Indigenous church asks Church of Christ to help replace its slain pastor

Church members who visited the village of Zapallo Grande on the Cayapas River said they were stunned when a group from an evangelical church asked them to help replace their pastor.
The group’s former pastor had served the small church for 35 years before he was killed during a robbery.
The evangelical church, comprised of Chachi Indians, usually is suspicious of outsiders. The group approached the Church of Christ members because of their reputation for helping people through medical campaigns.
The church members operate the Kumanii Christian Center, a base for jungle ministry overseen by the Quito School of Biblical Studies in Ecuador’s capital.
The evangelicals asked the Church of Christ members to speak at an all-night vigil and comfort them as they mourned the loss of their pastor. They also asked for assistance in designing an educational curriculum for their church, from children to adults.
The evangelicals wanted “more than our assistance,” missionary Kent Marcum said. “They actually asked to come into a covenant relationship with us. … I have heard of — and witnessed — open doors before, but this one has impacted our lives, and we stand in awe of God’s power and confidence in us to reach this community and others up and down the Cayapas River. Please be in prayer as we respond to this.”
Workers in Ecuador also requested prayers and additional funds for Rusty and Laura Campbell, who are moving to Ecuador in April to work with the Kumanii Christian Center. The Hillsboro Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn., sponsors the Campbells.
WEBSITE: rustyandlaura.blogspot.com