WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson | Tag Archive

Tag Archive - Dominican Republic

Important Voices

May 14, 2009 in God, Missions with 26 Comments

Surrounding myself with the right people has always been key. I’ve discovered as the church grows and I receive more opportunities it becomes even more crucial that I surround myself with individuals who keep me grounded and focused.

Let me introduce you to two of those people today.

The first is Dino Rizzo the pastor at Healing Place Church. I want to spend more and more time around this guy for one reason. He reminds me life and ministry are not about ME. As part of Dinno’s Servolution Tour I recently asked him, “How has the serving aspect of your vision always been a part of your DNA or was there a defining moment in your life and the church’s life where you said we’ve got to make this thing about serving others?

Pete – thanks for being a part of the tour. You’re such a blessing to me – the way you jumped in to the 7 Days of Servolution was incredible.

To answer your question, I don’t think for me that it has been so much of an instantaneous u-turn moment, but a series of lessons God is teaching me. I had a pastor early on who taught me that ministry isn’t about getting a title, but rather it is about picking up a towel. It’s about stooping down and washing others’ feet – doing the job that is undesirable but necessary. And God has continued to reinforce to me that Jesus cares about the poor and the hurting – He loves to hang out where they are. Sometimes God gives me gentle reminders, and other times He has to use more of a smack-upside-the-head approach with me – telling me that this isn’t about me, it isn’t about what I want, or my plans or dreams. But the message is always the same: This is all about Him and what He’s interested in is helping those who are hurting find hope in Him.

See what I mean. Every pastor needs a voice like this in their life. If you haven’t already you should purchase his new book Servolution today! It will impact the way you do life and ministry.

The second person is my friend and colleague Moise. He’s the pastor of the church we sponsor in the Dominican Republic. Moise started the Christian Church in San Fransisco De Rosario Sanchez, Dominican Republic, (try to fit that on a business card) almost 9 years ago. I met him 6 years ago and shortly after that, Cross Point began to sponsor both Moise and the church.

Moise has a rich story about what God has done in his life. His grandfather was a voodoo priest who accepted Christ shortly before he died. Moise has worked very hard in his life to get where he is. He speaks five languages fluently (Spanish, English, French, Creole, Papiamento) and is a real student of the New Testament.

We’ll get to spend a lot of time together the next few days and I’ll be blessed for it. My conversations with him are like a breath of fresh air. We won’t talk about parking problems, staff issues, budgets, projections, the last conference, the next series, high-maintenance people, or multi-campus strategy.

We’ll talk about Christ. We’ll talk about transformation. We’ll talk about finding ways to feed kids and spread the love of Jesus in hopeless parts of the world.

Somehow, God always uses Moise to remind me what ministry is REALLY all about.

So, what voices do you have in your life reminding you what life and the Gospel are all about?

On the Road Again!

May 13, 2009 in Missions with 30 Comments

By the time you read this post I’ll be well on my way to the Dominican Republic.

For the next four days I’ll be spending time encouraging and speaking to around 200 pastors from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. There will be 4 different languages represented among the pastors assembled at this G.O. Ministry conference (if you know how fast I talk you know the translators will have their hands full).

John Piper once said…

“God is pursuing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the supremacy of His name among the nations. Therefore, let us bring our affections into line with His, and, for the sake of His name, let us renounce the quest for worldly comforts and join His global purpose.”

I’ve been so blessed these past few weeks to be joining God in His “global purpose.” I’ve been so encouraged by what God is doing around the world in some of the most hopeless of situations.

A highlight of the trip will be getting to hang out with Moises who is the pastor Cross Point sponsors full-time for our Haitian church located in the Dominican Republic. We’ve been friends for 5 years now but obviously don’t get to spend a ton of time together so this is a special time for us. In case you’re wondering he’s the one on the right.

I’m not sure about our internet setup, but I’ll certainly post if I get the chance. In the meantime please keep Ryan Bult, Director of Missions at Cross Point, and myself in your prayers during our travels.

Here’s a few of my favorite posts from last summer when I was in the Dominican. This will give you an idea of the culture.

