By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

As we approach another AMO Program training (apprenticeship) next week in Villahermosa, Tabasco, México, we ask for your prayers. Pray for those who will be taking the training and for us, especially Francelia who will do the teaching each day.

This training is hosted by the Presbyterian Seminary of the Southeast, where credits in the seminary’s Christian Education program are made available to anyone, anywhere, completing the AMO Program apprenticeship. It’s been such a busy month that we didn’t finish reporting on our training in Orizaba, Veracruz, which ended April 2nd.

The Orizaba training finished well. One highlight, of many, was a discussion, by way of Skype, between several of our participants interested in starting their own schools and one of our AMO teachers in Puebla, Liliana Rojas, who continues to be successful in her new school. Liliana shared her experience and answered questions for the group. Her testimony is powerful and her determination is contagious (see our October post Amazing Progress in Puebla).

We look forward to walking with these teachers and parents of Orizaba as they explore God’s opportunities for transforming their community and nation. Please, pray for Veracruz, a beautiful place with beautiful families, yet under siege by corruption and Drug Cartels. Pray for a movement of parents and leaders everywhere to begin embracing the opportunities they have to educate the next generations with Biblical Christian principles and ideas in a wholistic way that encourages life and transformation. Since our time in Orizaba, we’ve been busy in Mexico City.

The training here has been somewhat of an experiment, as we’ve split up the apprenticeship into weekends, instead of the usual five consecutive days. It seems to be working and there shouldn’t be any complaints from participants that they don’t have enough time to complete their homework!

Three different churches are represented, including the small church we attend in near-by Amecameca. Those taking the training include two college professors, a pastor, and a few who never finished junior high or high school. It’s amazing to see how God is challenging and equipping each one at their own level and for their own needs as they prepare to teach children using AMO. All are enjoying each other as they envision inspired education and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Our program in Amecameca is going well. The number of children attending has doubled to six. Consuelo, member of the church, is training with us. She will expand the program and take over from us when we travel.

Please, pray for our AMO Trainer candidate, Elizabeth Bermudez and her husband Chevy. Chevy is in California receiving highly specialised medical treatments, wondrously, made available by God working through his people. We invite you to contact us for information on how you can help with their care. Call Chris at (830) 719-5812 or email us at mexico@amoprogram.com.

Please, pray also for our other candidates Elizabeth Aguilar, Gloria Viveros and Esther Suarez. All four, including Elizabeth Bermudez, are nervously, but excitedly, approaching their evaluation in June in Oaxaca to become AMO Trainers. Funds are being raised to fly Elizabeth Bermudez from California to Oaxaca and back again after the evaluation.

On a personal note, we ask for your prayers for Francelia and family as they mourn the recent death of her sister, Teresa, of Mexico City and for Chris’ family mourning the death of a close cousin, Steven, of San Angelo, Texas. Both Teresa and Steven began and ended their valiant two-year battles against terminal illnesses at about the same times.

God bless each of you and thank you for your prayers and support!

Chris and Francelia

Orizaba Group with AMO Certificates

Training in Orizaba

Miguel Tezoco reading to our group in his native language, Náhuatl.

Learning God’s use of “covenant” in Amecameca

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.

By Chris and Francelia Chavez McReynolds.

Laura Toledo trained with us in Oaxaca in 2014. She and others at her church have been teaching there with AMO ever since. Laura recently shared with us that some of her first students are now helping with the younger children. She shared also that over half of her students have parents who are separated or divorced, causing a great absence of guidance and security in the lives of the children. Through the children’s testimonies to their parents about their classes, many parents began to seek counsel from Laura.

Exemplifying the priority in AMO of nurturing parents, as well as the children, Laura stated “my husband and I, regularly, counsel parents. They’ve given us access into their lives and many come to us with serious problems.” “The program has brought about a change in our leaders also” she continued. “Since taking the AMO training, many more have become personally involved with the children for their education and discipleship” she stated.

We ask for your prayers for Oaxaca. As mentioned in prior posts, the state ranks last in all of Mexico in quality of education. In 2014, MeXED was held in Oaxaca to lend support to emerging biblical Christian education initiatives in various churches there. For the same reason, we’ve held four AMO Apprenticeships in the state, so far. And God has seen to it that three of our four new AMO Trainer candidates are based in Oaxaca.

