In 1988, Dámaris's life was forever changed in a small city in Argentina called Tucumán. She had been invited by Pastor Cymbala to sing at a pastor's conference to encourage the leaders of small congregations in that area. What she had not counted on was that the Lord showed her there that her heart was far from Him, even though she was faithful to church attendance and even was singing songs about Him. What Jesus showed her was that she didn't LOVE Him, and was not eager to obey Him. (John 14:15)
Last week we had the opportunity for the first time since then to go back to the same town where ...
Last week we had the opportunity for the first time since then to go back to the same town where ...
she felt such a direct call to turn from seeking a secular music career and follow the Lord wholeheartedly. This time we had the awesome opportunity to work with over 700 young people and leaders from all over Argentina with an organization called JUnTOS, which is an acronym for "Jóvenes Unidos Tras un Objetivo Supremo," which means Young People United for a Supreme Objective. The objective, of course, is evangelism.
JUnTOS is not an event, but a series of events all happening simultaneously throughout the city. More than 100 events, actually, from tents set up for health counseling with doctors, to kids events, to concerts in the park, to hairdresser tents, even to holding up evangelistic signs at intersections during red lights. They also had businessmen's leadership instruction and classes on mental health taught by a psychiatrist. It was an amazing three days from Thursday to Saturday night. It ended with all the workers gathering together at midnight on Saturday night for a Santa Cena, which is a communion service. We left at 2 am because we had to leave town in the morning for a concert the next day, but the service was still going strong.
Dámaris was able to sing at many of the events, some outdoors and some indoors, like a women's tea that happened on Saturday evening. When they tallied up all the people that they had reached, they listed almost 700 new decisions for Christ, and almost 1200 people who gave their contact information because they wanted to know more about Him! Now the churches in Tucumán will reach out to those new souls to disciple them.
Tucumán is famous for its delicious empanadas (meat patties). There was a sweet woman selling them in the street who was Miss Empanada, champion of the entire country at one time. We couldn't leave without having some! Now we have an empanada magnet on the fridge!!
After we left Tucumán, we went to Santiago del Estero, where Dámaris did a concert on Sunday evening, then a women's conference on Monday evening in a wonderful church there pastored by Mario Mulki. Both events were broadcast live on their own radio station, Radio de la Fe, which can also be heard on the internet.
The sweet people at Palabra de Vida (Word of Life) in S.M. del Monte threw us a surprise 36th anniversary dinner when we got back from Santiago on Tuesday. Then, the red eye flight got us home this morning.
Here are some pictures that you will enjoy:
JUnTOS is not an event, but a series of events all happening simultaneously throughout the city. More than 100 events, actually, from tents set up for health counseling with doctors, to kids events, to concerts in the park, to hairdresser tents, even to holding up evangelistic signs at intersections during red lights. They also had businessmen's leadership instruction and classes on mental health taught by a psychiatrist. It was an amazing three days from Thursday to Saturday night. It ended with all the workers gathering together at midnight on Saturday night for a Santa Cena, which is a communion service. We left at 2 am because we had to leave town in the morning for a concert the next day, but the service was still going strong.
Dámaris was able to sing at many of the events, some outdoors and some indoors, like a women's tea that happened on Saturday evening. When they tallied up all the people that they had reached, they listed almost 700 new decisions for Christ, and almost 1200 people who gave their contact information because they wanted to know more about Him! Now the churches in Tucumán will reach out to those new souls to disciple them.
Tucumán is famous for its delicious empanadas (meat patties). There was a sweet woman selling them in the street who was Miss Empanada, champion of the entire country at one time. We couldn't leave without having some! Now we have an empanada magnet on the fridge!!
After we left Tucumán, we went to Santiago del Estero, where Dámaris did a concert on Sunday evening, then a women's conference on Monday evening in a wonderful church there pastored by Mario Mulki. Both events were broadcast live on their own radio station, Radio de la Fe, which can also be heard on the internet.
The sweet people at Palabra de Vida (Word of Life) in S.M. del Monte threw us a surprise 36th anniversary dinner when we got back from Santiago on Tuesday. Then, the red eye flight got us home this morning.
Here are some pictures that you will enjoy:
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