A Holy and Living Sacrifice

Pastor Olman and an indigenuous pastor baptise a teenage girl in the Chirripó Mountains

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1

God has given me the privilege to work with many missionaries and ministers throughout the world and what always amazes me is their level of sacrifice to share the Gospel and take care of the needy. This all comes at a cost, not only to themselves, but also to their families and friends. Couples have left the comfort of their homes leaving their loved ones behind to go to a foreign land that is sometimes hostile to the Gospel to share the love of Jesus and tell those who know little about Him that there is hope in Him for eternal life.

I work with many different missionaries, but I would like to highlight a man who is basically alone on his mission and the members of a family who left their country to go to another, where they have made so many who are alone feel a part of not only their family, but also the family of God.

God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious live in parched lands. Psalm 68:6

The bottom of Pastor Olman´s boots fall of during a trip to the mountains

Pastor Olman, is undoubtedly, a man on a mission. He walks several hours to reach the forgotten indigenous people in the Chirripó Mountains in his own country of Costa Rica. He says that he likes nice clothes, but he would rather deny himself so that the poor children can have their own. I often beg him to take care of himself, because he is always putting the needs of others first, whether it is the indigenous people in the mountains, the orphans, or the destitute people in the neighborhood where he lives.

Often when he comes back from a trip to the mountains the long trek over treacherous terrain leaves him in pain and sometimes even sick. Earlier this year he went to visit the people in the mountains, where many had COVD-19. Since there are no healthcare facilities in this region, Pastor Olman had to learn a little about medicine many years ago to help the people. He took care of those who were ailing, and he too contracted the virus. He went back home to recover, and as soon as he was well enough, he was back up in the mountains bringing food, clothes, medicine, and more importantly, the Gospel. His is a life of a holy sacrifice, which I believe pleases God.

…present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. Romans 6:13

The Montoya family on a boat on a mission trip to the Bolivian Amazon

I also consider the Montoya family as instruments of righteousness for God, who live sacrificial lives. Over 15 years ago this family of four left their loved ones and ministry behind in Colombia to take up God’s call in Bolivia where they share the Gospel and take care of some of the neediest people. Pastor Robinson Montoya leads his family as a tentmaker much like the Apostle Paul. However, he is a baker. He bakes two days a week and delivers bread two more days. Yet, he and his family spend a lot of time ministering to people and giving help where needed. They have the gift of making people feel a part of their family as they reflect God’s love to them. They have weekly Bible study, worship service, and meet with widows on a Sunday afternoon to encourage them through the Word of God. Daniela, the elder daughter, has activities for the children in the neighborhood on Saturdays and uses her talent to bless others, by offering children free violin lessons.

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16

Daniela Montoya with children in the Bolivian Amazon behind her eating bread brought by her family

The Montoya family never neglect to do good and to share, and I believe that God is pleased with the sacrifices they make. Not long ago, they went into the Bolivian Amazon for a week and brought bread for the indigenous people who rarely get to eat anything besides the meat that they hunt. Not only did they bring physical bread, but they also shared with them the Bread of Life, Jesus. When they returned from the trip, the entire family got sick. While chatting with Daniela, she stated that although she was not feeling well, she would go back to the Bolivian Amazon again because this was all for God’s glory. Currently, the family is trying to raise funds to fix the roof of a poor widow who sells empanadas and sodas on the street to assist her five children.

Pastor Olman and the Montoya family are practicing pure and undefiled religion before God as they continue to help the orphans and widows, (see James 1:27) and all those who are in need.

Pastor Olman holds a snake on a stick that he encounterd on the way to a village

I work closely with Nader as we write blog articles and pray for these missionaries in our prayer group, so he knows a lot about their ministries and their hearts for people. So, I asked him his thoughts on them as I am always eager to hear his unique perspective on ministries since he has never been into a church as he lives in Iran, which has a high rate of persecution of Christians. This is what he shared.

When I look at these loved ones, they are truly the hands and feet of Christ, they have the heart and the love and the mind of Christ, they have taken up their cross and truly forgotten themselves so that human beings can see Christ in them. They are like a burning candle that reflects the light of Christ in this cruel world. They remain in the love of Christ and like a candle that is slowly melting, they try to reflect the light and heat of Christ to the butterflies that go around them. They have tasted the love of Christ, which is an incomprehensible love for mankind, and now share it with people who have been forgotten in this world. They really deny themselves and offer themselves as a living sacrifice to the King of Glory. They go to places for mission that require self-sacrifice. Their lives encourage and comfort me and make me able to endure the harsh living conditions of Christians in Iran. Their condition on the Day of Judgment will be according to the Word of God.

“'Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.” Matthew 25:34-40

I agree with Nader’s assessment of Pastor Olman and the Montoya family wholeheartedly. I am truly blessed to know them and they inspire me every day. They are the heart, hands, and feet of the Father. Not only do they do good works and are generous, but they also live their lives with integrity.

The Montoya family travel with a couple to minister in the interior of Bolivia

You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Pastor Olman and the Montoya family are truly living and holy sacrifices, who are pleasing and acceptable to God.