Growing Emotionally Healthy Disciples
By John Hamilton, OMS Missionary in Uruguay
Before moving to Montevideo, Uruguay, Lisa and I dedicated our lives to developing church communities in three very different places: Jacksonville, Florida; Medellín, Colombia; and Bogotá, Colombia. All our successes in the U. S. and Colombia didn’ t prepare us for the challenge of pioneering what has become our life’ s work. Uruguay nearly overwhelmed me, despite the tremendous support, help, and encouragement I received from others.
Transformational change requires intentionality, humility, and the ability to slow down spiritually and listen— something I only started to understand when I accepted the truth that spiritual maturity cannot happen without emotional maturity. Since 2014, Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, a transformational discipleship method by Pete and Geri Scazzero, has provided Lisa and me with insights and tools that bring help, hope, and healing to us and our church as we coach and encourage Latino pastors.
Diana’ s testimony highlights the work God is doing in and around us— through the lives of many— thanks to your support and prayers.
“ From the plane window, I saw the fine line that separates dawn from night. A full moon accompanied that beautiful scene, and in the background, the lights that line the Rambla, the emblematic Montevideo River Walk— the one I had left 15 years ago, knowing deep down that I would return.
“ Decades ago, an OMS missionary family left the U. S. to begin new work in Colombia. Many years and a generation later, one of those OMS churches,
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