TRANSCRIPT

NATHAN JONES

Today, we have the privilege to hear from Lola Moreno of Ecuador in South America. With a heart for international kingdom impact, Lola is co-founder of the Global Impact missionary sending agency and also works in mobilization with COMIBAM.

I'm your host, Nathan Jones, and I want to thank you again for joining me on this episode of the Inspiring Stewards podcast. 

Well, Lola, thank you for joining me. I look forward to our conversation. Let's jump in. Give us a little bit of your background, where you grew up, where you're from, that sort of thing.

LOLA MORENO

My name is Maria Lola Moreno. I was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. We are a family of 6 people. My father is Virgilio, my mother is Lola, me, my younger brother Xavier, my second sister Norka, and younger sister Erika. I have 6 nephews and 6 great-nephews. And my profession is interior designer.

And I grew up in a traditional family. In Ecuador, we learned from a very young age to take care of each other with my siblings because my father were away from home. My father traveled a lot and my mother worked in her dental clinic. So, I have a happy childhood despite the family problem we experienced.

NATHAN

Well, tell us, Lola, about how you came to know the Lord and the impact that had on your life.

LOLA

That was a very interesting experience in my life. When I was 12, I was overcome with anxiety about what would happen if I died. Where would I go? I had many questions about who was God. Who made God? And the fear grew up because the end of the world at that time was announced. There were constant earthquakes in my country. That was very scary for me in that time.

After that, my mother, due to family problems, came to know the Lord through an invitation from a friend, who invited her to the church where I congregate today.

And at that time, the person invited me to the children's camp. I went there in the camp at the beach. The teacher was telling us that if we died, we would go to be with Jesus because He is preparing a place for us, but we have to receive Him as our Lord and Savior. And so I did and it was the best decision I have ever made in my life. 

After that decision, my life was very different. The problems that came with youth could be overcome with the hope that Jesus Christ offers to those who decide to follow Him.

NATHAN

A beautiful story. Lola, let's jump ahead. What does the Lord have you involved in today?

LOLA

After a life of discipleship learning, ministerial life has gone from less to more. Today, I find myself in a beautiful challenging time in my life with many things to learn and many responsibilities to assume.

I find myself working in a missionary organization called World Impact. We founded it together with my friend and sister, Julieta Murillo. In this ministry, we accompany and mobilize the Ecuadorian church to send workers to nations, where Christ has not yet been known, work in formation of young leaders and accompany new workers. We collaborate with missionary organizations that work towards the Great Commission.

I work in the mobilization of my local church, developing a culture to become a church in continuous mission. Also, I am teaching about generosity and accountability, something I understood much better after taking the generosity course with GTP.

A few months ago, they asked me to be the country facilitator for GTP and also invited me to be part of the mobilization area of ​​COMIBAM, Ibero-American Missionary Cooperation.

NATHAN

That’s a lot of things! Thank you for sharing. So, this being the Inspiring Stewards podcast, how are you seeing the principles of stewardship play out through your life today?

LOLA

For me, I am grateful for the Lord to GTP. After receiving the Journey of Empowerment trip, I was able to learn that stewardship is not only about money, but it is about time. Stewardship helps us honor God's name and bear witness that His work in us is perfect.

Stewardship helps me to understand that everything belongs to Him. It teaches me to know how to manage everything given by the Lord for His service in the work. Stewardship teaches me to look with eyes of mercy, to open my hands, and bless my loved ones and my neighbor with love.

NATHAN

In your culture in Ecuador, do people value money or time more, in general?

LOLA

Maybe it's both: the time and money. Because when you ask, “You can help me about that?” The people say, “Eh, no, I'm sorry. I don't have time. I'm very busy.” And for me, the people can understand about how can help about my time.

And the money is the same. Because when you ask the people of the church to send missionaries, the church says, “We don't have money. We have to pay many things about the church.” But I think the money and the time is not easy to the people be a generosity about that.

NATHAN

So, as you think about the Lord's kingdom growing, how are you seeing God at work today,  whether that's in your specific location or even more broadly because of the mission work that you are involved in? 

LOLA

God is putting His feelings in every Christian on earth. I saw that He is calling us to be part of His work in all times, in all places, and with all people. 

The harvest is ready and we must see where God is working and join His work. There is no time to waste in thinking whether or not we should go to the unreached nations. Whether we should be present in place or public domain, we need to be part of Jesus Christ working.

It is time to unite, send His church to do the Great Commission as a blessing for the nations and all the families of the earth. This is the time! God is inviting us to enjoin to the work around the world.

NATHAN

Well, Lola, thank you for sharing all of this. As we wrap up our time, any final thoughts that you would have for those listening today to encourage them?

LOLA

The commitment that each Christian must assume is based on the relationship we have with the Father, a relationship of surrender and obedience. When we understand the love and sacrifice that Jesus made for us, today we would not have a church that is shy to assume the challenge of being those messengers who proclaim the message of salvation for all peoples.

In short, it is one thing to read the Scriptures and another thing to live the Scriptures.

NATHAN 

You’re living that! You're seeing that impact of when we do in addition to just read. And so very good, very good word. Lola, thank you for your time today.

LOLA

Thank you for inviting me in this interview.