Michael and Jo are both teaching at the Centre for Pastoral Studies (CEP) in Santiago, Chile. Michael teaches Old and New Testament and Biblical Greek and Jo teaches Biblical Counselling. They also mentor graduates and help at their local church. Michael and Jo will remain in Chile until the end of 2021, when they will return to Australia and finish their service as missionaries. Their four grown-up children are now living in Australia and attending
The Charles are serving with:
The Charles are serving with:
Reflections on life in Chile
It has been a joy to feel the warmth of Spring and to see the plants respond to God’s faithfulness in bringing the seasons as he promised Noah. In these last few months we have had time and space to garden. I was reminded by a friend lately in thinking about gardening that in the face of powerlessness and uncertainty the little things we do have a slow but meaningful impact, and the fruit of our labour starts with one tiny seed of faith and faithful response.
Last week we had our first visitors since March. One of our graduates from 2006, his wife and his four children spent the day with us. What a joy it was to share with them, to be reminded of the fruit of long-term ministry, and to encourage one another with the way God has been working in Chile to grow his church, both in numbers and maturity.
In the beautiful book Every Moment Holy, there is a liturgy for gardening. Part of this prayer asks that as God trains our hearts ‘our lives might spread in winsome witness, maturing to bear the good fruit of grace … that when we venture into the still greater garden of [his] world, we might … offer our lives as a true and nourishing provision … to all who hunger for [Him].’ The process of gardening requires patience, hard work, and even death, as does gospel work, but the end of the story is life and hope.
Pray that in this season in Chile, which feels more like hard work than harvesting, that God would make us faithful. Thank God with us for visible fruit, and for the promise of more.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Last week we had our first visitors since March. One of our graduates from 2006, his wife and his four children spent the day with us. What a joy it was to share with them, to be reminded of the fruit of long-term ministry, and to encourage one another with the way God has been working in Chile to grow his church, both in numbers and maturity.
In the beautiful book Every Moment Holy, there is a liturgy for gardening. Part of this prayer asks that as God trains our hearts ‘our lives might spread in winsome witness, maturing to bear the good fruit of grace … that when we venture into the still greater garden of [his] world, we might … offer our lives as a true and nourishing provision … to all who hunger for [Him].’ The process of gardening requires patience, hard work, and even death, as does gospel work, but the end of the story is life and hope.
Pray that in this season in Chile, which feels more like hard work than harvesting, that God would make us faithful. Thank God with us for visible fruit, and for the promise of more.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
How can I consider going with CMS?
FIND OUT MOREHas God been stirring you to consider serving him as a missionary somewhere around the world?CMS is passionate about sending the gospel out into all the world and dedicated to finding, training and supporting people for that task. If you are considering whether you could serve God overseas: pray and chat more with your NEAC minister or with CMS.