Our encounter with Christ does not turn us inward;
it sends us outward.
One of the passages that has always inspired me is the story of Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman in John 4:1–42. I am deeply moved by the way Jesus transformed her. What is actually remarkable about the Samaritan woman is not her marital history (and we aren’t told what caused it). It is the progression of her understanding of Jesus.
She initially identifies him as a Jew (4:9). She addresses him as “sir” (4:11). After he reveals knowledge of her life, she says, “I see that you are a prophet” (4:19). Then she engages him in a serious theological question concerning Gerizim and Jerusalem (4:20). She speaks of her expectation that the Messiah is coming (4:25). And after Jesus’ self-disclosure (I am the Christ), she goes to her town wondering, “Could this be the Messiah?” (4:29).
We see a genuine movement of recognition. And importantly, she also becomes a witness.
…(she) said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” John 4:28–30 NIV
Then, in verse 39, we read, “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” (NIV). They came to meet Jesus for themselves. And in verse 42, they told the woman: “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world” (NIV).
What a beautiful declaration! Eventually their faith no longer rests simply on what she told them because they encounter Jesus themselves.
That’s exactly how witness works in John’s Gospel: her testimony points people to Jesus, and encountering Jesus produces their own knowledge of him. Our encounter with Christ does not turn us inward; it sends us outward.
I believe something similar is happening in our congregations throughout Latin America. As we develop a deeper understanding of the truth of who Jesus is and of our identity in him, we are seeing a transformation in the way we live out the reality of the kingdom of God in our lives and communities.
One example is our congregation in La Huaca, Peru. Pastor Juan Carlos Florián, together with his wife and the members of the church, have been participating in their community by working alongside local authorities in environmental initiatives, such as collecting garbage from the riverbed and cleaning the streets of their town.
They are a rural congregation that intentionally looks for opportunities to participate in annual celebrations related to caring for the earth, such as Tree Day and Water Day. These activities give them opportunities to connect with their community, build relationships, and serve others.
We firmly believe that, just as the Samaritan woman was transformed by her encounter with Jesus, we as churches are also called to go out, to share, and to become involved in the lives of others beyond the walls of the church. We are called to serve and to bear witness to who Jesus is, trusting that he is already at work and touching the hearts of those whom he is drawing to himself.
We do not depend on our own strength. On the contrary, we recognize that the Triune God is at work. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are already participating in mission, and we have the privilege of participating with God in this mission so that many more people may encounter Christ.
The Holy Spirit helps us discover creative ways to serve, to build relationships, and to demonstrate the gospel through our lives. Then, when the opportunity comes, we can proclaim it with our words.
We give thanks to our Lord Jesus for his transforming love and for the miracles of grace he continues to accomplish in people’s lives. The phrase “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves” invites us to serve and bear witness. But it is Christ who goes out to meet people and transforms their lives.
Paulina Barrero Salinas, Superintendent for Latin America
Bogotá, Colombia
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Paulina Barrero Salinas, Superintendent for Latin America
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