:04:36,250 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 2: kind of I don't know if it was like, I just, 84 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 2: I would go somewhere to pray and I wouldn't really 85 00:04:41,660 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: want necessarily them to come in and seeing me praying. 86 00:04:45,020 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: But then I came to a point of realizing when 87 00:04:47,460 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: they see me praying or they know that I'm praying, 88 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: like that's, that speaks volumes to them. So how nice, 89 00:04:54,980 --> 00:04:58,729 Speaker 2: I mean, how special that you have that connection with 90 00:04:58,790 --> 00:05:01,110 Speaker 2: her and can, you know, then pass it on. 91 00:05:01,130 --> 00:05:04,190 Speaker 1: Yeah. I love that you just said that for all 92 00:05:04,210 --> 00:05:07,390 Speaker 1: the moms that might be listening in there. Your kids 93 00:05:07,450 --> 00:05:12,500 Speaker 1: are watching. Even if you're sitting down on the couch, 94 00:05:13,180 --> 00:05:15,940 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you start praying, praying over meals, 95 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: things that seem almost habitual, they stick with you. Yeah. 96 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: I just have heard so many people talk about how 97 00:05:24,690 --> 00:05:28,089 Speaker 2: meaningful it was for them to catch their parents praying 98 00:05:28,330 --> 00:05:29,109 Speaker 2: when they were younger. 99 00:05:29,270 --> 00:05:31,950 Speaker 1: I just think that's really neat. Yeah. Yeah. 100 00:05:32,540 --> 00:05:35,420 Speaker 2: Well, tell us a little bit about Impact Latin America 101 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 2: for those of our listeners who haven't heard of it. 102 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:43,190 Speaker 2: Just what is your role and how do you accomplish it? 103 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:46,670 Speaker 1: And what does Impact Latin America do? Where do you operate? 104 00:05:46,910 --> 00:05:51,190 Speaker 1: All the things. That's a great question. So we partner 105 00:05:51,250 --> 00:05:55,789 Speaker 1: with God in bringing His peace to Latin America. That's 106 00:05:56,029 --> 00:05:59,190 Speaker 1: our motto. And the way that we do it is 107 00:05:59,350 --> 00:06:06,130 Speaker 1: through interdenominational partnerships. So we work within so many denominations 108 00:06:06,589 --> 00:06:12,190 Speaker 1: around Latin America to equip people, regular women and men, 109 00:06:12,690 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: to go out and share their faith, planting house churches. 110 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: And we do that in ways that equip and welcome 111 00:06:21,339 --> 00:06:24,859 Speaker 1: different people from different walks of life. It's a very 112 00:06:24,940 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: holistic ministry, and we feel very passionate about it. It 113 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: requires more prayer than you can imagine, because this is 114 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:41,420 Speaker 1: God's work, and we're literally just meeting people where they're at, 115 00:06:41,980 --> 00:06:45,300 Speaker 1: responding to the question, what would Jesus do? Where does 116 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,420 Speaker 1: Jesus want us to go? And that's what Impact Latin 117 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: America is doing by equipping, making disciples, and planting churches. 118 00:06:54,070 --> 00:06:54,710 Speaker 1: I love that. 119 00:06:54,990 --> 00:06:58,630 Speaker 2: And I love the fact that the goal is to 120 00:06:59,350 --> 00:07:02,130 Speaker 2: equip leaders, not just to come in and be leaders, 121 00:07:02,770 --> 00:07:06,810 Speaker 2: but to equip leaders who already have boots on the ground, 122 00:07:07,010 --> 00:07:10,180 Speaker 2: who already are familiar with the area, with the needs 123 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 2: of the communities and things like that. 124 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:17,850 Speaker 1: That's just pretty amazing. Yeah, we only work with locals 125 00:07:18,110 --> 00:07:22,110 Speaker 1: in Latin America, which I think is very unique. But 126 00:07:22,370 --> 00:07:25,650 Speaker 1: we understand that nobody but the people who are actually 127 00:07:25,750 --> 00:07:31,100 Speaker 1: living in that region will understand the context, the challenges, 128 00:07:31,460 --> 00:07:34,820 Speaker 1: the culture, the way people speak in a way that 129 00:07:34,860 --> 00:07:39,690 Speaker 1: will make Jesus more accessible to them. So that's really key. 130 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,700 Speaker 1: And one of the unique things... The main question is why? 131 00:07:45,300 --> 00:07:49,860 Speaker 1: Why this method? Well, we're seeing a rise in secularism, 132 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,050 Speaker 1: I think even in the United States, but in Latin 133 00:07:53,090 --> 00:07:56,450 Speaker 1: America as well. And the question is, there are churches, 134 00:07:56,990 --> 00:07:59,770 Speaker 1: so what's going on? But the reality is that a 135 00:07:59,810 --> 00:08:02,490 Speaker 1: lot of people are staying on the inside, but they're 136 00:08:02,510 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: not going outside. And that's where training lay people, regular 137 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,750 Speaker 1: people to go outside, to gain the confidence, to say, yes, 138 00:08:14,170 --> 00:08:17,030 Speaker 1: I am also being invited by God to be part 139 00:08:17,050 --> 00:08:20,070 Speaker 1: of the Great Commission. That's where that comes in. So 140 00:08:20,170 --> 00:08:22,690 Speaker 1: we equip people so that they get out of the 141 00:08:22,740 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: pews and go out to make disciples. 142 00:08:26,380 --> 00:08:30,980 Speaker 2: That's great, because I think too often there's this idea that, oh, okay, 143 00:08:31,340 --> 00:08:34,740 Speaker 2: you know, the pastor, the preacher, you know, that person 144 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: is the one that's kind of responsible for shepherding people. 145 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:44,060 Speaker 2: And I love that model of basically everyone is a disciple. 146 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:47,569 Speaker 2: Everyone is part of the Great Commission because it's true. 147 00:08:47,850 --> 00:08:49,190 Speaker 1: It really is, every one of us. 148 00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:53,490 Speaker 2: And I think sometimes it's difficult because, you know, lay 149 00:08:53,530 --> 00:08:58,620 Speaker 2: people don't feel equipped. We don't feel like we're maybe 150 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,740 Speaker 2: worthy of, you know, it's like, I've got to get 151 00:09:00,780 --> 00:09:02,980 Speaker 2: my act together. I've got to learn more. You know, 152 00:09:03,020 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 2: I've got to be a Bible scholar and have a 153 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,699 Speaker 2: degree to be able to go out and evangelize. But 154 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,790 Speaker 2: what does that discipleship look like just kind of a 155 00:09:11,830 --> 00:09:16,329 Speaker 2: few practical examples of what that training involves and how 156 00:09:16,450 --> 00:09:21,310 Speaker 2: soon these lay people are able to begin ministry in earnest. 