School's Out! Spring Update

It's almost a month since the students took flight, returning to their families, churches and communities. So much has taken place in the 14 weeks that we had with them. Read on to hear about some particular highlights from this school season. If you cannot see the update newsletter below, click here.

And there were twelve...

7 weeks down with 7 to go (including this week)...Every year has it's unique experiences, personalities, highlights, challenges, etc. and this year has been no different. But in spite of these things (or maybe better put, THROUGH) these things we see God working and using each and every situation for His glory. Perhaps what has marked this year particularly was the fact that one of our full-time teachers suffered a stroke just over a month ago. Many of you have been praying and we couldn't be more thankful for every one of the prayers offered, to see how God has been restoring his health quickly. As it was a fairly serious stroke, the fact that he was out of the hospital just over two weeks later and back with us was in and of itself a miracle. Time and time again the doctors and therapists who have worked with him have been amazed to see how quickly he is advancing. It was just over a week ago when he himself exclaimed, "I'm back!" alluding to the constant progress made as far as his memory, mind, and recognition of what had taken place. Physically, he has a long ways to go to recover strength, motor skills, etc. but here too he has been making rapid advances. Thankfully he was able to be released back to school here where his wife as well as the students and staff have been able to be a significant part of the therapy and recovery. Perhaps what has been more inspiring through it all has been his own attitude: never doubting God, never angry, never depressed, sometimes frustrated and feeling ready to go (mentally) but realizing that there are physical limitations that will not be overcome overnight, but peacefully resting in God, knowing that He is in control. There were several times, not long after returning to school from the hospital, where we gathered in the apartment where he is staying to encourage him and pray for him, but he was the one who encouraged us much more than we anticipated encouraging him! With tears he would encourage the students to trust God, to take advantage of every opportunity knowing that God had many plans for each of them following there time here at CEC. These are those moments which speak so much louder and clearer than many hours taught in the classroom. We have twelve students - some have had to leave due to health issues in the family or personal issues that need to be worked out in their lives, but regardless of the bumps along the way we've seen God speak to each one of the students. They are grasping a greater appreciation for God's Word, resting in His Grace, learning how to live in community, loving one another. It's by far the youngest group of students we've had, the majority being in their 20's with a handful in the 30's. This comes with it's challenges but not without it's rewards! Continue to pray for the receptiveness of the student's hearts, that they would continue to respond to God's moving, for us as teachers as we seek to be sensitive to what God wants to do in their lives, and for us as a leadership team, that we would continue to work together as a unified group. Thanks and God bless! ¡Dios les bendiga!

Dislocated Unity

Two full and intense days of teaching, worship, and prayer came to an end yesterday evening, as we celebrated communion together.  We had the privilege of hosting about 30 people from different churches here in the Guaymas/Empalme area as well as some "out of" from the neighbouring area and Hermosillo.  The theme was Called to Unity in Christ and two of our teachers took us through Scripture that challenged us to drop so many of the walls we have setup over the years as Christians, doctrinal barriers about things that don't carry the weight of Salvation but nonetheless have divided us.  This is not to be mistaken with a "light" Gospel message but rather about truly rallying around the powerful, life-changing Gospel message and leaving the peripherals out of the equation, learning not just to tolerate each other but to love one another - this becomes the powerful witness that the world needs to see.  This is specifically what Jesus prayed for in John chapter 17.  He was actually praying for us and for this witness!

I love the way one of the teachers illustrated the lack of unity.  Scripturally we see that the church is not divided - there is only one church.  Christ will not come back for "churches" or denominations but for His one Church, His Bride, so often illustrated in Scripture as a body - not many bodies but one body.  However our disunity is as though this body has parts of it that are dislocated, not separated as though there are arms and legs cut off from the body - we are joined together as one, but functionally we are as though parts of the body are dislocated.  What happens to a dislocated shoulder?  At first there is tremendous pain and our arm becomes severely inhibited, virtually nonfunctional.  Not only is the arm affected but the rest of the body is affected as well, without the use of this important member.  But if it is not treated, eventually the pain may subside somewhat or rather, we simply become accustomed to living with it and not only with the pain but also with the disability.  We learned to compensate but in reality, we are not functioning to our full capacity.

What a vivid picture of disunity!  It's interesting to note that this is the second of three conferences here in the area, all planned by different groups, completely separately with no coordination whatsoever between each group, all about the same topic: Unity as Believers.  This theme is on the hearts of many people and appears as though God is wanting us to understand something, something integral to the very message of the Gospel.  John 17 paints this picture so clearly for the sake of those lost, for the purpose of bringing glory to God.  Verse 21 says:

"...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." - John 17:21

Thanks to everyone who was praying for this time!  We are excited and encouraged to be a part of times like these and are looking forward to the start of a new course in January.

¡Dios les bendiga!