BOA: My uncle Pichi key
Samuel Caraballo
SUMMARY: The author recalls a funny incident with his uncle who repeated the word "BOA" in a funny tone. The author learns that "BOA" stood for Bible, Prayer, and Fasting, which was used in his uncle's faith community as an acronym to refer to the three essential components of the Pentecostal faith. The author realizes that these practices are still essential for Christians, especially pastors, and enrolls in the "BOA Institute" to reach new levels in his walk with God.
On one occasion I heard my uncle Luis Alberto, whom we called 'Uncle Pichi', effusively repeat the word 'BOA'. Certainly, this time he was not referring to a snake. In a very funny tone, sounding like a broken record, the uncle's trumpet voice said: BOA, BOA , BOA, BOA, BOA. At the time of this incident, I was at least 10 years old. I remember, like today, the laugh that came out of me. I couldn't stop laughing. I thought the guy had gone crazy. It is not for less! Uncle Pichi often made unbeatable jokes. When I could contain my laughter, I asked Pichi what he meant by the word “BOA”. He told me that in his childhood the word "BOA" was used in his faith community as an acronym to refer to three components of the Pentecostal faith: Bible, Prayer, & Fasting . Christian youth in their day joked about joining the “BOA Institute” as a preparatory method for ministerial formation. In other words, whoever wanted to be a “pastor” had to surrender to the elements of the “BOA”. At the time of the joke, Uncle Pichi was already a shepherd. Which led me to deduce that he had already enrolled and graduated from said institute.
It has been more than 20 years since this event and now, like my uncle, I am entering the deep waters of pastoral ministry. Now that I am soon to graduate from Yale University, I have had the privilege of sitting at the feet of the greatest scholars of Christian theology, ethics, and philosophy. And although I recognize the essential of the systematic study of the scriptures and the history of Christianity, I can only go back to that funny episode with Pichi. "BOA" was, is, and will be the essential method to consolidate everything learned so far. The alone and collective time to search the word, prayer as a perfect link with God, and fasting as an exercise to cultivate discipline and temperance continue to be the practices that distinguish the Christian, especially the pastor. And although Pichi is gone, now I am the one who makes my son Samuel Esteban laugh out loud when out of nowhere I repeat: "BOA, BOA, BOA, BOA, BOA."
Do you want to reach new levels in your walk with God? There are many things we must do, but none is as important as enrolling in the "BOA Institute". Open enrollment starting today!
It has been more than 20 years since this event and now, like my uncle, I am entering the deep waters of pastoral ministry. Now that I am soon to graduate from Yale University, I have had the privilege of sitting at the feet of the greatest scholars of Christian theology, ethics, and philosophy. And although I recognize the essential of the systematic study of the scriptures and the history of Christianity, I can only go back to that funny episode with Pichi. "BOA" was, is, and will be the essential method to consolidate everything learned so far. The alone and collective time to search the word, prayer as a perfect link with God, and fasting as an exercise to cultivate discipline and temperance continue to be the practices that distinguish the Christian, especially the pastor. And although Pichi is gone, now I am the one who makes my son Samuel Esteban laugh out loud when out of nowhere I repeat: "BOA, BOA, BOA, BOA, BOA."
Do you want to reach new levels in your walk with God? There are many things we must do, but none is as important as enrolling in the "BOA Institute". Open enrollment starting today!
