Leaders at “Nueva Jerusalen” Presbyterian Church in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, are determined to reach the youth of their church and community with the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. In their well-organized campaign, Operation Rescue, youths are encouraged to enroll in classes at the church designed to nurture their God-given gifts and talents. Bible, theatre arts, literature, and music are the first classes being offered, with more to come. Sessions on restoration and biblical counseling are also starting.

Joaquin Barrientos, one of the older leaders at the church, has a youthful heart and a vision for the future. Six months ago, he and his team of young leaders invited Francelia to speak to the youth at their kick-off event this month. “There are so many, young and old, who have drifted away from the Faith. We have to do something to get them back” says Joaquin.

Youth in Villahermosa responding to the call to follow Jesus Christ with their whole lives

One hundred-thirty youths listened intently as Francelia taught the basic biblical principles and ideas that we teach through AMO®. Grabbing their attention, were principles such as ‘God’s individuality is reflected in each of us,’ and ‘Christ governing within us is the only way to experience true liberty.” At the end of the morning the youths were invited to devote, or re-devote, their lives to Jesus Christ. Almost all responded by coming forward to pray!

Reaching the youth in Tabasco

After a very nice lunch, the youths were then introduced to the teachers who would lead the class of their interest each Sunday for weeks to come. The emphasis in these classes is that God is Lord of every part of our lives, including the society we live in and, because of that, we can flourish and fulfill the purposes and potential God has for each of us as we follow Him. Married couples are also part of Operation Rescue.

Couples from the community and area churches were invited to a formal dinner. This included a wonderful singing duo and presentation by Francelia on many of the same biblical principles that were presented to the youth. One of the teachings that provoked special interest was on the divided mind. That we all struggle with a divided mind or, live as if some areas of our lives and society are not important to God, cripples us. “This has been very challenging and helpful for us, we really need more courses like this in the church” commented one young couple.

In response to the leaders and participants, we are facilitating a September conference at Nueva Jerusalen by our friend in ministry, José Gonzalez. José is the author of Machismo and Matriarchy: Toxic roots that blight the Latin American culture. He specializes in helping couples apply God’s wisdom and purpose in marriage. Also, we are planning an AMO Apprenticeship for parents and teachers here in 2016.

Gethsemani Church AMO Program in Mérida, Yucatán

Points for Prayers:

• Pray for the children and youth of this community, and those throughout México. Pray for inspired education and Godly guidance amidst the sea of humanist, socialist, materialist, etc., teachings and influences in schools, society, and entertainment media.

Just as a side-note…On a visit this weekend to a local art exhibit of six different artists, the majority of the fifty-plus paintings explicitly depicted satanism and death. Also, in the hit movie Avengers, now in theatres in Mexico, one of the heroes is ridiculed for calling attention to his partner’s use of vulgar language. This may pale in comparison to most of the lies and vulgarity flowing out of Hollywood but, it’s interesting to note how — in an instant — millions of children and youths receive a lesson that vulgar language is not to be criticized. Young people are up against poor education, deceptive media, drug gangs, corruption and many other challenges. The children need our prayers and most energetic and inspired support.

• Pray for parents and church leaders everywhere, to seek God’s wisdom and strength for living as disciples of Jesus Christ, in every area of life, and for passing that Faith on to the next generations.

Thank you, for your prayers and support.

In Christ,

Chris and Francelia

Children from the neighborhood learning vocabulary and biblical principles with Damariz

Teachers in Cunduacán, Tabasco, are working hard to transform Christian education for their students and families in these hot and humid coastal lands of southeast Mexico. Since December, when the teachers trained with us, they’ve been busy implementing the AMO Program. Their plans are ambitious. Not only do they want AMO for children, but also for youth, adults, new believers, and non-believers. The challenges and triumphs have been, and continue to be, many.

As we visited the area for a few days last week, Priscilla Torres, Director of Christian Education at Jesus, La Luz del Mundo church, told us that their students are benefitting, wonderfully, from their AMO classes. Children have improved their reading and Christian self-government skills. Interest in education at the church has increased. Many families, eager to participate, have become punctual in arriving — a true rarity!

