Paradox of Christian Radio in Mexico

Last month: Young bible school grad, Geyner, laments because he has been told by Pastor Pablo that he is not allowed to preach on the radio. He loves to preach, loves to share the Good News, and loves to find creative ways to share his faith with others, so this news breaks his heart. Geyner serves as a "missionary" to our tiny mission church -- preaching, visiting, supervising youth activities --- while finishing high school in hopes of going to seminary. He's one of the exceptions to the rule (read previous blog entry "Profiles in Growing Up Fast") and one of the folks here we have come to admire greatly. So....it begs the question....why can't he preach on the radio? Well, the answer is simple....it's illegal. Christian radio operators here do so without a license to broadcast, and the synod has taken the position against preaching on the radio for that reason. They see the value in radio preaching and in Christian radio in general but have advised pastors and lay preachers not to go on Christian radio.

This week: A local woman who has been listening to Christian radio for weeks has been calling the radio station asking for someone from the church to visit her. Finally, in her frustration, she calls again --- this time refusing to hang up until they tell her that they've made arrangements for someone to visit her to tell her personally about Jesus. The person at the radio station makes a phone call but it turns out that they have a wrong number. But whose number do they get? By sheer accident the radio station calls Hermana Rosita, an older but very active member of our tiny mission. Was it sheer accident or God's will? She, in turn, calls Pablo's wife, Jan, and Geyner. Together they go to visit the woman to tell her about Jesus. They are received by a family of 20 people, ALL of whom professed that day that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. Wow! They are reportedly all coming to church tomorrow, which will definitely stretch the capacity of our tiny mission to its fullest ever. I will gladly stand.

The paradox: It's always hard to know what to do when doing the right thing means doing the wrong thing. In Mexico we do not face as many obstacles like this as they face in countries where professing Christians are, by definition, considered to be criminals in the eyes of the law. But even here there are obstacles. For Geyner who loves to preach, these obstacles frustrate him. For the lady on the phone to the radio station, she's grateful that someone was willing to do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

And yet....
Never, and I mean never, underestimate the power of God to get around obstacles!!! I truly believe that we often lose sight of God's capacity to find a way to ensure that God's will will be done despite obstacles imposed by governments, people, nature and geography. God will and does find a way.

Thanks be to God!