Mexican Leadership

After our time in Cuernavaca, Paul Dowell and I were blessed to be with a group of about 30 servant leaders from four different congregations in Mexico City for a Leader’s Retreat. We were asked to lead them through a process of recapturing their vision for the city, evaluating what God is currently doing among them and set plans in place to join God in His future for the kingdom in one of the largest cities in the world. 

Paul led the group in discovery through the story of Nehemiah. We were overwhelmed with how Nehemiah’s story spoke so clearly into the current story of the Mexican churches. We joined Nehemiah in prayer and confession. We were motivated to take steps of faith through Nehemiah’s example. His exploration of the fallen wall around Jerusalem became our honest evaluation of the current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat we see in the churches in Mexico City. I was impressed with the vision and boldness of these servant leaders as they committed to specific steps of faith to join God in His work. Nehemiah even reminded us that there will be opposition and attacks from Satan from within and without. However these brothers and sisters have proven through their faithful lives that all that is required is faith in God and perseverance in the journey. I am excited to see how God will work through these four congregations together with strong partner relationships to expand the kingdom of God in the great city of Mexico.

Cuernavaca Missions

I have been behind on my blog posts and sharing about God’s work through those of us at Missions Resource Network www.mrnet.org.  The 4th of October, I was blessed to travel with Paul Dowell, the Dean of Missions at Sunset International Bible Institute and Missions Minister at the Sunset Church in Lubbock. We traveled to Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Mexico. We were able to spend three days in Cuernavaca with two mission teams working in that city. Doug and Sandy Holcomb, Ben and Karen Jenkins and Zack Williams form a mission team that has been at work for many years and involved in planting two churches in the city. We spent time listening, praying and sharing with these missionaries to encourage and help them move forward in their mission. One of the major items that came to the surface in our time with these servants was the need to equip the members for their work in God’s kingdom. It is so easy for all of us in missions to lose sight of our primary role, that of equipping others for their work of service (Ephesians 4:11ff). I look forward to seeing how the Holcomb and Jenkins families along with Zack put a major priority on equipping and empowering their brothers and sister in Cuernavaca to lead the work in that city.

Paul and I were also able to spend time with a new team in the midst of language and cultural adjustment in Cuernavaca in preparation for their own mission. We spend individual time with the Reyes, Garcia and Sims families. They have only been in Mexico for 4 months. I was impressed with the way they have settled in  and given themselves to language and cultural preparation. They have taken significant steps in building relationships with the Mexican people both in the church and in the community. They will be spending 8 more months in Cuernavaca before they launch off into a new church plant in another city or another part of Cuernavaca. Pray for their growth and wisdom for their future plans.

I was again encouraged to see God as work through His people to spread His good news. It reminded me of God’s promise to Israel and its application to His work today.

“I will send some of those who survive to the nations…an to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.” Isaiah 66:19

 

 

More Than His Father’s Son

Ryan, my son is working in Prato, Italy as an apprentice missionary in the Adventures in Missions program (www.aimsunset.org). The other day we were exchanging emails. I had sent to all my family my busy travel schedule for October. Ryan has a trip coming up to Scotland. We asked him to send us his travel schedule. The email that contained his travel schedule began with this phrase, “I am my father’s son…” In reality he was poking fun at me for sharing my travels with everyone. 

Today, I read a blog post from Ryan and I have to admit he is much more than His father’s son. He has insight that I am certain I did not have at 21 years of age. I am  proud of how I see God at work in my children’s life. Meagan, who is in her 3rd year of Medical School was visiting this weekend and spoke of surgical procedures and diagnosis that I couldn’t even pronounce correctly. Ryan has a depth of insight into truth and Scripture that encourage me. I have am encouraged and instructed by the examples of my children. Check out Ryan’s blog at…

http://ryandouglasjarboe.posterous.com/character-flaws

México Lindo y Querido

Please be praying for my trip this week to Mexico. I will be leaving at noon today. Paul Dowell, the Dean of Missions at Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, Texas and I will be traveling together. We will be working with the teams in Cuernavaca, Mexico Monday through Wednesday. In Mexico City we will be praying, listening and visiting with missionaries and then working with a group of Mexican leaders from several congregations in Mexico City in a weekend retreat. Pray that I will listen well and be attentive to what God is doing through His kingdom in Mexico. I might just find some “tacos al pastor” while I am there. I am still in search of the perfect taco.

“The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective” James 5:16