157 00:09:21,910 --> 00:09:25,980 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, this all starts with prayer. It's going to 158 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: the churches and inviting people who are already believers and saying, hey, 159 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,820 Speaker 1: this is what God is inviting you to. Do you 160 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,740 Speaker 1: want to say yes? And then we start to give 161 00:09:37,780 --> 00:09:42,020 Speaker 1: you the resources through something that we call ministerial formation, 162 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 1: which is we provide these lay leaders with biblical training, 163 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:52,650 Speaker 1: theological training, and mentorship so that they can feel accompanied 164 00:09:52,830 --> 00:09:58,190 Speaker 1: to do this work. So nobody walks alone. So you're 165 00:09:58,230 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: learning how to read the Bible. how to share the Bible, 166 00:10:02,660 --> 00:10:05,239 Speaker 1: how to answer to some of the difficult questions that 167 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,540 Speaker 1: do come up. You know, some of the difficult ones like, 168 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:13,690 Speaker 1: why does God allow suffering? Or why does Jesus command this? 169 00:10:13,850 --> 00:10:19,670 Speaker 1: Or how do you live a healthy spiritual Christian life? Ultimately, 170 00:10:20,460 --> 00:10:24,780 Speaker 1: We understand that we need to equip leaders to share 171 00:10:24,820 --> 00:10:28,980 Speaker 1: their faith, but they themselves need to be healthy in Christ, 172 00:10:29,460 --> 00:10:32,699 Speaker 1: have a firm foundation in Christ so that they can 173 00:10:32,740 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: disciple other healthy people so that they can grow in 174 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: their faith. And one of the things that I'll ask 175 00:10:39,780 --> 00:10:42,380 Speaker 1: everybody here, but I'll ask you too, is do you 176 00:10:42,450 --> 00:10:45,470 Speaker 1: remember when you were discipled? Yes. 177 00:10:45,710 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 2: There wasn't one particular moment or one particular person. But 178 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: along the way, I could name probably six or seven 179 00:10:55,230 --> 00:10:58,069 Speaker 2: people along the way. I mean, I think, you know, 180 00:10:58,250 --> 00:11:02,589 Speaker 2: of people when I was young in church, especially a 181 00:11:03,330 --> 00:11:05,990 Speaker 2: couple of our youth leaders that really invested in me, 182 00:11:06,130 --> 00:11:07,990 Speaker 2: time and energy and prayer. 183 00:11:08,309 --> 00:11:09,429 Speaker 1: And then in. 184 00:11:09,429 --> 00:11:13,650 Speaker 2: College, there was a girl that became my roommate who 185 00:11:13,690 --> 00:11:17,390 Speaker 2: really helped disciple me. And then some of the leaders 186 00:11:17,470 --> 00:11:19,550 Speaker 2: in the Christian fellowship group that I was in and 187 00:11:20,130 --> 00:11:23,850 Speaker 2: And then just some people that were even younger than me, 188 00:11:23,970 --> 00:11:26,469 Speaker 2: some that were much older than me, that just, I just, 189 00:11:26,550 --> 00:11:30,250 Speaker 2: it's like, I feel like I just took pieces of 190 00:11:30,470 --> 00:11:35,850 Speaker 2: their faith and things that I admired about them and 191 00:11:36,210 --> 00:11:40,949 Speaker 2: sort of incorporated it into my own personality. And I 192 00:11:40,970 --> 00:11:44,429 Speaker 2: would say sometimes I would hit the pitfall of wanting 193 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 2: to be them. and thinking, I want a prayer life 194 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,490 Speaker 2: like that person. I want to minister like that person. 195 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,550 Speaker 2: I want to evangelize like that person. And sometimes it 196 00:11:52,570 --> 00:11:55,930 Speaker 2: didn't fit. I tried to put on that persona or whatever, 197 00:11:55,950 --> 00:11:59,250 Speaker 2: and it's like, that's not me. And when I realized, 198 00:11:59,370 --> 00:12:02,050 Speaker 2: I mean, a big part of Alana's and my message 199 00:12:02,110 --> 00:12:05,150 Speaker 2: really through Praying Christian Women is pray like you. And 200 00:12:05,460 --> 00:12:08,860 Speaker 2: that means find the people that you admire, that you 201 00:12:08,940 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 2: see having a vibrant, wonderful relationship with God. 202 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:14,569 Speaker 1: But then make it yours. 203 00:12:14,850 --> 00:12:18,069 Speaker 2: And rather than trying to be them, take those things 204 00:12:18,150 --> 00:12:20,410 Speaker 2: and kind of, and I feel like that's what discipleship is. 205 00:12:20,550 --> 00:12:23,500 Speaker 2: It's becoming who you were always meant to be by 206 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:28,780 Speaker 2: gleaning truths and insights and, you know, ways of studying scripture, 207 00:12:28,820 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 2: ways of praying, you know, and just kind of trying 208 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 2: them on and maybe, you know, altering them a little 209 00:12:34,620 --> 00:12:37,750 Speaker 2: to fit your personality and your learning style and your 210 00:12:37,830 --> 00:12:38,810 Speaker 2: relationship with God. 211 00:12:39,429 --> 00:12:54,990 Speaker 1: So yeah, discipleship is beautiful. One of the things you 212 00:12:55,010 --> 00:12:58,850 Speaker 1: just said is how discipleship can look different and how 213 00:12:58,950 --> 00:13:03,740 Speaker 1: different people are pouring into your faith journey through the 214 00:13:03,790 --> 00:13:08,100 Speaker 1: whole process of life. And that's the thing is you 215 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: see a lot of people who maybe they hear about Jesus, 216 00:13:13,380 --> 00:13:18,610 Speaker 1: but they're not being accompanied by anyone. They're not being discipled. 