Directed Steps

I've often reflected over the years here at CEC that each year brings a new challenge - something we've never seen before.  This has included things such as facing significant issues with students, major incidents such as one of our teachers suffering a life-threatening stroke, to the passing of members of our leadership (Howard most recently, and Jose Luis several years ago).  Walking through each of these experiences (it seems that without fail, we tend to face at least one such crisis each and every year,) one is tempted to think, "Now we've seen it all."  Just wait for next year!

All of this leads us to this year, and only a short time after having written the recent blogpost, The Countdown to the inauguration, we had to make the very difficult decision to cancel this year's course due to a very low number of applications.  This would be the first time this has happened following CEC's 15 classes that have graduated.  "Now we've seen it all," I'm tempted to say...  But even as I look back on each and every one of those other situations, what was difficult or painful at the time (and may continue to be so in many ways), were times when God's faithfulness was magnified.  They have been learning times, to say the least, and they have been trying times as well.  But they have also been growing times, where God has taken us down new paths, yes, uncomfortable paths, and has brought something about that otherwise would never have taken place.  I remember when Jose Luis had a major stroke which the doctors said he should not have survived.  After two weeks in the hospital he returned to CEC where he faced a long and arduous recovery, surrounded by the help of the student body caring for him in various ways - we witnessed a slow but miraculous recovery, enjoying his company and teaching at CEC for another couple of years until the Lord finally took him home.  Our journey over the past two years with Howard's passing (the founder of CEC) has also been a journey of growth into new chapters.

Each one of these experiences have inadvertently helped to prepare us for each new and unexpected circumstance that continues to come our way, even though in the moment we continue to be surprised by these new curve balls.  Yet the past testifies to Romans 8:28, that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him," though it may not be pleasant to walk through in the moment.  In this light, while it was a difficult decision to make, to cancel this year's course - weighing on each one of our hearts - we also had a God-given sense of peace in making it, knowing that this also was not outside of His control nor His plans.

Just the other day, on what would have been the second day of classes, we met together as the leadership staff to look ahead and see what these next months as well as the rest of the year could hold.  Last year one of the things that we focused on was a team was that CEC is more than just the three-and-a-half month course.  It encompasses the ongoing discipleship and encouragement of the alumni who minister in their homes, churches, and communities.  Through the alumni retreat, conference, and visits, it is a privilege to continue to walk alongside them both in their successes and difficulties.  

Jesús Fernando and Yuleni are an example of this - Jesús Fernando who entered the course as a very timid person just recently shared with us how he has been placed in charge of the men's group in his church.  This comes after he himself has shared how he has had opportunities to witness to his co-workers about God, seeing a difference in him, and as he reads his Bible on the job between tasks.  Prior, he never would have had the confidence to do so, but God has been at work in his life.  Yuleni shares about her new role in children's ministry in the church as well also their plans to reach out to the unchurched children in the area around where they live and work.

Jesús Fernando and Yuleni during their time at CEC.

On the other side, I just got a call from one of our past students who was calling after being incarcerated.  This student's journey has been particularly difficult, even after the time in CEC, but one in which this student also recognizes God's grace even in this circumstance - a chance to devote this time to Him and find his way forward.  What a privilege to walk along side each one of the students, both in their highs as well as their lows.  Who of us does not also have our own highs and lows in our journeys?

As we sat around the table the other day as the CEC leadership, we put into motion some plans for the short term, including taking advantage of one of our teachers who was scheduled to come at the end of February and host a 5 day conference on the very class that he was going to give - Panorama of the Bible.  Other ideas were shared and we will continue to look in the coming days at ways to further develop and build the ministry of CEC outside of our primary course, both on-site and off-site, through mentoring, conferences, visitations, trips, etc., while also looking forward to and preparing for next year.  Please continue to pray for us as we plan and continue the ministry of CEC through different means.  

As Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."  We continue to sense and rest in the fact that God will continue His ministry through CEC, that the vision to EQUIP AND TRAIN SERVANT LEADERS (Eph. 2:12) continues to be what guides us.  It may look a little different, especially over the course of the next few months, but we continue to trust that He will continue to direct our steps.  Thank you, as always, and maybe even more during times like these, for your continued support and prayers for myself and for this ministry!  God bless each one of you.  ¡Dios les bendiga!

