From the October-December 2006 Issue
Back home
Luis and Pilar Cano
Cuidad RealWe have come back home! Twenty years ago we were sent by the church in Ciudad Real to a pioneer work in a town called Cuenca, where there was no Christian testimony, and now here we are again, back where we started, in our home church.
I can look at our time in Cuenca in an optimistic or realistic way; it all depends on the state of mind I have at that moment, and the state of mind will depend on the mental and emotional tiredness I have. In the end I prefer to leave it all in the Lord’s hands, because the work is His and we are mere instruments in his hands, of a quality that he already knows. We thank God for establishing a church in Cuenca and we commend the new pastor, Matt Hill, and his family to your prayers.
And now, what?
I have always believed that I am first of all a servant of God; it doesn’t matter in which place or context I may find myself. That’s why, although emotionally it is hard to leave the Cuenca church, my work will be the same and I hope it will be enriched by the experience. When God called me into his service, he already knew about my gifts and limitations; what I could do and what I could reach to do, that’s why I think he doesn’t ask of me more than that, and to be faithful to Him. The much I lack and the mistakes I make, the Spirit will amend. Throughout the years I have had a motto in the pulpit, that I will go on applying: “To preach Christ, for the glory of God, guided by the Spirit, according to the need of the congregation”.
The move
Although I have been coming to Ciudad Real on a regular basis, it wasn’t until the beginning of July that I officially left the pastorate in Cuenca, and centred all my time and effort in Ciudad Real. It took us several months to find a house, repair it and move in. How is it that we can accumulate so many things? I am in the habit of keeping memories from places I have been, like a piece of “peat” from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, “salt” from the mines of Romania, “gypsum” from the Mediterranean caves. The last thing was a bit of Causeway, from my last deputation time in Northern Ireland. I can’t get rid of anything. And how can it be so complicated to move the books?... At least the decoration is in Pilar’s hands!
Outreach
I have already presented several projects to the church, which they supported eagerly; some of these are already going on, others will be more difficult to work out, and yet others are in preparation. I would have liked to continue with the bookstall here in the open-air market, as I have done in Cuenca, but the Town Hall authorities tell me that I am on a long waiting-list and that it can take months or even years to get the necessary permission!
There is a group of people in the church who are very keen in evangelism, and every week we go out to the squares and parks to talk to people and leave some leaflets with them. So far nobody has come to church as a result of this, but the conversations are very good; the people listen well and ask many questions. The believers are very encouraged and enthusiastic about this. Please pray for good results that many may come to know the Lord. We are also waiting for permission to put a Christian literature table in the squares.
We have obtained the use of a multi-confessional meeting room in the new hospital in the town. This hospital is huge and always full of people. We will be able to hold meetings regularly with the patients, relatives and staff. The conditions are very difficult in comparison with the privileges of the Catholic Church, but the most important thing is to gain an entrance and start, and then we will see how to progress. I think it is a good service we can offer to those who need consolation and, at the same time, it is an opportunity to introduce ourselves and present the gospel.
Other plans
We are trying to start a Christian radio-broadcast and although it is a complicated project, there is some possibility that the authorities may agree. It sounds pretentious, but we as a church are committed to the idea and are praying that the permission will be granted.
In the autumn we will begin a meeting for young couples, which some are asking for expressly. We are already holding informal meetings for fellowship in different homes, both to strengthen us as a body and also as an opportunity to invite contacts or those who are backslidden. There is freedom to talk about any subject openly and people appreciate these times very much.
On Sunday mornings, before the service, we have a kind of Sunday School for everybody, which is very much appreciated. People can talk and actively participate. At the present time we are studying the 1689 Confession of Faith.
I am no partisan of activism. I believe that the most effective thing to do is to strengthen personal relationships and preach faithfully the Word of God, but it is also true that “Wait on the Lord” doesn’t mean to sit down, but to work hard and look up to heaven at the same time.
So, here we are back home again, and it is our prayer that the Lord will use us to serve Him and his people, and that many may come to know Him as their Saviour. May God have mercy on us and His work.