217 00:13:19,350 --> 00:13:23,530 Speaker 1: And that's what we've identified is the key. to a 218 00:13:23,630 --> 00:13:27,570 Speaker 1: long-term relationship with the Lord. He never wanted us to 219 00:13:27,630 --> 00:13:31,710 Speaker 1: do this in isolation. We also don't have to be 220 00:13:31,770 --> 00:13:34,630 Speaker 1: perfect because there's moments in our Christian life where God 221 00:13:34,670 --> 00:13:36,950 Speaker 1: puts people and it's like, okay, Lord, you want me 222 00:13:36,990 --> 00:13:41,209 Speaker 1: to disciple this person. How do I do it? I've 223 00:13:41,230 --> 00:13:44,100 Speaker 1: learned not to pretend to be perfect, but there are 224 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: things in my life, special sufferings, I don't know, maybe 225 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:53,500 Speaker 1: even context, family situations, whatever it is, things that God 226 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: ordained for me to pour into somebody else so that 227 00:13:56,860 --> 00:14:00,180 Speaker 1: He can be reflected and He does the work. And 228 00:14:00,260 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: this is where equipping leaders, healthy leaders specifically, is very important. 229 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:09,540 Speaker 1: Because some people can step into the mission field with ideas, 230 00:14:10,090 --> 00:14:14,870 Speaker 1: personal agendas. But when the agenda is Jesus Christ Himself, 231 00:14:15,550 --> 00:14:20,530 Speaker 1: reflecting Him and pouring into people's lives because we love them, 232 00:14:21,130 --> 00:14:25,450 Speaker 1: then that's intentionality. And that's where this model that we 233 00:14:25,630 --> 00:14:30,340 Speaker 1: use comes in. We accompany leaders so that these leaders 234 00:14:30,420 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: can develop the character, the maturity, the confidence, but also 235 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,980 Speaker 1: the accountability. They're not left alone in the moment that 236 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,350 Speaker 1: they decide to plant a house church, either at a 237 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:48,450 Speaker 1: park or in somebody's house, et cetera. They're not left alone. 238 00:14:48,490 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: They can come back and say, hey, this is, being difficult. 239 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,900 Speaker 1: This person came in. I'm really worried about X person 240 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: that I encountered. They're in drug addiction, but I really 241 00:14:57,900 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: feel like the Lord is coming or asking me to 242 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,540 Speaker 1: do something about it. How do I do that? And 243 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:09,870 Speaker 1: we don't walk alone. In the moment that this leader 244 00:15:10,590 --> 00:15:14,190 Speaker 1: starts to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to make 245 00:15:14,230 --> 00:15:17,990 Speaker 1: a disciple, to walk along a disciple, there also comes 246 00:15:18,050 --> 00:15:22,270 Speaker 1: a discernment process eventually. is this person someone God is 247 00:15:22,410 --> 00:15:26,110 Speaker 1: also calling to be equipped so that they too can 248 00:15:26,170 --> 00:15:29,090 Speaker 1: reach out to their people, other people who do not 249 00:15:29,150 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: know Jesus, and they start that process of disciple making 250 00:15:32,620 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: and multiplication. Yeah. No, that's great. I love that. I 251 00:15:36,420 --> 00:15:37,100 Speaker 1: love that model. 252 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,260 Speaker 2: Well, could you highlight, I know it's kind of hard 253 00:15:39,300 --> 00:15:43,980 Speaker 2: because Impact Latin America serves many different regions, countries with 254 00:15:44,180 --> 00:15:46,810 Speaker 2: many different challenges, but could you just highlight a few 255 00:15:46,830 --> 00:15:49,780 Speaker 2: of kind of the the recurring challenges in some of 256 00:15:49,820 --> 00:15:51,850 Speaker 2: the countries that Impact Latin America serves? 257 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:57,690 Speaker 1: Yeah, we are focused and specifically only on Latin America. 258 00:15:58,210 --> 00:16:01,930 Speaker 1: It's a very special call. And the way that all 259 00:16:01,950 --> 00:16:05,250 Speaker 1: of this came to be is that this model that 260 00:16:05,290 --> 00:16:10,479 Speaker 1: we're using has been used around the world to spread disciples, 261 00:16:10,580 --> 00:16:14,940 Speaker 1: to share the gospel, to evangelize and plant churches around 262 00:16:14,980 --> 00:16:19,700 Speaker 1: the world. And we contextualized it for the Latin American context. 263 00:16:20,470 --> 00:16:23,370 Speaker 1: So it's been tweaked so that it makes sense to 264 00:16:23,390 --> 00:16:26,030 Speaker 1: the people in the different nations that we serve. And 265 00:16:26,070 --> 00:16:30,230 Speaker 1: we're serving 20 nations currently looking to expand to others 266 00:16:30,370 --> 00:16:33,970 Speaker 1: as God guides. And I'm talking about Venezuela. I'm talking 267 00:16:34,010 --> 00:16:39,500 Speaker 1: about Cuba. I'm talking about Mexico, Puerto Rico, you name it. 268 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: We are around 20 nations discipling people. And The challenges, 269 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: they look very different. As you might understand, every one 270 00:16:50,180 --> 00:16:54,220 Speaker 1: of these nations are different. The cultures are different. The 271 00:16:54,340 --> 00:16:59,050 Speaker 1: food is different. The social economic situations are different. But 272 00:16:59,190 --> 00:17:05,530 Speaker 1: here are the things that we have identified as commonalities. 273 00:17:06,170 --> 00:17:10,500 Speaker 1: And that includes, we're seeing in many of the communities, 274 00:17:10,660 --> 00:17:16,670 Speaker 1: just a widespread violence. We see family brokenness. We see 275 00:17:16,690 --> 00:17:21,209 Speaker 1: an increase in drug abuse. We see an increase in 276 00:17:21,410 --> 00:17:28,890 Speaker 1: suicide and depression in all ages, from teenagers to the elderly. 277 00:17:29,450 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: So all of these reflect a spiritual vacuum. There's a 278 00:17:33,780 --> 00:17:38,020 Speaker 1: sense of desperation, but we know that God can fill that. 279 00:17:38,180 --> 00:17:42,139 Speaker 1: We know that Jesus wants to plant and transform and heal. 280 00:17:42,740 --> 00:17:46,510 Speaker 1: and bring us peace. That's why it's so important to 281 00:17:46,790 --> 00:17:50,649 Speaker 1: go out, share with those who wouldn't step into a 282 00:17:50,710 --> 00:17:51,650 Speaker 1: church otherwise. 283 00:17:52,310 --> 00:17:56,230 Speaker 2: Yeah. And I imagine with a lot of those challenges, 284 00:17:56,790 --> 00:18:00,050 Speaker 2: it's really important to know your area, like you said, 285 00:18:00,170 --> 00:18:03,130 Speaker 2: by working with, partnering with people that are already local 286 00:18:03,670 --> 00:18:07,820 Speaker 2: that can give you insights into the challenges that exist 287 00:18:07,859 --> 00:18:10,859 Speaker 2: there and even the dangers that might exist or the 288 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,020 Speaker 2: political tension or gang activity. 