Opening Night!

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

Amazonian Wednesdays 🌴

Our youth perform a drama depicting the healing of the woman with the issue of blood 


July 2004
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I went for a visit last night. Eight new cell groups were opening, and I wanted to be a part of the excitement. I went to see two of the welcome celebrations that the leaders of the new cells were holding. 

The two that I observed will give you a good insight into the struggles and triumphs of a typical cell group leader in our JIEL youth ministry. 

I first dropped in on a meeting led by Mari. Mari is a twenty year old university student studying to become an elementary school teacher. She works hard at school and hard for the Lord. This new cell group she is starting will be the third one under her supervision. The night before the new cell was to begin, she was met with the unexpected news that the woman who had committed to opening her home for the meetings was backing out.

Mari scrambled to find another house to work with. Yesterday, she and her two helpers started walking around the selected neighborhood mid-afternoon, inviting young people to come in the evening. However, apparently because the substitute house is not very accessible, no one came to the brand new meeting except Mari and the two helpers. In spite of this, Mari maintained a positive confession. She opened up the Word and encouraged her two helpers, assuring them that this cell group is going to grow huge with time.

I then walked two small blocks away to the celebration organized by Beatriz. Beatriz had convinced my brother-in-law, Pastor Pablo, to lend her one of our large speakers for the event. She had invited other leaders and cell groups to help her, and organized an elaborate program of choreography, drama, comedy, snacks, prizes, and of course, the preaching of the Word. She had sent out fancy invitations that week to many in the neighborhood.

In anticipation of a large crowd coming, this cell group did not even meet in a house. They were given permission to meet in a small neighborhood church, and the place was packed out. There were around eighty people present, with many brand new faces. The building resonated with enthusiasm. Tears came to my eyes as I felt the Holy Spirit’s joy over His Word going forth to hungry, lost souls; souls that will soon be plugged into Christ’s body.

    Mari and Beatriz are two of our strongest leaders. I have no doubt that Mari’s new cell group will take off soon, and Beatriz’s will continue to soar. Rejoice with us in the Lord’s goodness as He grants these youth the honor of bringing in His harvest! 

11 thoughts on “Opening Night!”

  2. Thank you for sharing. This post is an encouragement to all of us irrespective of our time of life or needs etc GOD REMAINS EVER ABLE TO PROVIDE. Walk onwards one step at a time.

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  3. Thanks for sharing this encouraging story, Jennifer.
    The way the Lord moves is unique in every life. The servant in the parable who was given two talents and earned two more received the same praise as the one who was given five talents and earned five more. God owns it all, so it’s not the quantity of our “results,” it’s our faithfulness that matters.

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    1. I am enriched by reading your words here tonight, Annie. More and more and more over the years, Holy Spirit has brought this truth home to my heart, and I am so grateful each time He takes it deeper. My spirit bears witness that the service of the saints in the most unseen, unapplauded contexts involving no big numbers or noticeable “results,” like caring for the elderly and handicapped, are those who are making the mightiest impact on the heart of God. I am so, so grateful that it is all from Him, through, Him, and unto Him! For what do we have that we have not been given?

      Sending you much love my dear sister!

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    1. Haha, since that was so many years ago, I don’t specifically remember! Except that, in general, the cell group strategy worked wonderfully well for us. We were youth pastors for the first ten years of our marriage and cell group outreach was one of the main foci/tools we taught the kids to implement. We had many youth come to Jesus and get plugged into discipleship through them.

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