Summer Visitations I

I spent nearly all the month of July away from the office. In some ways that was wonderful. I love my co-workers, but when your heart is on the mission field, it's hard to connect the dots between e-mails, phone call and strategic planning meetings to how the Gospel is being spread in Central and South America. As I covered ground from Miami to Southern California to Tijuana to Mexico City then back up North I had the best of intentions to update our supporters while traveling, yet I find myself back at my desk and having worked right up to Friday afternoon without having carved out the time to "tweet" or even "peep", so this will be more of an end of the week "grunt" in anticipation of more "meat" next week.

One of my stops was Mexico City. LAM's president Steve Johnson, along with our Ministries Department coordinator Marcos Guerra and I met with the Staff of "Spearhead", LAM's traditional summer/year out/two year out short term program that functions more as in depth missionary training. See: http://www.spearhead.org. We had a number of long days discussing the situation as well as the "perceived" situation in Mexico, various structural and leadership changes and how we can improve and possibly export what is already an amazing program. It's times like these that give perspective to the work that goes on in the office. Spending time with those we serve logistically, spiritually and in other ways reminds me of how exciting my work is as we work to be a healthy link between the North American Church and the Latin Churches and ministries that are caring out the Great Commission. If you'd like to see one of the participant's impressions of Spearhead go to: http://youtu.be/LzI6DxbhZXM

Before I close I just have to show you the room I had while in Mexico, it was very ...vivid!

Strategic Alliances for Global Missions

Latin America Mission has traditionally (and obviously) focused on "Strategic Alliances" (partnerships) within Latin America (not rocket science given our name). However, as many of the ministries we work with (some for nearly 100 years) have moved from inception on to maturity, what it means to partner with them has obviously grown and changed as well, giving way to a much more global understanding and practice of fulfilling the Great Commission.

What do I mean by this? Well, most people are aware of the Gospel need within the "10/40 window" (primarily countries located within the latitudes of 10 degrees North and 40 degrees North). Many of these countries also happen to be at odds with the U.S. and by default US citizens, making it more than difficult for those with a US passport to minister there, but not so for Latin Americans who are for the most part received and welcomed. A "Global" approach to missions understands the need for a new type of partnership that shares in giftings, resources, networks and abilities that can enable those most equipped for the front lines to be on the front lines. Hence a Latin Missions Movement. Those who were previously on the receiving end of missions are increasingly able to be senders, but re-inventing the wheel would be counter productive. Hence, a new type of "Strategic Alliance" between N. America, the Latin Church and into the rest of the world. But more on this later, there are potential pitfalls. For now, I want to simply introduce you to "partners to our partners" or ministries that our partners are working with and through, If nothing else, for now its a great, immediate resource to those who are prayer warriors:

Libya needs prayer, if your so inclined please check out: http://www.pray4libya.net/ . This has been set up as a gathering point for prayer requests for a country, and a people desperately in need of God's intervention and our intercession. I encourage you to check it out.

God bless and thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

-Kevin

Generations of God's faithfulness in Costa Rica

While I was in Costa Rica over the past two weeks with LAM’s Ministry Team (yeah, I haven’t been good on sending out updates), Valdir Franca our director of International Partnerships taught from Matthew 1, the genealogy of Jesus. Now that may seem like a difficult text to draw application from, but one of his points was how God works through those who the world would otherwise dismiss. If you read through this text you will come across prostitutes, non Jews (an unthinkable thing at the time) and adulterous relationships. Not exactly the cream of the crop if you’re looking to promote genealogical pride or purity. But Matthew was making a different point. He was showing that God was at work in unlikely ways, though unlikely people in unlikely circumstances.

I was blessed in being able to see God’s hand at work through similarly unlikely people in a story that continues to be written in Costa Rica, branching throughout Latin America and to the rest of the world. Nearly 100 years ago LAM was born in Costa Rica through a series of ministries established by Harry and Susan Strachan. Orphanages, medical clinics, Bible schools and many more. We visited nearly 20 ministries during our time in San Jose and I was continually amazed at what God has done throughout the last century in protecting the Gospel foundations and evangelical heart of these organizations that serve thousands of peoples hearts minds and souls.

