By Adalberto Santiago
Recently, I began to pray earnestly due to the pressure of too many duties and responsibilities, my wife Jenny’s illness, and a sense that God wanted to transition our congregation from a single leader to a multi-person leadership team. As I prayed, others joined me, and God started to move us. The entire congregation was called to a season of prayer and fasting. As a result, leaders now organize a prayer vigil about every six weeks. The church gathers on a Friday evening for six hours of prayer, although some stay all night. Then, there’s prayer, teaching, and worship on Saturday morning. We call these times “Nights of Samuel,” inspired by young Samuel’s response to God’s call with the words “Here I am,” from 1 Samuel 3. We have held four “vigils” so far.
The men’s ministry from my church, Congregacion Menonita Shalom in New Columbia, Pa., approached me with the idea of playing a basketball game with a group of young men who played every Monday in nearby Milton. Surprisingly, the community men accepted the invitation. The older men from the church offered to cook hamburgers for the group, and everyone agreed. Although I can’t remember who won the game, this interaction is just one of the missional impulses that has swept over the congregation. Church members are fostering friendships at their jobs and inviting coworkers to worship services. The women in the church organized a camping trip and invited friends, neighbors, and coworkers to join them. Yes, camping, like “tents.” And the invitations were accepted.
As the pastor, my prayer journey ignited a powerful movement within our church. The Holy Spirit captured the attention of our members, leading them on a mission-driven path. Teams were formed, each dedicated to specific needs and interests. Our congregation transitioned from a single leader to multiple leaders, each navigating diverse situations. This transformation unleashed a powerful flow, with the Spirit inspiring and guiding our members. We wholeheartedly believe that this is the way forward for us in this season.
Adalberto Santiago serves as Pastor of Congregación Menonita Shalom and as Conference Ministry of LMC. He participates on the LMC Board of Bishops and on Concilio de Iglesias Evangélicas Shalom.