Through the faithful efforts of many in this ministry, children are learning to apply biblical, Christian principles for every area of their lives. Parents and church leaders who have committed to using AMO® are inspiring their children through stories, creative arts, Bible reading that builds reasoning, and learning about God’s providential work throughout history and in their own lives.

Your prayers, your involvement in any of the many ways you serve, and/or your financial support make it possible for us to continue serving a growing community of families and churches in Mexico and beyond. Through training, mentoring, and sharing the vision of preparing the next generation, we are helping raise up servant-leaders who think clearly and creatively, write and read well, love learning, and keep their hearts centered on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Please pray with us:

1. Give thanks for the Lord’s provision and guidance throughout 2025.
2. Seek His vision and direction with us as we enter 2026.
3. Pray for new opportunities—doors are opening in the United States, in new regions of Mexico, and for the preparation of additional trainers this coming year.
4. Continue to cover this ministry in prayer throughout 2026, and please consider financially supporting the work. You can donate by clicking here, which will take you to The Antioch Partners website where several giving options are available. Thank you for your generosity!

As we celebrate this Advent season, we pray that the Lord blesses each of you with joy, peace, and good health. We are deeply grateful for your partnership.

Dear Friends,

We are deeply grateful for your faithful prayers and encouragement. Please join us in praying for these specific needs and opportunities:

• Pray for new AMO® Program trainers — that God would raise up additional trainers so more families and churches across Mexico and Latin America can flourish in His Word and make disciples. Pray for us as our team prepares for the nine-month trainer’s course which begins March 2026.
• Pray for current AMO trainers everywhere — Pray for renewed strength and vision for these volunteer trainers who desire to reach their communities in greater ways. Pray for the churches they contact to have vision and determination to inspire and teach the next generations.
• Pray for pastors meeting in Oaxaca and Chihuahua — in October, fifty pastors from five states gathered in Oaxaca for Sola Scriptura, a three-year commitment to meet twice a year for training. They are learning and applying expository preaching tools in their sermon preparation throughout the year. Pray for a second group that will begin meeting in Chihuahua this November. Pray for Rev. Robert Gatto who trains these pastors and for a leadership team to come together to reach the nation.
• Pray for the leadership of the Presbyterian seminaries in Mexico — that God would give them wisdom, provision, and clear vision for preparing future church leaders.
• Pray for us — as we approach 2026, may the Lord give us His direction and steps for fulfilling His will in every area of the ministry in Mexico and beyond.
• Pray for our sending organization, The Antioch Partners (Houston, TX) — a small but mighty team that faithfully serves us through prayer, administrative support, and processing funds. Your donations designated to “McReynolds Ministry” are important and deeply appreciated.

Estimados hermanos,

Estamos profundamente agradecidos por sus fieles oraciones y ánimo. Por favor, únanse a nosotros en oración por estas necesidades y oportunidades específicas:

• Oren por nuevos instructores del Programa AMO® — Que Dios levante instructores adicionales para que más familias e iglesias en México y América Latina puedan ser restauradas y florecer en Su Palabra. La inscripción para el curso de formación de nueve meses, que comenzará en marzo de 2026, ya está abierta.
• Oren por los instructores actuales de AMO — Por favor, oren por fuerza renovada y visión para estos instructores voluntarios que desean impactar sus comunidades de manera más profunda. Oren también por las iglesias en todo lugar que enfrentan el desafiante reto de elevar el nivel de educación y discipulado para sus hijos.
• Oren por nosotros — Al acercarnos al 2026, que el Señor nos dé dirección y pasos para cumplir Su voluntad en cada área del ministerio en México y más allá.
• Oren por nuestra organización enviadora, The Antioch Partners (Houston, TX) — Un equipo pequeño pero poderoso que nos sirve fielmente a través de la oración, apoyo administrativo y procesamiento financiero. Sus donaciones designadas a “Ministerio McReynolds” son vitales y profundamente apreciadas.