In addition, adults express new-found hope in biblical Christian principles that they had never contemplated before. The youths are being challenged to reason and engage their Christian faith and not simply go along with pop-culture and social pressures. One working couple, professionals, decided to cut back on the hours they work to devote more time to the education of their children. All these triumphs and more have not come easy.

The church has twelve mission churches in Cunduacán and the surrounding communities. While a dozen of its teachers have trained with us, there are still more than sixty who have not had the AMO training. Also, some of the leaders do not have the vision. This has made implementing the program a challenge.

Families responding to Francelia’s call for renewed efforts for inspired education at church and in the home.

Many do not understand the objectives of AMO – to bring every area of our lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, principally, through inspired wholistic biblical Christian education. Families and their churches are challenged to begin retaking dominion of their children’s education. For most, the study of classic literature, government, history, vocabulary, geography, art, and more, is foreign to church classrooms. AMO provides a way to change that and the small group in Cunudacán wants to share that with others.

Damariz Coyoc Rivero disciples forty-five children and their families from neighbourhoods around Monte de los Olivos, one of the mission churches of Jesus La Luz del Mundo. These families do not attend any church and Damariz is on fire for the education of these children. “One of my students,” says Damariz of seven-year old, Ismael, “could not read and had no interesting in learning. He is from a very dysfunctional family and was very discouraged. After a month of being with the other children in their joy and engagement in the class, he has begun trying to read. He pays special attention during our class of Proverbs and he has been encouraged since we studied the word potential and that God has given him great potential.” (Key-word studies are an important part of AMO.)

Points for Prayer:

• Please, pray for the families in Cunduacán and surrounding communities that they continue receiving education that inspires and equips them in the wonderful purpose and potential that God has for each of their lives.
• Pray for the congregations, the families, teachers and leaders, that they continue to understand AMO more completely and embrace the call to wholistic biblical Christian education for the transformation of families, communities and the nation.
• Pray for AMO México as we continue to walk with those in Cunduacán and provide additional training for them and many others throughout Mexico.
• Please, also continue to pray for the more than twenty AMO teachers from various countries in Latin America who are currently taking the AMO Trainer of Teachers (TOT) course so they can become qualified to train more teachers for AMO. Pray for Ely, Elizabeth, Gloria and Esther, our Mexican TOT students. Pray for their instructors and for everyone’s computer and internet connection needs during this nine-month online course.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

In Christ,

Chris and Francelia

Dear Friends,

We ask for your prayers for our upcoming travel and events in Tabasco, Campeche and Yucatán. These states are from 8 to 16 hours away, southeast from where we live near Mexico City. We will be on the road for over a month visiting various AMO Programs and carrying out refresher workshops for those who have trained with us in the past. We will also hold one AMO Apprenticeship (for two weeks) in Mérida, Yucatán. In addition, we’ve been invited by the Presbyterian church in Paraíso, Tabasco, to share the vision of AMO there. Pray that our time with the teachers and parents will be a blessing to the children they disciple.

Also, we ask for your continued prayers for the AMO Trainer of Teachers (TOT) course, which includes four women from Mexico – Ely, Elizabeth, Gloria, and Esther. We are excited about having these additional trainers to help meet the great demand for inspired wholistic biblical Christian education here in Mexico.

Thank you, for your prayers.

In Christ,

Chris and Francelia

AMO Program in Villahermosa, Tabasco

AMO group in Campeche

Francelia with students at San Pablo Seminary, Mérida, Yucatán, June 2014

We had an amazing week in Mexico City, this week, training a wonderful group of parents and church leaders representing four key churches in the area and one Children’s Home ministry in Baja California. We thoroughly enjoyed the group and look forward to walking with them as they begin AMO Programs for children in their churches, schools, youth groups and other contexts.

Our daily commute took us past the beautiful Palacio de Bellas Artes building in historic downtown. Art and literature are important elements of a wholistic biblical Christian education (e.g. AMO). You can see, below, class participant and school director, Sara Forcada, treating us to her favorite poem during a break in our eight hour days.

