It's Time to Celebrate Fathers!
The principle: you can teach what you know but you can only reproduce who you are, is especially appropriate for fathers. I refer to reproductive in the sense that it means to create in your likeness and substance- much like God does with us!
If you meditate on this principle the depth of its meaning could transform your life. The Apostle Paul tells us though there be many teachers in the body of Christ there are few fathers. (I Corinthians 4:15) The context of this Scripture is interesting in that Paul is addressing the Corinth church leadership. Paul identified himself as a father in the gospel. This identification is marked by suffering and persecution he endured for the Corinthians. He says as a father, he was persecuted for his sons for the gospels' sake. Most notable is that Paul has something to impart to his children in the gospel. Fathers have the ability to impart.
An instructor can teach but a father imparts. Imparting is greater than teaching as it a spiritual phenomena. It is clear in Scripture the high value God places on teaching, but He exhorts an even greater value on fathering. Paul's dilemma- so few fathers in the faith- is ours today as well. Paul urged the Corinthians not to judge their leaders by what they say but rather by what they do in their reproduction process.
Rare are fathers in the faith today so when I meet one he truly stands out. Such is the case of Dr. Humberto Alfaro. Alfaro is a Latino pastor with a growing and thriving church. His congregation is Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Ecuadorian and some of Puerto Rican descent. Much of his congregation is first generation American. Spanish is their native tongue thus most of the services are done in Spanish.
Dr. Alfaro has a true father's anointing, he shares ministry opportunities and responsibilities with the men, women and children of his church. In fact the holy sacraments are administrated regularly by the entire congregation including women and children. You do not need titles in his church to do the work of the LORD. In fact the children actually are in charge of services once a month, and do everything including bringing forth the Word.
Is Alfaro usual? No, he reminds me of another great teacher I know. This teacher drew crowds of men, women and children and was able to minister to them all at the same time. This teacher so enthralled his cross-gender, cross age audience that they followed him with no regard for personal comfort including eating. This teacher took the lunch of one of his attentive young listeners and multiplied it to feed the other men, women and children present. This teacher gave sight to the blind preached to the prisoners and bought healing to the body and soul of his listeners.
This teacher did not mind angering the religious establishment to show how much he loved the downcast. In fact, once he turned the money changers tables over in the temple so that the children, could once again come into the temple. This teacher angered the religious leaders when he allowed the children to shout Hosanna to the Highest.(Matthew 21:12-16) This teacher told women to come and sit at his feet and dismissed the restrictive gender laws of the day. Doesn't Alfaro sound just like a teacher you know?
Alfaro is a father of vision. Not one parishioner is on public assistance. He teaches them how to depend on Jesus. Lest you think most have menial jobs -think again. He has produced first generation doctors and Ivy League college students. Because he believes in the worth of individuals he seen his congregation soar. In fact, he relishes in the fact the church is not built on his personality but on the foundation of Christ. He regularly takes time off from pastoral duties because he trusts his parishioners.
Many of the young people/children in his congregation have their own businesses. Some own their own homes. In fact, Dr. Alfaro relates the story of how one (of many in his congregation) of his teen entrepreneurs, came to him with a problem. This young man was faced with firing one of his employees, and wanted to know the correct biblical procedure in such a case. Wouldn't you love your teenager to have a problem like that?
The young man eventually decided he would not fire the man but rather give him another position in the company more suited to his God-given talents instead of focusing on this man's weaknesses the teen decided to focus on the employee's strengths. Alfaro so respected the young man he did not use it as an opportunity to lecture, but he just listened. He trusted the young man could seek God for Himself. The young man also trusted Alfaro would listen without judging him. Do you know a father like that?
Alfaro also continues to make a spiritual, economic and political impact on his community. His growing congregation is evidence of his reproduction and of his father's heart. He also reaches out to others communities in the body of Christ. Once he invited a young teenager (who happened to be European American) to speak, and the congregation surprised him with a generous offering for his upcoming college tuition. He has taught his congregation the principle of sowing and reaping, and loving others no matter the person's persuasion.