289 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,050 Speaker 1: In across areas. So, yeah. 290 00:18:16,530 --> 00:18:20,410 Speaker 2: Well, do you have any favorite stories about how Impact 291 00:18:20,430 --> 00:18:23,090 Speaker 2: Latin America is making a difference in these areas? Just 292 00:18:23,390 --> 00:18:25,609 Speaker 2: stories that are encouraging and inspiring? 293 00:18:25,630 --> 00:18:30,540 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's different stories. You mentioned the amount of gang 294 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: violence and different activities that just they dehumanize people. And 295 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: Latin America is so beautiful. If you've ever gone there, 296 00:18:40,900 --> 00:18:44,190 Speaker 1: you know, from the beaches to the warmth of the people, 297 00:18:44,830 --> 00:18:49,630 Speaker 1: it's heartbreaking that just people still need to hear about 298 00:18:49,690 --> 00:18:52,690 Speaker 1: the Lord. But we believe that that's why we exist, 299 00:18:53,190 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: is to continue to make disciples and multiply people. One 300 00:18:57,300 --> 00:19:00,700 Speaker 1: of the stories that comes to my mind when I 301 00:19:00,740 --> 00:19:06,620 Speaker 1: think about why house churches, why? I think about Ecuador. 302 00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:13,590 Speaker 1: Just recently, this year, they were on a high-violence surveillance 303 00:19:13,670 --> 00:19:17,909 Speaker 1: because of different political unrest. And what happened was that 304 00:19:17,950 --> 00:19:21,350 Speaker 1: a lot of people couldn't leave their homes, but they 305 00:19:21,410 --> 00:19:25,070 Speaker 1: were able to meet in-house churches. And people who couldn't 306 00:19:25,109 --> 00:19:28,500 Speaker 1: go to school, kids, families, that all of a sudden 307 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: there's this unrest, it's not safe, they're able to walk 308 00:19:32,859 --> 00:19:35,710 Speaker 1: to their neighbor who has a house of peace. which 309 00:19:35,770 --> 00:19:40,149 Speaker 1: is what we call house churches. People who otherwise wouldn't 310 00:19:40,210 --> 00:19:43,490 Speaker 1: have gone to your church if you had personally invited them. 311 00:19:44,090 --> 00:19:46,290 Speaker 1: So what we see in house churches is an opportunity. 312 00:19:47,190 --> 00:19:51,050 Speaker 1: Similar things we see happening in Cuba and Venezuela. where 313 00:19:51,430 --> 00:19:54,990 Speaker 1: anything that disrupts just the social order, all of a 314 00:19:55,020 --> 00:19:58,120 Speaker 1: sudden people are not allowed to meet out, but they 315 00:19:58,300 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: are allowed to join an invitation from their neighbor. And 316 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:06,020 Speaker 1: all of a sudden they're having community. It's a safe 317 00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:11,270 Speaker 1: space for family. for people of different situations, and all 318 00:20:11,290 --> 00:20:14,470 Speaker 1: of a sudden lives are being transformed. There's a story 319 00:20:14,670 --> 00:20:20,050 Speaker 1: about a lady called Presentacion, which means presentation. We get 320 00:20:20,109 --> 00:20:26,290 Speaker 1: very creative with our names. It's a pretty name. Presentation, yeah, 321 00:20:26,510 --> 00:20:28,290 Speaker 1: it's beautiful. It has meaning, right? 322 00:20:28,530 --> 00:20:29,649 Speaker 2: Yeah. 323 00:20:30,330 --> 00:20:35,210 Speaker 1: She's 74 years old in Paraguay. And her story is 324 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,590 Speaker 1: that she was going through all the pain that you 325 00:20:38,609 --> 00:20:41,750 Speaker 1: can imagine a woman's going through. She's seeing her kids 326 00:20:41,810 --> 00:20:44,609 Speaker 1: are not walking in the Lord. She doesn't have the 327 00:20:44,650 --> 00:20:47,340 Speaker 1: Lord herself, so she doesn't quite understand, but she's seeing 328 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:49,859 Speaker 1: that her kids are going off the deep end, a 329 00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:55,260 Speaker 1: lot of brokenness. Her granddaughter is in drug abuse, so 330 00:20:55,340 --> 00:21:00,020 Speaker 1: she's addicted to these substances. Presentación herself is having a 331 00:21:00,619 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: lot of health issues. And one of the people who 332 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,540 Speaker 1: planted a house of peace felt like the Holy Spirit 333 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: was guiding them and said, hey, knock on different people's 334 00:21:11,700 --> 00:21:14,540 Speaker 1: doors and ask how you can pray for them. So 335 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:19,250 Speaker 1: that's how Presentacion gets connected to this person, is invited 336 00:21:19,310 --> 00:21:24,310 Speaker 1: to this house of peace, to their home. And through 337 00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:27,950 Speaker 1: that relationship with Jesus, she starts to see changes in 338 00:21:27,990 --> 00:21:32,459 Speaker 1: her family. First within herself, then in her family. I 339 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,219 Speaker 1: failed to mention that the health situations that she was 340 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 1: experiencing is that she couldn't walk. So she had to 341 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: be wheeled into places. Well, the house church prayed over 342 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: her for several weeks, and she is now walking. Wow. 343 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: That's amazing. That's a big story, but everybody here who 344 00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:55,790 Speaker 1: believes in prayer knows that God does miracles. Absolutely. And 345 00:21:55,810 --> 00:22:00,710 Speaker 1: now Presentación is going out, evangelizing to her family, and... 346 00:22:01,630 --> 00:22:06,250 Speaker 1: That's just the cycle of discipleship. When God enters your 347 00:22:06,290 --> 00:22:10,550 Speaker 1: life and does something miraculous, transforms you, heals you, presents 348 00:22:10,590 --> 00:22:13,350 Speaker 1: himself as your savior, you can't just hold it in. 349 00:22:13,410 --> 00:22:17,350 Speaker 1: You go out. So we are praying and hoping that 350 00:22:17,750 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: this Presentacion's family is going to come to the Lord 351 00:22:22,619 --> 00:22:25,140 Speaker 1: and that her granddaughter is going to be healed from 352 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:26,020 Speaker 1: her drug addiction. 353 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 2: And it all starts with basically praying being hopeless, feeling hopeless, 354 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:37,100 Speaker 2: and kind of desperate sometimes, I think. That is when 355 00:22:37,940 --> 00:22:43,110 Speaker 2: we as people become able to reach beyond ourselves because 356 00:22:43,130 --> 00:22:45,290 Speaker 2: we're at the end of ourselves, right? And so just 357 00:22:45,330 --> 00:22:48,830 Speaker 2: to see that these communities are just kind of going 358 00:22:48,950 --> 00:22:50,710 Speaker 2: out and saying, how can I help you? How can 359 00:22:50,750 --> 00:22:54,669 Speaker 2: I pray for you? And just opening that door allows 360 00:22:54,770 --> 00:22:58,949 Speaker 2: for someone to come to church and experience a miracle. 