Boa: Uncle Pichi’s Key
Author
Samuel Caraballo
Summary: Here, BOA does not refer to a snake, but to the Bible, prayer, and fasting: three fundamental practices of Pentecostal faith and ministerial formation. Although the systematic study of Scripture and the history of Christianity is indispensable, it must be reinforced through personal and communal examination of the Word, prayer as a bond with God, and fasting as an exercise in discipline and self-control. These practices distinguish the Christian life and are especially important for those who serve as pastors. If we desire to move forward in our walk with God, we must devote ourselves from this day onward to this “BOA Institute,” making the Bible, prayer, and fasting central habits of our lives.
On one occasion, I heard my uncle Luis Alberto, whom we called ‘Uncle Pichi,’ emphatically repeat the word ‘BOA.’ Of course, on this occasion he was not referring to a snake. In a very humorous tone, sounding like a broken record, my uncle’s trumpet-like voice said: BOA,BOA
,BOA,BOA,BOA. At the time of this incident, I was about 10 years old. I remember to this day the laughter that burst out of me. I could not stop laughing. I thought my uncle had gone crazy. And no wonder! Uncle Pichi often pulled off some unmatched jokes. Once I was finally able to contain my laughter, I asked Pichi what he meant by the word “BOA.” He told me that during his childhood, the word “BOA” was used in his faith community as an acronym referring to three components of the Pentecostal faith: Bible, Prayer, & Fasting. The Christian youth of his day used to joke about enrolling in the “BOA Institute” as a preparatory method for ministerial formation. In other words, anyone who wanted to become a “pastor” had to devote himself to the elements of “BOA.” By the time he made the joke, Uncle Pichi was already a pastor. This led me to conclude that he had already enrolled in and graduated from that institute.
More than 20 years have passed since this happened, and now, like my uncle, I am venturing into the deep waters of pastoral ministry. Now that I am about to graduate from Yale University, I have had the privilege of sitting at the feet of the greatest scholars of theology, ethics, and Christian philosophy. And although I recognize how indispensable the systematic study of Scripture and the history of Christianity is, I cannot help but return to that humorous episode with Pichi. “BOA” was, is, and will remain the indispensable method for consolidating everything I have learned thus far. Time spent alone and together searching the Word, prayer as the perfect bond with God, and fasting as an exercise for cultivating discipline and self-control remain the practices that distinguish the Christian, especially the pastor. And although Pichi is no longer here, now I am the one who makes my son Samuel Esteban laugh out loud when, out of nowhere, I repeat to him: “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.” Enrollment is open starting today!