The Journey of The Bucket

Dominican Night Life

Living in 180 Square Feet

Striving for Excellence

September 18, 2008 in Church Leadership, Church Planting, Cross Point Church, Dominican 08 Trip, God, Leadership, Missions, Religion with 17 Comments

How do you define excellence? At Cross Point we define it by: Doing the best you can with what you have.

I’ve seen excellence come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

From time to time church planters and pastors will visit Cross Point and walk away wishing they had as many volunteers as we have, or as many cool toys as we have, or as large of a staff as we have. In follow-up conversations I detect it. If we only had this or that we could do excellent ministry.

This summer while visiting our sister church in the Dominican Republic I was reminded of the excellence principle. Obviously this small Haitian church in the Dominican Republic, which is only half-way built, has few resources. But it doesn’t stop them from doing excellent ministry.

It was a big deal when we visited there earlier this summer. So big, they rolled out the red carpet. They used toilet paper to welcome us. Yes toilet paper. Now that’s excellence. Doing the best you can with what you have.

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,”

So what’s one area of your life, business, or church where you need to pursue excellence?

Dear God

July 21, 2008 in Church Planting, Cross Point Church, Dominican 08 Trip, God, Leadership, Missions, Religion with 34 Comments

Dear God,

After spending an afternoon in the Hole*, once again, I’m full of pain, confusions and tons of questions.

God, I just don’t get it. WHY?

Why are there so many kids that don’t have enough food to eat?

Why are families living in city dump and using trash to feed their kids and build their homes?

Why is their widespread incest and abuse here?

Why don’t you do something?

Why don’t you make this right?

Why?

your servant,

Pete

*The “hole” is a make shift community where hundreds of Dominican and Haitians live. The property was set aside as a city dump and place for sewage run off. It’s widespread with poverty, disease, and crime.

Living in 180 Square Feet

July 20, 2008 in Church Planting, Cross Point Church, Dominican 08 Trip, Leadership, Missions, Religion, Videos with 12 Comments

This week I’ve gotten several questions from you guys about how a typical Dominican family lives. Here’s a quick video that will give you an idea of what it’s like. Sorry for the rough camera work. I’m a pastor not a cameraman.

The Dominican House from Pete Wilson on Vimeo.

Dominican Night Life

July 19, 2008 in Dominican 08 Trip, Leadership, Missions, Religion, Videos with 11 Comments

As you might imagine, at night our group is tired. Very tired. The days our long, and hot, and very sweaty.

However, we still have a blast just hanging out. This trip we’ve spent some time at night just sitting around and making up songs. Thought you might want to check this out. Allow me to be the first to introduce this talent we’ve called “The Internationals”. This is like Menudo on steroids. You’ll notice our own Richard Hummel on guitar!

Dominican Night Life from Pete Wilson on Vimeo.

Kentucky, First Dates, and Missions.

July 18, 2008 in Church Planting, Cross Point Church, Dominican 08 Trip, Friends, Leadership, Missions, Religion with 14 Comments

Today I want to introduce you to some great friends of mine. If you’ve ever been on a CP mission trip to the D.R. then you’ve met them but if not….meet the Rogers. While in college Jeff was in a discipleship group I led. Brandi (my wife) was in a group with Vicki and so we set them up on a double date. The rest is just history.

They started dating.

They got married.
They felt the call to go into missions (I thought they were crazy)
They had twin daughters.

Jeff and Vicki are two of the most amazing people I know. Their faith stretches me every time I’m around. them. I still remember the first time they told me they wanted to move to the D.R. as missionaries. I thought, “You know they don’t speak English there don’t you? And they certainly don’t speak kentuckian!”

Following God’s bidding in their life, they have ruthlessly chased after God’s dream to change the spiritual climate of this island. Through bringing groups over, training pastors, and just loving the people they are doing just that! Changing an island for the Glory of God!

Check out their blog by clicking HERE (http://heartsinhispaniola.blogspot.com/) and if your interested it getting your youth group or church involved in missions you should DEFINITELY contact them! You can also support them directly from their blog if you’re interested!

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever felt God calling you to do?

Page 1 of 212 »