10/07/05 :: Fathers and sons at Pastors College, part 1
Gaithersburg, MD >> The "next-generation" theme is enriching the leadership of many churches within Sovereign Grace. Part 1 of this series features Jorge del Castillo and his son, Marcelo, from Iglesia En La Paz (The Church in La Paz), Bolivia, where Jorge serves on the pastoral team and as principal of the church school. Jorge and Marcelo are attending the Pastors College together this year. They took a break from their studies to tell us about their experiences.
Jorge del Castillo
How have you encouraged your son to consider becoming a pastor or church-planter? How have you cautioned him?
Actually, I have never pressured my son Marcelo to become a pastor. I have encouraged him to serve the Lord, study and have a profession. He was brought up in Christian home and he also attended a Christian school and to our congregation since he was a child.
In what way(s) has your son's experience of entering into ministry differed from yours?
The difference between him and me, is that I got to know our Lord when I was nineteen years old in large revival and I had to assume a Pastor obligations when I was left in charge with other pastors to manage a Christian Church and school, while Marcelo was introduced to our Lord since he was a small child, and as he was growing he started to involve more and more in the church.
Has CJ's example of transferring leadership of Covenant Life Church to Joshua been helpful to you? If so, how?
I think that CJ affected our vision regarding the leadership by his example, and we as pastors have been encouraging to form and allow young people to become more involved, and have more responsibilities in the church. During these past years we allowed them to organize the youth meetings, retreats, trips and other activities in the church.
CJ's life and the example of Sovereign Grace Ministry have encouraged Marcelo very much, because he had the opportunity to serve into Sovereign Grace Churches for about six months three years ago and when he came back to our Church in Bolivia he began working with the youth ministry teaching and leading the youth. In that manner he saw the need to attend the Pastor's College to become more capable to serve the Lord.
We are very grateful to the Lord and Sovereign Grace Ministries for allowing us the possibility to go and attend to the Pastors College this year.
Marcelo del Castillo
Did you grow up in your dad's church?
Yes, my dad was pastoring the church before I was born and started to work full time when I was two.
How have your dad and your church made ministry attractive to you as a vocation?
I can recognize clearly that my father's example and the way he has served and stills serving our church; is one of the things that really stirred my desire to follow Christ as I follow him. His passion for the Church and for the Savior is something that impacted my life.
While growing I didn't like the idea of Dad working there, I didn't like the idea of having to share my father with other people; but I was being selfish and self-centered. Now it is different, I understand his passion. Because of the people there, it is easy to love them; they are joy to my heart. I would say that the most important thing that makes that vocation attractive is the love of God that you feel through the love of the people.
What interactions or conversations with your dad have shaped your convictions about attending the Pastors College?
I can remember in 1996 he went to a Leadership Conference where was announced for the first time the PC, and he and Mr. Dueri looked to each other and knew what they wanted. When he came back to Bolivia he was so excited about it, showing the brochures and telling about it in such a way that I felt attracted too. From his mercy, God provided that for both of them, and for me.
Three years ago I had the privilege of going to an internship to two Sovereign Grace Churches for six months (Philadelphia and Denver). I do that, while I took six months of computer science engineering off. When I came back to Bolivia the Lord was changing my heart to what I should study; I didn't know what to do. I talked with my dad about it and he lead me by his counseling to pursue an English degree, and some business studies; he said if I wanted to be a pastor was OK but first I should get my studies. While studying that, the church allowed me to serve more actively on the there as part of a leadership team for the singles ministry. I recognize now as I see back that his counseling and him being sensitive to God's plan helped me find out where God was leading me. His vision made my path easier, and finding God's purpose together deepened our friendship.