361 00:22:58,990 --> 00:23:01,930 Speaker 2: And it might not be a miracle of walking after 362 00:23:01,990 --> 00:23:04,810 Speaker 2: not being able to walk, but experience is just the 363 00:23:04,850 --> 00:23:08,870 Speaker 2: miracle of being brought from spiritual death into faith in Jesus, 364 00:23:09,030 --> 00:23:13,369 Speaker 2: which is a miracle too. But I love that healing was, 365 00:23:13,390 --> 00:23:16,070 Speaker 2: I mean, it's so biblical. I mean, I'm just thinking, yeah, 366 00:23:16,109 --> 00:23:19,970 Speaker 2: that happened in the Bible many times where someone was desperate, 367 00:23:20,790 --> 00:23:24,869 Speaker 2: Jesus healed them, and then they couldn't help but share it. 368 00:23:24,970 --> 00:23:29,140 Speaker 2: Like that was, their life became just an overflow of gratitude, 369 00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:31,900 Speaker 2: and people couldn't help but see it and be changed. 370 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: And that's an amazing story. Yeah. When we think about healing, 371 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:40,060 Speaker 1: I want to share Inelitza's story, because I think it's 372 00:23:40,100 --> 00:23:44,540 Speaker 1: another example that God is walking through you through the brokenness. 373 00:23:45,060 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: So many people here might be familiar with the situation 374 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: in Venezuela, but for many years, the Venezuelan nation has 375 00:23:55,180 --> 00:24:00,330 Speaker 1: just been experiencing just severe need in so many ways, 376 00:24:00,950 --> 00:24:06,030 Speaker 1: in so many ways. And because of the economic, political unrest, 377 00:24:07,260 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: Ineliza specifically shares her story that her husband had to 378 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: get a creative second job. And what he did was he, 379 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: to provide for his family because there's no food, there's 380 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 1: no access to different things, he goes and starts doing 381 00:24:24,940 --> 00:24:29,780 Speaker 1: a taxi service. He never comes back home because one 382 00:24:29,820 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: of the gangs kills him in order to steal the car. Now, 383 00:24:36,380 --> 00:24:41,070 Speaker 1: Ineliza is left with two young children in this situation, 384 00:24:41,910 --> 00:24:45,550 Speaker 1: completely hopeless. What do I do? I just lost the 385 00:24:45,590 --> 00:24:49,609 Speaker 1: love of my life. I just lost my provider as well, 386 00:24:49,630 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: the person who watches out for our substance. What do 387 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:57,790 Speaker 1: I do? And she goes into this cycle of depression, 388 00:24:57,810 --> 00:25:03,109 Speaker 1: and she doesn't know that even though there's this huge 389 00:25:03,170 --> 00:25:05,350 Speaker 1: loss that's happening in her life, God has a plan. 390 00:25:05,950 --> 00:25:10,450 Speaker 1: And God's plan for Ineliza looks like one person from 391 00:25:10,490 --> 00:25:16,609 Speaker 1: a church asks her, he loses everything, and he's asking her, hey, 392 00:25:17,130 --> 00:25:20,070 Speaker 1: would you be willing to rent out your home to me? 393 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 1: She is distraught. She can't live in the home that 394 00:25:24,859 --> 00:25:26,940 Speaker 1: she used to share with her husband. So she moves 395 00:25:26,980 --> 00:25:30,060 Speaker 1: to her parents' house with the kids. And she leaves 396 00:25:30,380 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: this home to this friend from a church. She didn't 397 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,630 Speaker 1: think about it much. This person starts to pour into her. 398 00:25:38,270 --> 00:25:40,909 Speaker 1: He is running a house of peace that he establishes 399 00:25:41,270 --> 00:25:42,230 Speaker 1: in that house. 400 00:25:42,570 --> 00:25:42,970 Speaker 2: Wow. 401 00:25:43,710 --> 00:25:49,740 Speaker 1: Make a long story short. In Elitza... starts to trust 402 00:25:49,820 --> 00:25:57,360 Speaker 1: in God, in his providence, eventually just surrenders this house. Today, 403 00:25:58,100 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 1: she's the regional director for Venezuela. Oh my goodness, that's really, 404 00:26:02,940 --> 00:26:09,020 Speaker 1: really neat. And Venezuela has more than 700 house churches planted. Wow, 405 00:26:09,580 --> 00:26:17,460 Speaker 1: that's incredible. Her story of desolation, of brokenness, of extreme pain, 406 00:26:18,270 --> 00:26:23,670 Speaker 1: God transformed and slowly started inviting her to become somebody 407 00:26:24,170 --> 00:26:29,020 Speaker 1: who could disciple others. In Venezuela today, through Impact Latin America, 408 00:26:29,140 --> 00:26:32,500 Speaker 1: more than 4,000 people are being discipled. And Inaliza is 409 00:26:32,540 --> 00:26:47,670 Speaker 1: a key part of that. That's incredible. I love that. 410 00:26:48,230 --> 00:26:51,889 Speaker 1: I just want to remind everyone here, beyond inviting you 411 00:26:51,910 --> 00:26:55,550 Speaker 1: to be a part of what Impact is doing, whatever 412 00:26:55,670 --> 00:26:59,570 Speaker 1: you're going through in life, God can use powerfully. And 413 00:26:59,609 --> 00:27:03,370 Speaker 1: that's the story of discipleship too. He recycles it all. 414 00:27:03,910 --> 00:27:08,130 Speaker 1: We're not going to, you know, brush through the pain 415 00:27:08,550 --> 00:27:12,330 Speaker 1: because it's real. We're not going to pretend like things 416 00:27:12,430 --> 00:27:15,630 Speaker 1: aren't hard because they are. And many people like her 417 00:27:15,650 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: or even presentación, have experienced or are experiencing hopelessness, are 418 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:28,980 Speaker 1: experiencing complete desolation but God. And so we are called 419 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: to continue to make disciples of the nations. 