This article was originally published in Spanish: La Peña De Horeb y Los Ex Presidiarios written by Javier Márquez, and was translated into English by Andres Castillo.
A few days ago, pastor Dania M. Hernández entered the building where her church meets on 11th and Washington in South Philadelphia and found the following note:
“I need your prayer. I am a God-loving soul, in the streets without a shepherd, and I need prayer. –Medeste.”
Dania’s ministry began in her native Nicaragua, inherited also by a family that received and helped missionaries. At a very young age, God gave her the desire to serve. She was able to travel across her country, and learn to live what she calls “true life”: addressing the levels of need and poverty in the world.
Pastor Dania not only receives notes at her church, but also people from the streets, people who have had a very difficult life, and who have uncertain futures. In one case, Pastor Dania was even told: “I’m going to take my own life. You’ll be the last person I’ll talk to.”
These continuous occurrences characterize the ministry of the church Peña de Horeb. Since its birth almost three years ago, it has been a ministry that gives living water to souls who thirst for just a taste of grace and love.
Peña de Horeb, like many rock bands, was born in a garage—Dania’s. Pastor Dania took advantage of her transportation business to share the Word and started a small group that originally planned to meet only for Bible study. At that time, she was part of Centro de Alabanza, where she had learned the Mennonite vision of reaching out to others and of community service.
Shortly after starting the Bible study, Dania reached out to someone who had invited a group of ex-convicts to attend the service at her home. She was frightened, she told them. In response, the person told her not to worry, that they were going to show up anyway—and they did. Fifteen ex-convicts arrived in a van and went straight down to her basement.
“That day, the Lord led our service,” explains Pastor Dania.
That day, the pastor had the support of Pastor Aldo of Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC). His church has also found great, timely support from different people of Mosaic Conference, such as Steve Kriss, Marta Castillo, and Noel Santiago. Pastor Dania and her community are a church that has received the revelation of God to effectively share Christ with the neediest around them, just as God promised that He would give drink to His people in the desert.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)