May 29, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

In this letter I would like to pay tribute to a dear Christian brother and friend. When I was called to serve the Iglesia de Cristo here in Madrid, the session was quite dysfunctional because there had been a deep conflict in the church over the ousting of the pastor who preceded me. The former session had resigned en masse. In the new elections, there was a strong attempt by one faction of the church to keep another faction out of power, and many people resisting taking any position in such a difficult situation. The result was a new session without leadership experience and unwilling to “turn their swords into plowshares.”

Newcomers and old-timers: Mendez (Brazil), Edwin (Dominican Republic), Melanie (United States), Javier (Spain), Damase (Ivory Coast), Felix (Spain), Mercedes (Spain).

After a stressful year, a new member came on board. The following year, he was elected president. His name was Damase Gnagne, and he was a part of the diplomatic corps of the Ivory Coast. Damase’s primary strengths were his ardent faith, peaceful but firm demeanor, and diplomatic skills. It was unusual to have an African president of session in a traditional Spanish church, but it was an important step in the intercultural process in which we are engaged. Damase’s impeccable Christian witness and refusal to take sides in the battles waging on all sides quickly earned him the respect of everyone.

As pastor, I benefited from his staunch support and respect for the pastoral role, but also from his faith and testimony. He went through difficult times while he was with us. His wife was recalled to their country for three years, and he was left with two teenage daughters on his hands, which caused him a lot of stress because his conservative values clashed with the liberal society of Spain. His constant contact with his wife, weekly prayer requests for their reunification as a family, and motto “God is faithful” were inspiring during this time, and when their prayers were answered, we all shed more than a few tears as we thanked God together for his faithfulness.

Thus, it was quite a shock when Damase found out just a few months later that he was being recalled to his country. It was also a source of anxiety for me, as I couldn’t imagine anyone filling his shoes. I would miss him as a friend and brother in Christ but I was also concerned for the church. He, too, was concerned, not out of pride but due to the circumstances we both knew too well. Nevertheless, he assured me that “God provides!” and sure enough God did: God sent a new president, Ramón Abate, from the Dominican Republic.

I feel blessed to have been able to work at Damase’s side, and his witness among us remains. The silver key chain which we gave him at the time of his departure proclaims, “Dios es fiel,” for indeed, as Damase always assured us, “God is faithful!”

Melanie

The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 170