420 00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:35,330 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love that reminder that whatever we're going through, 421 00:27:35,350 --> 00:27:39,250 Speaker 2: I mean, the Bible says, you know, we go through 422 00:27:39,290 --> 00:27:43,729 Speaker 2: difficulties and that God uses that to equip us to 423 00:27:43,770 --> 00:27:46,590 Speaker 2: help others that are going through similar things, you know, 424 00:27:46,609 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 2: as we work through our healing, then we're able to 425 00:27:49,820 --> 00:27:54,460 Speaker 2: then be uniquely qualified to minister to others who are 426 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:58,700 Speaker 2: in the same situation or similar situations. And it's hard to, 427 00:27:59,220 --> 00:28:00,700 Speaker 2: when you're in the midst of it, when you're in 428 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,260 Speaker 2: the midst of the hard time, it's hard to be like, oh, 429 00:28:03,300 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 2: God's using this. But I love that message of hope. 430 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:10,500 Speaker 2: Just like if you're in the trenches, if you're desperate, 431 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 2: if you're struggling, there is hope. And I love those 432 00:28:14,780 --> 00:28:18,090 Speaker 2: stories for that reason. not just hope to get through 433 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,970 Speaker 2: it or to get pulled out by someone, but hope 434 00:28:21,050 --> 00:28:23,430 Speaker 2: that you're going to be a rescuer, you know, through 435 00:28:23,970 --> 00:28:26,850 Speaker 2: pointing people to Jesus, who's our ultimate rescuer. 436 00:28:27,450 --> 00:28:31,209 Speaker 1: And there's also hope that there's somebody reaching out to 437 00:28:31,230 --> 00:28:33,510 Speaker 1: you that wants to rescue you. Yes. 438 00:28:33,730 --> 00:28:36,369 Speaker 2: To open our eyes to that, to be open and 439 00:28:36,410 --> 00:28:37,790 Speaker 2: willing and receptive. 440 00:28:38,450 --> 00:28:41,670 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. We're not the ones who are saving people. 441 00:28:42,270 --> 00:28:45,630 Speaker 1: It's God. And that's why I said Impact Latin America is, 442 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:51,140 Speaker 1: We are partnering with God to do the work that 443 00:28:51,350 --> 00:28:56,090 Speaker 1: he has preordained and established in Latin America so that 444 00:28:56,330 --> 00:28:59,270 Speaker 1: he is the one reaching out to the people who 445 00:28:59,470 --> 00:29:02,810 Speaker 1: need to hear him the most, who need to receive 446 00:29:02,830 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: him the most. But God invites us into that. 447 00:29:06,020 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 2: That's what I love that so much about Impact Latin 448 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 2: America is prayer is just literally the backbone of everything 449 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,860 Speaker 2: you do. So could you just give our listeners, obviously 450 00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 2: we're a prayer podcast and we're all about what are 451 00:29:18,660 --> 00:29:21,620 Speaker 2: just a few key points that we can be praying 452 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:25,700 Speaker 2: for to support Impact Latin America to partner with you 453 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 2: to reach even more people? 454 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:32,370 Speaker 1: Yes, we define ourselves as a movement, not just a ministry. 455 00:29:33,170 --> 00:29:36,530 Speaker 1: And what that means is that we have that fluidity 456 00:29:36,610 --> 00:29:40,740 Speaker 1: where we're guided by the Holy Spirit to responding the areas, 457 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,220 Speaker 1: to the people that the Holy Spirit is guiding us towards. 458 00:29:45,460 --> 00:29:48,460 Speaker 1: Just like you see in the New Testament where you 459 00:29:48,500 --> 00:29:51,979 Speaker 1: have the apostles and disciples waiting on the Holy Spirit, 460 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,210 Speaker 1: what did they have to do in order for that 461 00:29:55,270 --> 00:29:58,910 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit to come in? They prayed. They waited and 462 00:29:58,950 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: they prayed. So prayer is deeply established in everything that 463 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:07,620 Speaker 1: we do. From praying, Lord, who do you want us 464 00:30:07,660 --> 00:30:11,260 Speaker 1: to partner with? Lord, who do you want to call? 465 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,030 Speaker 1: Once you have a leader or somebody who wants to 466 00:30:15,070 --> 00:30:20,210 Speaker 1: start that leadership training process, we equip them on how 467 00:30:20,310 --> 00:30:25,170 Speaker 1: to pray for that confirmation from the Lord. But also, 468 00:30:25,610 --> 00:30:28,709 Speaker 1: where do you want to take me, Lord? What are 469 00:30:28,750 --> 00:30:32,070 Speaker 1: the areas and the people that are around me that 470 00:30:32,170 --> 00:30:36,830 Speaker 1: you want me to establish? So there's a partnership that 471 00:30:36,910 --> 00:30:40,900 Speaker 1: happens with the Holy Spirit. And prayer is a part 472 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: of all of that. Every church planter or house church 473 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: planter is equipped with a mentor and somebody who's praying 474 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:53,940 Speaker 1: actively for them. So prayer is part of the whole 475 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: process that we do. And what can I ask you 476 00:30:58,700 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: all to pray for right now as you accompany us 477 00:31:03,180 --> 00:31:06,660 Speaker 1: is everything that the Lord has been doing in Latin 478 00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:13,070 Speaker 1: America through Impact has just been multiplying believers, equipping leaders, 479 00:31:13,570 --> 00:31:17,250 Speaker 1: and planting churches. That has looked like in the last 480 00:31:17,330 --> 00:31:21,550 Speaker 1: seven years, 17,000 people who have given their lives to 481 00:31:21,590 --> 00:31:26,220 Speaker 1: the Lord. So if you want to join us in that, 482 00:31:26,340 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: I would say, please, we are praying for this upcoming 483 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 1: year that 2,000 more people would have that encounter with 484 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:35,770 Speaker 1: Jesus and give their lives. 485 00:31:36,510 --> 00:31:40,030 Speaker 2: All right. I will be including these prayer points in 486 00:31:40,130 --> 00:31:43,890 Speaker 2: our show notes also. So if anyone wants to reference that, 487 00:31:43,950 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 2: we'll definitely have that. So 2,000 more people coming to Christ. 488 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: Yes. 2,000 more people coming to Christ. More than numbers. 