Noticias de Avance Mexico

One of LAM's longest running summer programs begins today. Please keep the participants and ministries they serve in your prayers. Thanks!

Avance Summer Program Begins Wednesday, June 5th El programa de Avance Internacional empieza miercoles, 5 de junio. Pray with us for this summer's leadership team and for all the new Avance participants that they can abide in Jesus and minister out of dependence on Him this summer (John 15).  Oren con nosotros para el equipo de liderazgo de este verano y por todos los nuevos participantes de Avance.  Oren que permanezcan en Jesus y que ministren dependiendo de El este verano (Juan 15). June 5, 2013 5 Leadership Training 2013 FOLLOW ON TWITTER FRIEND ON FACEBOOK FORWARD TO A FRIEND

The Church: Venezuela and At Home

A small sector of the US is keeping a close eye on developments in Venezuela once again as tensions rise. (See: International Crisis Group : Venezuela: A House Divided )

However, as with any crisis, be that current or throughout history, the secular minded can only touch on a small portion of reality.  There is no understanding of a limited ability to see or know in part, especially in light of God’s eternal Kingdom, rule and purpose. As Paul puts it: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away… For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." I Cor 13. 

In having the privilege to interact with Christian institutions and missionaries in Venezuela, I see how the current situation requires them to solidly ground their labor and daily activities in faith, not knowing what the next 24 hrs. will hold for them or the ministry they dedicate their lives to.  I also see the Church working to maintain a kingdom perspective when political lines threaten to bring division, something not so removed from our own country (wherever you may be).

The following is an excerpt from a newsletter from Venezuela which will remain anonymous for obvious reasons:  

“After the April 14th elections, I have procrastinated in writing this letter simply because I don’t know how to describe the situation in Venezuela without seeming to represent one side or the other in this deeply divided nation. The truth is that we have people from both sides [involved in ministry]. The Body of Christ here in Venezuela to some degree at this moment reflects the same kind of polarization that we see in society here in general.  I’ve decided to paraphrase for you a prayer request written by a [member of our ministry] and placed on our prayer list at [the ministry]. I think it summarizes well how we should be praying for the Venezuelan Church. It also summarizes well what we should be doing as the Body of Christ here: 

'May each Christian assume the role that is really his or hers in Christ , being part of the solution and not part of the problem in which this nation finds itself, carrying the word of faith, promise and salvation to disoriented and troubled people.' ”

Please pray for the Church in Venezuela and for those who labor to care for and train believers under increasingly difficult circumstances (once again). Likewise, take time to pray for your own country and that the Church would remain united in the Gospel, relying on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we wrestle through application and being the Body of Christ to a world in desperate need.

Along these lines I want to include a quote that a friend pulled up last week which encouraged me to keep my priorities clear and my understanding sharp with regards to “the Body of Christ”.

"Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. God hates this wishful dreaming because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. Those who dream of this idolized community demand that it be fulfilled by God, by others and by themselves. They enter the community of Christians with their demands set up by their own law, and judge one another and God accordingly. It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. Whoever is mindful to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it, for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it. We must confess he builds. We must proclaim, he builds. We must pray to him, and he will build. We do not know his plan. We cannot see whether he is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are the times of collapse are for him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point are great times for the church are times when it's pulled down. It is a great comfort which Jesus gives to his church. You confess, preach, bear witness to me, and I alone will build where it pleases me. Do not meddle in what is not your providence. Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough.... Live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts.”  (Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Life Together)

God bless!

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

Latin America Mission

Director, North American Partnerships

Office: 305-884-8400 x225

Mission Partnership info

I love my wife! 

She sent me this encouraging e-mail this AM. 

From: Claudia

Subject: Encouragement

Date: May 1, 2013 11:51:23 AM EDT

To: Kevin Abegg

Commentary:

Do you...feel weak and timid?...or do you doubt whether God has heard you, because you are a sinner? then cling to the word and say: Though I am a sinner and unworthy, yet I have the command of God, that tells me to pray, and his promise that he will graciously hear me, not because of my worthiness, but for the sake of the Lord Christ. By this means you can drive away the thoughts and doubts, and cheerfully kneel down and pray, not regarding your worthiness or unworthiness, but your need and his word upon which he tells you to build; especially since he has placed before you and put into your mouth the words how and what you are to pray for, so that you joyously send up these prayers through him, and can lay them in his bosom, that he may lay them by his own worthiness before the Father.... The Lord's Prayer is...as has often been said, surely the very best prayer that was ever uttered upon earth, or that any one could conceive, since God the Father gave it through his Son, and laid it upon his lips; so that we dare not doubt that it is extremely pleasing to him. He admonishes us at the very beginning, both concerning his command and his promise, in the word: "Our Father," etc., as the one who demands from us this honor, that we are to ask from him, as a child from its father, and he wants us to have the confidence that he will gladly give us what we need; and this is further also a part of it, that we glory in being his children through Christ; and thus we come in accordance with his command and promise, and in the name of the Lord Christ, and appear before him with all confidence.