En Cristo,

Chris y Francelia

Dear Friends,

We’re grateful for your prayers and partnership in ministry. Here are a few highlights from this summer so far:

• Biblicus Gathering – We hosted our quarterly virtual meeting with mentors, prayer partners, and seminary students in Mexico. These gatherings are always a time of encouragement through prayer, learning, and discussion of assigned book readings. While seminarians receive some financial support through Biblicus, most say that the greatest blessing is the encouragement they receive from their mentors and prayer partners. If you would like to “adopt” a seminary student for prayer, we can match you with a student who will occasionally share prayer requests by email. If interested, please contact Chris at cmcr12@gmail.com.
• Mission Trip to Oaxaca – In June, we helped lead a mission team from First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio. It was a wonderful time of learning and building relationships as people opened their homes to us and churches shared their ministry plans. We visited Cristo por Su Mundo Children’s Home, as well as a small church-school in Tlacolula. That school began during the pandemic using AMO® materials, and families were so pleased with the education that they chose to continue it even after public schools reopened. Back in the city of Oaxaca, we visited three homes where new believers receive weekly teaching from leaders at Amor y Proclamación Presbyterian Church (AyP). We also joined AyP in a community outreach event that offered medical services, crafts, games, haircuts, counseling, and testimonies at a public sports complex. The well attended activitiese helped connect neighbors with AyP’s new church plant in the area.
• Training New AMO® Trainers – We are preparing for the next nine-month online training course to certify new trainers in several Spanish-speaking countries. Francelia will guide the student mentors, while Chris provides behind-the-scenes support. Each new trainer multiplies Gospel transformation in their nation by strengthening families, churches, and schools.

Looking ahead, we are also raising funds to help support the course mentors. We work closely with these experienced AMO®Trainers/Mentors to give the students the best support possible throughout the nine-month course and they play a vital role ​in the success of new AMO®Trainers. If you would like to ​donate towards a gift for these faithful volunteers, please notify Chris at cmcr12@gmail.com and make your gift to The Antioch Partners.

​We are blessed by your support of prayer. If we can pray for you, please, contact Chris and Francelia at cmcr12@gmail.com.

​I​n Christ,
Chris & Francelia

Queridos amigos,

Estamos muy agradecidos por sus oraciones y por su apoyo en el ministerio. Aquí compartimos algunos momentos destacados de este verano:

• Encuentro de Bíblicus – Realizamos nuestra reunión virtual trimestral con mentores, compañeros de oración y estudiantes de seminario en México. Estos encuentros siempre son un tiempo de ánimo mutuo a través de la oración, el aprendizaje y la discusión de lecturas asignadas. Aunque los seminaristas reciben algo de apoyo económico por medio de Bíblicus, la mayoría expresa que la mayor bendición es el ánimo que reciben de sus mentores y compañeros de oración. Si le gustaría “adoptar” a un estudiante de seminario para orar por él o ella, podemos ponerle en contacto con un estudiante que le enviará peticiones de oración de vez en cuando. Si está interesado, escriba a Chris a cmcr12@gmail.com.
• Viaje misionero a Oaxaca – En junio, ayudamos a coordinar un viaje misionero para la Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana de San Antonio. Fue un tiempo maravilloso de aprendizaje y de crear lazos con las personas que nos abrieron sus hogares y con las iglesias que compartieron sus planes de ministerio. Visitamos el Hogar y Escuela Infantil Cristo por Su Mundo y también una pequeña escuela de iglesia en Tlacolula. Esta escuela comenzó durante la pandemia usando materiales de AMO®, y las familias quedaron tan satisfechas con la educación que decidieron continuarla aún después de la reapertura de las escuelas públicas. De regreso en la ciudad de Oaxaca, visitamos tres hogares donde nuevos creyentes reciben enseñanza semanal de la Iglesia Presbiteriana Amor y Proclamación (AyP). También participamos con AyP en un evento de alcance comunitario que ofreció servicios médicos, manualidades, juegos, cortes de cabello, consejería y testimonios en un complejo deportivo público. Hubo muy buena asistencia y el evento ayudó a conectar a la comunidad con la nueva plantación de iglesia de AyP en la zona.
• Formación de nuevos entrenadores de AMO® – Nos estamos preparando para el próximo curso en línea de 9 meses que certifica a nuevos entrenadores en varios países de habla hispana. Francelia acompañará a los mentores de los estudiantes, mientras que Chris brindará apoyo en las inscripciones, entrevistas y administración del curso. Cada nuevo entrenador multiplica el impacto del Evangelio en su nación, fortaleciendo a familias, iglesias y escuelas.

