One body in Christ

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace… Ephesians 2:13-15

How beautiful and grand the body of Christ is! With the gift of technology, I’ve been able to reflect on this “family” and “body” seen in the book of Ephesians. What a joy to see the body of Christ all over the world, working together, meeting online, and innovating for the sake of the gospel. The month of April marked a transition in ministry for me with the opportunity of connecting with students from GBU in Chile and beginning my work as staff even though I am still here in Miami. I love the illustration given in verse 13, “you who once were far off have been brought near”, yes, the social distance is a physical distance, however, in Christ we are near.

I was very humbled to have been invited to lead a discussion on the 4^th value of the ministry’s core beliefs: “but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt,
and justly subject to God’s wrath” with a group in Valdivia and a Bible study on 1 Corinthians 2 with a group in Temuco. Although I was nervous to lead my first Spanish discussions, it was a great exercise and a lot of fun! It was encouraging to see so many students connected and to hear their input and stories. I'm thankful for the doors that continue to open both in forming relationships and participating in the work of GBU.

The south of Chile is known for its temperate weather, like that of Seattle, WA, combined with a warm hospitality, like that of southern states, causing it to have a high relationship orientation. This means, relationships take precedence over tasks. Last year I had the opportunity to meet many student leaders from Temuco, Valdivia, and Osorno, but none from Puerto Montt. Because of the context, I was assuming that my work in Puerto Montt would have to start once I arrived physically in Chile and would require much more time of getting to know students. Thankfully, God reminded me He goes before me! I was contacted by Mauricio, one of the student leaders in Puerto Montt, and after a few messages we coordinated a video call. I was able to participate in one of their small groups and am looking forward to continuing the relationship.

There’s a sense of family and closeness that I’ve felt in connecting with student groups outside of Miami. Our cultures are different, so are our context and language, yet even the thousands of miles that separate us are broken down, we are one.

Have you been able to have similar experiences during this time of quarantine? How have you felt close to others despite physical distance?