Church Plant Resident Highlight – Felipe Olavarria

Planting in South Omaha

Five years ago in Chile, after a few years of working as a Chef, God called Felipe to become a Pastor. Since then, he and his wife, Taya, moved to New York, to Colorado, and now have been called to Omaha to plant a Church in South Omaha with Pastor Elvin Torres.

What are you celebrating right now? 

My wife and I have gone through a lot these past three years. There have been hard situations but through that, we see God’s plan and provision and that has led to healing and moving in our lives deeply and consistently. We are grateful to see how God provides and how He guides us to move forward.

One example of His provision is showing a steadfast love in situations such as trusting and understanding our purpose in His plan for us. He is so amazing and gracious with us. We are fighting trauma with family and with past churches and with mental health. My wife is struggling with mental health directly and for me as her husband to step up and provide what she needs and to support her is a reflection of His grace. Day by day, we see transition and progress and opportunities to continue to step in the right direction as we seek God’s inexplicable purposeful joy for us.

How would you encourage other church planters who are walking through hardship and unknowns?

For those who are personally going through difficult circumstances and events I would say find the courage to ask for help and know that there is no pressure on you to figure it all out. It is God who brings the healing and the fruit. Jesus died on the cross and He was hurt for our iniquities and by His wounds we are healed. It is not up to you. The only thing you can do is run to Jesus and do that with the people around you. Jesus heals us through all means which are provided by Him, from His supernatural power to the love of those around us as well. 

If you are in a supportive role for someone who is experiencing hardships, such as a spouse or friend, don’t feel any shame in asking for help in this too and take advantage of what God is providing. Whether that is your church community, reaching out to leadership or a pastor, meeting with a counselor…there is no shame or guilt in accepting help and asking for it. That is what we should do and why we have community. Jesus is providing for you with those things. The path toward healing is not always supernatural. Also have margin in your life. That could look like having to say ‘no’ to commitments, stopping things, slowing things down so that you can be of more help to that person and to yourself. If you are healthy, then you can be more helpful. 

For me, that has looked like slowing down my college studies. Even though there is a sense of duty and excitement to get my degree faster, it is much more worth it to be available for my family and with more time for ministry looking forward to the church plant in South Omaha. Being aware of other people around you and their expectations and consider the fact that you won’t disappoint them by scheduling meetings for another time. Don’t answer too quick to commitments but rather respond later allowing for more thought and consideration.  Being healthy to a point where I get to take care of those things that others around me can’t and having order and less time to think of what is or is not in order. For instance, with my finances I have my bills set up automatically so I only have to check in once a week or twice a month instead of every single day. We live in a time where there is no margin. Having no margin is the silent killer in our culture by overloading our hearts, minds and souls with ‘stuff’. This is the enemy’s number one tool today.

Currently, what are your needs in this church planting season?

We would like prayer for a building that we can use for Sundays that has the most impact in the neighborhood. Prayer for a strong core team that functions as a family and as the strongest to reach others. I am expectant and excited to see how God will use this church plant to serve a people group which we have generally failed to engage in the past decades. Second and third generation immigrant children, those who have been born and raised in this country, but whose culture is mixed. Church is difficult for them, not finding their home in their parent’s Spanish church nor in their friend’s Anglo church. These people will have a place to go to and the impact this can have with generations to come is so exciting for me to be a part of…especially being an immigrant myself!

We need resources as well. For me, support raising has been hard with the constant change in my life. I’ve been in the country for four years and at three different places. Strong relationships and building those connections with people that would support my ministry financially has been a challenge still we are trusting in God for His provision. We are hoping that I get to give the best hours of the day to work and toward the ministry. 

I’m hoping for relationships to be built and for people to grow. For simplicity and sacrifice…and that we identify a clear mission and understand a clear calling from God. We just want to put all of ourselves into that and not to over complicate His mission in anyway. 

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