Greetings from Quito, Ecuador!I want to give an update on some of the ministry things going on here, but I want to start by sharing some of what God has been doing in me personally.
I am writing to you in a time where God is doing a great work in my heart and life. In all my previous updates, I have asked you to pray for God to awaken my heart like never before. God is answering that prayer!
We know that life with Jesus is a journey and I can honestly say that He is teaching me some things I've always known in my head, but not fully known in my heart, which is the only place true life change occurs. For years I have struggled understanding the love of God for me personally. Growing up, I always knew He loved me deeply, but I had my parents' love...their deep, unconditional, love for me. I always knew it was God's love pouring in and through them, but I never really felt the need to experience God's love personally, even though I know I experienced His love. I certainly encountered His presence, a deep desire to know Him and walk with Him, but never truly experienced His ongoing, unconditional love for me, which carried on well into my adult years. At times I even got angry saying, "There's more to God than just love...why do we always have to talk about and sing about God's love." It is true that there is more to God than just love, but looking back, I realize how much I needed to experience, know and live in the love of God.
As a result, I have been able to see that much of what I did was to earn His love and show God how committed and dedicated I was to Him by what I did and didn't do, rather than just simply allowing Him to love me and love Him in return. When my striving and efforts fell short, guilt and condemnation flooded in. For years I wondered, "Why do I feel this void in my heart when I'm serving and loving Jesus?" I have come to the realization that I was a Martha. I was pursuing to do for Jesus, but sporadically pursued intimacy with Jesus. Sure, I had my seasons and moments where I sought Him as silver and gold, and He always responded because He is faithful to His Word. But it tended to move quickly into doing for Jesus, because I didn't continue pursuing intimacy. When I needed something or I was preparing to minister, I would seek Him because I recognized I really had nothing to give on my own, but that is not God's design for His children. No wonder I didn't feel God's continual joy in my heart. No wonder why the Christian life felt empty a lot of the time. The Christian life was never meant to be lived apart from intimacy with Jesus. He is the Vine and we are the branches...we can't live and bear fruit if we're not totally & completely connected to the Vine, our source of life. Our character, integrity and lifestyle will always be lacking when we try to live the Christian life without being consumed by Christ; and our feelings & emotions will dominate how we ultimately live life. It's why Paul said, "It's no longer I who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in me." We will never be able to walk as Jesus and live like Jesus apart from intimacy with Him. That's why Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part. Mary valued intimacy with Jesus above service, even though it was her social responsibility. You see, serving Jesus needs to be an outflow of our intimacy with Jesus, not a means to an end to get close to Jesus. That only ends in guilt, condemnation, frustration and fruitlessness. God can and certainly will use us, but it won't be what He intended for us and won't benefit us when we stand before Him. But as we enter into a love relationship with God, everything begins to change. I'm seeing that at a deeper level than ever before. I am more aware now of God in everything I do than ever before. I have this growing desire to please Him and love Him in everything...in my relationships, thoughts, words and actions. I don't want to give myself permissions to sin. I don't want to compromise anymore. I don't want to be lukewarm. I want to pursue and walk in holiness; to passionately love and pursue Jesus; to live in the light. I want to be FREE!
I'm writing this to you today to share the awakening God is doing in my life and the freedom I am experiencing as I'm pressing in and pursuing Him, as well as to address the lie that we can love and serve Jesus without surrendering our hearts and lives to Him completely. What many call legalism, God calls obedience. We were never called to be fans of Jesus, but followers. We were never called to be complacent & lukewarm, but steadfastly pursue and be passionately in love with Him. We were never called to have one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom, but to be consecrated, holy and set apart (in this world, but not of it-- ambassadors & representatives of Jesus and His Kingdom here in this world). Luke 9:23 says, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me."
As I said in the beginning, we are all on a journey. Press in and seek His face with all your heart. Let's be people of the Word! Seek first His kingdom and to be in right standing with Him. That is the only journey worth taking. Let God awaken your hearts to His great, great love for you and watch what He will do as you surrender to His love and love Him in return. May the Lord greatly bless you all!
