by Nathan Ortiz, Northern Golden Valley MOP

The iPhone 15. The Nike Dunk Lows that no matter how careful you are, you end up getting creased. And the old, faithful Honda Accord that eventually sputters out after 300,000 miles.

Some will say, “They don’t make things the way they used to,” when the inevitable demise meets the material things of this world. Is anything truly built to last? If there is anything that is built to last, it is the church of the one true living God who has been built upon the hope of Jesus Christ.

Who Is the Church

You are the church; You were built to last. That is the glorious future that awaits for the faithful believers.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” – Mathew 7:24-25

As servants of the Most High God, this is the burden we feel: to build together with the intention to persevere until we are joined with our Lord and Savior. We pray that the Lord would reveal the truth of His divine nature unto all the young men and women in our district as he revealed his nature to Simon Peter in Matthew 16:17.

“Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

We pray that our Lord will grant us the strength to accomplish our goals and simultaneously train, develop, and build the generation of leaders that follow us. In Jesus’ name, all things are possible!

How Will We build?

By the abundant number of “Do it Yourself (DIY)” projects you can find on YouTube, there are many ways of building. Our humble district in the heart of California is unique, as are all our sister districts. As such, we see the specific areas we are excited to build upon.

The first is to build the following generations of leaders, just as the apostle Paul mentored Timothy. The primary strategy is to implement sector ambassadors. The function of a sector ambassador is to assist in the implementation and planning of events. This is our opportunity to pour into the next generation of leaders by serving alongside them.

For those who do not feel the call to leadership, do not despair; come to our Ministry Fair! We plan to have a district-wide ministry fair to gather experts in various ministries from tech, social media, hospitality, and more. The hope is that sister churches can help each other by sharing best practices and opportunities for mentorship so that the work of the Lord would abound in our cities and churches. As our Bishop Abner Arias has resolutely declared, “God is coming for one church!” and as such, we want to build our sister churches.

Our district is blessed with many women of God who lead conferences and give Bible studies. Our vision is to establish a “Women of the Word” seminar to build up the future generation of young ladies who delight in the Word and can minister by sharing a word of faith.

Similarly to the young ladies, we desire to build up the young men to boldly declare God’s Word to those who would listen. The Lord has impressed upon our Bishop to stir up the gift of prophecy in our young people. Joel 2:28-29 tells us, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” The gift of prophecy is for the sons and daughters of God, so it is time to stir up those gifts!

Built to Last

Through all our activities and plans to build, the greatest hope is that our district’s young men and ladies are built to last. Come trial, come tribulation, we are built upon the rock with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. We pray for our friends and fellow laborers in other districts, our national leadership, and the body of Christ that you may be edified by God’s word. We pray with fervency over your life that you would be built on God’s Word and that we will all rejoice upon hearing those marvelous words from our Lord, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Blessings,
Nathan Ortiz
President, Northern Golden Valley District

Dwell & Develop

Durability in Faith and Material Things — The article contrasts the temporary nature of material items with the enduring foundation of the church built on Jesus Christ. Reflect on your own life: where do you find yourself investing most of your energy, time, and resources? How can you shift your focus towards building something that lasts eternally, rather than on the temporary?

The Church as a Community — You are identified as the church, built to last and withstand trials. How do you see your role within the church, especially in tough times? Consider ways you can strengthen your foundation in Christ to better support your community, just as the wise man built his house on the rock.

Leadership and Mentorship — The article mentions the apostle Paul mentoring Timothy and the initiative to implement sector ambassadors to mentor the next generation of leaders. Reflect on your experiences with mentorship, either as a mentor or a mentee. What impact has mentorship had on your faith journey? How can you contribute to this cycle of building up future leaders within your community?

Diverse Contributions to the Body of Christ — The Ministry Fair idea suggests that there are various ways to serve within the church, emphasizing that not everyone is called to traditional leadership roles. What unique gifts or talents do you have that can contribute to the body of Christ? How can you get involved in or initiate ministry opportunities that leverage your unique strengths and passions?

The Gift of Prophecy and Spiritual Gifts — The encouragement to stir up the gift of prophecy among young people points to a broader invitation for all to explore and exercise their spiritual gifts. What are your thoughts on the role of spiritual gifts in the church today? Have you identified your spiritual gifts? If so, how are you using them to build up the church, and if not, what steps can you take to discover and develop these gifts?

About the Author

Nathan Ortiz currently serves president of Northern Golden Valley District MOP in Northern California. Nathan felt the call of the Lord to work in youth ministry and he has now served in local ministry for over 10 years. He also serves as a minister under the guidance of my pastor Ricardo Carmona in Livermore, CA. He and his wife, Natalia will be celebrating five years of marriage this July. He serves the NVGD Messengers of Peace alongside Secretary Roy Bravo, Jr, his wife Josey Bravo, and Treasurer Daniel Ortiz.

Connect on Instagram: @ngvdmop / @nateortiz50