Halfway Home

As we reach our halfway point (7 weeks done, 7 more to go...) I would like to share with you about one of our students - Elias (or Elijah in English).  Coming from a background of drug addiction, Elias came to know the Lord 4 years ago through a drug rehab center.  He came to CEC with the desire to learn more of the Bible for the purpose of sharing with others, through teaching and preaching, the Word of God.

Having gotten to know Elias over these past weeks, I have rarely met someone who is so genuine and sincere in his love for God and his desire to serve Him in everything.  A week ago as we were celebrating communion together, he shared in reflection about how for the past number of years he lived with the fear of condemnation as a Christian.  Much of what he had heard about the Christian life was based on following rules - you must do this - you must not do that, or else...and the stakes were apparently very high.  He shared during communion about this weight that he had carried for a long time, always worried about committing mistakes and losing his way.  However, with a huge smile coming from a heart evidently full of joy, he shared how now he understood more fully the incredible Gospel message of Christ's completed work on the cross, and that nothing, in fact, can even be added to it.  He shared how this incredibly heavy weight that he had been carrying  has been lifted off of his back.  He understands it not as a freedom not to do whatever he wants, but to serve God now in joy and gratitude, not in fear.  He is not the only one who has been impacted profoundly by the study of the Bible - each one could tell of their own Aha! moments as God continues to reveal Himself to each one of the students being in the Bible day in and day out.

Speaking of serving Him, the other night it was Elias' turn to lead a study in our weekly Men's Night.  For him this was a big deal - though his desire is to share with others the truths of the Bible, he has expressed on many occasions his fear of doing so and his limited understanding of the Bible itself.  Having dropped out of school at a very early age, reading was difficult and he has expressed frustration at various times in not understanding many things in the Bible.  As the weeks have progressed, however, being immersed in it in and out of class, his mind has been absorbing its truths (even if slowly), and they have simultaneously been sinking into his heart.  It was evident as he shared the other day on the top of betrayal, looking at Judas' example of betraying Jesus.  In "fear and trembling" he lead us both from his own life and in reflection on the story of Judas and Jesus - it was a joy to see him rise to the occasion, and, in his own words, depend on God to work through him.

What has been exciting as well, is how God is working in his life to bring his family back together.  For the years of drug abuse and neglect, he had virtually lost all relationship with his wife and two kids.  The Lord had put it on his heart to seek reconciliation with them and he has been praying to that end.  During the weekends when he is able to talk to them, he has seen more and more of an openness on his wife's part to see reconciliation, with hopes that this will become a reality.  It is exciting to see how fully and completely God can transform, slowly and surely, the life of someone who had literally lost everything.  

He is just one example of the transformative work that we are seeing God do in each one of the students.  It definitely doesn't come without challenges, but with each challenge we have seen the students respond to God's work in their lives.  This doesn't even mention the work that God continues to do in our own lives as well!  I have finished my first section of teaching on Spiritual Disciplines - in a couple of weeks I'll begin a course on the topic of Grace and how to live in environments of grace where others can grow in maturity.  Meanwhile we continue to see God's patient work in each one's lives.  Sometimes I want to see things change faster, but then I just need to take a look in the mirror and see how slowly (but surely) God's work has been in my own life - and continues to be!  One of the first verses we look at in Spiritual Disciplines is Psalm 1:2-3, where growth, anchored in faithful meditation on God's law, is like a tree - slow, even excruciatingly slow growth! But a tree is not easily uprooted.  Thank God for His patient but sure work in each one of us!  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Covid, Classes, and Cambios (Changes)

 Every year brings with it something new, something unexpected.  After ten years here at CEC, that has been the one constant!  As a scheduler, it can be frustrating - but I suppose something needs to keep me up at 3am from time to time!  In reality, though, as the years have progressed, expecting the unexpected takes the edge off.  More than anything else, though, knowing that God works out His plan even when they aren't according to our plans brings ultimate rest.

While this year's plans have already been derailed, we are still encouraged with this coming school season.  Perhaps I need to explain a little...  Yesterday was supposed to be our first day of classes, but as you can probably already guess, our plans have changed.  A week ago several of us staff members tested positive with Covid - nothing serious, mind you, just the typical strain that seems to be making its round now more as a bad cold.  As it turned out, several of the other staff members have also developed symptoms and so we decided it would be best to hold off on week before we bring our students on site to begin another school year.  Fortunately all were able to readjust their arrivals to accommodate this change.  In reality, this has given us all a chance to breath a little deeper, catch our breath and be ready, Lord willing, for CEC's 2022 class.