By Marthin Luther

The Truth About the War

Honduras;

Most in in the US don't follow the news on this small Central American country. I've had the privilege of visiting Honduras two times over the past few years, and it is one of a few places I would love to explore with Claudia and the boys when we have the opportunity. Unfortunately though, Honduras has the dubious reputation of being the most violent country in the Americas as of late, even surpassing Mexico where so many fear to go (yet we as a family spent an amazing two weeks in November and highly recommend despite its reputation in the news. See earlier previous blogs). Honduras has some major problems as you can see in recent news reports. But what these reports don't share is what God is doing in the midst of suffering and perceived chaos. As Paul Harvy used to say...and now the rest of the story.

Do you may remember Heather Braden? She worked as my assistant for a while about two years ago before her assignment to Honduras. She currently serves with Iglesia Gran Comission's Centro de Desarrollo Infantil (Children's Development Center) in La Ceiba, Honduras. Here she serves the children and their impoverished families, caring for them in mind, body and spirit. In the past year alone the Lord has walked them through numerous deaths, kidnappings and murder as Heather, the ministry and the church remain lights in the surrounding darkness. Please pray for Heather, her recent husband Rigo and the ministry of CDI. You can read more about her in her blog.

Lauren Zuber recently deployed to Siguatepeque, Honduras. I had the pleasure of working with her on her doctrinal and missional understanding in preparation for deployment. Here's an excerpt from her most recent news letter:

Imagine riding in the back of a pick up truck, with the sunshine on your face, the town of Siguatepeque stretched out before you and children in your arms. Yes. That’s my Sunday morning commute to church. I’ve been visiting different local churches and looking for a place that I can be involved. For the past 3 Sundays, I’ve been attending the Iglesia de Nazareno church that meets up in the mountains and the majority of the congregation is children.  This church ministers to a total of 200 kids and being able to worship and dance with them on Sundays has been a blessing. I’m looking forward to many more bumpy truck rides in the future to this wonderful church.

Some days I still wake up and think, “I can’t believe this is my life.” I can’t believe I get to teach these awesome, crazy kids every day and soak in warm sunshine. Some days I wake up and I can’t believe I’ve left my comfortable life and family and friends behind for this scary, frustrating process of figuring out life and people in a new place. But both kinds of days end with God reminding me that He hasn’t changed and he’s still with me.  Baby steps!  Thank you for being a part of this proud teacher’s 5^th/6^th grade classroom. -Much love, Lauren

Lauren also includes some sobering facts reguading Honduras that she found in Operation World (a must have for any missions minded person):

More than half of Honduras' population are children, the majority living in poverty. Destitution drives them to desperate measures:

•  Illegal migration: Thousands of children attempt to cross to the USA to find family members working there.  Usually they end up incarcerated in Guatemala or Mexico.
• Pepenadores or garbage dump children are more prevalent in Honduras than in any nation in the Americas
• Vice and Crime.
• Street children, numbering in the thousands are often exterminated as a nuisance by ruthless groups in the name of social cleansing.

The Allens are another family that I had the privilege to assist in deploying a few yeas back. They serve  with Iglesia El Camino de la Vida and three church plants in rural areas outside the Honduran capital city of Tegucigalpa. Matthew helps in the development of a Biblical training programs for pastors, as well as teaching and discipleship of men in these churches. You can read more about what the Allen's are doing in their blog. 

These ambassadors of God's Kingdom only scratch the surface of what God is doing in Honduras, not to mention throughout Latin America and around the globe. So what's my point? The world will attempt to make us believe that the enemy is winning and that God, His Kingdom and His Word are not only irrelevant but have lost the battle. Similar tactics have been used in human wars since the dawn of time in spreading rumors and false data to the enemy concerning the status of the war in order to demoralize enemy troops.  The truth is, yes, there is an ongoing battle. Yes, there are casualties, pain and suffering, but the end is secure, and if we look...if we pay attention, we will see the truth of what Jesus proclaimed two centuries ago:

"...upon this rock I WILL build my church, and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it..."   -Matthew 16 

Don't give way to discouragement but look for what God is doing and spread the truth about the Good news..!

Please pray for more workers to send into the field. Please pray for us at LAM's home office to manage well what the Lord has placed before us. Please pray for the Abegg family as we continue to follow God's lead in all he has called us to.

Thank you for your encouragement and support, you are a vital part of this team and Kingdom effort.

