Our View Of Church And Missions

This may sound critical, but here goes.

(Actually, since reading this a few more times, it does start off sounding critical. Please read past that vibe and understand the heart of the issue.)

A few years ago, I heard a senior pastor say to another senior pastor regarding short term missions:“Where is it really happening? We want our kids to go and have a great experience”.

I understand the sentiment behind those statements. The pastor who was asking wanted his High School kids to go to a foreign mission field and have a life changing experience. He wanted them to go somewhere where God was obviously moving, and where the power of the Gospel could be clearly (and quickly) seen. I assume that that was what he meant. By the way, this pastor is a great guy, and very gifted and “successful” as a senior pastor. I could have totally misunderstood his heart.

And yet, his question struck me as sounding very wrong.

Reaching The One

Las Sierras de San Francisco

Matthew 18:12-14 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

The Bible says that “there is no temptation except that which is common to man”.  (1 Corinthians 10:13) My interpretation of that is this: we all struggle with the same basic issues.  The details may be different, but the root issues are the same.

One of the things that we struggle with is self worth. Is my life making a difference?

Let me share with you how the Lord ministered to me through this verse during my time in Baja Sur.  A little background information is needed.

Mexico Missions In Review

So far this year, I have spent nearly five weeks in South Baja, Mexico. After our Leadership Conference in October, it will be six weeks.

I hope to take the next few days to share in detail, but here are some initial thoughts.

Mas Mexico

Hola,

We are heading back to Mexico today (August 2) and will return August 9.  About 14 of us from Cornerstone Napa will be co-laboring with 15 hermanos y hermanas from Calvary Chapel of San Quinitin, Baja Norte.  CCSQ is bringing their youth worship team to share music, while us Gringos do food, VBS, and other kid related ministries.

Basilio Nunez is the pastor of CCSQ.  20 years ago we took a pastoral training class together at CC West Covina, Raul Ries’ old location.  The Lord knew that we would connect in 2008, and here we are, working together.  The Body Of Christ working together is a beautiful thing.

We will be doing three outreaches along the Pacific Coast in north Baja Sur, and co-laboring with local, Bible teaching churches. I will also be teaching the Sunday morning service at CCSQ on August 3.

We appreciate your prayers.  I’ll post updates if I am able, but things are a lot more primitive in the fisihing villages along the Pacific, so there might not be internet access.  We’ll see.  (Vamos a ver).

Until then, blessings and love in Jesus,

Bill

A quote to consider, from the late Jim Elliot.

“He is no fool to give up that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose”.

Baja Wrap-Up, Kind Of…

How To Greet A Yellowtail

Hi friends,

Debbie and I arrived home safely Monday night about 11 p.m.  Since then I have been going non stop.  Somebody puh-leeze call the wam-bulance. 

Our time in Baja was great. I was able to teach Romans 1-8 in the AViD program, and also teach the first 23 chapters of Passion And Purity, by Elisabeth Elliot.  The book has 43 chapters.  I highly recommend that every Christian read this book.  I wish I would have read it years ago.  It is a very well written book about sexual purity, but also speaks of the sanctity and the rightness of God given passion.  The book does get a bit more “transparent” in the later chapters.  Elisabeth shares the letters she received from Jim Elliot, and he describes his desire for her.

Baja Update, July 26

Hey folks,

It has been a few days…

The first few days after my last post were pretty much business as usual. Worship, student led devotions, studies in Romans and “Passion & Purity.”  Wednesday night service at CC Vizcaino.  I shared out of Ephesians 1.  The students once again taught the local kids.

On the 24, (Thursday), after morning devotions and a lively discussion of Passion And Purity,  we headed up into the mountains of the Sierras, and visited San Franciso de Las Sierras.  It is about as different from S.F. California as you could imagine!

Baja Update, July 22

Hi Folks,

Another good evening last night.  I taught Romans 2, and we had a good discussion.

This morning, Romans 3 was a little tougher.  The Apostle Paul wrote and aimed high by the leading of the Spirit, and my obvious lack of apostolic gifting and insights were evident.  :(  I’ve taught Romans three or four times before, but it all seemed new this morning.  We got through it, and nobody backslid, that I know of anyway.

Baja Update, July 21

Buenas tardes,

We have had a good day today.  Actually, a great day, in my opinion.

This morning we had morning devotions out of Matthew 13.  The students are reading through Matthew, and journaling.  They then gather together for worship, and for sharing about how the Lord is speaking to them out of Matthew.  Some really good stuff comes out of those times, as the kids share their hearts.

Baja Update, July 19

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update.  We returned today from San Juanico.  It is a small fishing village on the Pacific Coast, around 1000 habitantes.  Many are transplanted Americans.  We went down to visit Pastor Angel, who has a small house study there.

We left yesterday morning and met Angel in San Ignacio, about 45 minutes sotuh of Vizcaino.  From there, it was a 4 1/2 hour drive on dirt roads.  Tacho´s 4X4 came in very handy.  We shared a meal and had a study with his group, one of whom is a transplanted American from Orange County.

Baja Update, July 17

Hi folks,

Debbie and I arrived safely in Vizcaino this afternoon.  We visited Pastor Basilio Nuñez last night in San Quintin.  He pastors a local Calvary Chapel there.  We attended his chuch service and then spent time with his faimly, and spent the night in San Quintin.

AViD is going well, though some kids have been sick.  Nothing serious, just the expected tummy distress and all that goes with that.

On a bit more serious note, Pastor Jeff Stewart needed to return to Pomona today.  Jeff had a kidney transplant recently, and his body is weakened.  He was able to spend three days with the kids, but got sick (tummy stuff), and thought it best to return home. One of the missionary guys from Pomona drove Jeff home.  It turns out to be a good thing that we came early.  I might fill in a bit for Jeff.

Tomorrow we meet Angel, a pastor from San Juanico.  He will meet us in San Ignacio, and then lead us (backroads) to his pueblo.  It is a four hour dirt road drive.  Can you say ¨”woo-hoo”?  Such is ministry in Baja. 

The tummy stuff can actually be a real pain.  Different critters live down here, and our poor American GI tracts get attacked sometimes.  Please pray for health for all down here, and also for adjustments because of Jeff´s absence. 

I´ll keep you all updated as I am able.

Blessings…Bill