In the early 1990s (1991-94) I spent three years with the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas working in Panama City in the Republic of Panama as minister of Rio Abajo Methodist Church and, for the first year, also Paraiso Methodist Church. That exposure to participation in the life of an overseas church was deeply enriching. It is difficult to briefly summarise our time in Panama and all we learned. My immediate thought in reflecting on Panama is heat - it was very hot all the time! It was a new experience working in two languages. As almost all the congregation originated from Caribbean roots, English was very much the first language, though Spanish also played a very significant role. One of my particular engagements was with one of the new communities that emerged after the destruction of some housing during the December 1989 US bombing that ousted Noriega. A mix of Bible Study, children's work and practical support led to the origins of the establishment of a church in that community. Weekly engagement on a Saturday afternoon was an important part of my ministry. Another important engagement in Panama was lay training, especially, though not only, the five weeks we spent on the Valiente peninsula in the spring of 1994. It was an amazing experience - no transport but boat or foot, one phone (usually not working) in the village, water dependent on rainfall. There 13 small churches seek to engage with the indigenous communities across the peninsula, each under the care of a lay evangelist. We ran a course in the main village for a week and then visited as many of the communities as we could for more localised training events. Contextual Bible Study takes on a new meaning when a squealing pig is dragged in to take part in a dramatic presentation of the prodigal son!
Monday 28 April 2008
A Panamanian Experience
In the early 1990s (1991-94) I spent three years with the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas working in Panama City in the Republic of Panama as minister of Rio Abajo Methodist Church and, for the first year, also Paraiso Methodist Church. That exposure to participation in the life of an overseas church was deeply enriching. It is difficult to briefly summarise our time in Panama and all we learned. My immediate thought in reflecting on Panama is heat - it was very hot all the time! It was a new experience working in two languages. As almost all the congregation originated from Caribbean roots, English was very much the first language, though Spanish also played a very significant role. One of my particular engagements was with one of the new communities that emerged after the destruction of some housing during the December 1989 US bombing that ousted Noriega. A mix of Bible Study, children's work and practical support led to the origins of the establishment of a church in that community. Weekly engagement on a Saturday afternoon was an important part of my ministry. Another important engagement in Panama was lay training, especially, though not only, the five weeks we spent on the Valiente peninsula in the spring of 1994. It was an amazing experience - no transport but boat or foot, one phone (usually not working) in the village, water dependent on rainfall. There 13 small churches seek to engage with the indigenous communities across the peninsula, each under the care of a lay evangelist. We ran a course in the main village for a week and then visited as many of the communities as we could for more localised training events. Contextual Bible Study takes on a new meaning when a squealing pig is dragged in to take part in a dramatic presentation of the prodigal son!
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