Equality and Justice

This is a picture of a wonderful family in Comayagua, Honduras. The head of the family, in the green shirt, is the pastor of a small Vineyard church. He gave up a comfortable lifestyle with a major denomination in the city because God changed him, making him aware of the work of the Holy Spirit, and the continuing power of God amidst His people. His changed life made his old way uncomfortable, so he felt compelled to leave the respected church: the church that sat on the corner of a prominent park, in a beautiful colonial building, with a large home attached, and a comfortable salary.

Now at age 62, he has a struggling small church body that worships God freely in a small, rented building, believing God to bring His kingdom to the commuity. Despite his loss of reputation, loss of a home, and loss of income, he is happier than he has ever been. When I think of Pastor Antonio, I remember this description that Paul offers about his life in his second letter to the Corinthians.

As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way; in great endurance; in
troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings and imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and
kindness in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in
the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the
left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet
regarded as unknown, dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and
yet possessing everything.

When people wonder why I want to live in Honduras, this family is one of the reasons I feel compelled to return. There are many who have a desire to live for Christ, but they have obstacles that we don't understand in our affluent society.

For example, this family is not looking for handouts: all of the adults pictured have jobs. Yet they are living at or below the povery level in the United States. However, they are the lucky ones, who have skills and jobs. The old way to escape hunger and poverty, to illegally enter the United States, is becoming very expensive and dangerous, as the goverment in the States makes illegal immigration more difficult. In fact, approximately 40,000 Hondurans were deported in 2007 from the US back to Honduras. In 2008, jets arrive daily full of illegal immigrants returned to Honduras.

When I return to Tegucigalpa, I am going to investigate more possibilities for my friends to get involved: job training programs, education resources, scholarships for students, health and sanitation needs, and the list goes on. Consider Paul's admonition to the Corinthians in the second letter to that church and know that we can make a difference.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time, our plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. ... As it is written, He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.