489 00:31:54,170 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: We want to see God's peace planted in them. It's 490 00:31:58,620 --> 00:32:03,020 Speaker 1: not just I'm saying that I believe. It's that they 491 00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:08,860 Speaker 1: actually can digest what that relationship and what God's saving 492 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: power in them is doing. That those chains of bondage 493 00:32:13,860 --> 00:32:16,950 Speaker 1: can start to be broken. And that takes time. For 494 00:32:17,030 --> 00:32:20,410 Speaker 1: many people, like I've heard testimonies of people who the 495 00:32:20,450 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: chains are broken immediately. But there's other strongholds that sometimes 496 00:32:25,220 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: they just take time. God's maturing you. Maybe family relationships 497 00:32:30,180 --> 00:32:34,739 Speaker 1: are broken. Maybe there's habits that you have. I don't 498 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,310 Speaker 1: know what it looks like, but when you're praying for 499 00:32:37,350 --> 00:32:41,450 Speaker 1: these 2,000 lives, I ask you and invite you to 500 00:32:41,730 --> 00:32:45,610 Speaker 1: pray like we're praying, which is, God, can you completely 501 00:32:45,730 --> 00:32:49,950 Speaker 1: heal and transform them so that they can also reflect you? 502 00:32:50,530 --> 00:32:53,410 Speaker 2: You know, the process of growing fruit takes time. And 503 00:32:53,890 --> 00:32:58,350 Speaker 2: especially if there is trauma, if there is pain, if 504 00:32:58,390 --> 00:33:02,100 Speaker 2: there is, you know, lasting hurt that needs to be 505 00:33:02,130 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 2: worked through or broken relationships. So we will absolutely be 506 00:33:06,980 --> 00:33:09,960 Speaker 2: partnering with you to pray that for those 2000 believers 507 00:33:10,220 --> 00:33:13,380 Speaker 2: and just in general for everyone that's part of Impact 508 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:17,710 Speaker 2: Latin America to experience that peace and that continued process 509 00:33:17,930 --> 00:33:19,790 Speaker 2: of healing and transformation. 510 00:33:20,390 --> 00:33:20,910 Speaker 1: Thank you. 511 00:33:21,370 --> 00:33:24,570 Speaker 2: Well, financial giving is also a huge part of how 512 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:28,260 Speaker 2: Impact Latin America is able to operate and able to 513 00:33:28,300 --> 00:33:33,340 Speaker 2: disciple and train. How can our listeners partner financially with Impact? 514 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:37,380 Speaker 1: Yes, this is possible because God is in this work. 515 00:33:37,620 --> 00:33:41,260 Speaker 1: But we also need to mention that there's so many 516 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 1: amazing supporters who make the work happen. So we want 517 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,580 Speaker 1: to invite you to be a part of planting God's peace, 518 00:33:49,780 --> 00:33:55,030 Speaker 1: of making disciples so that many more people can encounter Jesus. 519 00:33:55,090 --> 00:34:01,110 Speaker 1: And that can look like $ 100 to bring Bible resources 520 00:34:01,690 --> 00:34:05,630 Speaker 1: and discipleship materials to 10 new believers. $ 500 does so 521 00:34:05,670 --> 00:34:12,919 Speaker 1: for 50 new believers. $ 5, 000, which is an amazing gift 522 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:18,420 Speaker 1: of generosity, would help expand a whole region. But we 523 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:23,490 Speaker 1: want to help encourage gifts of all capacities. We want 524 00:34:23,510 --> 00:34:25,209 Speaker 1: to invite you to be a part of what God 525 00:34:25,270 --> 00:34:30,050 Speaker 1: is doing financially, through prayer. We also have prayer groups 526 00:34:30,090 --> 00:34:33,630 Speaker 1: that meet together. We want everybody to be a part 527 00:34:33,890 --> 00:34:35,870 Speaker 1: of God's mission. I love that. 528 00:34:36,530 --> 00:34:41,609 Speaker 2: Well, where can our listeners go to find more about 529 00:34:41,690 --> 00:34:45,549 Speaker 2: Impact Latin America, Impact Latin America online and on social media? 530 00:34:46,090 --> 00:34:48,900 Speaker 1: We'd love to stay in touch with everybody, especially if 531 00:34:48,940 --> 00:34:52,300 Speaker 1: you have questions, if you want to invite your Bible group, 532 00:34:52,380 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: if you want to invite your church. There's so many 533 00:34:55,219 --> 00:35:01,100 Speaker 1: ways to become involved. You can find us at impactlatinamerica.org. 534 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,720 Speaker 1: You can also find us on Facebook. You can also 535 00:35:04,780 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 1: find us on Instagram. And if you'd like to email 536 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:11,900 Speaker 1: us directly, you can send us just a quick chat 537 00:35:11,980 --> 00:35:18,450 Speaker 1: or touch point at info at impactlatinamerica.org. All right. 538 00:35:19,710 --> 00:35:23,590 Speaker 2: We will get all that information out too. Well, Susanna, 539 00:35:23,630 --> 00:35:25,790 Speaker 2: thank you so much. How can we pray for you today? 540 00:35:25,850 --> 00:35:28,130 Speaker 2: We'll close in prayer, kind of close out our conversation. 541 00:35:28,810 --> 00:35:31,430 Speaker 1: Jamie, I want to thank you so much. I'm very 542 00:35:31,489 --> 00:35:35,969 Speaker 1: inspired by the way that you welcome people and minister 543 00:35:36,130 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: so that prayer is an active part of our lives. 544 00:35:40,940 --> 00:35:44,420 Speaker 1: We can't do anything without prayer. And that's the reality 545 00:35:44,460 --> 00:35:48,919 Speaker 1: of Christian living. I'm going to go on a limb 546 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:53,960 Speaker 1: here and ask for personal prayer. Yes, good. And then 547 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: I'm going to ask for that missional prayer and invite 548 00:35:58,380 --> 00:36:02,260 Speaker 1: everybody to join. So on a personal end, my husband 549 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:06,779 Speaker 1: and I are welcoming our first child in a few months. 550 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,500 Speaker 1: Experiencing all the excitement that comes through that, but also 551 00:36:11,580 --> 00:36:14,719 Speaker 1: all the jitters. Those who know, know what I'm talking about. 552 00:36:17,510 --> 00:36:20,880 Speaker 1: So I just ask for prayer so that the Lord, 553 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:25,920 Speaker 1: a baby brings so much joy. I pray and ask 554 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:28,480 Speaker 1: that it would be a joyful time, that it would 555 00:36:28,739 --> 00:36:34,430 Speaker 1: all be safe and that we would experience God's presence 556 00:36:34,969 --> 00:36:40,450 Speaker 1: through the arrival of our baby. Absolutely. And for the mission, 557 00:36:40,969 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: I ask that you pray for us as we continue 558 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:50,700 Speaker 1: to make disciples. So please invite the Holy Spirit to 559 00:36:50,780 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 1: come to all the people who serve. I'm not sure 560 00:36:53,660 --> 00:36:56,910 Speaker 1: if I mentioned this before, but all of our staff 561 00:36:57,070 --> 00:37:00,370 Speaker 1: is in Latin America. There's only a small hub of us, 562 00:37:00,910 --> 00:37:03,830 Speaker 1: just three people here in the United States, and that 563 