… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)
In January of 2002 Mt. Zion United Methodist Church made its first tentative steps into ‘ends of the earth’ witness when two short term mission teams traveled to Platanares , Costa Rica to help build a parsonage. With the team leadership of Pete King, the mentorship of Wayne Stoltz of Mt Bethel UMC, and the participation of our Senior Pastor, Tom Pilgrim, and our Associate Pastor, Laura Parker, God blessed our faithfulness to Him and our church soon had enthusiastic core of servants leading teams, coordinating VBS, raising funds, and praying for the spreading of the Good News.
Our passion and naiveté were a perfect match for the purpose and the energy of Steve Gober, Rector and professor at the Evangelical Methodist Seminary in San Jose, Costa Rica. Charged by the bishop with the responsibility of coordinating mission teams he suggested we help build a sanctuary for a dynamic congregation in Cartago, Costa Rica. The church foundation and walls had just been completed when our first team arrived. That summer we poured floors and taught vacation Bible school to Nicaraguan refuge children in nearby El Duque. The love of Christ and the sense of brotherhood with His children in Cartago created a bond that lasts to this day.
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Over the next six years Mt Zion would send four short term teams a year until the sanctuary was completed. During this time Laura Parker’s husband, Paul, became mission committee chairperson. His extensive background in construction and his enthusiasm demonstrated again how God finds the best use of our gifts when we offer them faithfully. The number of mission goers grew to a peak of 80 per year.
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Our accommodations at the nearby San Chiri lodge overlooking the Orosi Valley became a place of appreciation of God’s wonderful creation and Christian fellowship. Eric and Santa Owen, who serve the North Georgia Conference as translators and facilitators for short term mission teams, became an integral part of our mission outreach. Team members returned from these trips with a fresh appreciation of what it means to be in obedience to God’s will and are ready to be His hands both in Marietta and abroad.
Many Mt. Zion members stay in touch with members of the church in Cartago. There may be a future opportunity to help build space for an auxiliary seminary to train new pastors. We continue to seek new mission opportunities in Costa Rica as they are an excellent way for people just called to foreign mission to experience what a blessing it is.
