It is our desire to equip local pastors and elders for their long-term ministry. One of the many ways this is happening is through the special project, Retreats and Resources for Pastors.
It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like! 🙂 When you give to this project (and yes, it is a tax-deductible gift in Canada or the USA), you are providing resources such as Bible study materials, and also help with transportation and fees for retreats for pastors/elders and their wives once a year. Obviously what we can do will depend on the funds available.
This is a project that you can give to as an individual or family, or you can make it a special goal for your Bible study group, church, classroom, etc. For instructions on giving, just go to the donate page, click on your country, and then look for instructions for special projects. But to make it simple, you will be giving through Avant to Project #71969.
Our worship service on the 12th of February was kind of cool – because all three of us were involved! Yes, it happens sometimes.
Music practice, David leading
Shari was leading the kids’ teaching time, with a lesson about Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27:1-46; Romans 9:13). Nathanael grabbed his trusty ukulele and helped with the worship music. And I led the service.
We’re keeping busy, but there are a lot of other people working hard too! We’re still trying to get the “shade” just right, with some new mesh tarps. This Sunday will be attempt #3, but things are improving each week. It’s partly a matter of making things easier to set up, and partly a matter of covering what needs to be covered.
A Sunday morning in February 2023
Last Sunday we had another practical problem, however – we ran out of chairs. Two men rushed out to get some stools so that everyone could sit down under our nice shade.
So… I’ll be buying some more this week. However, finding a place to store them all is becoming a problem. Good problems, but problems.
As God continues to work in our local church, the world, the flesh and the devil attack. So we would appreciate your prayers for people in our church who are struggling with health issues, family problems, and bereavement. It’s a challenging time.
We’re also looking forward to starting up a couple of Bible studies – a general one starting this Friday, and in the near future a new study for the women. Please do pray that people will come and that God’s Word will be applied to their hearts.
When these were delivered, I thought – there must be some mistake. Then, I remembered…
Of course! The cocoons of the giant Mexican Tacomoth! No, just kidding.
You may know that, every Sunday, a faithful few get up early in the morning to put up a series of tarps and tents so we can have our weekly service. There are various tarps over the congregation, all tied up with ropes every Sunday. There’s a tent for all the instruments and the pulpit. And there’s a small tent in the back for the children’s Sunday school class.
After the service, all this needs to come down, be wrapped and tied and folded and put away. There are usually quite a few extra helpers after the service, as everything comes down together, chairs are put away, instruments are put away, and so on.
As thankful as we are for all the hard workers, we’re looking for ways to make things easier.
So, what have we there on the couch? Three new mesh tarps. The plan is to have something in place that not only looks nicer, but is a lot easier to put up and take down. They will let a little more sun through, but still provide shade. No, they will not protect from rain. However, here in Mexico City, that’s really only a problem maybe one or two Sundays a year, and we’ll still have options if we need to rush around at the last minute to provide shelter.
The other improvement we’re hoping for is a little more shaded space for children’s activities. It’s pretty chilly right now, but in a couple of weeks we’ll likely be entering into our hot season, and shade will be all the more important.
So here’s hoping we can be a little more efficient, while still providing space for our disciple-making. We’re also working on some electrical issues, plumbing issues, and some much-needed / urgent – sound system replacement and upgrades.
And if you’re wondering – what about a more permanent solution? Yes, we’re working on that as well! But I’ll keep you in suspense for a while longer as work goes on behind the scenes.
On Saturday four of us left Ixtapaluca at about 5am to attend a meeting of Bible church leaders from the area. I believe about 8 or 9 churches were represented (with three people attending via Zoom, due to a car breakdown and other circumstances).
It was encouraging to spend time together, although concerning at times to hear some of the things that people are going through. These are challenging times, and it’s good to come together as believers and look to the Lord.
We planned – or, I should say, started planning quite a few events for the coming year, including a youth event, a men’s retreat, and a joint service. Everyone is anxious to get together after having fewer activities over the past few years.
In other news, our coworkers Rod and David went to the state of Oaxaca to serve there and see what the Lord is doing. There’s a possibility of sending a team or two there in the future, whether from our area here in Mexico or (and?) from a team from outside the country. I won’t give everything away – there’s more information and a video at Rod’s blog – be sure to check out Reaching an Unreached Ethnic Group.
We’re encouraged to see what God is doing here at home as well. Here’s a recent picture from a Sunday morning, although there were quite a few who weren’t there that day. Nathanael used his growing skills as a photographer (Photography is one of his courses this year) to take the shot (with a timer, obviously!). Just click the image for a higher-resolution version in our photo gallery.
8 January 2023
Thanks to so many of you who also are working with us to reach Mexico!
I’m coming prepared now, somewhat, every Sunday, to discover what last-minute issues we have right before the service.
Yesterday it was mainly a laptop which decided it was time to update itself. It was the laptop we use for PowerPoints. And this Sunday I happened to be using a PowerPoint for my sermon. With the service starting at 11am, I think it was just about 11am when the laptop finally allowed me to check my presentation. 🙂
For the second year in a row we recognized Biblical Sexuality Sermon Sunday, and I preached on 1 Timothy 1:8-11 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, touching on a few other passages as well. We ended with 7 things that these texts give us “hope” for through Christ.
A woman from our church also shared about some of the challenges that our children are dealing with, from interactions with other friends and families and at school.
Even during the service, the unexpected should really be expected. Just as I was starting to preach, loud static suddenly woke us all up – we really need to upgrade our sound system. Thankfully that was fixed quickly (thanks, Ezequiel!).
But during the coffee break, the tent at the front caught the wind and blew over completely! Amazingly it didn’t hit anyone or knock anything over. The keyboard stand did tip, but the keyboard itself landed nicely on the chair behind it.
So for another glimpse into our Sunday mornings, here’s a brief video of the “rebuilding of the tent” (makes me think of Acts 15:16)…
