Charles and Ximena Dean embarked on another tag team adventure, ministering at two churches this past Sunday, the 31st of August. Nueva Vida Church held multiple services, one at 8:30 am and another at 10:30 am, while Buenas Nuevas Church had a single service beginning at 12:30 pm. They embraced the challenge of the service times because they needed to conclude the last service at Nueva Vida Church by around 12:30 pm, or at the latest by 12:40 pm, to reach Buenas Nuevas by 1:00 pm, which is when the preaching segment started! The advantage of the service times at various churches in Arequipa where they minister is that almost all the churches have different start times, enabling them to schedule services at multiple churches on Sundays on special occasions.
During the first service at Nueva Vida, Charles spoke about the significance of the words we use, explaining how they shape the cycle of our lives, whether positively or negatively. He emphasized that if we are dissatisfied with our current life situation, we need to change our mindset, speech, and actions. Charles pointed out that continuing to speak and act in the same way while expecting different results is a sign of insanity. While we cannot alter our past, we can influence our future by changing our thoughts, words, and actions today. Charles delivered the same message at Buenas Nuevas Church, where the congregations in both places were very open and receptive to his teachings.
Ximena, in contrast, focused on the necessity of being doers of the Word rather than merely listeners. She warned that if we only hear the Word without applying it, we deceive ourselves, making it unnecessary for the enemy to act against us. Ximena also discussed the two types of foundations—sand and rock—referenced in the scriptures in the following passages:
Mat 7:24-27 TPT “Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. (25) When the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation. (26) “But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand. (27) When it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house, it collapsed and was swept away.”
The Deans had a very productive and lengthy day, beginning with an early rise to prepare for the first service at 8:30 am. They finally returned home around 4:15 pm, after the last service concluded at 3:00 pm, and a stop at an organic restaurant for a salad and a refreshing veggie and fruit drink. This marks the end of another remarkable journey as they continue to support pastors, lending extra hands and collaborating with them to equip their congregations for ministry work both inside and outside the church!
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