Mirando hacia adelante, también estamos recaudando fondos para apoyar a los mentores que desempeñan un papel tan vital en este ministerio. Si desea contribuir, puede hacerlo a través de The Antioch Partners. Y por favor escribe a Chris a cmcr12@gmail.com

Gracias por caminar con nosotros en oración y apoyo. Juntos estamos ayudando a que familias, iglesias y escuelas se fortalezcan en Cristo.

​En Cristo,

Chris y Francelia

Somehow almost a year has slipped by since my last post. I apologize for that.

It has been a busy year as we push into areas that have big learning curves. Here are some highlights.

Francelia and twelve volunteer educators from the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) have begun the long and arduous task of writing school curriculum for grades K-6 based on the same methodology used in the AMO® Program. Dr. Elizabeth Youmans, creator of AMO®, has been advising the group as they lay the foundations – a very comprehensive task.

This “EDEN” writing committee was formed by Francelia in November 2023, with the help of an advisory group of INPM pastors, to respond to parents and church leaders in Mexico calling for better children’s education. There are many other curriculum offerings out there, especially online, but their overwhelming focus is imparting information rather than helping the child learn to think and reason with Truth, create, write, and grow in Christian character. Please, pray for Educación y Discipulado – Esdras y Nehemías or “EDEN” and consider donating. These writers are volunteers, but a modest gift now and then can encourage them and show that the wider Church is rooting for them.

Chris has been working with Dr. Elizabeth Youmans, Cristina Inchaustegui, and Francelia as Elizabeth hands off to them the governance of the AMO® Program for Spanish speakers. As a new initiative, we would like to raise funds to provide greater compensation to our mentors who walk with those future trainers who are taking the Trainer of Teachers course.

It requires dedication and many hours of mentoring for a new trainer to be capable of imparting vision and excellency for parents and church leaders to reach the hearts and minds of children and youth. We ask your prayers for these efforts.

Many other tasks involved in the ministry continue such as travelling in response to invitations to share more about the ministry, AMO®trainings, mentoring seminary students and new trainers, women’s ministry events, and the MeXed gatherings. Something new will be our directorship of the above mentioned AMO® Trainers of Teachers course in 2025-26. We need your prayers for that.

Thank you for your partnership with us. Pray for us and let us know how we can pray for you. We live by this…“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Blessings to each of you,

Chris and Francelia McReynolds

Season’s greetings!

We hope this Advent is especially joyful for you, your family, and your church. This is such a special time to refocus on the joy of our salvation and our new life in Christ Jesus. We are blessed by Him to be a blessing to others.

I apologize for not having written much this year. It has certainly been a busy year for the AMO®Program in Mexico and Programa AMO Español.  Pray for the growing leadership and for additional resources. There are so many needs and opportunities for families and churches to inspire the next generations!

In the state of Tabasco we have mentioned that an entire Presbytery is implementing the AMO®Program for their children. We give thanks to the AMO Trainers in that region who continue the big task of carrying out trainings there each weekend in various cities and are committed to the long-term discipleship of the parents and leaders.

Leaders in Oaxaca are initiating a training center for Christian education and pastoral training. AMO®Program is an integral part of their planning and outreach to other churches in the region and beyond. Pray for their success as they model for other churches how one church can have a big influence in the community and nation.