Mexico City is a mass of humanity! Streets so crowded with pedestrians that they choke-off the traffic. In such an environment we are awed by God’s creation and mankind’s reflexion and imitation of His creativity through art, architecture and human ingenuity. But amidst the greatness is a lot of pain and many broken lives.

One nurse, who we met this week, lamented the number of teens that she sees who seek abortions, some repeatedly. There is so much we can do and still need to do as the Church to impact our society through education that is inspired by God’s truth, beauty and goodness! Pray for the growing number of children receiving such an education through AMO.

Also, please, continue to pray for our students who are being discipled to become AMO trainers in Mexico. The number of our Mexican students has dropped from five to four. Pray for Ely, Elizabeth, Gloria and Esther and their success in handling their daily lives plus in-depth studies through AMO. Our prayer is for these four to join us in training even more parents and church leaders beginning in 2016.

Thank you, all, for your prayers and wonderful support!

Sara treating us to her favorite poem

Francelia with the many AMO materials available for children’s education

Chris driving in our commute past Bellas Artes!

In Mexico, an important new chapter began in 2014 for parents and church leaders desiring to raise their families on biblical, Christian principles that transform individuals, families, and the nation. The AMO® Program had been used on a limited basis in México since 2006. However, with no certified Mexican AMO Trainers, growth was limited. Now there is AMO México™. We are dedicated to working alongside churches in México and the United States, and Chrysalis International – publisher of AMO®, to raise up Mexican teachers for permanent and sustainable AMO® Programs for children in México.

In 2014, the five-day apprenticeship, Principles of Christian Education for Discipling Nations and AMO® Program, was taught through AMO México to 230 adults representing ministries in 10 Mexican states. The number of children being served with AMO® through various ministries increased sixty percent to nearly 1,000.

Francelia Chávez McReynolds, the first and only certified Mexican AMO Trainer, was very busy last year, to say the least! The feed-back from those trained in México was overwhelmingly positive. “I’ve been to a lot of trainings on education, but, none like this,” commended Thelma Martinez, long-time Christian educator in Villahermosa, Tabasco. Now, Francelia and others are excited to be on the verge of helping, perhaps, 3-5 additional Mexican candidates to begin their year-long apprenticeships to become certified AMO Trainers.

These wonderful new candidates begin weekly online classes, this March, with Dr. Elizabeth Youmans and other excellent teachers of Biblical Worldview and Christian education, including Jose Gonzalez, Luis Sena and Dr. Jill Thrift. After successful completion of classwork, the candidates will continue to be discipled through AMO México and then evaluated. The expenses for the entire process will be approximately $5,000 (U.S.) per candidate. Each candidate can apply for up to $4,500 in scholarship funds. Help is needed in order to offer these funds. If you feel called to provide some of these funds, please phone Chris McReynolds at (830) 719-5812 for more information. We look forward to reporting on the progress and asking for your prayers.

Please, pray for these candidates and their funding, for the families in México working to transform their nation, and for AMO México.

Learning God’s Word for transformed lives.

AMO® Apprenticeships are lined up, in Mexico, for the cities of Xalapa, Mexico D.F., Puebla, and Mérida with another one or two possibilities still in-the-works. We are excited about these plans and the partners we are working with in the local churches that host us. With their help, we invite their community’s churches and parents to take part in the 5-day courses (apprenticeships). We also announce these apprenticeships to our growing network of churches and individuals throughout Mexico who are interested in Biblical Christian education for transforming their families, communities, and nation.

In addition to this year’s apprenticeships, we are planning AMO Workshops and a few Vision Casting events. The workshops will help those who have already undertaken the AMO Apprenticeship to review and continue learning for improving their children’s education. The Vision Casting events are for introducing AMO into new cities. In these presentations we will share some of what we can learn through the Bible about education and how AMO can help.

We ask for your prayers for God to prepare and protect the participants He has planned for this year’s events and safety for Francelia and I (Chris) as we travel. Please, also pray for the many children in current AMO Programs and for many more to be served through this Biblical Christian education that nurtures God’s purpose and potential in each child.