The Countdown

Ten days to go...  As we just finished counting down the final days of 2024, another countdown begins for us: the 2025 CEC school season.  But before we get into that, let me share some of the highlights of the end of last year:

CONFERENCE: MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER

The final event planned for 2024 took place at the end of November where a local pastor, Jorge Campoy, took us through the biblical and cultural context of the well known passage where Jesus condemns what is happening in the outer courts of the temple, overturning the tables, and citing the familiar Old Testament passage from Isaiah 56:7, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations."  He unpacked for us the powerful message of the Gospel, the miracle that God would invite all people to Himself - which was His plan all along - and one that those who were responsible for the Temple during Jesus' time, had completely overlooked.  Jesus Himself takes away all obstacles between us and God the Father - and this invitation was not just for the Jews, but for all people, including us!  

A time of worship before one of the sessions.

Staff and conference participants.

We had about 25 people participate in the two day conference, from various places, different backgrounds, a variety of "theological levels," but each one went away impacted both by Jorge's presentation of the Word, but also by the blessing it is to have received from the Word itself.  Each person we talked to expressed how they were impacted in some way.  It shouldn't be surprising, but when the Word is simply taught, being alive and active, it impacts and transforms.

In the evening we experimented with something that we often do during the CEC course itself: retreating to the beach in the evening to enjoy the sunset and take communion together around a campfire with prayer and worship.  Many reflected on how much they enjoyed this unique experience - a break from the routine, experiencing something familiar like the Lord's Supper in a different setting, and one as beautiful as a San Carlos beach.

Could there be a better setting for communion?

As we reflect on this conference, we are excited as we take up the torch once again, bringing back conferences like this, after having a reprieve of a couple of years without due to the pandemic restrictions at the time.  (This is the second year now that we've returned to doing an event like this...)

The rest of the year (the month of December) has been a time of relative rest, after a busy year with a number of events and outings, with opportunities to take care of different projects that have been on the back burner for a while - things that get pushed off until there is finally time to do them.  Among them included something that I've been working on over the past year and finally came to its conclusion - becoming a Mexican citizen!  It's something I've had in the back of my mind for a long time but finally pursued it this past year, and after a year of paperwork and waiting, I finally was presented my letter, the Carta de Naturalización, this past December.  Some have asked Why? and perhaps in a future post I can expand on that a bit more (or you can ask me personally!)  But in part, along with certain benefits, it has been part of a continued venture into living and truly being here in Mexico.  Mexicans, in general, have such a pride for their country and to make the effort to become a citizen is a way to honor both the people themselves and the country that they take pride in.  (Many are proud that someone would want to become a Mexican alongside them!)  In the end, it is part of a continued effort to always help reach more deeply and live alongside the people that I work with and serve.

CEC 2025

As I mentioned before...10 days to go!  With the beginning of a new year, months of planning now start turning into reality.  We are in the final stages of planning, not to mention confirming students.  It has been slow thus far as far as students being confirmed.  While a number have expressed interest, those who have actually sent in their application forms thus far is less than previous years, at this point.  This isn't the first time we've been at a place like this before, though, with only a little more than a week to go - we are, of course, in Mexico, where many things are spur-of-the-moment.  So there is still time for more students to show interest and hand in their applications.  It is, though, a faith-inducing experience - even if it is not the first time we've gone through this!  So, PRAY together with us for those students that God would bring to us this year.  It is always a big commitment for them to take that step of faith themselves, but our prayer is that their desire to grow deeper in their walk, to learn deeply from the Bible, and their desire to serve, would propel them beyond whatever obstacle might present itself to spend these next four months with us.  Our beginning day of classes is the 20th of January.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!  As we enter this intense season of walking alongside others, we covet your prayers.  Each year presents its unique challenges and opportunities with each student that comes.  It also presents its own personal challenges - but I look forward to another opportunity to walk together with others as we grow together.  God bless each one of you and thank you!  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Labouring On...

I have to admit, maybe it's my Canadian roots, but one of my favorite times of the year is when I can finally put on a hoodie...unfortunately, hoodie season is far too short, but it is such a welcome reprieve of the intense summer heat that held on exceptionally long this year.  Speaking of reprieves, it seems that this year's "off-season" has been anything but a reprieve, and with cooler temperatures here, it means that another CEC semester is just around the corner.  As our team down here grows with more full-time year round members, in some sense the workload lightens as there are more hands on deck, but it also allows us to expand and cover even more ground - and it seems that that is exactly what has happened this year in particular.  Here's some of the recent highlights:

RECRUITMENT TOUR DOWN SOUTH

My beloved colleague, Guillermo (who lives upstairs from me together with his family), accompanied me on a brief whirl-wind recruitment tour down south, covering a lot of ground over the course of a week and a half.  We visited two churches that have long been connected with CEC as well as two new connections - one being one of our former students from this year, Armando in Guadalajara, and as well as connections through Guillermo's family.

