Every year the University of Costa Rica [UCR] celebrates its "University Week", a party where every faculty showcases the very best they have. You can get a number of free blood tests at the Microbiology Faculty, see how bridges are built at the Civil Engineering School or check out the chemistry shows for kids with lights, chats, concerts, and parties almost everywhere.
A group of Christian students decided to start a tradition last year and offer free Christian concerts during the 5 days of celebration. This year we were honored with an invitation to be the closing band for "U week".
We performed for an audience of over 700 students and rocked my dear UCR campus. Here are some pics, I hope you enjoy the chronicle.
Erick is our bass player, he grew up during the grunge era (nobody's perfect) and does know how to play the bass, move and rock the masses. He's pure energy and passion for Jesus and His Good News.
Here I am inviting our friends (we do not have "fans", just friends) to sing along, they do know how to rock! Good job guys!
Our drummer Johnny is one of the finest musicians I've ever heard. He still doesn't know how good a drummer he is, but he is slowly discovering that. Johnny and his wife are dear friends and faithful servants who love the Lord and young people.
Many of these guys didn't know we were a "Christian" band, but still rocked. We praise God our music opened a door to communicate the Good News to them.
We were honered to have our friend Sandi as a special guest guitarist for the night. He has his own band, but found the time to produce our project and play the guitar for this gig. He has an incredible heart and we appreciate his understanding and desire to collaborate with us in our mission to see no place without witness nor anybody without hope.
This is all of Sin Paredes. There is only one other place we'd rather be and that is with the kids at the end of the show. It's good to rock, but it's even better to share the love of God one on one.
It's just sweet to see some of the guys and girls spontaneously raise hands and simply worship God, especially when they can do it at the intellectual Mecca of our nation. UCR is a great place to make your brain grow, but it can shrink your spirit if you are not intentional about building your faith in the face of humanistic wisdom. I remember how hard it was to be a Christian during my student days in these same classrooms, I am proud of the brave ones who are currently taking a stand for Jesus and His kingdom here.
Here I am sharing the Gospel and "appealing for a verdict", sharing the Good News and not encouraging people to make a decision for Jesus is half the job done.
For a moment while we were performing I saw the audience and I remembered Jesus crying for the people because they had no pastor. It's humbling to serve those who are looking for Light and guidance in the most unpredictable places.
Please pray for Sin Paredes and Christ for the City International and those who work with both ministries, we long to share God's heartbeat, we want to be faithful and effective in living according to His Word and showing it to a thirsty generation.
We receive many invitations from far places deep in the country, most of the time Christian youth groups/churches/students want to organize an outreach, but lack the funds, the experience and/or the resources. During 2008 we received several invitations from Central and South America that we had to decline with a broken heart.
We offer honorarium-free concerts, but we can't afford to cover expenses involved with the rent of a PA system, lights, a stage, our sound engineer, transportation, feeding the staff and accommodations.
I invite you to pray and consider becoming a partner in ministry with us. In terms of logistics we may not be able to go everywhere, but our CD's have proved to be useful tools. We would like to produce more CDs and give them free of charge to radio stations and web-based radio stations.
Sometimes kids can't afford to get our music even at the lowest possible price of $10 we offer in our concerts, we'd love to be able to offer more free Cd's during our concerts and a donation toward this particular initiative will put music and the Gospel in key houses, boom boxes and cd players where they are needed to change lives and encourage kids in their faith.
We also need added investment to include a discipleship program embedded in every CD called New Life in Jesus. This is a sixteen lesson book that teaches new believers basic Christian life principles such as of salvation, prayer, baptism, devotional times, bible reading, and fellowship with other children of God. If you would like to know more about this program or receive a pdf copy send me an e-mail and I'll share more about this project.
You may be led by the Lord to give for a trip, for CD manufacturing, for the acquisition of a PA system, lights or for a vehicle for the transportation of our backline, staff and band. If you feel led by the Lord to collaborate or even participate personally at any of our outreaches please send me an e-mail at mestayer@sinparedes.org, I'd love to share more of our vision, goal, work and answer your inquiries. You can be a partner with us in many ways and be part of something bigger than you and I.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and for your mails, I love to receive them and know from you. I update my prayer list every week, if you have any particular prayer requests I'd love to hear them.
Peace,
Carlos Mestayer
Serving in Latin America one step at a time.
