Monthly Archives: November 2014

A Bright Future Amid Current Darkness

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“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with gratitude, make your requests be known to God” (Phil. 4:6)
 
We have so much to be thankful for, and look forward to, even amid troubles.

We are very thankful for time in Xalapa, Veracruz, this weekend teaching at El Divino Salvador church. We also planned with leaders there to return in February to hold an AMO Apprenticeship for churches in the area. Please, pray for the citizens and institutions in Veracruz as they, like many others in Mexico, struggle against the drug cartels and corruption.

The week before last, we held an AMO Apprenticeship in Villahermosa for 30 church leaders representing 14 churches in Tabasco. Thelma Martinez, a long-time Christian educator commended the course by remarking, “I’ve been to a lot of conferences and trainings, but none like this!” Erik Sanchez said “I learned more in these five days than I have in years!” We were humbled and thankful to God for the biblical principles and for the work that Dr. Elizabeth Youmans has done in preparing such a course.

In addition to the apprenticeship, Francelia and I were able to assist in the start-up of the first two AMO Programs in Villahermosa (see photos). Marlene and Isela are two AMO teachers who apprenticed with us in Mexico City back in April. We ask for your prayers for them and their students as they model, for many others, the AMO Program.

We ask you to pray, also, for peace and wisdom around the nation of Mexico for authorities and students as students riot and protest against the government regarding the slaying of 43 students in the state of Guerrero last month. Local government authorities and a drug cartel collaborated on the murders, according to reports.

Pray for the new generations of children and youth in Mexico to be enlightened by God’s Spirit and Word for transformation and discipleship of their nation for Christ. We truly see a bright future as we go about in these dark days. We are very thankful and blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!

 

Student riots Mexico City

Student riots Mexico City

Isela teaching children about Christian Self-government in the new AMO Program in Tabasco

New AMO Program in Villahermosa

Marlene discussing with children the Christian literature classics they will be reading in their new AMO Program in Villahermosa

AMO Apprenticeship in Huitzitzilingo

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Huitzi group

AMO® Apprentices in Las Huastecas

We had a wonderful and blessed week last week teaching thirty-seven church leaders in Huitzitzilingo, Hidalgo, Mexico. This rural farming village of 5,000 is located in the beautiful Las Huastecas region of Mexico (east-central). The people speak Náhuatl and Spanish. Our participants were eager to learn and truly embraced the biblical principles of Christian education. The principle of God’s Individuality was especially appreciated by the group.

Indigenous people, such as the Nahua in this region, are often marginalized by society at-large. The fact that God, Himself, is absolutely unique, and that all creation, including every person in every small indigenous village, reflects God’s individuality, helped to heal and refresh the hearts of our participants.

Francelia and the group members fell in love with each other. Many new insights into God’s Word gave inspiration and practical steps to transform the Christian education and discipleship efforts by these leaders who represented eight churches in the area.

Pastor Jorge Bautista, pastor of our host church “Getsemani” Presbyterian Church,  shared some of the principles he learned in AMO® with a non-believer the day after the training. The man, vehemently, expressed to Jorge the hatred he had for Protestants. After at time, Jorge was able to calm the man down and actually bless him and share with him that he is special in God’s eyes and that God has a purpose for his life. The meeting ended with the man thanking Jorge for his encouraging words and expressing interest in reading the Bible. Pastor Jorge and his congregation will continue to minister to this man and many others in what is, at times, a hostile environment. The fullness of the Gospel in this community will heal many.

We look forward to walking with our apprentices as they implement what they learned in their local programs for children. Proyecto Amistad ministry and the Presbytery of the Huastecas are partnering together to begin Club Amistad programs for children in these churches and communities. We at AMO® México equip and disciple the teachers for these programs.

We ask for your prayers for these teachers and the families in these communities that God would show them, more fully than ever before, that He is the source of their liberty, justice, provision, peace, purpose in life and much more.

Francelia in Huitzi

Francelia McReynolds, of AMO® México, teaching in Huitzitzilingo

 

Learning AMO in Huitzi 2014

Learning through AMO® Program