Updates & News
Missions Ministries News
Dear Missions Ministries Family and Friends,
God has been very busy in the colonias of Juarez and we are very grateful.
Sleeping Bag Drive
Many of you were an important part of our effort to gather sleeping bags and blankets for desperate colonia residents. You made the drive a big success. And, because of your generosity and hard work more than 1,000 sleeping bags and blankets were gathered in just six days. Our Missions Ministries family is a creative and energetic group.
- Flyers were distributed in neighborhoods inviting folks to "just drop them on our driveway".
- Emails went out by the hundreds.
- Students got the word out to their classmates and the sleeping bags rolled out of basements and into the colonias of Juarez.
- With only one Sunday morning, church leaders motivated their congregations, and sleeping bags showed up all afternoon into the next week.
- As a bonus many bags of warm clothes and coats were donated.
We are confident many deaths from hypothermia have been averted. The other significant benefit was the pastors and lay leaders of our partner churches experiencing the joy of giving from their abundance to the poorest families of the colonias. As most of you know colonia families live just above the level of homelessness in pallet houses that offer little protection from the elements. According to the pastors, those who received the warm bedding were awestruck anyone would seek them out to give such needed gifts. Receiving unsolicited gifts is not a part of their culture of poverty. And, what is really exciting is the first gift many of these people ever received was a gift given in Jesus' name.
The picture is of our warm hearted brothers and sisters distributing gifts of warmth. To God be the glory!
Recent Teams
Two different men's teams from Denver, some of whom had recently been down with other teams, simply said... "We need to build more houses, let's do it!" Cary Cantonwine and Billy Piranian's team built two houses and had a super men's devotional program, morning and evening. Interestingly, no one complained about the long periods of time spent in God's Word and the short hours spent sleeping. Hayden French and his 13 man team came down and built a house, turnkey, in one day. Not only that, they brought some members of the Colorado Rockies. So for you Northern California Missions Ministries team members, the Rockies have thrown down the gauntlet for the San Francisco Giants.
Medical Teams
In the last six months six medical teams have been down. The teams came from Waterstone Community Church in Littleton Colorado, from Discovery Bible Church in Oklahoma, from Quinn Anderson's open Denver team, from Menlo Park Presbyterian (2 teams) in California and from Cindy Alexander's open Denver team. Their non medical team members built homes while the health care providers met the needs of hundreds of patients. Eye care was also featured in one of the teams. This month child after child was treated for respiratory and ear infections.
One very critical need is that of "Baby Itzel". Her feet and ankles are severely malformed and without help she would have become one of the throw away children of Juarez. But as Dr. Mike examined the infant he said,"Is someone praying for this child?" Many were praying. Our administrative and transportation manager, Jesus, secured the services of a local surgical group who have waived their professional fee. The hospital expenses will amount to a total of $1,100. We are raising these funds. If any of you would like to help with these expenses indicate on your check or online donation, "baby feet".
Security
Read the current security update.
I know this issue lingers on the minds of many Missions Ministries family members. I have two very important notes to make on this subject.
- February 8, the Denver Post, ran the headline, "Despite drug war, Mexico getting safer." They reported, "Mexico's homicide rate has fallen from a high in 1997 of 17 per 100,000 people to 14 per 100,000 in 2009. By comparison Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have homicide rates of between 40 and 60 per 100,000 people, according to recent government statistics." The AP story noted that Mexico City is roughly the same as L.A. and "is less than a third of that for Washington, D.C." El Salvador and Guatemala are in the 60 per 100,000 range.
However, based on population estimates, Juarez is in the 125 homicides per 100,000 category. Personally, I have become convinced that this evil will not be defeated without God's supernatural intervention through His people. - At year end I spent much time praying and asking God, "What is our attitude and direction to be in this situation?" Our long time friends from Discovery Bible Church contributed the seed for our new vision. They suggested Missions Ministries embark on "2010, The Year of Evangelism".
What about the inherent risk? In the Book of Acts Paul never left a mission field unless it became unresponsive to his message. Risk was not the issue. Young David did not avoid, minimize or dodge Goliath; he picked up God's chosen and proven weapons and ran straight at the giant.. Juarez is only a city like Nineveh. The city repented, even through an unwilling prophet.
Vision for 2010
So we are embracing the opportunity provided by the most violent city in the world. By faith, we can help our brothers and sisters there bring:
- renewal and revival among believers
- awakening among unbelievers
- the transformation of a city
Of course this is the sovereign work of God and as believers we prepare by meeting His conditions of confessing and repenting of all known sin, seeking unity within the Body of Christ, engaging in extraordinary prayer, reaching out through the work of evangelism and acting obediently to His momentary direction.
Our entire staff, our Mexican pastors, other pastors and Christian Leaders in Juarez, our board, and an increasing number of MM alumni are trusting God for such a movement of the Spirit. We will continue seeking His wisdom and as young David did... run toward the enemy, going unreservedly on the offense in the power of the Holy Spirit. He promised "... if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." And He promised "...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
So this year and in those to come, may He bring Himself great glory as He awakens his people, defeats His enemies and transforms a city.
Yours for Juarez Transformation,
