I figure if
you know know me or know be by reading my blog, you have probably seen the Lion
King. Do you remember the part where the
hyennas have Simba trapped and they are giggling back and forth? What happens
next? MUFASA and his boo-yah roar happens next.
I think
that particular ROAAAR can really describe something that is going on in Ecuador
right now. For those I have not
informed, Charmai and I felt led to form a youth group for some of the awesome
teens we know in Misahualli. Charmai and
her beautiful passions for dance + me and my crazy love of all things artistic =
BOOM. Obsesionados por Cristo- Obsessed
for Christ youth group. I will admit at
first I was nervous. The majority of the
group does not know Jesus and we have had resistance from some townspeople, but
I know this is what God wants us to be doing. Little by little I can see the mysterious ways
God is working in each teen’s life (even though they may not see it). We meet up to practice dramas and dance like
David, we love and have fun in our little
youth community, or we throw cake at each other after eating competitions. I am constantly amazed by their RIDICULOUS skills in art, song, dance, etc. Oh! How
amazingly God has gifted them. And all
of that is just a Simba meow.
My hope is
that they may know Jesus for who He really is.
Not some misrepresented Christ, nor some faith that exists just to get a
free piece of bread at an evangelical event, but Christ who wants to wrap them
with grace and mercy. Christ who is all
powerful, mysterious, and artistic.
Last week,
strangely and mysteriously God got me in contact with a Christian rapper in
Ambato, a city about 4 hours away.
Ismael is a guy on fire for God, passionate for young people, and ridiculously
gifted artistically. When I met him I actually thought “Dude. He is Ecuador’s Lecrae.” I sat
at the event trying to capture each moment: graffiti for Christ, amazing raps
about struggles and redemption, and a hip- hop dancing crew . Crowds came.
Crowds witnessed such creativity, authenticity, and passion for the
Father flow from each individual and artist. Then, youth pastors started telling me about all sorts of youth events happening around Ecuador. Youth are on fire for God and they are using their artistic passions to get His name out. The Holy Spirit is moving. Get pumped for Ecuador.
Now, you
can start to hear Mufasa right? My heart is still beating from excitement
thinking about all the roaring He's got going down.
“Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To see a revolution somehow………
My God's not dead
He's surely alive
And He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion”
God’s Not Dead – Newsboys
“They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall come trembling from the west.”
Hosea 11:10
Love and Mufasa roars (none of that wimpy Simba stuff),
keri
"Cristo" Work by Ismael and another awesome guy
keri