LAM missionary Estelita Cevallos is a fiery Ecuadorian that the Lord called to Chaplin at Clinica Biblica (Bible Clinic) when it was a small medical clinic. It’s now a sprawling medical center recognized as one of the 5 most modern hospitals in Latin America and recognized as on par (or surpassing) North American standards. They continue providing affordable service to those who cannot otherwise afford care. This is balanced with the “medical tourists” from around the world to are willing to pay for procedures they cannot afford in their own country.

We spent time with Shellie Rice serving at “Fundacion Rahab” named after the prostitute listed in Jesus genealogy (See Mat 1:5). Here “women at risk” find care, conseling and can obtain marketable skills that provide a long term income and an alternative to prostitution.

We spent time with at Roble Alto which has many branches of it’s own including a school that both provides quality education to children of low income families while counseling and caring for those very families hearts, minds and souls. In this way the children and their families are given an understanding of their value to God and tools to provide for themselves and bless their communities.

At Roble Alto we met up with LAM missionary David Longworth, now working with Glorioso Dia Children's home. David is standing in front of a picture of his mom (as a young woman) working with children at Roble Alto Hogar Biblico. That's generations of faith, commitment and service!

In every case, I was impressed at how a solid, Biblical foundation accompanied by long term faith and work have been richly blessed by the Lord. These ministries did not spring up over night and accomplish something grand, but have developed over time (some of them a century) and generations that have followed Christ's example, seeking God’s glory by "considering others..." (especially those of lesser means, education etc,) "...better than themselves" (see Phillippians 2:3). It gives me hope for the future and a joy in what the Lord has called us to today, knowing that though we may not get to see the fruit of what we’re planting, in God’s time, and under His hands, there will be a harvest.

If you want to learn a little more about LAM’s history, please see: http://www.lam.org/about/history

Servant & Follower of a Tireless Lord

It's good to know that God never tires, gets "moody" or forgets where the car keys are. I've been thinking about that recently and how it's also very good that I'm NOT God. God doesn't have "intentions". He speaks and it's done. In a one week brief auditory lecture God brought everything into being that exists. I can barely create a cup of coffee in the morning without accidentally putting salt into Claudia's cup instead of sugar. (It hasn't happened yet, but I've come dangerously close).

God also has a perfect balance of work and rest (He initiated the idea). I find myself struggling lately to prioritize my work, which just happens to serve missionaries similar to myself as they do what God has called them to do. It is increasingly difficult to balance this work and my time with family, church, home repairs, communication with supporters (hence the amount of time from my last entry) and get some rest in there at some point. Yet in this all God has a perfect balance. A balance which I continue to seek in this life and will fully experience in the next. I don't believe we'll be floating around playing a harp in Heaven. Like Jeremy and Nico, there daddy would be too tempted to shoot Nerf arrows from the harp strings and probably get kicked off my cloud for hitting a Seraphim or something! God designed work pre-sin. Adam and Eve were called to dedicate themselves to caring for the garden, so it would stand to reason that we will do work in the new creation. But this will be fruitful, productive work where every effort undertaken will have the intended, glorified results since sin and its influences will reign no more. A welcome thought as I survey the bunk beds I'm building in my garage...supposedly a Christmas present to the boys.

But enough of my rambling, my point was balance. Balance of work, rest and overall responsibility. I enjoy what I do as work because I get to see many ways the Kingdom of God is advanced not only in Latin America but throughout the world. I have the privilege of working with and assisting ministries that are evangelizing future believers and training present leaders in the Gospel. We also get to partner with ministries in Latin America that are sending Latin Missionaries to countries that a North American simply does not have access to. Places familiar to me like Cuba or unreachable such as many countries in the 10/40 window where someone with a North American Passport simply cannot go. I have the privilege of taking part in a "global partnership" to reach the world with the Gospel, and I love it!!! So that's where the temptation comes in. I love what I do, but in order to honor God (and simply survive) as I do it, I need to embrace His balance for my life. We see in Genesis that God loved what he did in creation proclaiming it "Good" and "Very Good", yet even He rested. What makes me think I cold ever do any different? I desperately need Him to pour into me if I can ever hope to have anything to give to others.