There's always a sense of uncertainty surrounding these trips as we step into both old and new circles, not knowing what fruit will come of it, or even how one will be received (in the new places).  This year was no exception especially with some additional uncertainty regarding the route we had to take, which lead through some areas of unrest at the time.  There is a saying, though, in Mexico - Mi casa es su casa - which means, "My house is your house."  It's more than a saying, though, it is a reality in this warm culture - multiplied ten-fold when you factor in that we are being welcomed into homes of our brothers and sisters in Christ!  It is not only this, though, that stuck out on this trip - the connections we were able to enjoy and make - it was also the invitations that we came across to return, to connect with more churches in the areas we visited, that affirmed any doubt that we may have had in setting out in the first place.  One of the challenges that we often come across on behalf of the school is the challenge of gaining trust with new pastors.  It is understandable to be sure and something that takes time and energy invested in trips like these to build that trust so that they know that we are here to serve them, and help them as well as their members to grow in ways that they will be a blessing both to them and their church as they return.  That is why as different pastors not only opened their doors but invited us back providing themselves as bridges to the neighbouring churches, to share about CEC, not to mention the personal interest in coming to CEC, we were so thankful - God opened doors in each place that we went.  

This was coupled with the opportunity to reconnect with a number of our alumni throughout the trip - always a joy to see them in their home settings, to hear about both their joys and struggles, and hopefully to encourage them as well as they continue on. The picture below took place at one of our stops - an area that has sent students now for a number of years.

A great time with several of our alumni - an impromptu chat over coffee where we could hear from them about some of the challenges that they are facing in ministry and how we can continue to encourage them along the way.  It becomes very evident as we listen to them how they continue to learn and grow in different ways as they head back into their lives and ministry following their time in CEC.

MILLAR COLLEGE MISSIONS MODULE

As we came back, with a short stretch of down-time, we prepared to receive a group of 10 young men and women, all studying currently at Millar School of the Bible, in the BC campus, who came down for a 10 day missions course hosted here at CEC.  The primary goal of this missions module was to not only learn about cross-cultural missions but also be able to experience in some small ways what it might look like to minister in a different culture.  A number of people involved in cross-cultural missions shared various tools for cross-cultural missions from their perspectives and experiences.  Guillermo himself shared in several of the classes about our role in God's plan of Redemption through the Great Commission, a prominent theme during this week and a half highlighting not only what is entailed in effectively carrying it out but also how we are all called to be a part of this mission that reaches to the ends of the earth.  

A familiar scene, only now with classes in English as the students hear from a number of missionaries throughout the week.

An offsite exercise at the local downtown market where the students had an opportunity to try out their newly learned Spanish words and phrases.

The students had an opportunity during our final weekend in the small fishing town of El Choyudo, home to Guillermo and his church, to experience firsthand ministry and interaction in an unfamiliar setting where you don't know the language nor culture.  We had an informal time of fellowship including playing volleyball and a seafood feast prepared by the members of his church; this was followed by a worship service on the beach.  One thing that stood out for this group was the ability to connect and communicate, despite the barriers - a product of the warmth of the Mexican culture but also the grace that is found in connecting with members of the body of Christ, no matter where you are.  The students also left impacted by the testimony of many of the missionaries and local servants such as Pastor Rafael and his wife Marisela in Fatima (whom many of you have heard of or even know personally) and hearing about their years of tireless, dedicated service to the Lord, while seeing, even just for a brief visit, some of the fruits of their labour.  

The students learned and presented a song in Spanish - an impressive undertaking - to the church in El Choyudo.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

As I write this, there are a lot of details swirling around in my mind about up and coming events, not the least of which includes our school year just around the corner.  However in the nearer future, we have plans underway for a conference at the end of November, and, even closer at hand, a trip we plan to take tomorrow (Wednesday) to the neighbouring state of Chihuahua.  One of our alumni who completed the second year course two years ago - Abram - has graciously invited us to his home city and connected us not only with his church but a number of pastors and leaders in the area.  We plan to be on the road about a week visiting a number of different places and people with the hopes of continuing to get the word out about CEC.  Please pray for safety as we travel, but also for fruitful interactions as we seek out those who would benefit in their ministries from coming to CEC.

Thanks, as always, for your continued prayers - there are so many plans underway for different activities yet it is exciting to see the ministry of CEC continue to grow.  Perhaps one other thing that stands out from the Millar missions module and also these recruitment trips is how, though we are finding ourselves with a lot of "work" to do these days, there are so many who are also labouring, just as we are, all over the world, not just here in Mexico.  That, of course, includes you as well!  We all have a part to play, but even more so, it is God who is at work in every part of the world, and wherever we go, we find Him there at work as well.  God bless each one of you as you labor on as well!  ¡Dios les bendiga!