Education Pastor Eric Pennings
God’s Sovereignty Revealed in Word and Deed through Hurricane Felix Ephesians 1:11 says that God “. . . works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (NKJV). Nothing happens apart from the sovereign plan of God. This truth affirms that God is sovereign, even over natural disasters. The Scriptures instruct us how the ministry of the church in Word and deed is the context in which this sovereignty of God results in hope and comfort in the midst of natural disasters. I had the privilege of having a “driver’s seat” perspective in experiencing this in Nicaragua following the natural disaster of Hurricane Felix that battered the east coast of Nicaragua on September 14, 2007, at 4:45 a.m.
It all started when I taught a Worldview course in Puerto Cabezas on the east coast of Nicaragua on August 15, 2007. In that course, we discussed the importance of the Christian’s role in the community as a part of the ministry of the church. As a practical component for the course, the students were assigned to look for opportunities to serve in the community and to demonstrate how that service could be linked to a ministry of the gospel. Rather than look for that opportunity, God in His sovereignty brought the opportunity to these students as Hurricane Felix struck the region exactly one month later.
approaching the region. From my home in Toronto, I recall getting up that morning and praying about the situation. I called Carlos Coffin, who is the National Coordinator of the MINTS International Seminary in Puerto Cabezas, hoping that phone lines would not be cut off. He answered from his home, where he and others were sheltered from the storm, and informed me that they were in the “eye” of the storm and that he did not know about damages at that time. Later communications confirmed the extensive damages in the plains area and along the northern coast area of Sandy Bay.
I was aware that the hurricane was
Within days, I had the privilege of coordinating, with Carlos, a relief effort through Word & Deed. When Bernie Pennings, Project Director for Word & Deed, asked me if I could recommend someone to coordinate this project, I recommended a team of MINTS students under the direction of Carlos Coffin. I accompanied Word & Deed personnel on five different occasions to the damaged areas. Over time, MINTS students were given the privilege of serving as “project coordinators” in various projects that were sponsored by Word & Deed.
Pastor Eric Pennings, far right, meeting with Carlos Coffin, far left, the National Coordinator for MINTS in Nicaragua and Word & Deed Nicaragua.
Through this partnership between MINTS and Word & Deed, we have seen that God “. . . works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (NKJV). Soli Deo Gloria! W&D Pastor Eric Pennings is the Central American Associate Dean at MINTS.
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SUMMER 2014