In addition Alfaro is a teacher with compassion, truth, intensity and anointing. You sense the presence of God when he speaks. He is a father not just in the Latino community but in the body of Christ. I pray he continues to impact the world for Christ. He has motivated my family to study our Spanish more seriously. Happy Father's Day, Pastor Alfaro! The body of Christ loves and appreciates you.
I would also like to say Happy Father's Day to other men of vision who reproduce themselves in others including Eddie Hyatt whose teaching continues to inspire others to look beyond the veil of religion and to see God for who he is. It's easier to stand against the world than religious people because the spirit of their religion seeks to kill all those who don't agree. It was the religious people who wanted Jesus killed. Thanks, and Happy Father' s Day, for reproducing truth in the hearts of others.
Also Happy Father's Day to my Pastors. I appreciate your love for the truth, your commitment to building up people, and the intangibles you have deposited in my family. Thanks for having a Father's heart!
Happy Father's Day to Derek, who is the image of a Godly Father to our children and our many spiritual children. I love you more than words could say, and because of your faithfulness I too receive the blessing of being a mother to many!
Happy Father's Day to my Father-in-law, Roland Carter who continues to place in his grandchildren the love of gardening, photography and family history.
Happy Father's Day to Gary. God sees you carrying those papers. A Special happy Father's Day also to Ken Locke, Gary Bond, Don Hanson, Rudy Hugo, Gary Wallis, Kendall Qualls, John Bryant, Roy Esposito , Larry Williams, and Joe Fortunato who are living epistles to their natural and spiritual children. Thanks for being the light in a dark world.
Also Happy Father's Day to Brad Crook whose vision has bought together many voices under the banner of the Christian-Life Times to speak to a generation.
Also happy Father's Day to my dad who planted seeds in me he never lived to see come to harvest. Today many eat of his fruit. In his honor may we all appreciate one another and acknowledge other fathers, like Alfaro who exemplify Christ. Happy Father's Day to all.
May the LORD in His infinite mercy give us more Fathers in the Faith. We really need them today. Let us pray for them!
If you meditate on this principle the depth of its meaning could transform your life. The Apostle Paul tells us though there be many teachers in the body of Christ there are few fathers. (I Corinthians 4:15) The context of this Scripture is interesting in that Paul is addressing the Corinth church leadership. Paul identified himself as a father in the gospel. This identification is marked by suffering and persecution he endured for the Corinthians. He says as a father, he was persecuted for his sons for the gospels' sake. Most notable is that Paul has something to impart to his children in the gospel. Fathers have the ability to impart.
An instructor can teach but a father imparts. Imparting is greater than teaching as it a spiritual phenomena. It is clear in Scripture the high value God places on teaching, but He exhorts an even greater value on fathering. Paul's dilemma- so few fathers in the faith- is ours today as well. Paul urged the Corinthians not to judge their leaders by what they say but rather by what they do in their reproduction process.
Rare are fathers in the faith today so when I meet one he truly stands out. Such is the case of Dr. Humberto Alfaro. Alfaro is a Latino pastor with a growing and thriving church. His congregation is Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Ecuadorian and some of Puerto Rican descent. Much of his congregation is first generation American. Spanish is their native tongue thus most of the services are done in Spanish.
Dr. Alfaro has a true father's anointing, he shares ministry opportunities and responsibilities with the men, women and children of his church. In fact the holy sacraments are administrated regularly by the entire congregation including women and children. You do not need titles in his church to do the work of the LORD. In fact the children actually are in charge of services once a month, and do everything including bringing forth the Word.
Is Alfaro usual? No, he reminds me of another great teacher I know. This teacher drew crowds of men, women and children and was able to minister to them all at the same time. This teacher so enthralled his cross-gender, cross age audience that they followed him with no regard for personal comfort including eating. This teacher took the lunch of one of his attentive young listeners and multiplied it to feed the other men, women and children present. This teacher gave sight to the blind preached to the prisoners and bought healing to the body and soul of his listeners.
