Think Outside the Box

by Esteban Marquez

There is nothing quite like being a missionary. This is true in the spiritual sense but also in the practical day-to-day demands of ministry. Outside of our clear biblical responsibilities involving sharing the Gospel, a missionary is expected to be well-versed in finances, construction, legal matters, delegation, leadership training, local laws, politics, conversion rates, history, language proficiency, etc. One other example is the frequent discernment needed to know what customs in our field are cultural and appropriate to immerse in and which ones are simply not biblical. Sometimes the answer is clear and other times not so much. It is that balance between becoming all things to all men (1 Corinthians 9:22) and being in subjection to it not for an hour (Galatians 2:5).

With that in mind, the mission field brings many unique opportunities for outreach in ways that are unconventional (at least to us) and that must be guided by the Holy Spirit. A “we have never done it that way” attitude can hinder what God could use in that specific region of the world to reach souls with the Gospel. One of the many benefits of deputation is seeing different methods of evangelism, organization of services, and overall church ministry that are effective in different areas without compromising biblical truth.

My family and I have been serving the Lord as missionaries in Mexico City since February 2020. Being that it is one of the largest cities in the world, outreach can come in many different forms such as standing on busy street corners, bus stops, subway stations, going downtown, zig-zagging in between cars stuck in traffic, going to large marketplaces, or just taking advantage of a holiday and making it a special event. In Mexico, one of those holidays is Día del Niño or Children’s Day.

We decided to plan a special event and to do something I have never done—move our Sunday services to a public park/zoo. In preparation for that day, we passed out many invitations around the park, but I was not surprised to be told by park police that we were not allowed to pass out invitations inside the park (an instruction we may or may not have followed). The day came and with much planning and help from church members, we set up chairs, a small speaker, a small platform, and a music stand to be used as a pulpit. Five minutes before we started the service, park police told me that I was not allowed to set up chairs where we did, but it was too late to move them. I politely asked if we could stay there for one hour and he was reluctant but acquiesced.

We started the service with our regular church attenders and about seven first-time visitors and then as the service continued we started seeing more people join us. We sang songs as I played my guitar and then I preached a message to parents from Proverbs 22:6 with a clear connection to Christ and the plan of salvation. I gave an invitation and no one raised his hand. I became a bit disappointed, but the day was not over. I was pleased to see that as soon as we ended the service, our church members approached the visitors and presented the Gospel again to them. While we were having our main service, the kids were having a service of their own just a few feet away. Our Sunday school teachers gathered the kids in a circle under some trees next to the aviary exhibit. The church children were excited as they saw new friends join them. After some songs and crafts, one of our Sunday school teachers taught a Bible lesson and presented the plan of salvation to them. By the end, 25 kids heard the Gospel!

After the service, the kids participated in some fun outdoor games. Our church family graciously provided food for everyone and, of course, by then it was time for the kids to break some piñatas, which is always a hit (pun intended). The day ended and I was humbled to learn that by the grace of God we had nine salvations, 20 first-time visitors, and 92 people in attendance—our highest attendance ever!

Overall, we are thankful that everything went according to plan and that we got to experience firsthand what God can do if we are willing to think outside the box and use the unique opportunities that each of our fields provides for the sake of the Gospel.

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