• Please, pray for – and look forward with great anticipation to – God’s future for the families of Oaxaca. Join us in giving thanks to God for the hard-fought transformation that is taking place day-by-day in families who are struggling. Pray for parents/leaders/teachers/counselors like Laura, who are serving with faith, perseverance, and a dedication to preparing themselves for the work.
• Pray also for the next AMO Apprenticeship scheduled for Oaxaca for June. Pray for our Trainer candidates – Elizabeth, Ely, Gloria, and Esther – who will complete their AMO practicum and evaluation at that Apprenticeship.
• Francelia and I ask for your prayers as we, and the entire AMO team, discern God’s wisdom and plan for this growing ministry. Two specific prayer needs are for how to make readily available AMO’s educational materials to parents and teachers across the country and, how to help our new trainers in the best ways possible once they are certified.
• Pray for a movement among many ministries in Mexico, the United States, and beyond, to work in concert in God’s restoration and healing of our nations through wholistic biblical Christian education.
• Thank you for your prayers!

Some of those in Oaxaca trained in AMO

By Chris and Francelia Chavez McReynolds

In the town of Amecameca, in the state of Mexico, at the foot of the mountains just outside Mexico City, there is a small Presbyterian Church where seven adults and three children gather. We worship here with them and the pastor, Froilán Pichardo, when we are not on-the-road conducting AMO® Trainings around the country.

Yesterday, Francelia and the children, excitedly, began AMO – biblical, principle-based education for hearts and minds. Until now, the children met with the adults and had no classes of their own. They eagerly listened to what they would be learning about, and about the activities they could look forward to. Things like learning to reason with principles from the Bible, art, Christian history, and wonderful stories from Christian classic literature. They were fascinated when signing the AMO Compact, a tool to help nurture their Christian self-government. Even three year old Paula signed her mark with flair!

They listened intently to the story of the Good Shepherd told with, simple, little wooden figures. Their minds grabbed every detail as the Holy Spirit grabbed their hearts. They then reenacted the story for each other. Class ended and the children, with broad smiles, carried home the Prayer and Blessing cards – homework for their parents.

In the state of Mexico, the most densely populated in the nation, there is a lot of poverty. There is a lot of religious traditions and idolatry, saint worship, witchcraft, and even children who worship Santa Muerte. As veteran Pastor Froilán can tell you, there is often fierce resistance to the Gospel. Millions of families endure dark and painful family histories where history repeats itself, generation after generation. We all know from the Bible, and in our hearts, that this is not God’s plan.

Instead, God’s Word teaches that each child, made in His image, has great potential and a divine purpose for their life, right where they live. As we prepare more teachers to work with children and their parents – using God’s Word to nurture that great potential – we ask for your prayers.

Pray for families across the nation who are taking God’s Scriptures seriously and submitting their lives to Him for daily transformation in their families and the nation. Pray for our four new AMO Trainers, set for final evaluation and certification in June. We ask also for your prayers for the upcoming AMO Training in Tabasco, the last week of this month. Thank you, for praying!

We are part of His-story!

Words, the keys to new ideas!

Street view in Amecameca

Volcano Popocatéptl

Francelia, Paula, Antipas, and Tamara in front of their humble, yet blessed, classroom.

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

We began this New Year back in Puebla. School director, Sara Chavez, invited us back to respond to a growing number of people concerned about their children’s education. Poor education and destructive cultural influences are taking their toll on families. The biblical mandate, taught in AMO, for parents to be actively in charge of their children’s education is motivating some to seek new solutions.

With official validation in Mexico available through testing for children who are outside the traditional public school setting, some parents and church leaders are venturing out to form their own schools.  As mentioned in a previous post, Liliana Rojas founded a school based on the biblical principles she learned in AMO, last summer.  That school needed to relocate and, so, fused with the school that Sara Chavez directs. Liliana has, since, founded a second school.  Leaders from two other Christian schools attended last week’s AMO training and a few other participants were considering schools at their churches.