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

Easy Online Giving at:    http://www.lam.org/missionaries/abegg

Latin America Mission

Director, North American Alliances

Office: 305-884-8400 x225

Missions Partnership links

Printable Form to mail a check: Link

Prayer Request for Family

There is so much to catch up on in this amazingly busy season, but right now I need to ask our friends and supporters to once again be lifting the Abegg family up in prayer.

Its been over a year since I had to make my emergency trip to CA and bring my dad back to Miami, (see blog entries: "Peace Within the Whirlwind" and "I Meant Whirlpool, not Whirlwind").  Since then he's moved into an assisted living home, had spinal and then shoulder replacement surgery and written what amounts to a novel on his childhood and young adult experiences. But this last month has brought even greater challenges in his being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Obviously this is hard on the entire family and Claudia and I have been assisting in any way we can from afar. He will be undergoing "Whipple Procedure" surgery next Wed (3/20) at the Kaiser facility in Antioch. I will be traveling out before the surgery to assist with various needs and arrangements and staying for at least a few days afterwards for the same reason.

Grandma, Grandpa, Jeremy & Nico in San Fran.

Please keep my dad, Bob Abegg in your prayers for physical healing, mental and emotional strength and overall faith that God is working in the midst of this painful situation. He is a faith filled man, and trusts the Lord, but fear on many levels is an ever present thing. 

Please keep my mom, Bitta Abegg in your prayers as she wrestles with all the "what if's" and other emotions that come along. Intercede for her health and stability in the midst of this trial and for wisdom on my part as I seek to care for, encourage and guide her through this and into decisions that must be made for the future. 

Please keep my sister Lana and her family, as well as Claudia and our boys Jeremy and Nico in your prayers, especially as I travel. Grandpa is a "hero" to all, and it is scary to see your hero in such a weakened state.

Thank you for your constant encouragement and support. I will provide updates as I am able.

Oh yeah, and a Happy Valentines day to all. I am so blessed to have Claudia as my valentine and to receive her love and support as we walk through this. She and our whole family send love to each of you on this day.

God bless!

Kevin (for the family)

“You ARE the salt of the earth… You ARE the light of the world…”

Salt and Light… Mat 5:13-16

Jesus didn’t just command his followers to be preservers of a decaying world and light in dark places. He told them: “You ARE salt and light.”  The act of living life as a dedicated disciple of Christ is synonymous with the bringing of light and healing to those in darkness and decay.

Recently I had the privilege of serving as a juror on a court case that lasted an entire week. It was an insurance fraud ring here in South Florida (insurance fraud capitol to the country) and I was confronted with many who are in desperate need of light and healing in their lives. Witness after witness testified before the jury, but more than a testimony against a defendant I saw individuals who’s lives were absolute train wrecks without hope for anything better, surrounded by others who had similarly run their lives into the ground and were now at the mercy of the court. The need, anger and depravity were staggering… and these were the witnesses, NOT the defendant! Yet as I look around me each day I find I don’t have to be in a courthouse, or have to look very far, to find those in need of hope and healing, the very thing we are called to be.

As I work with churches, ministries and missionaries through Latin America Mission, hardly a day goes by that I’m not impacted with the brokenness caused by the very sin that we are to confront as part of God’s progressing plan for this world. LAM missionaries, and the ministries we work alongside of are pushing back the darkness where it lurks be that in drug addictions, poverty, sex trafficking, broken homes and even false teachings masquerading as hope but only resulting in deeper enslavement of those who are tempted in.

Sometimes though it’s the very carriers of salt and light that need the healing. Sin takes advantage of, and destroys whomever it can.  It’s when the consequences of sin directly or indirectly touch those who are salt and light that I am particularly thankful for Christ’s incarnate body, the Church. The groups of people throughout the world dedicated toward lifting one another up, encouraging one another on and mending each other’s wounds even as they themselves receive healing. 

This very week I’ve had the privilege of assisting missionaries with desperately ill children, losses in their family, financial disasters and pressures that seem overwhelming. Yet in EVERY case I see partner churches in Latin America, or sending and supporting churches in the US that are able to come alongside and be healing salt life giving light where these servants of God need it most.

Please pray for me and the rest of LAM’s staff as we seek to provide the support and connections to our missionaries in times of victory but especially in times of suffering.

Please pray for the Abegg family and consider joining our support team as our missionary account with  LAM has become a significant issue.  Your prayers and financial gifts are multiplied many fold in that they touch each and every missionary and ministry we are able to serve and care for. 

Easy Online Giving at:    http://www.lam.org/missionaries/abegg

Printable Form to mail a check: Link

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

Latin America Mission

Director, North American Alliances

Office: 305-884-8400 x225

Missions Partnership links