By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

Days two and three of our AMO training here in Orizaba have been full of learning. The following are just a few of the comments from training participants, so far, this week:

• “It’s God’s individuality that is imprinted in each of us that makes each of us very special.”
• “The power of words is something that has impacted me, today. How God spoke creation into existence – how, in the Bible, our focus is turned to guard and keep God’s words – how very important it is for our children to learn new words and how to use them. Their words form and express ideas and those ideas have real-life consequences. It’s very powerful.”
• Regarding the power of blessing, “If no one can take away our blessings, we need to bless each other more!”
• Regarding Christian self-government, “We can begin reduce external government we use with our children and begin appealing more to children’s ability to govern themselves with Christ’s help.”

Please, join us in giving thanks for the Women of Faith group at our host church, La Santisima Trinidad, here in Orizaba, Veracruz. These women are paying for eight out-of-town participant’s hotel stay, plus they prepare breakfast and lunch for all of us at their own expense. They are, selflessly, serving participants that are representing six area churches at this training.

Rosario Dominguez, one of the women leaders, said, “When pastor Pablo Torres arrived (a few years ago), seeing almost no children in the church, he asked us ‘where are all the children?” “The truth was, we had nothing to offer children. We are now equipping ourselves to teach and stepping out in faith,” said Rosario. They are truly women of faith and vision! Please, pray for them.

Pray also for continued strength and inspiration for all as the eight-hour days of teaching and learning begin to take their toll.

Rosario Dominguez joining the children in learning about the setting of each AMO Literature classic they study.

Future AMO Trainers, Esther and Ely, being introduced by Francelia.

Training participant teaching others what she has just learned.

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

As we continue celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we go about learning to live the new and eternal life that his sacrifice and resurrection and grace made possible. With profound gratitude and celebration we can declare that we are disciples of Jesus Christ!

With all the authority in heaven and on earth, Jesus commanded his disciples (that’s us!) to, “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-19). We say, ‘yes, Lord, but how do we make disciples of the nations?’

The disciples who received this command directly, had been transformed by three years of imitating and learning directly from Jesus, their Master Teacher. After that time, their transformation continued for the rest of their earthly lives as they submitted to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. To disciple others – even nations – we must also be transformed. To continue living our old way of life doesn’t teach anyone anything new or introduce them to Jesus Christ.

Today, twenty-two parents and church leaders have gathered in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, to spend the rest of the week focusing on this matter of disciple making. The scriptures are being examined and reasoned with through the AMO Apprenticeship. Old paradigms, learned in the old life, will begin to crumble. We’ll look at biblical principles that change our whole way of looking at children and their education.

One pastor commenting on the session on Biblical Foundations of Christian Education said, “we work with many highly dysfunctional families and face situations that can be overwhelming. That God had in mind, before time, how to help these families, is very comforting and I look forward to learning more this week.”

Please, pray for the group this week. We will send you updates throughout the week to share the blessings and ask for your prayers.

In Orizaba making disciples who make disciples.

Francelia with our friend Anita Torres leading praise before class in Orizaba.