00:37:03,870 --> 00:37:09,800 Speaker 1: includes myself. But we're talking about more than 1,500 volunteers 564 00:37:11,140 --> 00:37:16,580 Speaker 1: and some bivocational leaders. that serve, they're all located, distributed, 565 00:37:17,060 --> 00:37:21,529 Speaker 1: making sure that the work is being done. So this 566 00:37:21,650 --> 00:37:25,290 Speaker 1: special prayers for them so that God can give them 567 00:37:25,350 --> 00:37:29,330 Speaker 1: the discernment and the wisdom on where to go, who 568 00:37:29,370 --> 00:37:33,230 Speaker 1: to reach out to and protect them from all spiritual 569 00:37:33,270 --> 00:37:37,400 Speaker 1: attacks that would keep them from being good examples to 570 00:37:37,420 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: the people that they're mentoring and discipling. Yeah. All right. Absolutely. Well, Susanna, 571 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:45,899 Speaker 1: thank you so much. 572 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:47,609 Speaker 2: It has been a pleasure getting to know you over 573 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:49,790 Speaker 2: the last few weeks and then now getting to have 574 00:37:49,810 --> 00:37:53,589 Speaker 2: this conversation and get it out to our listeners. I'm 575 00:37:53,630 --> 00:37:56,270 Speaker 2: just really so thankful for Impact Latin America and what 576 00:37:56,310 --> 00:38:00,590 Speaker 2: you're doing. Obviously, just the passion that you and the 577 00:38:00,630 --> 00:38:05,270 Speaker 2: organization have for prayer and discipleship is inspirational, and we 578 00:38:05,290 --> 00:38:06,470 Speaker 2: will continue to be praying. 579 00:38:07,070 --> 00:38:10,129 Speaker 1: Thank you, Jamie. It's a pleasure to be here. And 580 00:38:10,150 --> 00:38:12,590 Speaker 1: I'm going to be praying for everybody who is listening 581 00:38:12,670 --> 00:38:15,410 Speaker 1: as well. Thank you. All right, let's pray. 582 00:38:15,910 --> 00:38:19,290 Speaker 2: Lord, we just thank you so much for Susanna, for 583 00:38:19,510 --> 00:38:23,770 Speaker 2: Impact Latin America, for the Great Commission, and just the 584 00:38:23,810 --> 00:38:26,890 Speaker 2: ways that we are seeing in Impact Latin America. We're 585 00:38:26,910 --> 00:38:31,320 Speaker 2: seeing that fleshed out in just a modern, real way. 586 00:38:31,660 --> 00:38:35,400 Speaker 2: And we just lift up Susanna to you. We pray 587 00:38:35,460 --> 00:38:39,860 Speaker 2: that you would just give her complete, just rain blessings 588 00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:43,020 Speaker 2: down on her and her family as she and her 589 00:38:43,060 --> 00:38:46,989 Speaker 2: husband welcome the new baby soon. We pray for the 590 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:50,650 Speaker 2: last part of pregnancy that your hand would be on her, Lord, 591 00:38:50,690 --> 00:38:53,870 Speaker 2: that you would just sustain that baby's growth, that you 592 00:38:53,910 --> 00:38:58,670 Speaker 2: would help just keep her feeling well, that symptoms would 593 00:38:58,730 --> 00:39:03,060 Speaker 2: not get in the way of her day-to-day life, that 594 00:39:03,100 --> 00:39:07,560 Speaker 2: you would just give her peace and complete confidence that 595 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:09,580 Speaker 2: you are with her, that you are with this baby. 596 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,320 Speaker 2: We just pray for this to be a completely joyful time. 597 00:39:14,820 --> 00:39:17,940 Speaker 2: We pray against any anxiety or fear. And instead, we 598 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 2: just pray that you would unleash joy and peace in 599 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,839 Speaker 2: their home and in their lives, and that there would 600 00:39:24,860 --> 00:39:29,000 Speaker 2: be safety surrounding this pregnancy and the delivery for baby, 601 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:32,509 Speaker 2: for mom, and that they would just truly experience your 602 00:39:32,530 --> 00:39:36,940 Speaker 2: presence in a way that they have never before experienced it. 603 00:39:37,670 --> 00:39:39,129 Speaker 2: We thank you so much for the gift of this 604 00:39:39,190 --> 00:39:42,770 Speaker 2: baby and just welcome the baby into the world and 605 00:39:43,050 --> 00:39:46,570 Speaker 2: just pray your blessings upon Susanna and her husband and 606 00:39:46,590 --> 00:39:50,770 Speaker 2: the baby. We just pray for Impact Latin America. that 607 00:39:50,790 --> 00:39:53,910 Speaker 2: you would equip them to continue to make disciples. We 608 00:39:53,930 --> 00:39:57,140 Speaker 2: just invite your Holy Spirit in to the whole process, Lord, 609 00:39:57,180 --> 00:40:01,780 Speaker 2: that every single one of the people ministering through Impact 610 00:40:01,820 --> 00:40:07,819 Speaker 2: Latin America would have wisdom, discernment, the ability to see 611 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,910 Speaker 2: clearly and to hear clearly your voice and no other 612 00:40:10,950 --> 00:40:15,250 Speaker 2: voices about what to do next, next steps, people to 613 00:40:15,290 --> 00:40:21,210 Speaker 2: approach about being part of ministry, where to expand. all 614 00:40:21,230 --> 00:40:24,130 Speaker 2: of the different day-to-day things that need to be done. 615 00:40:24,890 --> 00:40:29,850 Speaker 2: And we pray for each volunteer, each bivocational leader, those 616 00:40:29,870 --> 00:40:33,580 Speaker 2: in North America, those in Latin America. We just ask 617 00:40:33,620 --> 00:40:36,900 Speaker 2: that you would just protect them from the attacks of 618 00:40:36,940 --> 00:40:39,700 Speaker 2: the enemy that are bound to come. We pray that 619 00:40:39,719 --> 00:40:43,980 Speaker 2: you would help keep them making good decisions, not falling 620 00:40:44,030 --> 00:40:47,390 Speaker 2: prey to temptation, continuing to be able to be examples 621 00:40:47,430 --> 00:40:49,770 Speaker 2: for the people around them, that not one of them 622 00:40:49,810 --> 00:40:54,049 Speaker 2: would stumble and cause any harm to come to the 623 00:40:54,090 --> 00:40:58,020 Speaker 2: ministry or any reason for people to not be able 624 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:02,360 Speaker 2: to just see Jesus clearly. We pray against any distraction 625 00:41:02,420 --> 00:41:05,580 Speaker 2: from the gospel. We pray for all of the things 626 00:41:05,620 --> 00:41:09,100 Speaker 2: that are happening to be blessed and consecrated and set 627 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:10,259 Speaker 2: apart and protected. 628 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:18,130 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. We'd like to take just. 629 00:41:18,010 --> 00:41:20,170 Speaker 2: A quick second to thank the team at Life Audio 630 00:41:20,270 --> 00:41:23,120 Speaker 2: for their partnership with us on the podcast. If you 631 00:41:23,140 --> 00:41:26,700 Speaker 2: go to lifeaudio.com, you will find dozens of other faith-centered 632 00:41:26,739 --> 00:41:31,290 Speaker 2: podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, 633 00:41:31,430 --> 00:41:32,250 Speaker 2: and so much more. 634 00:41:32,790 --> 00:41:33,810 Speaker 1: That's lifeaudio.com.