Wrapping up this ministry emphasis week, I have my friends Tony and Freddie Herrera joining us here today.I met them in 2021 when I was working at Mountain View. Actually, I met Tony before that in 2020, but I don’t remember it because there was a lot that was happening that year.
Video:
Audio only
They were in Tunisia and their son Matthew, who we’ve been able to have here, would watch the services. When they got back to the States, Matthew wanted to get together and we were able to have a mentoring relationship.
Through that time, I was able to meet Tony and Freddie and get to know them pretty well throughout that time. You guys have been here both Wednesday and Saturday, but maybe you could introduce yourselves to us and tell us a little bit about you and, and your background.
Introductions
Freddie
Hi, I am Freddie, and my husband Tony. I’m from France, and Tony is from Mexico. We did live for 10 years in North Africa. During Covid we had to watch online services, so we used to watch MountainView. Matthew saw Charles and loved his preaching, so he did say from back then that he wanted to meet you when we got back.
Tony
I’m Tony. As Freddie said, I was born in Mexico. There’s a little story about us, and that God brought me from Mexico, brought her from France, got us together, gave us two kids, and kicked us out here and put us in North Africa.
the real story is that we met when we were here in in Denver at work. I was working at a small company. She joined the company a little bit and then we got to know each other. God brought us together, and God put in our hearts, both of our hearts at the same time, unbeknownst to each other, that he was going send us out to serve him.
Charles
This whole week is about what it is to both live missionally in our faith. That can be locally, in our context, or globally, as you two have had the opportunity.
We kind of see this call for all Christians to live missionally in our faith, but we really want to take it back to scripture and see where this all comes from. I have a couple scriptures.
Matthew 9:36-38
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Matthew 9:36-38
Jesus here is doing Jesus things, healing people, and teaching. There’s this moment when he’s finished up his healing and teaching for that time, and he looks out and sees this large crowd. He’s moved by what he sees because he sees that this crowd of people are people that are lost. They need help and assistance, and it moves his heart.
Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful. Plenty of people need to know Jesus. Plenty of people have these needs to be met. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out people to take care of this need. We see a real need in our world, and are commissioned to be the ones to go out and do something about this need.
Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I’m with you always to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20
This is a very well-known verse. We know it as the Great Commission. This is where all believers are commissioned to go out and make disciples, to be representatives of Jesus, and to teach them about Jesus. We’re also told that as we go out and whatever we do, that God is going to be with us as well.
This is where we see this call for all Christians to live missionally in their pursuit of Jesus. It’s not just for those who go and do work overseas, but it’s also just for the everyday ordinary Christian. These are the verses we focused on for this week. What are some verses that inspire you guys to live the ways that you do?
Freddie
I have a couple verses. One of the results of the Great Commission and Living Missionally is Revelation 7:19
After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, every tribe, every people and language standing before the throne and in front of the lamp. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice, salvation belonged to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamp.
Revelation 7:19
That gives me great hope because if it’s in the Bible and God says it, it’s going to happen. We know. The exciting thing is how do we get to be part of that as he invites us?
Another vers I have is Philippians 2:10-11
At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue confessed that Jesus Christ is the Lord to God, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11
I think that’s what gets me up in the morning. That’s what gives me a reason to do what I do, to travel, to go share Jesus with others, because one day they will all bow down and worship him. Whether they want to or not, it’s going to happen.
Charles
What I really like about that is in these two verses, it seems like there’s this theme that whatever is said in the word is going to happen inevitably. And on the other hand, there’s also this inevitability that everyone is going to come and know Jesus at one point. I think that’s, that’s wonderful.
Tony, what about, what about you?
Tony
Everybody is going to come to know Jesus. But we, the workers need to go to the field. And what is the field? That’s the question that comes to my mind.
The field could be away from here. It could be not too far away. It could be even within the walls of this church, within the walls of our homes, within this city, within this country. One of the verses in the Bible that inspires me to do what we do is in I Peter 4:10-11,
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others faithfully, administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides. So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ, to him be the glory and the power forever and ever.
I Peter 4:10-11
Many years ago, when I felt God was calling me, I began questioning myself. What is it that I have that I can give to minister to others, to bring the knowledge of Jesus to other people? And so I began asking, “what were the things that I truly enjoyed?” Because all the gifts that God gives us are things that we enjoy because they bring satisfaction into our lives.
I began noticing that when I was doing work for my neighbor in his yard because they couldn’t do it, or when somebody called me and said they had a problem with a faucet, and I went out there to do it, it brought pleasure to me. And so I thought that was one of the things that God had prepared me fo: sharing those gifts that he had given me.
One of the other verses that really speaks to me is Ephesians 2:8-10.
But it is by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-10
God sent his son to give us his grace, to accept us once again in relationship with him.