Here's a few amazing videos that God has used in my life recently. I encourage you to check them out:
Consumed by God
A Call to Holiness
MINISTRY UPDATE:
- Chapels & DNA Groups: This year has been going well. We have been addressing the topic of LOVE thus far. We are targeting different facets and meanings of love, specifically God's Agape love. In mid-October we just had our first SEW (Spiritual Emphasis Week) of the year and it went really well. We had a guest speaker with a powerful testimony of God's love through tragedy and we're believing many seeds were planted and watered. (Thank you to all who were specifically praying for us that week.) After SEW I addressed the topic of always hearing about God's love, but not entering into a love relationship with Him. Please pray that the students will ponder these things and sincerely examine their hearts. Our desire is that they stop hearing about God's love and enter into a love relationship with Him.
- Deep Discipleship: We have 3 groups this year so far with about 20 students. There is a group of Juniors and 2 groups of MS students. They are a great group of kids, but each week they declare, "We were too busy to spend time with Jesus!' (Much like many adult Christians). Each week I respond, "We pursue the things that are important to us!" Please pray that they will press in, pursue and discover intimacy with Jesus and that He will be their One and Only.
- Student Worship Band: I am so proud of this group. They are doing an amazing job. Their growth from last year to this year is AMAZING. Pray that these students encounter true worship in their lives with God and that it not be just about playing music.
- Staff Worship Band: We have a great group of staff worshippers and it continues to grow. Pray for breakthrough...that true, uninhibited, heartfelt worship will flood through our school in the hearts and lives of all our staff. The spiritual environment continues to be very complacent and lukewarm, but I'm believing for breakthrough. We must lead the way spiritually!
- Worship Nights: I feel that the Lord has called me to do monthly worship nights again this year at our home. We had our first in Oct and another one coming up November 16. Please be praying for these nights. The objective is to get away from everything, center in and love on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to renew our lives in Him.
FAMILY UPDATE:
- Carolina has A LOT on her plate this 1st Semester. She is Spanish Department Head again, which entails coordinating schedules & classes (a lot of work), plus she has a full teaching load and is coaching Volleyball again, which means she gets home pretty late. On top of that she is in charge of organizing a big Ecuadorian celebration for the school which takes place the beginning of Dec. Please pray for her. It's only in His presence that the Lord can fill her with His joy, strength and peace to see her through. Stress and anxiety are not of God, but tactics of the enemy to kill, steal and destroy, but greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. The victory is ours in Jesus' name!!!
Also, please pray that God will show us His will and purpose for Carolina next school year and the wisdom to discern and follow His lead.
- Joaquin and Milena are doing great. They are doing well in school and both are taking piano lessons through FaceTime with my mom. They are growing and doing a great job. They both are growing in their relationship with Jesus and love to read the Word, but also are confronted with worldly mindsets and attitudes here at the school. Please pray that they will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, because that changes everything; and that they love and stand firm in Jesus all the days of their lives.
- As I said above, God is doing some great things in my life. I'm no where close to perfect, but God is teaching me to love Him and love others, specifically my wife and children, in a whole new way. I only want to keep growing in Him and His love!
Please pray for Carolina and I. In the midst of all that's going on, we often times feel disconnected. Our biggest need is for Jesus to be the center of everything in our lives...individually, relationally, spiritually, in ministry, in our future...everything.
I've also had the opportunity and privilege to spend lots of time with the kids, which has been great for us. I've been working with the kids in basketball and they both really love it. These times with them are priceless.
Also, since January God has been confirming in my heart some specific things moving forward related to ministry here in Ecuador. I am so excited about these things, but am trying to discern God's timing and process. I'm intentionally being vague, but please pray for God's guidance and wisdom as I seek for His purpose and plan for our lives moving forward in ministry here in Ecuador.
Thank you for all your prayer, love and support to us as a family.
For those who partner with us financially, we are so grateful and blessed. You help keep us here on the mission field and share in the fruit of what God is doing. Thank you so much!
For those who feel the Lord leading you to partner financially with us in ministry here in Ecuador, you can do so through Radiant Church: Wilson Family Missions Support (Make sure to specify it is for Caleb & Carolina, Ecuador, etc)
Love always!
Caleb, Carolina, Joaquin & Milena