These schools are typically very small, from 10 to 200 students. Several are using a biblically focused, online platform, by Educazion.net. Curriculum is available for math, science, language, and more. “We are using AMO Program to train and guide our teachers for student’s Christian character formation, Bible, Christian history, and classic literature classes. We use Educazion.net as a tool for learning different subject matter” said Liliana.

We’ve seen schools that have very scant resources and facilities to schools that are very well equipped and inviting. Many teachers and helpers volunteer their time or take a very minimal wage. Some teach at public schools, or other jobs, part of the day and at their church school the rest of the day. One school is charging about $90 US per student per month.

“Parents are very pleased” says AMO teacher, Erika Trujillo. She added, “when we moved our school from one side of the city to the other, we thought we would lose some students. The parents told us ‘it doesn’t matter where you move to, we want our children in your school!” The children we met expressed satisfaction, as well.

One young boy recounted (for ten minutes!) about the classic Heidi that he and his classmates are studying in AMO’s literature class. Others said they like their school because it is “tranquilo” (peaceful, i.e. safe).

Your prayers and support helps us train parents and teachers for these children…the future of Mexico. Thank you!

Young artists sharing what they learned in the AMO training

Those we trained in Puebla

Erika’s artwork

Teachers at El Shadai Christian School in Puebla

Dear Friends,

Thank you, for your wonderful prayers and financial support throughout 2015. God, working through you and others, has further established transformative, inspired, biblical Christian education in a growing number of homes, churches, and schools across Mexico. At times, it may seem the darkness is overcoming us in our nations but, we all know Jesus Christ – the Word – has the victory!

This ministry would not be possible without your involvement. We are especially thankful for:

• The preparation of four new AMO Trainers for Mexico
• Approximately 2000 children learning to live-out biblical principles with the help of AMO trained parents and teachers
• The ongoing discipleship and training of parents and other teachers with almost 100 trained in 2015
• The printing of the literature classic Heidi, in Mexico. This book was previously out of print and very difficult to get from its publisher in Argentina
• The production of AMO’s latest literature classic Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates and its accompanying AMO Teacher’s Guide. This translation required many, many, hours of hard work and revision by Dr. Elizabeth Youmans and her team, which included Francelia.
• A very successful, and well attended, MeXED conference last September in Tabasco which brought together leaders in biblical Christian education and discipleship from across Mexico and the United States
• As a couple, we were blessed through The Antioch Partners, by a retreat in Thailand with others sent through TAP. Meeting with others working around the world in God’s mission was inspiring and very helpful.
• We are very thankful for you!

We look forward with great anticipation to what God has in store in 2016!

Please, join us in praying for:

• The four new AMO Trainers (Elizabeth, Ely, Gloria and Esther) as they prepare to train parents and other leaders in Mexico.
• Pray for parents and others who have already been trained, and those who will be trained in 2016, that God would bless them with protection, provision, strength and vision as they establish their own AMO Programs for children in their homes, churches and communities
• Pray for plans that will make AMO curriculum and literature classics more readily available to families and churches, across the country
• Please, pray for God’s continued guidance, protection and provision for this ministry

Blessings to each of you, and yours, in the New Year!

Chris and Francelia McReynolds

Francelia and Chris McReynolds, directors of AMO México.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.       Luke 2:13-18

Dear friend, we pray that your heart is governed with peace and joy in this Advent season as we prepare to celebrate, and spread the word, of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We read in John 1:14,“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The Word is continuing to “become flesh” in the hearts and minds of children across Mexico as parents, and others, become inspired and equipped in God’s word.

We thank you for your vital part in helping us spread the word through wholistic biblical Christian education – and equipping others to do the same – in Mexico. The number of children receiving inspired education, using AMO® Program, has more than doubled this year to over 1500! We are excited to see what God does next year as more AMO Trainers coming on board.

We invite you to continue with us in 2016 with your prayers and financial support. Please, click here, to send your gift. Contact us anytime at (830) 719-5812 or email mexico@amoprogram.com.

Blessings of Christmas to you and yours.

In the joy of Christ,

Chris and Francelia

AMO Program in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México

Children in Villahermosa, Tabasco, learning their biblical heritage as children of God.