When I decided to follow Christ, almost a year after I married Freddy, that was my decision. He came to save me.
And so now what? I got baptized, and so now what? Now became the time to serve him in whichever way I could. Not that I would do it for favor from him or from others, but that I would do it to honor what he had given me.
There’s another passage in the Bible, which I’m not going to quote exactly. It talks about the talents. God has given talents to people, not money, but talents as in abilities to do different things. When we take those abilities and keep them to ourselves, we’re doing like the men burying the money under a rock, and then giving them back to Christ when he calls us with him.
So we need to use those abilities that we have that he’s given us.
How does Jesus set the example to live missionally?
Charles
Those are awesome verses. The point is to look at what it is to live missionally in our lives. I have six questions that I want to ask you guys. You have experience, not just living missionally for Jesus, not just where you are, but also everywhere that you go in the world. So you have that other context that I’d like for us to absorb if we can.
So first question here is, how does Jesus set the example for us to live missionally?
Freddie
Well, for me, Jesus came not just for the Jews, but for the Gentiles also. And as aresult, I am here and I follow him. And so are we.
I try to really keep that in mind when I go to different countries of different religions, that Jesus came for them too. We are called to be His ambassadors and to follow his example.
No one is excluded from the love of God. And that’s what I try to put into practice. That’s what it looks like for me to act, to be missional in my actions.
Tony:
No one is excluded from the love of God. I really like that because it resonates with me very much. He loves me and we just sang a song: Oh how he loves me and oh how he loves you.
He not only loves us as Christians, but he loves us as human beings in world. And, he loves every single person, and there’s no place in this earth that we can hide away from that love. All that he wants is for him to have a relationship with us and how he, he wants a relationship with us.
How He allows us to work that through is that when Jesus was here with on earth, he went around and healed the sick. He went around and fed the hungry. He went around and opened the eyes of the blind.
Through those actions, people’s faith grew, or they opened up to his words. And then he went ahead and spoke to them the words of the Father. That’s how they came to know him. That’s how they came to work with him.
The way we do things, we use similar techniques. To way we reach the world to come to know Christ is by using what we call the SIPS model. That’s the Social, Intellectual, Physical and Spiritual. Spiritual is always a part of everything that we do. Social is when people are not having a good social interaction, or a good social environment, they are not thriving.
They need to have the companionship of someone else, or at least the ability to be among people to feel complete, to feel better. When we encounter someone who’s not in a good social environment, we try to bring that social environment to them, and thus that way opening up their mind to other things. Their physical appearance may be better because of that. Their health will be better, because now they’re being physical and working.
So, their spiritual life even opens up because of that reason. We believe that changing anything in the physical aspect or on the social aspect or intellectual aspect by teaching someone something opens up their mind about different things. We believe when we do that, we actually speak into their spirituality for them to be able to receive the gift of Christ.
What is it like to live missionally where you’ve been?
Charles:
Another question for you guys. What does it look like for you to live Missionally in all the places that you’ve been? You’ve been all over the world. What does it look like to have this attitude of “I’m going to live missionally wherever I am?”
Freddie
I guess for me it starts with remembering it’s not about me, it’s about him. And that it’s not my mission. It’s God’s mission.
Before I get on a plane or go bring cookies to my neighbors in Africa, I pray that God would lead me and guide me in what I say, what I do, how I’m respectful, and that he would always go before me.
And then I like the image that, when I go into a room, especially where there’s no Christ, I’m not alone. I have Jesus with me by my side and next to me. It’s really helpful to remember that. I have the privilege to be part of his mission, his adventure, because he’s invited me into it.
But the other side too is to remember that Jesus laid down his life for me and for them.I have to be ready to lay down my life for them, for the people I go see, I visit. Whatever the risks or what may happen, God is in control and it’s part of imitating Christ to be ready to do that for them.
Charles
I think one of the things that can be hard for us is that we’re not in an overseas context. We’re here in the States, you know what I’m saying? So it can almost feel likewe don’t qualify to live missionally because we’re not doing it like everybody else. We know that’snot the reality of the Christians.
Could tell us what it looks like for us to live missionally, when we’re not in North Africa in our daily lives?
Tony
You are right. It’s not easy. It’s actually very difficult. I used to be a very shy kind of a guy, very reserved. You can say I was a little bit of an introvert, and I’m still a little bit of an introvert.
When I first came to the US I had to learn English to be able to speak to people. And so every time I tried to speak to someone, I was very self-conscious about it. Spanish to English, while it’s difficult, it is not as difficult as going up to a Muslim country and learning Arabaic or Chinese. It’s very, very difficult to learn a language like that.
Not only that, but the cultures are completely different. Cultures between Mexico and the US are not exactly the same, but they’re somewhat similar, and there are a few things that are different.
