Testimonies from Latin America

Creation is immense, an extremely large painting. A quick glance from a distance shows us a single painting; however, when one approaches and observes very closely, we discover that this apparently single painting is made up of millions of tiny squares, and I am one of those tiny squares.  

I am an integral part of that great mosaic of God. Being part of God’s mosaic gives me security because in it I am spiritually contained and protected. 

The Apostle Paul said that the church is like the body, composed of many distinct parts, and all together the various parts form the whole body. Each part is important, even the little finger.  

The global Anabaptist family is the body of Christ, made up of many members, and all together we form a whole unit that is the big and beautiful picture of God.  

The first time I participated in an MWC Assembly was in 1984, in Strasbourg, France. I was a young leader then, and because it was my first experience, I understood very little about the significance of this one event. It was a meeting of our family scattered around the world. It was a party, where we celebrated with brothers and sisters from other parts of the world. Despite the cultural and language barriers, there was a great connection made visible in our shared worship, greetings or just a smile. 

For me, this experience with MWC is like what Proverbs 4:18 says: “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” The different events and relationships in MWC lead me to a better understanding that I am a part of the big picture of God.  

This understanding moves me to think and pray for our family scattered throughout the world. Their well being and their pain are also mine. I am reminded that I must not be selfish and think only about my part of the world, because beyond my world there are many other worlds that are also part of the great picture of God.  

That picture of God could also be compared to a building. When one stops and looks from a distance one observes a beautiful building, but as we get closer, we realize that this building is made up of thousands of parts. Some parts are large blocks like the pillars, and other parts are as tiny as the valve on the water tap. If that valve were to fail, we would immediately realize its importance and as quickly as possible we would look for a solution before the whole building is impacted. The large pillars and the tiny valves are all important to make a beautiful building. 

I want to see my life inside this immense picture of God. Perhaps I am only a tiny member, a small cell in this body. But I know that I am an equally vital part, so that God’s mosaic is complete and beautiful.