Goodbye to 2021, hello 2022!

2021 was another memorable and turbulent year for La Iglesia Saint Paul (and the world), from continuing to live through the pandemic, to becoming an independent church, our community has not only continued to walk the life of faith but also thriving. Our family now is over 139 strong and we continue touching the lives of thousands of our neighbors and community.

Our compassions outreach ministry called the “Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf” served 4,077 families, or 14,539 people with 455,741 pounds of groceries. Many of our members were introduced to La Iglesia through our food shelf invitation.

Our church has also matured through different challenges, some pandemic related, others from unexpected crisis. What strikes us the most as we remember 2021 is:

• La Iglesia leadership team grew in its walk with the Lord and commitment to the church.
• We changed our name from La Vina to La Iglesia.
• La Iglesia made difficult decisions to keep the focus of God’s calling on our community.
• Our discipleship groups have grown in numbers.
• La Iglesia served the hunger needs of our neighbors and communities throughout the pandemic.

It’s because of your prayers, helping hands, and generous giving. Thank you for our family as we make an enduring local and global impact!

As an organization, we are planning several initiatives as we head into the first quarter 2022.

• We have merged the Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf into our Compassion Outreach ministry.
• Vineyard Community Services has become a program of La Iglesia.
• Staffing updates include administration and the compassions outreach ministry.

For 2022 we sense the Lord leading us to prayer for…

• Leadership – new ministry leaders to serve the mission and vision of La Iglesia. For some of us, “renewing our first love”
• Vision and strategy – to grow our board of directors to provide vision and strategies
• Outreach – growing the church volunteers into the weekly outreaches, seeing people through the Lord’s vision and using the outreach as an evangelism and discipleship tool.
• Facility – space enough to meet our growing needs, as well as our community service ministry and focus

Our compass points to the Kingdom of God and the ministry of Jesus the Messiah. We desire to do what He is doing and to follow His lead.

Living the Jesus lifestyle – Walking with Jesus

As we start a new year in the life of the Church, we want to take a moment and talk about living the Jesus lifestyle with some goals for our personal walk.

Taken from Matthew 6:25-7:23

Jesus’ words are the greatest words ever spoken. They are challenging, for example, He says, ‘do to others what you would have them to do you’ (7:12). This golden rule is beautifully simple and most of us have heard it said, but it seems impossible to live out. ‘Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them’ (v.12, MSG).

Our challenge is putting Jesus’ words into practice. His instructions are clear, but the standards seem impossibly high. Yet, nothing is too hard for the Lord.

• Stop worrying and start living

Jesus commands us not to worry about our lives or for material things (6:25,28–31). Think ahead, plan, but don’t worry ahead. Trust in the Lord to provide (v.26). He knows your every need (v.32). Faith is the antidote to worry. You cannot add a single hour to your life by worrying (v.27).

Live one day at a time. Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow: ‘each day has enough trouble of its own’ (v.34b). Decide today not to worry about tomorrow. Trust God to provide for you one day at a time.

• Priorities

Jesus tells us to change our ambitions and priorities. Seek God for who He is and not for what He can do for you. Like us, God does not want his friends only to be interested in what they can get out of Him. He wants you to seek His ‘presence’ not just his ‘presents’.

Take on a new set of responsibilities that are both exciting and challenging: ‘seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be yours as well’ (v.33).

• Do not be judgmental

We are not to take pleasure in judging others, not to enjoy seeking out other people’s failings or presuming their actions spring from bad motives. If we knew what people had been through, their sorrow and their suffering, we would not be so quick to judge. Jesus tells us to get our own lives sorted out first. We are to change ourselves before we try and change other people (7:1–5). Rather than sowing harsh criticism and judgment, sow mercy, kindness and love.

• Persist in prayer

Don’t be repetitious but be persistent. Jesus makes wonderful promises of answered prayer (vv.7–8). He promises ‘good gifts’ as you pray (vv.9–11).

• Choose to live a radical life

Stay on the narrow road that leads to life (vv.13–14). On the narrow road there is no room for pride, dishonesty, anger, hatred of enemies or unforgiveness.

Humility is the order of the day. You must give, pray, exercise self-control and seek first the kingdom of God. It is a road of purity, integrity, honesty and forgiveness. It is a road where you are required to ‘do to others what you would have them do to you’ (v.12). You are to show good fruit – by your character, lifestyle, teaching, actions, impact and relationships (vv.15–23).

Lord, as we face the challenge of living the Jesus lifestyle this year, thank you that nothing is impossible with you. Fill us today with your Holy Spirit and help us to live the kind of life that deep down we long to live.

Pastors: Ulises and Reyna Bello

Administrative Pastors: Brian and Kim Geraty