Such Were Some of You

My father and I, along with Bro. José Sotomayor, visited our Southernmost church in the city of Lima tonight, a place called La Tablada de Lurín.

This is a church that is just beginning to realize its potential; their excitement could be sensed.

I was privileged to preach the word in this small but growing church pastored by Bro. Pedro Panduro, an excellent man and able minister of the Word. He is in great pain due to a case of shingles, and was grateful for our visit and the slight respite it provided him.

The entire time I was ministering in song and in the Word, a very drunk man on crutches kept interrupting. He wasn't a mean drunk - he just wanted to participate! As I sang, he did, too – very loudly, and a totally different song – but he sang heartily, nonetheless. 

There were those who started to make attempts to remove him, but I urged them to leave him alone; how many people have staggered drunk into a Pentecostal church, and left cold sober and filled with the Holy Ghost?

This man was the first one to come forward to pray, and the last one to leave the altar.

I watched from the keyboard as he kept interrupting the pastor's closing remarks...

After a moment, Bro. Panduro put down the mic, left the platform, and put his arm around the sot. With compassion, this powerful preacher of the Gospel said, "I want to pray for you, Sir...

"You see" – he continued – "...I was once just like you. God delivered me; He can deliver you."

Pedro Panduro: drug-addicted, rebellious, womanizing alcoholic. Drunken, vile, hopelessly lost.

Except...except for a praying mother, and a merciful, loving, and all-powerful Savior. That Savior was seeking that which was lost –– and in doing so, He found Pedro Panduro. Found him; rescued him; forgave him; filled him...transformed him...and called him to preach the Gospel. And that story is still being written, but its latest chapters are things of beauty compared to the sordid beginning of that book.

"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." ––1 Corinthians 6:11

That's what missions is all about!