Reasoning with the Bible in Mérida, Yucatán

(Español abajo) Update by Chris and Francelia McReynolds – Liliana Rojas, Ethel Amezcua, and Erika Trujillo were part of our small class of AMO® trainees in Puebla, Mexico, this past summer. Now, they are making a big impact in their community using what they learned. The three women were so inspired during the training that they began to envision a school that would be centered on the biblical principles taught through AMO.

Students and teachers of new Christian School using AMO in Puebla

Liliana, a 27-year-old professor with a Master of Education degree, began to act on the vision. Erika and Ethel immediately joined in. These women quit their jobs to follow this divine vision. Ethel’s husband, Luis, the rector of Puebla Bible Seminary where we carried out the AMO training, offered wonderful space in the seminary to start the school. Amazingly, in three weeks time, they had their plans laid out, school facilities in order, materials prepared, and 15 students registered, all in time for the start of the school year!

AMO curriculum, with its emphasis on enriched learning with biblical-Christian worldview, is the basis for their lessons in Bible, classic literature, Christian history, languages, geography and the arts. Educazion, an online Christian education platform, provides for subjects like math, science, and additional research. Through testing by the Secretary of Public Education (SEP) of Mexico, the students will be fully certified by SEP just as students in public schools are. As for funding, Liliana and her team have set a student tuition level that is viable for the families and for the school as it expands. Currently, the school provides primary and secondary grades, with plans to include high school next year.

Student’s art in Puebla Christian school along with their teachers (upper right, L to R) Erika, Liliana and Ethel

On our recent visit with the group, students were happy and challenged in their new school. The combined classroom space was well organized and inviting. The students had common space for group study and desk cubicles for private study with internet access. Parents were grateful to have this wonderful new option for their children. The teachers – Liliana, Erika and Ethel, and two seminary students – were all smiles and very thankful to God for this new venture.

Please, pray for strength and protection for these teachers, and the parents, who are taking on the tremendous and wonderful task of discipling the next generation with education that embraces God’s wisdom and authority in all areas of study and life.  Pray also for others to be encouraged to action by their brave and intelligent efforts.Pray for the children, that their studies will prepare them to lead their future families, communities and nation. Join us all in giving thanks to God for creating this school and for supplying his wonderful provisions.

Self portraits in Puebla Christian school

Puebla Christian school has private study space for online studies, as well as common areas for group study through AMO curriculum.

Daily class schedule in Puebla

Grounds at Puebla Bible Seminary

Liliana Rojas, Ethel Amezcua, y Erika Trujillo eran parte de nuestra pequeña clase de aprendices del programa AMO® en Puebla, Puebla, el pasado verano. Ahora, ellas están haciendo un gran impacto en su comunidad utilizando lo aprendido. Las tres mujeres estaban tan inspiradas durante el entrenamiento que comenzaron a vislumbrar una escuela que se centra en los principios bíblicos que se enseñan a través de AMO.

Liliana, una profesora de 27 años de edad, con un grado de Maestría en Educación, comenzó a actuar en la visión y Erika y Ethel se unieron inmediatamente. Estas mujeres renunciaron a sus puestos de trabajo para seguir esta visión divina. El marido de Ethel, Luis, el rector del Seminario Bíblico de Puebla donde se llevó a cabo la capacitación AMO, ofreció un espacio maravilloso en el seminario para empezar la escuela. !Maravillosamente, dentro de tres semanas, hicieron sus planes de trabajo, pusieron las instalaciones de la escuela en orden, hicieron los materiales preparados, y registraron 15 estudiantes, todo en tiempo para el inicio del año escolar!

El currículo de AMO, con su énfasis en el aprendizaje enriquecido y cosmovisión bíblico-cristiana, es la base para sus lecciones de la Biblia, literatura clásica, la historia cristiana, idiomas, geografía y las artes. Educazion, es una plataforma de educación cristiana en línea, y provee materias como matemáticas, español, ciencias sociales y naturales. A través de exámenes por la Secretaría de Educación Pública (la SEP) de México, los estudiantes serán plenamente certificados por la SEP al igual que los estudiantes de las escuelas públicas. En cuanto a la financiación de la escuela, Liliana y su equipo han creado un nivel de inscripción que es viable para las familias y para la escuela, ya que se expande. Actualmente, la escuela ofrece cursos de primaria y secundaria, con planes para incluir la preparatoria en el año que viene.