So it is difficult. But when the Bible says that God is for us, when He is for us, nobody can be against us. In addition, he has given us all gifts to be able to share with others. So he brings us those opportunities and he opens up the opportunities for us to do that.
When we take a step of faith in what God can actually do and believe him that he will do what he’s asking us to do with him, then we have nothing to fear. We have nothing to be shy about because we’re following his footsteps. He invites us into ministry with him.
This might not be correct, but this is what I say: he’s in co-mission with us, or we are in co-mission with him.
Charles
That’s beautiful. What I hear is, Freddie, you come from this angle of, “he’s with me always. Even when I walk into a room where I’m the only Christian, like I’m not alone. Christ is with me.” And then Tony, you’re saying that God has gifted you in unique ways to be able to be in co-mission with him.
How does this translate into being intentional in ministry and in our daily interactions?
Freddie
I think you’ve been teaching about the names of God, and one of my favorite names of God is El-Roi, God who sees me. I am intentional in seeing the unseen in different places around the world.
On one of my recent trips, I was in Asia, and I was sharing with the most vulnerable and poorest populations. I was asked to share my testimony, and at the end I said, “you know, my God sees me and he knows my name. And then I said, you know, actually, God, sees you and he knows each and every one of your names. Not only that, but he cares for you, and he knows your suffering.”
Those are people who suffer so much. I guess that’s just an example of intentionality. There are many other ways, but we need to hear that. I need to know that God sees me, and so do they. So, when given the opportunity here or somewhere else to just speak truth into somebody’s life, I think that’s how I would recommend going about it.
Tony
In the words that I shared from 1 Peter 4:10-11, we have all been given the Holy Spirit when we accepted Christ. The Holy Spirit is with us, and more alive with each step that we take towards having a bigger, greater, fuller relationship with God.
When you approach anyone and speak, and the verse says, speak as if you’re speaking the words of God, it’s not as imitating God and speaking. Instead, it’s allowing the Spirit to speak through you. He empowers you to do, to say, to act, and to help people.
We might not be able to heal the ill by touching them or speaking to them, but the Holy Spirit can and God can. Jesus said “ask, and it will be given, knock at the door and the door will be open.” If Jesus said that, and then it’s truth, if I ask Him in His name to heal this person, he will in due time if it’s His will to do it.
Every step that we take, we take intentionally with the Holy Spirit within us, moving us forward. If we take a false step, the Holy Spirit will guide us back to where we need to be, if we are sensitive to that.
What do you (and we) need to be reminded of in order to keep living missionally?
Charles:
That is a blessing because we are taking the wrong steps all the time. To know that the Holy Spirit’s there and will continue to be present is great.
So far we’ve talked about where this call to live missionally comes from, what it looks like to be intentional. But when you guys are traveling, what does it look like? What are some things you need to be reminded of when you are in the field?
Freddie:
I always go back to it’s God’s mission, and he called me. And so he equipped me. So often, like here, I’m feeling really inadequate and shy about sharing, but I’d feel the same way overseas or anywhere. I must remember that it’s God who equips me and gives me the tools I need to do what I need to do.
Whenever I am scared or whatever I might be feeling, remember that he’s the one. And so no doubt I’m here because he told me to, and that’s enough for me.
Tony
As mentioned a little bit before, the Holy Spirit is with us. Christ is with us. God is with us. He has paid the price for us to have this relationship with him.
He loves me, he loves you, he loves everyone, but not everyone in this earth knows how to have this relationship with him yet. So that’s what I would like for everyone to remember, is that not everyone knows Christ. Not everyone knows the way to get to the Father.
The more people come to know the father, and they all come to understand that they too can bring somebody else unto the father, then we’re multiplying our actions through them as well. This has happened on many occasions and many places, including overseas and down south in Latin America.
What is the impact of a community that chooses to live missionally?
Charles
As we established, you guys are very well-traveled individuals. You’ve been all over. What have you seen of the impact of a community that has chosen to live missionally? That’s saying, “we have this, this mission, and we know it’s not just for a select few, or for special and specific personalities. It’s just for everybody.” What have you seen of communities that say, “I’m going to own this and not let it pass by?”
Um, what have you seen for communities that say, I’m gonna own this and not let it pass by?
Freddie
I think if the whole community catches the vision, then it’s self-reproducing. Then it affects generation after generation.
For example, in Africa where I work right now, we have had a small project with vulnerable women who are divorced widows. They need to make a living. What’s been beautiful when we just did the assessment to see how it went, was the solidarity between them, this intentionality to share in the profit, in the learning.
When they learn to read and write, they want to teach each other. Nobody’s left behind. If somebody is sick and cannot work, they share the profit of the business with that person. I think it’s intentional and it’s missional, and it’s the greater good for everyone.