This summer we visited Chihuahua for the first time to collaborate with the new AMO Trainer in that region. Her church will host the very first training in that state in the Spring of 2024. Please, pray for that. We visited another church there where a majority of the members homeschool their children. Many of these children study music and so, formed an orchestra for their church!

Many parents in Mexico have expressed a great need for quality education based on biblical-Christian principles, philosophy, and methodology that AMO®Program teaches. For this, Francelia has recruited a writing committee of thirty educators. With God’s help, the goal is to have a full curriculum for all school ages. This will be a multi-year project.  Dr. Elizabeth Youmans is offering curriculum writing workshops for the group. Please, pray for all the work and funding that will be needed for this monumental endeavor.

Thank you, for walking with us this year. We pray for good health and God’s wisdom for all.

God bless each of you and have a Merry Christmas!

Chris and Francelia

Travelling for the ministry to most states in southern Mexico has kept Francelia and I occupied these first six months of 2023. It has been a blessing to share about the AMO® Program, minister to women and youth, mentor seminary students, and work together with many of the trainers in Mexico. Francelia also continues writing additional children’s curriculum for the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico.

Recently, we visited ministry partners in Oaxaca to participate in a conference that they initiated. I wrote the following update for Chrysalis International, creator of AMO® Program:

Leaders of Amor y Proclamación Presbyterian Church in Oaxaca, Mexico presented an “Encuentro” (conference) for local churches. Parents and leaders representing at least fifteen churches attended. The purpose of the Encuentro was to cast the vision for parental involvement in the education of their children by sharing how God has challenged and blessed Amor y Proclamación and its families over the last ten years through the training and curriculum of the AMO® Program.

Rev. Josias Luna and his wife, Elizabeth, introduced their congregation to AMO in 2012, after being trained by Cristina Inchuastegui, Director of Training for Programa AMO® Español. Both Josias and Elizabeth established the program in Oaxaca and enrolled to became certified AMO trainers in Mexico several years later.       

The Luna’s testimony and influence are rooted in the changes they first experienced in their own lives and in the priority they gave to biblical, Christian education for their children. The couple then recruited a team and have shepherded its effective implementation in the church ever since. Now, after 12 years of successful discipleship in their family and church, they are on the Chrysalis International faculty. Here they instruct classes in the formation of other Spanish-speaking AMO teachers, who seek certification through AMO’s nine-month online course.

The Encuentro was a dynamic three days of teaching, panel discussions, video presentations, and fellowship. AMO® Program trainer, Francelia McReynolds, began each day with a time of teaching and encouragement regarding the primary importance placed by God on the family. Rev. Josias and Elizabeth taught key sessions. Both spoke on the challenges that the congregation overcame to embrace this principle-based vision for education. They shared how they labored with patience and perseverance. Over time, more and more leaders in the church began understanding the need for a biblical approach to education and discipleship if their youth were going to flourish in their faith and be equipped for God’s purposes. Parents, teachers, children, and church leaders all shared their inspiring experiences.

A panel of AMO teachers described how the five-day AMO training challenged their traditional paradigms and equipped them for a deeper level of commitment to disciple the next generation. Their role acquired new importance for them as they studied God’s Word. They each commented on how blessed and awed they are by the work of the Holy Spirit in children. The children’s responses, participation in class, and Christian character growth throughout each year were cited as indicators that young children are truly capable of learning much more than what is typically expected.

Each teacher expressed the great difference they see between the AMO Program and the typical classes they presented prior to learning the biblical principles and Christian methods taught in AMO. Interestingly, one of the young teachers grew up in the AMO Program. She was taught by her grandmother, who was among the first teachers to pilot the program at Amor y Proclamación.