Like I said: "It's good that I'm not God" but it's also good of God to give me Himself as my savior, my hope and my strength, not to mention an example of how to live the very life He gave me.

God bless!
-Kevin

One of our fun Christmas favorites

Ministry Prayer Needs:

Over the past few months it’s been exciting to work with many LAM missionaries and associate ministries as they seek to respond to God’s call. The following are a few items that I would ask you to lift up in prayer:

• I am exploring how to send a pastor working in the US and his family back Panama to continue working with, and ministering to fledgling churches of the Embera tribe (his tribe of birth). This tribe was used as actors in order to portray the Auca tribe of Ecuador involved in the martyrdom of young missionaries including Jim Elliot in the movie End of the Spear. Please pray for wisdom and key partnerships in Panama that will allow this to move forward.
• Since I was blacklisted by the Cuban government a few years back I have continued to encourage our associate ministries throughout Latin America in their own involvement in Cuba. I am excited about the possibility of having someone who has worked on these projects with me in the past return to the MSO next year in order to dedicate themselves full time to these projects. Please pray for this person (name withheld for their security) as they finish up studies, and raise their support. Please pray for me as I renew contacts and lay the groundwork for this ministry, preparing to increase LAM’s involvement in Cuba.
• I’ve had the privilege to assist one of our missionary families working in Brazil recently. We believe the Lord has strategically placed them through their ministry, and LAM through our partnerships to help prepare local churches for the 2014 World Cup Soccer Games and 2016 Olympics that Brazil will be hosting. Brazil has a complicate past in dealing with Children at Risk (street kids) and Women at Risk (primarily prostitutes). LAM works with multiple ministries throughout Latin America, many of which have already expressed interest in working together to not only help minimize the damage and abuse to these groups of people during these events, but to share eternal hope and immediate help with those who know neither of these. Please pray for wisdom for all involved in what will undoubtedly be a massive project incorporating partners from throughout Latin America, North America and around the globe.
• We have various missionaries in transition at this point, some of whom are changing ministries in the same country, others changing countries but with the same ministry focus (children, church planting, Christian camping, Biblical/Theological education, etc), all of whom need assistance from the ministry department in order to re-engage them in serving the Latin Church or reaching the lost with the Good News as quickly as possible. Please pray for the Ministry Department at LAM where I serve as we provide guidance, assistance and in some cases healing to these other missionaries in transition.

Christmas is coming!

Depending on how you look at Christmas this thought can cause debilitating anxiety or overwhelming Joy. This year, my anticipation of Christmas began before Thanksgiving and that’s not just because Christmas items hit the stores in August this year (Costco already had one Christmas isle the last few days of August, “Christmas in July isn’t a joke anymore!). Our church has spent the past few months going through the book of Nehemiah, and I was particularly impacted not only in God’s faithfulness to his many promises including the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, but the preparation that Israel went through in order to celebrate his faithfulness (Giving Thanks) and worship Him as Lord, Savior and Redeemer (See Neh. 12:27-47). Anyone can flippantly say “thanks”, but true, worshipful THANKSGIVING takes not only heart and mind, but physical preparation. Israel literally built tent cities to house all those who were preparing to worship the Lord.

I want to approach Christmas with a similar preparation. Not a running around franticly checking things off my list, but in reflecting on God’s faithfulness. We just celebrated a national Holiday (Holy-Day) dedicated to reflecting on God’s faithfulness and giving Thanks. Is there any other act more worthy of awe and thanksgiving in all of history (make that eternity) than God becoming flesh for the purpose of dying for the sins of His very own creation? In the words of one of my favorite songwriters: “Redemption ripped through the surface of time in the cry of a tiny baby”.

So, even as Claudia does the daily work of homeschooling two high energy boys, as I make phone calls, respond to e-mails and assist missionaries, Latin ministries and US churches, as we go about our daily, sometimes monotonous routines I try to keep the manger, and the cross in the forefront of my mind and give thanks that it’s because of those reality changing acts that there is purpose, beauty and joy (despite circumstances) to the life we’ve been given.

Happy Thanksgiving and a joyous anticipation of Christmas to you!