Praise God from whom all blessings flow!    We cannot even find the right words to convey how we feel about our recent experiences in El Salvador.  It’s like the Sovereign of the universe is showing us the results of seeds He planted through us in 2001 through 2004, and whispering in our ears “you know the plan was My plan because it was simple and it continues to bear fruit.  I am the only One who can use ‘useless’ things to produce life giving results; like putting mud on the eyes of a blind man to give him sight.”  We were invited by Enrique Martinez, a Pastor on staff with Samaritan’s Purse El Salvador, to minister to a group of pastors at a one-day retreat in November.  We first met Pastor Enrique in 2001 when we hosted a three day, two night retreat for the pastors and wives of FIBAM (the group of 35 Baptist Churches we have been working with in San Salvador).  In addition to pastoring a church he is on staff with Samaritan’s Purse.  One of the ministries he and his team undertake is to train and equip rural pastors.  We’ve had several brief encounters with Pastor Enrique over the past six years and he’s heard Ron speak a few times regarding the importance of being Armor Bearers.  But, to the best of our recollection we never shared with Pastor Enrique the five areas God told us to focus on: (1) pastors & wives as couples, (2) pastors’ wives, (3) pastors’ children, (4) times of rest and (5) deacons/leaders.  Needless to say, we were delighted to receive communication from Pastor Enrique informing us that he wished to minister to the rural pastors on a personal level because of what he and his wife have experienced from Raven over the years.  And utterly astonished when we saw that the schedule he put together addressed each of the five areas we believe to be so critical in supporting and encouraging pastors. 

Pastor Enrique planned a one-day retreat for pastors of the rural churches that he and his team serve.  As is typical in ministry, he had a grand vision with a small pocketbook.  Our God loves to remind us over and over of “the five loaves and two fish principle;” if we will give Him all we have He will multiply it to meet the need.  Pastor Enrique brought 20 pastors, their wives, their children and their leaders to a Bible campground in San Salvador for a day of instruction and practical application regarding the topic of Caring for Pastors.  The campground didn’t contain all the amenities we often think we need in United States, but the setting was naturally beautiful and relaxing.  To provide context for the day, Ron shared with the entire group the Biblical principles that reveal the need to support and protect the leaders God has given the church.  He reminded them that satan seeks to destroy the Body of Christ and targets leaders because he knows if he “strikes the shepherd the sheep will scatter.”   Ron emphasized the importance of guarding their relationship with the LORD, their marriage and their children, as these are all areas the enemy will pressure to find potential weakness.  After that, Ron spoke to the pastors’ children while Luan shared with the pastors’ wives.  During this time the pastors and leaders had free time to relax.  While everyone was gathered together for a delicious meal served by the campground staff, we handed out a communion set (see below) to each pastor couple.  The communion set is a cross mounted on a base that holds two communion cups.  The cross and base are made of oak.  On the front is an engraved plaque that reads “En Memoria de Mi” (In remembrance of Me).  Since the pastor serves communion to the church he rarely, if ever, is able to celebrate it with their wife.  When we present their communion set we tell them that each time they use it or look at it first and foremost remember what Christ has done for them.  Secondly, to remember how important their relationship to one another is and that Christ is the key element in their marriage.  When we left California we did not know exactly how many pastors would be attending the retreat, so we brought with us all the communion sets we had.   We had 20; the exact number we needed!  Unlike us, I guess God doesn’t bring extra for the unexpected.  After lunch Ron shared briefly with the deacons and leaders; challenging them to be armor bearers for their pastor, his wife and their children.  While he was speaking to the deacons and leaders, the pastors had time with their families to play games, swim or just relax.  We trust God will multiply the effects of this special day in the lives of these pastors, their families, their leaders and their congregations.  And that He will bless Pastor Enrique for his vision and faith to believe that God cares about the personal needs of pastors more than their ministry

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