Another panel consisted of parents. One father described how he was completely transformed in how he viewed his child and his child’s education and discipleship. As he came to know and participate more in the program, he was convicted. He said, “As a father, I now understand that I am divinely responsible for the education and discipleship of my child.” He related how typical he was as a dad. According to his family and societal traditions, he stayed busy with work and assumed that the responsibility and authority regarding education rested with the public school and Sunday school. He and his wife now say they are better equipped and look forward to discussing and affirming what their child is learning in AMO and elsewhere. They receive blessing and prayer cards weekly in the program that help them have intentional times of blessing and prayer for their child. Committed to serving parents, AMO Program leaders have an innovative way of sending parents resources and information about their child’s lessons each week via WhatsApp.

During the panel discussion with AMO leaders, Esther Suarez, a pastor and educator in her denomination, shared her experience in founding a “Centro Educativo” or learning center. It was birthed out of necessity during the pandemic, when schools were closed. She started teaching her nephews at home and soon, parents from her church began bringing their children to her classes. She now has a full-fledged school with the AMO Program as its core and supplemental curriculum for subjects other than Bible, Christian history, Christian classic literature, and the arts. One of the elders of the church gave his testimony about the program saying, “During the pandemic, the one ministry we leaders had no reason for concern about was our AMO Program. We knew our people were well trained, dedicated, and had everything they needed to continue successfully discipling our children.”

Plans are  in place for the Encuentro to be an annual event. Many Oaxacan parents and church leaders are now concerned to the point of looking for alternatives to public and private non-Christian education. Families at Amor y Proclamación are providing an important model from which others can learn. Pray for these Mexican churches and church leadership everywhere for discernment of God’s wisdom in raising up the next generation.

Blessings,

Chris

Our first events in Chiapas, the southernmost state in Mexico, were in 2019. We trained seminary students and church leaders in Comalapa then the pandemic hit. We finally returned this month, invited by leaders of Estrella de Belen Presbyterian Church in Tuixcum, near the city of Motozintla. The 102-year-old church, the mountain views, the excellent hospitality, and the eagerness of the church members to go deeper into biblical principles for marriage, education, and work-life made for a great trip.

Francelia taught four sessions, Friday through Sunday. The lessons included precursors to the five-day AMO training to be held later. Lessons on reflective method of learning/teaching as well as the marriage covenant and servant-leadership were enthusiastically welcomed by young and old. Later this Spring we will train in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capitol. For now, we have returned to Tabasco for weekly activities.

Chiapas is vast and, in the mountains, roads are very narrow and winding making for difficult travel. It has not been safe, we are told, to travel to Comalapa due to drug cartel in-fighting. Pray for that to end.  Pray, that the Lord guides us and our trainers here in the neighboring state of Tabasco to better equip local leaders throughout Chiapas for greater biblical Christian transformation and discipleship of future generations. Pray for Chiapas to have its own AMO trainers one day throughout the state who can better serve the needs of the churches there. Thanks for your prayers!

Dear Friends,

Francelia and I are very thankful for all of you who engage in this ministry to help equip parents and leaders in biblical Christian education for children. It is a special privilege for us to get to witness the efforts and sacrifices of so many people working in obedience to the Lord for the education and discipleship of His children. Among those, we see more pastors turning to the AMO Program.

The pastors who implement the program at home with their own children are providing especially important testimonies and leadership. Pastor Josias Luna and his wife Elizabeth, both AMO Trainers in Oaxaca, Mexico, began using AMO at home a few years ago. “While our children were getting an education in secularism, humanism, paganism and other isms at school, we are now very pleased with their development as we use AMO” says Josias. Also, Pastor Pedro Calix of Tabasco was just certified last month as a trainer and has great plans to help the pastors in his presbytery. Several other pastors are steadily leading their congregations in a greater vision for discipleship and education using the program.

This year I have become involved in helping beyond Mexico with Programa AMO Español. The AMO training has been online all through the pandemic, which has been wonderful. However, a problem occurs when someone is trained in a nation where the AMO Teacher Guides – needed for teaching the children – are not being printed and distributed. Please, pray for wisdom in overcoming this challenge.

For months, Francelia has been working on a project writing children’s curriculum at the invitation of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. We are excited that soon her work will finally be made available for those churches across the country. Please, pray for that process and that many families will be blessed.

