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Membership Survey Update: 246 churches and counting! (What's this?)



August 27, 2007                                                                                      

NOT ALL MISSIONS NEWS IS GOOD NEWS. Our sister church in Santiago, Chile, has come through a very difficult two weeks. With permission, we're publishing  in its entirety a message Martin Bentley sent out last week:


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Thank God and thank you for your prayers. Our trip to Chile last week was much better than we might have expected.

On Wednesday night the 8th of August, Raul Moreno called the church in Santiago to follow him in joining Kip McKean's movement. Raul told the 280 disciples that the Florida churches were not on track to save the world, and that if they wanted to fulfill the great commission, they needed to join Kip. There were some heated exchanges at the building, following his announcement (apologies were made later). Hector Munoz, the administrator, boldly stood up and read a scripture in Revelation, and told the church that the Bible calls for repentance rather than division. On Friday the 10th John and Sylvia Reus, Terry Folker, Carmen and I traveled to Santiago in an attempt to restore unity. Upon our arrival Saturday morning, we met with the Hoyts, the Escobars from Vina del Mar, the  Amestoys from Concepcion and the Munozes, who had already met with many of the disciples and had also composed a statement of convictions, similar to the "Unity Document." Then, Carmen and I met with Raul and Lynda (who is very saddened by this situation) Moreno. At this point, Raul told me that he had initiated a call to Kip around July 1 to discuss this division. Raul also indicated that Kip's church would pay his salary, from now on. Carmen and I met two more times with Raul and Lynda in our desire to help them.        

At 2:00 p.m. we met with the entire congregation for about five hours to study out God's plan for unity and judgement in the church, noting  that there should be "no divisions among you" from l Cor. 1:10. There was an orderly time for questions and answers. During this time, Raul apologized for some of his actions on the previous Wednesday night, but he  did not repent of his divisiveness. Instead, he stated that "Not all division is bad," citing the fact that Israel and Judah had divided in l Kings 12. (In a congregational meeting on the following day, we noted that  the cross of Jesus had united "All Israel" in Acts 2:36.)      

On Sunday the Morenos met with a group of about 30 in their apartment building, while the rest of us (about 250) had a great worship in the regular facility. John Hoyt gave a meaningful communion service, his first in Spanish, and John Reus preached an inspiring sermon. We met, again, at 4:00 with the church and at 6:00 with the Bible talk leaders. At this time, both Raul Moreno and Kip McKean were marked for their divisiveness (Romans 16:17 and Titus 3:10). On Monday morning we had an inspiring congregational devotional and prayer time. Between, before and after these meetings the staff in Chile (unfortunately minus Raul and Lynda) and the group from Florida met to study, pray and organize.       

Late Monday afternoon, the eight staff members from Chile and the five disciples from Florida had decided that they believed that God's will was for the lead couples from Concepcion and Vina del Mar to return to lead the Santiago church along with the Hoyts and the Munozes. These four couples will lead the church as a group, with the Cristian and Luz Amestoy actually serving as the lead couple. Monday evening John, Sylvia, Terry and Carmen returned to Florida. I remained until Thursday night. From Tuesday morning until Thursday evening we met to pray, study and decide about leadership for the mission churches in Chile and to plan the Wednesday devotional, the rest of the week and to begin planning for the immediate future.      

The Wednesday night devotional was a high point of the week as Cristian, Luz and the rest of the leaders were presented as the new leadership for the church. Near the end of the devotional, Alicia, the mother of one of the disciples, was baptized into Christ. Just prior to her rebirth, Alicia said,"I never thought that I would have the privilege of knowing Jesus and understanding his word." Her words helped me to realize how privileged I am.

In that same devotional, it was necessary for us to mark Alfredo and  Alejandra Anuch, Raul's right hand couple, for their divisiveness. It feels contradictory to mark church members, because we try so hard to keep them saved. But, we understand that the scriptures leave us no alternative, in  order that the larger flock might be protected. The 250 disciples who remain in the original church have high standards of unity, love, faithfulness and devotion. This church has a great desire to reach Chile and beyond with the gospel. They are an example and an inspiration to us all.      

We thank God for His strength and for His word. Thanks, also, to John, Sylvia and Terry for their expert, faithful and loving help. Please, pray for the churches in Santiago, Concepcion and Vina del Mar and their newly organized leadership. Please, pray also, for the repentance and the reunion of the thirty who left with Raul.

Thanks, and God bless.