Translation

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

May Happenings


New Adventures
Our newest works include the border towns of Laredo and Mission, TX.  These two cities have almost no church presence and yet have large and growing populations.  In conjunction with the South Texas District, we are endeavoring to grow the church through evangelistic outreach and making Christ-like disciples.  Please partner with us in prayer as we launch both of these works this summer.

Continuing Explorations
We are proud to report that our work in Puerto PeƱasco, Mexico is going strong and has been turned over to local leadership.  In just ten months, this mission has grown from a handful of individuals to a regular community of over fifty people.  God is moving in an amazing way and calling many people to follow Him through this exciting new work. 
Please continue praying with us as we continue the work in Brownsville, TX.  This church restart has been underway for just over a year and although we are making exciting inroads into the community, the work of starting the church has proved to be difficult.  God is working and we will continue to be faithful.

Road Map
            The Lord has called us to several key ministries that we are using in order to share the good news of Christ with others.  For the summer, we are focusing on soccer camps and Jesus Film evangelism.  We have seen God calling people to new life and reconciliation to himself through these two exciting ministries.  We are planning to have more than ten camps on both sides and at least three Jesus Film campaigns along both sides of the border this summer, continuing into the Fall. 
            We are working on three border initiative centers that will be used for housing work and witness teams, district offices, pastoral training, conferences, missionary and guest housing, etc.  God has called local district leaders to dream up these centers and to take ownership of them in planning, constructing, and even what they will be used for in the future.  The three locations are El Paso, TX; Ciudad Chihuahua, Chihuahua; and San Juan, Nuevo Leon.  We are looking for work and witness teams that can help us to complete these works so that they may be used for God’s glory and His mission along the border.

Traveling Buddies
            We are excited to announce that God has given us two new families to travel this journey with us.  In early Spring, God called the Hardyman family from pastoring in Oklahoma and the Rodriguez family from pastoring in Tennessee to share in our journey along the border.  They each bring unique new skills and talents to the border and will make great companions on this journey of serving the Lord. 

Other Paths
            God has also given us the opportunity to work with various other ministries as Global Missionaries assigned to the Border Region.  One of these is Youth In Mission, which sends university students on summer mission trips all over the world.  This year we have teams going to London, Madagascar, and India.  It has been a long year of preparation and we know that God is going to use these young people in amazing ways for His Kingdom this summer.  Please join us in prayer for these students who are raising the last of their funds, who are going through an extensive training program next week, as they travel and as they are ministering and serving throughout the summer.


Personal Journeys
            We could never have imagined God would bless us with all He has. Today, Jill said good-bye to the 20’s as she turned 30. We are thankful for friends who came and celebrated with a surprise party! 
            Macy lost her first tooth, at the age of 4, last week. She is always an overachiever, but we weren’t expecting this quite yet. She keeps us on our toes.
            Connor is officially potty trained at the age of 2. This is a huge success! No more diapers.