Matt’s Message

CUBA | MISSION NIGHT

One of the greatest joys of being a pastor has been the opportunity to be on mission for Christ in many parts of the world. I have been to the Dominican Republic as a student in a youth group, I have been to Chemax, Mexico as youth director with FUMC Greenville, and Ecuador as a youth director with FUMC Montgomery. Each time that I have been able to go out of the country to experience a new culture, offer help and recourses to those who need them most, and see the Spirit of God moving in a new place; I have always come back with a new energy, excitement, and joy for the Kingdom of God. Recently, I was able to be on the team that went to Cuba, after our extended time away due to COVID, and I want you all to know that I had another life changing experience!

There were so many wonderful parts and highlights of this trip it is hard to narrow them down to this article, but I will do my best to capture some of them. To begin, you all need to know that the impact Shalimar UMC has had on the growth of the Methodist Church in Cuba is truly remarkable. It is hard to quantify in words but because of your efforts and prayers, we have helped churches grow to have sanctuaries and homes for their pastors. We have basically created the district office for the province in Ceigo. We have encouraged students to go to seminary and offered resources to the seminary. We have helped pastors become District Superintends, and we have even built a relationship with the bishop. I was able to sit in pews sponsored by many of you, eat in rooms built by our church, and most importantly watch a sanctuary full of people worship and celebrate what God was doing in the community in a church you helped to build from the ground up! Additionally, our church has provided a new roof for the “Old Folks Home” in Cuba which has allowed for the expansion of more beds to host more people for years to come. As I said, it is remarkable.

One of the highlights for me on this particular trip was a special night that Kyle Wilson and I were able to spend with several young adults from the church. This night began with questions and answers, jokes, and stories, but quickly turned into testimonies from those gathered about the impact this church has had on their lives, their faith, and their families. People were almost in tears as they talked about the pastor who welcomed them and preached powerful sermons of the Holy Spirit. They told stories of friends who invited them and wouldn’t take no for answer until they finally came to worship. They even mentioned how they led their parents to come back to church after so long without it. I was overwhelmed with emotions as I sat there listening to these powerful messages of how in the simplest sanctuary, in what we would consider the quaintest of towns, with the most basic of resources, these 15 or so young adults sharing the way they came to understand Christ as their savior. Towards the end, I offered to play guitar and we could sing some songs but what broke out was a worship service. Voices of English and Spanish join together to sing, “O how He loves, us. How He loves us so!” I can’t think of a clearer picture of what the Kingdom of God will be like than people from all nations, all ages, all races, and all voices, singing in one united way about the love of God that was made known to them!

It is moments like these that I love about mission trips. It’s moments like these that give you a glimpse of what Jesus actually had in mind for His church to look like. And it is moments like these that renew my soul, increase my faith in God, move me to want to grow in the Holy Spirit, and excite me. Moments like these get me fired up to get back to work sharing the love of Jesus Christ with all I meet!

I want to personally invite all of you to join us on Sunday, March 12 at 5:00 p.m. in the FLC for Mission and Outreach Night.

This night will begin with dinner and a chance to see all the opportunities that Shalimar UMC has for Mission and Outreach. The focus of the night will be on our teams re-telling and sharing of our most recent trip to Cuba, and the night will conclude with a chance for you to sign up to get involved in making a difference in our community and world. I hope you will come, hear more stories like the ones above, and have your heart set ablaze as well to do God’s kingdom work where ever you find yourself.

Complete in Him, Matt

Associate Pastor

Rev. Matt Langford

matrt@shalimar-umc.org

Week of February 19, 2023