Missions, Millar, and Mmmmm...More Students

Missions

We have finished three weeks of the Consiervos (Bondservants) missions course, with the six students enrolled currently on the field, visiting a mission that works with an indigenous tribe.  For some it will be a very new experience and comes right after having spent a week dedicated to transcultural topics such as understanding worldview and cultural differences, and then what it looks like to share the Gospel into these different cultural settings.  So over the course of these two weeks they will have a first hand experience of being in a very different culture and seeing an established mission at work.

The students and staff of Consiervos 2019

Following these two weeks we will have another five weeks of classes with these students with the program winding down at the end of the first week of December.

Millar

During this two week "break" we are hosting a group of students from Millar College of the Bible's Sunnybrae Campus - 10 students who are taking a 2 credit hour missions module here at CEC.  This week we are spending the mornings in class hearing from different people teach on a variety of topics who have had experience in missions.  Next week we will get out into the community in a few opportunities to get some exposure to what it is like to be and to serve in a cross-cultural setting.

Between Consiervos and Millar, it has been a MISSIONS focussed month here, and it has been very refreshing.  It is so good to be reminded of not only the need that is around us constantly, but to see what God is doing all over the world, being exposed to those needs, and seeing the challenges in meeting them.  There is something so refreshing and so important in being reminded of the importance of missions, wherever we are.

More Students

We are three months out from the next CEC course, which begins on January 20th.  Details are coming together but one of the highest priorities right now is the recruitment of students.  This always presents itself as a challenge being in the last-minute culture that we are in, here in Mexico.  However, we are trying to be as proactive as we can to get students signed up as soon as possible, for their sake and for ours.  Probably the greatest thing we can do, proactively, is to pray, and you can definitely help us with that!  With the second year beginning this coming year, we are praying for up to 15 first year students, and up to 10 second year students (this would be the absolute max).  Please pray that connections would be made, and that people would see God open doors for them regarding common difficulties such as leaving ministries, making arrangements for family, and also finances to be able to come.  We pray that God will bring together another excellent group of students who can return to their homes, communities, and churches, being even more effective witnesses for God.  God bless each one of you and thank you for your prayers and support!  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Day One

Yes, it's a little early to be writing about Day 1 of the next CEC school cycle, and indeed it as, as school only starts at the end of January.  But today was still an exciting Day 1, however, of the new Consiervos (Bondservants) Missionary Training Program (here's a link for some more information, in Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/programaconsiervos/) that is being hosted at CEC.  It is a year long program that begins with 2 months of training focussed on equipping deacon-missionaries in cross-cultural missions.  What is a deacon-missionary you might ask?  (Good question!)  Though perhaps not a technical term, it is the idea of those who make up the missionary team, in any form whatsoever, serving the end task of planting churches where the Gospel has not yet been preached.  When we think of missionaries (specifically church planters) we think of those pioneers who enter into new cultures and languages with the goal of making disciples.  The reality is, though, that this is accomplished by a team of people who serve in various roles (almost any profession can be employed in the service of missions...,) all with the same goal.  This program which began today, will look at the various challenges that come with cross-cultural missions and, built on a biblical foundation, equip the young men and women who have enrolled for those challenges on the missions field.

Day 1 Orientation

Six young men and women have joined us (four of whom are actually CEC alumni, and one who has been on staff with us).  The course is being run by two missionary couples who have dedicated their lives through Latin America to cross-cultural missions.  We as CEC are standing by and assisting in any way we can - we are very excited about the program because it is fulfilling part of the future vision that we had for the school in implementing part of the program focussing specifically on missions.  My role will include the areas of teaching, music, support in whatever way I can, as well as the occasional recreational outing (which just might include a hike up Tetakawi!)

I'm sure you will hear more about this over the course of the next months, but for now, join in prayer with us as we embark on something entirely new.  New means lots of uncertainty, but it also means lots of excitement, knowing that God has some awesome things in store for the coming weeks.  Pray for my part in this program, especially as I teach some classes including History of Missions, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Gifts, and some other themes (I still have some prep work to do....)  Don't forget to pray for our students that are coming (and maybe don't even know it yet!) for the coming CEC school year that will begin in 2020 - that also includes the 2nd year program which is another new venture for CEC.

It would seem that this is the season of new things...we'll have to see what else new is around the corner!  Thanks for your prayers...as always they are deeply appreciated and valued.  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Mission Possible

CEC'S MISSION:

To provide and facilitate access to biblical training, empowering and equipping servant-leaders to proclaim the Gospel with an emphasis on discipleship for the edification of the Church of Christ. 

One of our central focusses in the school is to provide access to biblical training specifically for those who for various reasons have not had the opportunity for further biblical preparation.  Time and time again I am blown away at the passion that many have in Mexico to serve God with all of their hearts, giving freely of their lives to serve the people in their communities; though, as seems to be the case everywhere, there is always a need for more people, there are so many who are serving God wholeheartedly.  If there is a greater need, it is to provide an opportunity to be further grounded in the Word so that they can be even more effective in their ministry.  This was the vision for and the mission of CEC right from the beginning.

This mission is what leads us to places like the small town we visited last week in the centrally located state of Michoacan.  Missionaries have been working with the local indigenous people for a number of years, establishing churches in the area, and we were able to see some of the fruits of those labours, also hearing stories about the hardships they have had to endure working in very closed  environments.  In a town such as the one we visited, sharing the Gospel has come up against some very strong barriers because the habitants of the town jealously guard their own culture, even to the extent of not allowing outside people to move in and live there simply because they had not grown up there.  But through perseverance, and by God's grace, a church has been established in this town.  We got the chance to meet with the young man, Isidro, who comes from the town and has stepped up to the role of pastoring this young church.  Our hosts, Pete and Cathy, missionaries who are doing a wonderful job at helping the work in this area, shared their burden of seeing this young man and his wife go to CEC to help further their ministry in this little town.  

Pastor Isidro (in the middle) together with his family

Our goal in CEC is to reach specifically people such as Pastor Isidro and others like him who are serving God and haven't had the opportunity for any biblical training whether the reasons be for funding (many Bible schools in Mexico are quite expensive) or for reasons of time (many programs running anywhere from 2 to 4 years).  The economic situation in this small communities is often tough and the commitment even to get away for the 14-week program we offer is a significant amount of time.  So we continue to pray for people like this family as we go out on the road making new connections like these.  Our goal in the future is also to do some on-the-road training so that we can be of further encouragement, especially in these more remote areas.  It's neither mission impossible nor mission accomplished but one in which we constantly see God moving and are excited to see how He will continue to do so.

Please keep praying for potential students!  We know that the investment that they make in getting away for those 14 weeks is always worth it.  Also, if you are interested in helping to support the school (which in turn helps keep the costs stay minimal for those who enrol), please let me know - I'd be glad to share more about those ongoing needs.  Thanks for your continued prayers!  In this "off-season" we continue to visit, promote, and plan, preparing for this coming school season.  ¡Dios les bendiga!