 We are below budget on our funding. If you would like to donate, we would be very grateful. Please, contact us or go to https://www.theantiochpartners.org/giving for giving instructions. Specify “McReynolds” in your donation, please. If you would like us to visit your church to share about the ministry, please, let me know.

Thank you, to all who have donated.

We thank each of you and ask for your continued prayers. Pray for Atala, Cristina Inchaustegui’s mom who has cancer. As you may know Cristina is a close colleague of ours and Director of Training for Programa AMO Español. Please, let us know how we can pray for you.

May the Lord greatly bless you and your family in this Advent season!

In Christ,

Chris McReynolds

The crooked steward did all he could with what he had in the time he had left, and Jesus commended him for his shrewdness. The “children of light” should be so astute – not at making friends for themselves in a self-serving temporary sense – but, at making friends for the Kingdom of God for eternity.

Today, there are many children of light heeding the lesson Jesus teaches in Luke 16:1-9. In like-minded unity around the AMO® educational program they do all they can in the time they have on earth with the gifts God gives them to help children become friends with Jesus.

Nora disciples the children from troubled families in her neighborhood. Elizabeth and Francelia write curriculum that will be shared with thousands. Josias and Ely disciple parents. Marlene and Lilia get materials into the hands of teachers. Edgar and Gloria set an example for many in education. Rick teaches the history of God’s providential hand at work. Cristina travels far and wide to share Christ’s vision for children. Ananias helps his congregation see the importance of God’s education. Jim and Judy, and many others, dedicate prayers and funds. Edgar is setting up schools. Kathy and friends shepherd young adults in becoming disciple-makers. Judith, Socorro, Lili, Yesenia, Mildred and Rubi mentor new teachers. Lilia, Stephanie, Laura and Liliana train parents and teachers. Thousands of prayers and dollars are shrewdly dedicated for claiming the next generations for Jesus Christ. There are too many people to continue naming them all.

If you are reading this, you are probably one of them! With thanks the children (and adults) you befriend for Jesus will one day “welcome you into eternal dwellings” – Luke 16:9. May God increase our wisdom – and shrewdness – for making friends for eternity.

On June 4-5, 2022, the executive committee of the General Assembly of Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México (INPM) began a series of events commemorating three very special anniversaries: the 150th anniversary of the founding of the first Presbyterian church in Mexico at Villa de Cos, Zacatecas, the 140th anniversary of Seminario Teologico Presbiteriana de Mexico (STPM in Mexico City), and the 75th anniversary of the General Assembly of the INPM. This first event occurred at INP Puerta de Salvación at the STPM campus.

In affirmation of God’s direction, biblical Christian education and discipleship was placed front and center on this very important occasion. Invited to present were Francelia McReynolds, Antonio Alvarez and Josias Luna. Together they presented a coherent and inspired message to bless the family and encourage the leader.

Francelia began by presenting Biblical Design for the Family, teaching that the intimate relationship within the Trinity is the divine example given to families today. Antonio taught about the friendship of brotherly love between David and Jonathan and presented his book on The Family in Times of Uncertainty and Adversity. Finally, Josias, in his sermon on Sunday, issued a powerful call to Church and family to return to God’s command in Deuteronomy 4 to disciple and educate the next generations. All three teachings focused on God’s principles for healing families and the nation through His education and discipleship.

The celebration was broadcast on social media with over 7,000 views so far on Facebook. Saturdays event can be seen here Anniversary and Sunday’s event (Josias begins after minute 39), here: https://youtu.be/Za-XoKfQ-Jc

Additional events will be held in Tabasco, Veracruz, and Villa de Cos in July. The executive committee will present a nearly seventy-page booklet containing a timeline of God’s Providential History in the Presbyterian Church of Mexico, written especially for the occasion by Francelia and based on an original Providential Timeline for Mexico written by Dr. Elizabeth Youmans. Please, join in giving thanks to God and asking for His guidance and protection for all the work in Mexico.