Have you ever considered how important food was in the ministry of Jesus? We see that the context of many of Christ’s interactions involved food. What does our Holy God incarnate have in common with sinners? Food. And the good news is that the table of Christ is always expanding!

In this cultural insight we explore the difference between North American cuisine and that of Ecuador. We just scratch the surface of this topic but we are willing to do the in-depth research to dive deeper on an upcoming episode!

Love, The Downing Family

Click here if you would like to explore more Ecuadorian cuisine.

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Friends this post was first published in June 2019.

If, as we have seen, salvation is the process of entering the church, it follows that no one is in the church who does not have salvation. The church is one “family in heaven and earth,” Eph. 3:15 named from the Father. This family is “the household of God.” 2:19

Therefore it follows that only the sons of God, such as are born of the Spirit, are in the church. And we are told that “He that committeth sin is of the devil,” and “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin…. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil” 1 John 3:8-10—namely, in the fact that children of the devil commit sin, and the children of God do not. The holy apostle repeats the fact with emphasis: “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” 5:18

There are no sinners in the church. But all sects are more or less filled with sinners. Hence, no sect is the church of God.

Love,

The Downings

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If it be the duty of all men to believe the Gospel… then it be the duty of those who are entrusted with the Gospel to endeavor to make it known among all nations.

Responsibility. You and I have a great responsibility to make the good news the gospel of Jesus Christ known throughout the world. We see this responsibility written large in the scripture. We see the great commission prodding us to go into all the world to evangelize to teach or make disciples and to baptize believers. We see the invitation of Christ to be part of his ministry not in a certain time or a certain place but throughout all time in all places. 

None will enter into the kingdom of God without first believing in Jesus Christ. How then can they believe unless they first hear? How can they hear without someone telling them the good news? How can someone tell unless they are sent? 

May we understand the duty that all people have to believe the gospel. May we more powerfully understand the duty that we have to make it known to the nations.

Love, The Downings

To listen to more Missionary Devotions just click here!

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It is either revival or bust.

From time to time missionaries need to speak to their sending countries. We are called to give the gospel light in all of the concentric spheres of witness lined out in Acts chapter one. We offer these thoughts after much prayer and prompting from the Holy Spirit. 

The United States has a rich Godly history. It has been the missionary-sending powerhouse of the world for decades. She is a country built on Christian values and a biblical worldview. She was a fire on a lampstand that gave light to the whole world. 

But what is she exporting to the world now? Sexual immorality in the form of entertainment and policy. Infanticide disguised as a choice. War and destruction. Her appetites fuel the drug trade and fund human trafficking networks. Her border and immigration policies empower evil men to profit from massive human suffering. Pornography, grooming, and the exploitation of children are the norm and politicians turn a blind eye to the crisis or worse yet provoke the problem in all of its evil forms. 

Even much of the North American church is exporting weak theology, unhealthy and unbiblical leadership, and social workers who pretend to be missionaries. 

Society continues to crumble and many pulpits are silent. 

All of her exports are seen and felt on the mission field. She who once elucidated the lost and dying world with the gospel now exudes her political, cultural, and moral corruption. She seems like one demonically possessed. 

There is no political solution for a fallen nation. There is no cultural remedy for the sickness. There is no new morality that can save the United States. It is either revival or bust. 

May we hear these words not as condemnation but as a call to repentance. May we fast and pray for revival. May it start with us.

William J. Henry was an early leader in the Holiness Movement. In 1889 he, answered a call to hold revival meetings in eastern Pennsylvania and eventually held meetings in each state and Great Britain. This is one of many hymns written by W. J. Henry. We like it because of it’s missionary emphasis.

I cannot be idle, for Jesus says, “Go
And work in My harvest today;
And then at the evening, when labor is done,
Whatever is right I will pay.”

Refrain:
Then away to the work I will go,
And join in the reaping of grain,
And back from the harvest with beautiful sheaves,
I’ll come with rejoicing again.

I cannot be idle, the fields are so white,
And numberless sheaves will be lost;
They perish for want of more reapers to save,
How awful to think of the cost! [Refrain]

I cannot be idle, soon time will be o’er,
And reaping be ended for aye;
I’ll gather the lost from the byways of sin
To walk in the beautiful way. [Refrain]

I cannot be idle, no time for repose,
My resting shall be over there,
Where all of the faithful in heaven above
A crown of bright glory shall wear. [Refrain]

-W. J. Henry

Love, The Downing Family

What do the Inca, the Conquistadores, the cult of Pachamama and Mariolatry have in common? Find out by listening to today’s Cultural Insight podcast.

Rumicucho is one of the “high places” the Conquistadors destroyed.

with much love, the Downings

What is the church? Click here to find out!

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Friends, this post was first published in May of 2019.

Who is the head of the Church and why does it matter? Today’s podcast explores these questions.

God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him [Christ] to be the head over all things to the church.” Eph. 1:22
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint sup- plieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph. 4:15-16
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” Eph. 5:23-24
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Col. 1:18
“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nour- ishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Col. 2:18-198
The head of an institution is its lawmaker.
“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.” Isa. 33:22
“There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.” Jas. 4:12
All organisms that make their own laws, creeds, disciplines, and systems of co-operation, do not hold the Head—Christ. Their law-making synods and general conferences ignore the divine Lawgiver, usurp the place of Christ, and sit in the stead of God, and are not Christ’s church, which is subject to Him.
Again, there is one head; hence, there can be but one body.

With love, The Downings

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Caldo de pata (cow feet soup)

Serves:10 people

This traditional Latin American comfort soup is somewhat of an acquired taste.  Still life is full of adventure and this soup is worth a try, at least once. Seven out of Seven Downings recommend this unique dish.    

  https://ourmissionpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/caldo-de-pata-.m4a

Ingredients

Instructions

The broth:

First.  Put the cow feet in a large pot, add the crushed garlic, chopped red onions, cilantro and parsley sprigs, cumin, salt, pepper, and the water.

Then.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3 hours.

Then.  Add the yucca and cook 30 minutes.

Then.  Remove from the heat and let cool, and strain the broth and save broth for later. Remove some of the grease as it raises to the surface of the broth and set aside.

Then.  Remove the strings from the yuca and cut into medium size pieces.

Then.  Cut the cow feet in small bite size pieces, and remove the bones.

The soup:

First.  Make a flavor base for the soup using the grease from the boiled cow foot broth: heat it over medium heat in a pot, and add the chopped onions, garlic, oregano, achiote, cumin, salt and pepper

Then.  Mix the peanut butter with the milk and add it to the flavor base then stir until the peanut butter dissolves

Then.  Add the broth and  remaining ingredients 

Then.  Simmer over low heat for 25 minutes.

Enjoy.  Serve sprinkled with chopped cilantro and chopped green onions.

Love, The Downing Family

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There are no closed doors to the gospel – provided that, once you get inside, you don’t care if you ever come out.

There are no countries closed to the Gospel of Christ. On its face that sentiment doesn’t seem to reflect reality. Many countries have outlawed Christian belief and witness. Many missionary organizations will not send missionaries into unsafe situations. Some missionaries are willing to “die before they go” but they have difficulty navigating the modern paths into missionary service. 

For those who are called into closed countries what is their best path? Their best path is the original path blazed by Paul the Apostle. They should be called by God, set apart by the Holy Spirit and sent by their local church who knows and loves them.

For all of our modern advancement the best paths are always the paths blazed by the original movement of Christ!

May we follow Christ regardless of the personal consequence. May we not ignore the original path blazed by the Church. 

Love, The Downings

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There are many plans in a person’s mind,
but it is the counsel of the Lord that will stand.

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