Dear friends,
The Church of Jesus caught in the tension between conservatives and progressives. We should learn to understand the Bible in a fresh way, trying to see it through the eyes of the original writers. Yet, one can easily become lost in an ocean of interpretations. Shouldn’t I hold fast to what is ancient and proven? The danger of liberalization only fosters doubts and unbelief! Everywhere, doctrinal guidelines are demanded for protection. Isn’t an official teaching authority the answer? The Bible is the Word of God. Is it truly infallible, or am I also merely interpreting it through my own cultural lens? These are the burning questions of our day that stir believers across every continent. Christians in the Global South ask fewer theoretical questions and actively live out their faith, increasingly engaging in mission work on their own initiative. In the Northern Hemisphere, church attendance is declining and buildings are shutting down. On the other hand, something new is growing: it is often young people who find gatherings meaningful and vibrant, breathing fresh life into congregations. That is often the very tension communities face: we tend to build walls to safeguard our faith, while those “on the outside” seek different paths. How do we treat one another? What does true love allow, and where do we compromise our faith? That is the challenge people wrestle with in the Northern Hemisphere—and far beyond.
IIn Shell, we also stand right in the middle of this tension. Here, local churches often divide over personal animosities among leaders. Differences that are entirely personal are subsequently given theological justifications. That is exactly how church history unfolded across Europe and North America as well. The apostle Paul offers us a path forward in 2 Corinthians 3:6: “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life!”
Ecuador is currently in vacation mode; nevertheless, patient numbers at our clinic have risen. We are pleased to share several practical improvements: during the last inspection, the Ministry of Public Health issued formal observations regarding our storage facility for medications and supplies. It was a storage hall still holding “leftovers from the hospital takeover”. Thanks to our volunteers, that space has now been completely reorganized and upgraded!
Dr. Bezemer is currently out in the rainforest. Together with his entire family, they are visiting various indigenous villages and living alongside the local people. It is quite an adjustment for the family, but also an unforgettable adventure for the children to immerse themselves in this world. These are “vacations” unlike anything most of us could picture. Who would be willing to sleep in an open hut, eat whatever local meals are served, and truly share daily life? In the meantime, they have learned to communicate in the local language: Kichwa.
Meanwhile, Drs. Stephen and Jessica Morse and their children were also visiting Shell as they prepare for their relocation. Above all, it was important for the children to get acquainted with the place where they will be living in the coming season. We are praying that they will soon secure their required financial support to move their home to Shell. Once their medical credentials are officially validated in Ecuador, their año rural (mandatory year of community health service) awaits them within the national health system.
Our many staff members do not belong to a single denomination or church. Consequently, spiritual backgrounds vary, alongside the diverse cultures represented. Living and serving in an international community is not always effortless, yet it reflects the Church of the future. Thank you for your continued prayers and generous gifts. At present, Klaudia and Eckehart’s primary concern is rebuilding the employee social/retirement reserve fund, and we warmly invite contributions toward this need.
Thank you so much, and warm greetings during this summer holiday season,
The Shell Team
(Eckehart & Klaudia Wolff)
Donations: Lightway Medical Foundation
PO Box 8066
Fort Wayne, IN 46898
Checks can be mailed there, or you can donate through the website.
LightwayMedical.org/donations.