Risky Preaching

In the book of 1st Peter, the writer begins the book by reminding believers of the "abundant mercy" and the "living hope" that we have in Christ. Later, starting in verse 5, he writes:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

So the reminder of God's mercy and the hope that is alive, because Jesus is risen, can keep us going during those challenging times of life - those times in which we feel we are walking through the fire, when our faith is being tested.  But, God always has a purpose and He is at work in our hearts so that our faith is strengthened.  Twice in the four verses here, he uses the word, "rejoice," and it is that joy that comes through confidence in Christ that can sustain us through our times of difficulty.

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We want our lives to be orderly and care-free, but that is not always possible, and challenging circumstances can be the crucible through which we develop a stronger faith. Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

“If I die, I’d rather die doing the will of God than live as a coward seeking money and pleasure..."  Those are the words of Diego Galvan, a missionary and pastor who was assigned by God to work in Tijuana, Mexico, according to a God Reports article. It states that Diego "who was born in Uruguay but raised in America just across the border in San Diego and had never known the dark and dangerous world of drug cartels."

He learned quickly, though.  The article relates:

Diego took over a church in Tijuana established by his brother, who moved on to another ministry. In the yard of his first house, a man was killed by revenge-seekers from the cartels. So he decided to move.

At his second house, a man who had been committing adultery with a drug trafficker was killed on Diego’s doorstep. He moved again.

Unwittingly, he fell out of the frying pan and into the fire. His next-door neighbor was a drug lord.

The scene next door was quite unruly - people coming and going, parking in front of his driveway and refusing to move, an active party scene.  So, he tried another tactic; the article states:

Realizing he was never going to get away from the cartel, Diego decided to send his wife with food to evangelize the dealer’s wife. “My wife can cook some good food,” Diego explains.

“You try to avoid the cartel,” he adds. “But the problem is that as you preach, you begin to mingle in their world.”

The relationship with the drug lord next door took a seemingly ominous turn after his wife received Christ. Apparently, the husband did not like it and physically abused her. Diego made a trip next door to confront his neighbor; he said, "“Hi, I’m your neighbor. I’m the pastor...I see what you’re doing to your wife. Men who beat their wives are cowards. One day you’re going to stand before the living God, and you’re going to give an account for all the mess you’re doing.”

Not a word from the neighbor. Then, the man's four-year-old daughter came out. Diego said, “This is your daughter, right? Do you want men to treat your daughter the way you are treating your wife?" He added, “Listen, I have the real deal...It’s Christ. If you call upon him, he will save your soul. But you must get right.”

After several days, the drug lord's wife informed Diego that her husband had locked himself in his room and was refusing to come out. Something was wrong, or so it seemed.  Against the wife's warnings, Diego went next door.  The God Reports article states that the neighbor said: “You know what you told me a few days ago?...That’s real, dude.”  Turns out that the man no longer wanted to do drugs, so he "was going through withdrawals. Diego led him in a sinner’s prayer. It was Friday night. On Saturday morning the former drug lord who had met the Earth’s Lord participated in outreach. He was handing out handbills and testifying to people about the wonders of Christ."

On Sunday morning, the drug lord flushed 2 kilos of cocaine down the toilet - that set up an ongoing confrontation between the man and the cartel, who was none to pleased that their merchandise had been destroyed.  Diego got involved and confronted the cartel several times; there were three instances in which it appeared he would lose his life - ultimately, he fled for his life to go to America.  The drug lord, unfortunately, lost his life, having returned to a life of sin.

The article says that, "Despite three brushes with death, Diego slipped back into Mexico one more time...to participate in a farewell service at his church. He gave leadership back to the brother who had founded the church. There were 199 people in attendance." He relates, “The souls that were saved during those crazy years are still giving fruit today...” One man, who had stepped up to help his pastor in a confrontation outside Diego's house is a pastor today.

We are never promised a sanitary life - sometimes things can get messy.  Things will not be tied up in a neat and beautiful bow.  But, even in the messy instances of life, we can turn to the One who goes with us, in whom we can be confident that He is working His plan.

Diego Galvan's story is of a man who was fearless, even when staring down death multiple times.  In those fear-inducing moments, we can know on whom we can rely.  We can turn to the boldness of the Holy Spirit and place our lives in God's hands.

These are challenging times, and the story of this drug lord whom Diego led to Christ provides us with a cautionary tale of making the right associations. We need to surround ourselves with people who will build us up in the faith and flee from circumstances that are not helpful to spiritual growth. We always have to be dedicated to growing the Lord through Bible study and fellowship with God and other believers.