What a week-end

The title of this post is what we say every week-end. This last one (April 26 & 27) was no exception.

Saturday evening was an incredible time with the youth. About 40 were out for a combined meeting of the high school and college groups. Jorge Leaplaza from La Paz, Bolivia was our guest and had a powerful and moving story.

Jorge lost his leg due to cancer when he was a teen-ager. He also had cancer in both lungs and his liver. He was given months to live. But God intervened in his life and through the prayers of hundreds of people, his life was given back to him. It was like he never had cancer.

Through his whole experience, Jorge explained that God had a plan for his life and that this plan meant trusting God completely and living one's life for God, not for onesself.

We could tell many were touched, and 2 people raised their hands to make a decision to follow Christ.

On Sunday we had a wild and wooly time pulling all kinds of details together for our baptism celebration. 5 people were baptised and each one gave a powerful and moving testimony of how God has been working in their lives.

You can see their photos here: http://picasaweb.google.ca/qsinperu/Baptism

200 people were with us Sunday morning to celebrate together. It is awesome to see God work.

Do you believe in God? One of the proofs for us is how God radically changes lives. No psycologist or medicines can do what God has done in and through so many people that we know.

Like we said, Wow, what a week-end!

Brad, Lori, Kayla, Brandon and Elizabeth

Our Obsession

One of our greatest struggles as we've worked in El Camino has to do with our "obsession." What is this obession? Character.

Character can be defined in many ways. One of those definitions has to do with what the person bases their decisions and actions upon. This describes the essence of the being of a person.

When one goes through the list of characteristics of a leader in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, you realize that all of them have to do with the character of a person. Their essence and what they base their decisions on.

Paul told his partners to choose leaders based on character above all else. Of course, one's experience, training and interests all fit in, but character sets one apart. Without good, Godly character, one cannot lead in a ministry. In fact, without a Godly character, one cannot be a leader in the family, classroom, business or society.

In El Camino we realize that our ministries live and die based on the character of the leaders we have. We have been questioned many times why we wait so long to name leaders in our various ministries. The answer is simple: lack of character. When a person does not show maturity in Christ, knowledge of the Bible and a disciplined life, they cannot lead in the ministries of El Camino. They just are not ready.

Another question we get has to do with our heavy emphasis on our "Growth" discipleship series. The entire series deals with one's character from a Biblical perspective. Because of the huge need for Godly character we must emphasize the courses and what they offer.

We will obsess with character issues in our own lives and in the lives of the members of El Camino because the life and growth of this congregation depends on Godly people living out Godly lives in the church.

Be obessed with us. Check your own character in light of the Bible. Let 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 along with Galations 5 be your starting point.

God bless and pray with us for Character in El Camino.

Brad, Lori, Kayla, Brandon and Elizabeth

P.S. Check out the website at www.thequirings.com for our latest photos.

How does it feel to minister?

Many people ask us, "How does it feel to do what you do in El Camino?"

It's hard to describe, but please read these quotes and you'll have some idea of how we feel. First, how one feels good:

> "Now that I understand how deep my sin was and how much God has forgiven me, I can now forgive others."

> "I felt a huge, painful vacuum until I finally heard the gospel and believed. Now what used to be an empty place is full and overflowing with God's love and power."

> "I'd like to accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour."

> "I've done a lot of stupid things in the past, but God has forgiven me and given me a new life that I want to dedicate to Him."

> "I've made a decision to obey what the Bible says and give a portion of my business' earnings as an offering to the church. I'm also going to pay the corresponding taxes, just as Jesus told us to."

> "Sorry, I didn't hear you come up behind me. I was reading my Bible."

Then, there are things that sadden us:
> "I can't handle my husband and his mother anymore. I'm going to leave him."

> "If I can't serve in the church in the areas I want to serve or teach the way I want to teach, I'm leaving."

> "I know that I'm a Christian and my boyfriend isn't. I know that I shouldn't date him, but he is so cute and nice and you never know, he might get saved through this relationship."

> "I don't want to speak to you anymore about this, I don't care what the Bible says."

> "Do you know where my daughter is? She ran away again."

> "I think my son is addicted to drugs. I don't know what to do."

Pray with us as you think about what you have just read. This is our life here.

Brad, Lori, Kayla, Brandon and Elizabeth

Yes, Brad´s older. But getting better!!

This week-end was a great time of celebrating Brad's birthday. The youth groups let him have it on Saturday, Brad's co-workers made fun of him from the pulpit on Sunday AM, and then on Sunday PM we hosted several neighbours for a special party.

All in all it was a great week-end and Brad says, "THANKS" to everyone.

This month the sermon series in El Camino has to do with the barriers to our spiritual growth. After a birthday one sometimes thinks of growing..especially when everyone keeps using the terms, "old" and "older".

We all know what gets in the way of physical growth, but what is jumps in the way of our spiritual growth. Our reactions to emotional hurt, broken relationships, our pride and our selfishness. If we are to grow into the image of Christ, we need to be into our Bibles, prayer and following through with what God wants for our lives, not what we want.

These are the lessons we are learning.

We finally settled down with regards to our own worries and, of course, God came through for us this last week: we now have renters for our house and someone bought our van. Why worry? All we can say is..DUH! Now we say, God is good.

Thanks for your prayers and your love,
Brad, Lori, Kayla, Brandon and Elizabeth