This is a very special week. I am going to Chicago to minister with my violin music at a pastoral convention. I have been invited by my former pastor, Roberto Flores, who I had the fortune to work for as the church music minister, back in the 1990’s. In those years, the Flores family extended a kind of hospitality to me that you rarely see today.

I was going through music school at that time and I spent most of my “free” time ministering in the church, being a youth group leader, leading bible studies, conducting services, and preaching. It was a very unique and exciting time. The Flores family made my musical ministry possible, and, most of all, I learned from them what a minister really is: sacrifice, dedication, perseverance, compassion, and, above everything, love.

It will be a great adventure, as I am reminded about the apostolic letters from Paul, encouraging Timothy and the other young ministers in the trenches. The good thing about their mentoring was that I was living next door to brother Roberto and sister Tabita –literally, in the church parsonage. You learn what’s in their heart, how they think, how they minister, what true ministers’ motivation is: love.

If I can say that I owe much to any family (besides the Lord Jesus and my own parents), Roberto and Tabita Flores will be first on that list, for sure.

I will forever be thankful for their generosity, as well as indebted to them for all that I learned from them. Praise be to God, who allowed me to learn from some of the best people on earth.

Brother Roberto and sister Tabita: May the Lord continue to bless you in your ministry growth.

I love you!

-Rigo

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Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
~ Hebrews 13:7

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
~ Ecclesiastes 12:1

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
~ 1 Timothy 4:12

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
~ 1 Peter 5:5-9

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
~ Jeremiah 29:11-14

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10