This teacher did not mind angering the religious establishment to show how much he loved the downcast. In fact, once he turned the money changers tables over in the temple so that the children, could once again come into the temple. This teacher angered the religious leaders when he allowed the children to shout Hosanna to the Highest.(Matthew 21:12-16) This teacher told women to come and sit at his feet and dismissed the restrictive gender laws of the day. Doesn't Alfaro sound just like a teacher you know?
Alfaro is a father of vision. Not one parishioner is on public assistance. He teaches them how to depend on Jesus. Lest you think most have menial jobs -think again. He has produced first generation doctors and Ivy League college students. Because he believes in the worth of individuals he seen his congregation soar. In fact, he relishes in the fact the church is not built on his personality but on the foundation of Christ. He regularly takes time off from pastoral duties because he trusts his parishioners.
Many of the young people/children in his congregation have their own businesses. Some own their own homes. In fact, Dr. Alfaro relates the story of how one (of many in his congregation) of his teen entrepreneurs, came to him with a problem. This young man was faced with firing one of his employees, and wanted to know the correct biblical procedure in such a case. Wouldn't you love your teenager to have a problem like that?
The young man eventually decided he would not fire the man but rather give him another position in the company more suited to his God-given talents instead of focusing on this man's weaknesses the teen decided to focus on the employee's strengths. Alfaro so respected the young man he did not use it as an opportunity to lecture, but he just listened. He trusted the young man could seek God for Himself. The young man also trusted Alfaro would listen without judging him. Do you know a father like that?
Alfaro also continues to make a spiritual, economic and political impact on his community. His growing congregation is evidence of his reproduction and of his father's heart. He also reaches out to others communities in the body of Christ. Once he invited a young teenager (who happened to be European American) to speak, and the congregation surprised him with a generous offering for his upcoming college tuition. He has taught his congregation the principle of sowing and reaping, and loving others no matter the person's persuasion.
In addition Alfaro is a teacher with compassion, truth, intensity and anointing. You sense the presence of God when he speaks. He is a father not just in the Latino community but in the body of Christ. I pray he continues to impact the world for Christ. He has motivated my family to study our Spanish more seriously. Happy Father's Day, Pastor Alfaro! The body of Christ loves and appreciates you.
I would also like to say Happy Father's Day to other men of vision who reproduce themselves in others including Eddie Hyatt whose teaching continues to inspire others to look beyond the veil of religion and to see God for who he is. It's easier to stand against the world than religious people because the spirit of their religion seeks to kill all those who don't agree. It was the religious people who wanted Jesus killed. Thanks, and Happy Father' s Day, for reproducing truth in the hearts of others.
Also Happy Father's Day to my Pastors. I appreciate your love for the truth, your commitment to building up people, and the intangibles you have deposited in my family. Thanks for having a Father's heart!
Happy Father's Day to Derek, who is the image of a Godly Father to our children and our many spiritual children. I love you more than words could say, and because of your faithfulness I too receive the blessing of being a mother to many!
Happy Father's Day to my Father-in-law, Roland Carter who continues to place in his grandchildren the love of gardening, photography and family history.
Happy Father's Day to Gary. God sees you carrying those papers. A Special happy Father's Day also to Ken Locke, Gary Bond, Don Hanson, Rudy Hugo, Gary Wallis, Kendall Qualls, John Bryant, Roy Esposito , Larry Williams, and Joe Fortunato who are living epistles to their natural and spiritual children. Thanks for being the light in a dark world.
Also Happy Father's Day to Brad Crook whose vision has bought together many voices under the banner of the Christian-Life Times to speak to a generation.
Also happy Father's Day to my dad who planted seeds in me he never lived to see come to harvest. Today many eat of his fruit. In his honor may we all appreciate one another and acknowledge other fathers, like Alfaro who exemplify Christ. Happy Father's Day to all.
May the LORD in His infinite mercy give us more Fathers in the Faith. We really need them today. Let us pray for them!