En nuestra última visita con el grupo, los estudiantes estaban felices y desafiados en su nueva escuela. El espacio de aula estaba bien organizado y acogedor. Los estudiantes tenían espacio común para el estudio en grupo y cubículos para el estudio privado con acceso a internet. Los padres estaban agradecidos de tener esta nueva opción maravillosa para sus hijos. Los profesores – Liliana, Erika y Ethel, y dos estudiantes del seminario – estaban todos sonrientes y muy agradecidos con Dios por esta nueva aventura.

Por favor, oren por la fuerza y ​​la protección de estos maestros y los padres, que están asumiendo la tremenda y maravillosa tarea de discipular a la próxima generación con la educación que abarca la sabiduría y la autoridad de Dios en todas las áreas de estudio y vida. Oremos también para que otros puedan alentar a la acción por sus esfuerzos valientes e inteligentes. Oren para los niños, que sus estudios los preparará para dirigir sus futuras familias, comunidades y naciones. Únanse a nosotros todos para dar gracias a Dios por la creación de esta escuela y para el suministro de sus disposiciones maravillosas.

(Update from Chris and Francelia McReynolds in Mexico) We are very thankful to God and the many participants of MeXED conference which took place at the end of September. The Christian Education and Discipleship in Mexico (MeXED) event was hosted by Seminario Teológico Presbiteriana del Sureste (STPS), of Nacajuca, Tabasco, Mexico. The seminary included MeXED as part of its week of celebrating 30 years of faithful service to churches throughout Mexico. The three-day event of fellowship, learning, and connecting was attended by 150 parents, leaders and students from Tabasco and around the country in Mexico and the United States.

Blessing and commissioning of (women L to R) Elizabeth Bermudez, Esther Suarez, Elizabeth Aguilar (Gloria Viveros not present)

Participants expressed thanksgiving for the quality of the teaching and the opportunity to connect with others who shared their biblical view of education and discipleship for families and the nation. We had a wonderful, inspiring, list of speakers organized by Jose Antonio Alvarez, of Semilla and part time professor at STPS and Gordon-Conwell Seminary.

Our keynote was Dr. Jose Gonzalez, of Semilla, who shared about the roots and dynamics of Machismo and Matriarchy that strongly influences families and society throughout Latin America. Other special guest speakers included: Dr. Alvin Padilla and Dr. Milton Nuñez of Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Dr. Ascanio Pegueiro of Pastoral Medical Association, Dr. Huascar de la Cruz of Tabasco, Dr. Cuauhtémoc Angulo Pineda of Tabasco, Lic. Jose Lucero Ramirez, Professor of Law at UNAM, our own Dr. Francelia Chavez de McReynolds of Mexico City, Dr. Jill Thrift of Chrysalis International, Pbro. Amós Cahuich and Pbro. Aldo Chalé of San Pablo Seminary-Mérida, Pastor Abimael Borbolla of Oaxaca and Pbro. Juan Marcos de Leon Sanchez of STPS.

A special highlight of the event was the commissioning and blessing of our four new trainers for the discipleship program, Biblical Foundations of Christian Education and AMO® Program. This program is an apprenticeship for excellence in biblical Christian education, published by Chrysalis International.

Francelia inspiring families and leaders in education at MeXED

We’ve asked, before, for your prayers for Elizabeth Bermudez, Esther Suarez, Gloria Viveros and Elizabeth Aguilar, AMO Trainers who are still finishing up this apprenticeship. Francelia and Jill Thrift spoke with inspiration and passion of our work with AMO in Mexico. Then, Pastors Abimael Borbolla and Aldo Chalé led a moving ceremony calling on God’s blessing and commissioning of the four new trainers.

These women will, potentially, serve families and churches throughout Mexico with education that prepares hearts and minds with God’s principles and vision for life that restores and transforms families, communities and the nation. We ask for your continued prayers for these women.

Dr. Jill Thrift, of Chrysalis International, sharing about the graduate-level course that prepares AMO Trainers

Jose Gonzalez, of Semilla, speaking at MeXED Tabasco

Francelia introducing some of the AMO teachers from local churches in Tabasco

Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Southeast Mexico hosting MeXED in Tabasco as part of their 30th Anniversary week of celebrations