It’s not one, it’s more of a collective, which is much more of their culture. Really we are a collective as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Tony
Community could be various different things, right? It could be the community of this church, the Green Mountain community, or it could be the community around Green Mountain altogether. We can make it bigger, you know? Denver community in a sense, or the United States community, or the whole world community.
It could be very different things. One of the things that I have seen, from the time that we were in North Africa, reminds me a lot of Christmas when you bring the candles. The building is dark and you light one candle. And then there’s two candles, then there’s four, then there’s 20, then there’s 30 candles illuminating the whole thing. It means everybody’s unified.
what happens is that when you start lighting a candle on a community, the community begins sharing with one-another, and this community begins to grow. you actually see people’s attitudes towards each other changing for the better because relationships are built.
When the relationships are built, then there’s, there’s two, four, ten more people that are strong to be able to bring that same feeling to other people in their own proper communities outside of that. It’s like a wildfire.
Charles
Yeah. There’s like a contagious effect to it. You know, catch the vision and live missionally.
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
Freddie
I would say don’t be afraid to start to do something. Don’t be afraid of failure. When we first moved overseas, some people called us crazy. Maybe we were, but we had a lot of criticism.
I love the story in the Bible of Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on water. We often focus on the fact that he stopped looking at Jesus and he started drowning. But I really liked the fact that he stepped out of the boat. The others stayed safely inside, but he had faith enough to come out because he saw Jesus. He went out on the water and walked. And then when he fell, which we all do at some point, Jesus caught him.
That’s what I try to instill in my children, too, is don’t be afraid. It’s the same here or everywhere. When you do something for Jesus, there’s no shame. Actually, I think it would be shameful to hide in the boat for me.
Tony
So, no one lights a candle and puts it under a wall, right? That’s what you’re saying.
I think that one thing that is alwaysin the back of my mind that I want to tell people is to remember that everybody has a need. It doesn’t matter what that need is.
Go to the grocery store and you see someone having a hard time reaching something. If you can go help them reach it, give it to them. If somebody’s not having a good time and they look sad, smile at them. Each and every single thing that you do that brings somebody’s spirits up, it’s from God. And it doesn’t matter how much of it it is, so long as you do it with the intention that God wants me to do this, I’m going do it, and do it without fear.
Charles
Amen. Something that I’ve been thankful for with Janiece, she’s the reason behind this entire week of helping us understand, and mobilizing us. We often disqualify ourselves from God working in certain ways because we say, “well, I don’t speak very well, or I get nervous, or I’m an introvert.” We count ourselves out and say that either God can’t use me, or that I shouldn’t even step out and try because of a fear failure.
But something that we’re seeing is that the Holy Spirit is working in you, whether you’re overseas or whether you’re in your house. You know, he’s working in you, whether you’re in North Africa or you’re at the grocery store. He’s working in you, whether you’re at work or you’re at your friend’s and neighbor’s house. There’s this empowerment from the Holy Spirit to use you and the gifts that he’s put specifically in you to further the kingdom of God.
As we have this new vision for our church to be a neighborhood church that reflects the hope and the love of Jesus, we don’t need Tony’s and Freddie’s gifts to be able to make an impact for the kingdom. Y’all don’t need my gifts to make an impact for the kingdom. We’re all part of this, this invitation to be kingdom workers and to be kingdom builders. Your age, your abilities, and your insecurities do not discount you from what God has put in you and created you to do.
So I think that’s a wonderful encouragement. Something that I appreciate from what you had said is that when we take false steps, the Holy Spirit is going to be there and cover us. It’s not, “I messed up, I said the wrong thing. I fumbled my words. I’m a bad servant.” The Lord’s going to redeem that and still be in us as we move forward.
Tony
I wanted to say though, that God doesn’t call everybody to go overseas. God calls us into ministry, but he doesn’t say you have to go overseas, or you have to go to Mexico, or you have to go to New Mexico or to another place.
He wants us to use the tools that he has given us to use. He wants us to be in ministry among each other, he wants some to go, he wants some to stay. God wants some to heal people and he wants some to help others with learning something. It doesn’t matter what it is or where it is. You are pressed by the Holy Spirit to utilize those gifts that God has given you anywhere.
Questions for us to reflect on:
Our message for the week was different, being a conversation between Pastor Charles, Tony, and Freddie. We ended the service with one of our “Conversation Sundays.” We’re leaving the discussion questions here for you to reflect on.
- What does it look like to be missional in your community? What does it look like for you personally, and for the church?
- How has God gifted you to participate in His mission in your community?
- Why is it important that we have a “Missional Mindset” in our daily, ordinary lives?
- Read Ephesians 2:10 (below). With your “missional mindset,” what are some good works that God has prepared for you to do today?
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10