Several months ago Manuel and I wrote about Siempre Familia Iglesia de Cristo’s new journey saying, “We have yet to designate a specific geographical area of Fort Worth nor specific transformational, spiritual, and tangible needs that we could emphasize as our focus.” We are still unsure. However, the journey has begun.
Siempre Familia’s beginning starts with listening to the voice of God through scripture, prayer and mission. A concept that we were introduced to through Mission Alive’s Discipleship Cohorts. This beginning also starts with a shift from “creating a plan” to following His lead, from thinking of ministry inside a building to being Jesus outside and within the community, and by paying attention to the community and what God is already doing there. This means we are seeking a higher spiritual commitment to God, a commitment that brings us to Jesus’ feet for prayer.
So, we started walking—actually riding in a van—for a “Caminata de oración”, a prayer drive of Fort Worth, TX. The ten members of our Siempre Familia leadership team as well as Tod and Candace Vogt began praying on a very hot Saturday morning in August starting at square one, in the parking lot of our old building; the community that we know so well. Then, we prayed over other places we know. We went to where we live, where Siempre Familia members live, and we asked our leadership team to share what they know. Who are the people in your neighborhood? What are the needs among your neighbors? Where do you see God already working? Their answers were our spiritual food that day. Manuel asked us to pray that God would show us His Kingdom: that we would look for the Kingdom in seeds or yeast or treasure or even through the weeds.
We prayed that our spiritual eyes would see clearer, our ears would hear intently, and hearts attentive to the doors that He may open for us in the coming days. We made a higher spiritual commitment going beyond what we’ve done in the past- surrendering our plans, doubts, opinions, talents, and experience, sacrificing all to Christ, believing wholeheartedly that He will provide everything we need as we fully trust in His Providence. We committed to faithful obedience to Him.
Below is the map of our travel; it’s where we were led. If you know these neighborhoods or sometimes drive through them, please pray. If you see the Kingdom of God in this map, please pray. We will be. After 17 years of laboring in God’s Kingdom in DFW, Manuel and I can see very clearly that God has not yet finished doing His work. God still wants to use Siempre Familia. Our calling is still here, perhaps for many more years, or perhaps for the rest of our lives. If we give of our lives, we ask that you join us, especially in prayer. Siempre Familia will stumble and will make mistakes. But, oh, may God use us still!
-Nancy Gonzalez, Ministry Co-Leader of Siempre Familia