We have eight students lined up, with another one or two possibilities.  We are excited as well about a number of students wanting to return for our second year.  While last week served as a had a chance to catch my breath being confined to my house, I had some opportunity to prep some of my classes, going over past material and re-envision how to stimulate the students in growth.  The first weeks I'll have the chance of working through Spiritual Disciplines with them - pray with me as we explore these themes together in way that, I hope, encourages them in their own relationships with God and with each other.

Fortunately I am doing much better - a few of our staff are still battling some cold-like symptoms.  Please pray for us as a staff that we will be healthy and ready to go by this weekend.  In one sense, it is a blessing to have this behind us before school begins.  Please continue to pray for our students - already having been in contact with them we can see their desire to learn, hearing some of how God has already been at work in their lives to this point.  This year already feels like we will need an extra spirit of flexibility - not always the easiest thing for a scheduler - but I know it will be a good year.  Thanks for your continued prayers!  ¡Dios les bendiga!

¡Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo!

Between posadas (Mexican Christmas parties...), services, homework, planning & preparation, the time has flown by and we're almost into the New Year - it's hard to believe!  Three weeks and counting (down) until our first day of classes for CEC 2022 begins (my fingers accidentally typed "2021....").  I owe you all a bit of an update as it has been a while since the last one.  I was hoping to be able to do this in person (for those of you in Manitoba) but it didn't work out - in hindsight, it would have been difficult even if I had been able to get out there.

Last time I had written, we were anticipating a reduced session of Consiervos, the missionary training course that was to take place during November.  Unfortunately, for various circumstances we weren't able to move forward with it this year, but in its place we were able to spend a couple of weeks together with some of the leadership spending extended time in prayer, planning, and refining the program's vision for the future.  Our hopes and prayers is that it will be able to run this coming year in May, following CEC's training program.

This, however, has allowed me to focus on my online studies through Briercrest.  I was able to take in three courses this past year and just finished up a final paper on Romans 12:1-2 on the importance of the mind in the process of transformation.  If I could boil it down to one sentence it would be the following: Knowing who God is, and who we are in Christ is the key to living in a new way.  While we often focus on what we should do, we forget that the power of living in a new way comes from what God has done and continues to do in us.  Having grown up in a Christian setting, these are things I know - sometimes the challenge is to deeply rest in and live out of these truths, these "new realities" for us as believers.

With only 19 days to go till classes start we are confirming students, putting the final touches on the teaching schedule, and looking forward to another season of CEC.  Thankfully, the atmosphere in Mexico, while taking precautions, still allows for flexibility to continue with another session of classes - we are very grateful that classes have not been interrupted since they were first cancelled in 2019.  We have four applications in, another several on the way, and others who will likely wait until the last minute (keeping us on our toes in anticipation!).  I met with a pastor a couple of weeks ago who had heard about CEC from one of our alumni from last year.  He was someone who "found" himself pastoring; by "found" himself, I mean that he responded to God's call on his life beginning a small church plant.  Not having had any training, he heard about CEC and came to see what it was all about.  As he talked about what he was looking for, biblical training, tools for ministry, growth in his relationship with God, it was as though he was already describing the program.  He left excited to come, whether this year or the next.  As it turns out, he will likely be sending one of the leaders of his church with the hopes that he will be able to come the following year.

We are also looking forward to offering the 2nd year program, with a strong interest on the part of a number of our past students.  In all honesty, as I'm putting together our schedule, I'm already feeling the weight of it, not just the extra organization that it will entail, but also in light of how we are missing two staff members from last year, both Jose Luis (who passed away last March) and his wife Chayo (who has decided not to return on as staff).  They have been an integral part of the CEC leadership, not only as teachers but as mentors, coworkers - as members of the CEC family for a number of years now.  The one thing I'm realizing, though, as every year has demonstrated, change is the only constant!  It's not a matter of if there will be big changes, it's just a matter of what they will look like.  And usually they are of a kind and magnitude never expected.  It seems that change is the norm!  (By the way, I don't like change!).  Yet, every year, whatever the unforeseen circumstances have been, they have worked out for good and helped us to remember to place our confidence always in God.

Thanks, again, for your continued prayers and support.  As another year approaches it is easy to get overwhelmed by all that still needs to happen, how many students there will be, etc., etc.  But at the same time the excitement to experience another season together with a new family of CEC students, watching them grow while also being challenged in the process, (etc., etc.!) is always worth it.  I wish I could have seen many of you in person this year, but I look forward, Lord willing, to the opportunity to do so in the coming year.  God bless each one of you this Christmas and New Years seasons!  ¡Dios les bendiga!