We ask for special prayers for the family of one young boy, Josmar, who was shot and killed in El Moro de Matazan, Oaxaca. The details of the shooting are not known to us, but this young boy attended the new AMO Program that began in that small town last December. Pray for the teacher, Guadalupe Melchor. Guadalupe trained with us in Juchitán, Oaxaca. She and her husband have wonderful hearts for children and need your prayers as they disciple their group of forty-plus children.

Guadalupe with children in El Moro

The week before Christmas, we conducted the last AMO® apprenticeship of the year in Cunduacán, Tabasco, making a total of nine carried out in various parts of México in 2014. We’ve received overwhelming affirmations of God working through these five-day courses and the children’s programs that are resulting.

At least, 800 children are being served, families are being blessed, and churches are gaining new vision for education and discipleship. We are thankful to God for the work He is doing through this ministry.

The following are unsolicited comments, about AMO®, that we’ve had the privilege of receiving this year:

“I’ve been to a lot of trainings about education but none like this,”

~ commended Thelma Martinez, grandmother and long-time Christian educator, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México

“I came (to the apprenticeship) thinking I was just going to learn a children’s program, but my life has been changed!”

~  Chevy Cruz, father of one, missionary, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, México

“We are accustomed to being led and leading others…it takes time and effort for us to develop a habit of reflecting and reasoning in Christ to make sound decisions.”  

~  Abimael Borbolla, father of two, Pastor at Nueva Vida Church, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, México

“We can’t adequately lead our children to places we’ve never been. This is a beautiful time for us as teachers to experience renewal and follow the Spirit and Word of God into areas we haven’t been before.”

~  Alejandro Melgoza Sanchez, father of three, Pastor at Casa de Gloria Church, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México

“In the beginning, the children’s lessons seemed to end up everywhere, except in their notebooks. Now, the children are placing their work in its proper place and they are relating prior lessons with the one they just learned.” 

~  Veronica Bedolla Garcia, mother of three, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán

“We began working with the children using AMO and the parents… seeing transformation and joy…asked ‘what is going on?’ We then started a class for the parents.”

~ Arturo Rodriguez, father of three, México City

“AMO has served me tremendously, not just with my classes, but in my personal life as well.”

~ Priscila Zeda Ceja, Sunday school teacher, Rios de Agua Viva Church, México City

“AMO has been a wonderful help to me, foremost, with my family…it concerns me when I hear the way my nieces and nephews speak.”

~ Veronica Garcia, aunt and Sunday school teacher, Oaxaca, Oaxaca

“This program has helped me in being a better teacher and, since I love literature, it has confirmed my desire to be a writer!”

~ Yediael Borbolla, 16 years old, Nueva Vida Church, Oaxaca, Oaxaca

“I began working with children simply because I loved them. Now I have good foundations to work with them from.”

~ Ruth Pérez Silvestre, teenage teacher at Nueva Vida Church, Oaxaca, Oaxaca

God bless each of you and your families in 2015. Please, contact us anytime for more information about what God is doing in México through AMO® México. We also invite your prayers and financial support in this New Year.

In Christ,

Chris and Francelia

Last week we had the privilege of serving four churches with the AMO® Program in the southern part of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, in the city of Juchitán. Very uniquely – in Mexico, the land of machismo – Juchitán has a culture of matriarchy among the Zapotec people here. Many of the indigenous women rule their families and the commerce in local markets. Both machismo and matriarchy are distortions of God’s plan for families, so families suffer under both schemes. Many boys here are raised to “become women.” These men, who dress and act like women, are called ‘muxes’ and are prized by the matriarchs. Many here are oppressed and enslaved by Satan’s corrupting work. Some estimate that about one-third of the men in the area are homosexual. The churches here are equipping themselves with AMO to reach out to these families with God’s truth and liberty in Christ.

Another tragedy that we witnessed first-hand, is “La Bestia” or “The Beast.” These are freight trains used by thousands of people each month to travel through Mexico from Central America to the United States. These trains derail almost monthly resulting in death or injury to the people clinging to it. We saw six children, approximately 4-15 years of age, with two adults climbing to the top of one train (see photo). A local resident explained that the adults were human traffickers and that the authorities were prohibited from removing people from the train. We pray for the safety of the children and long to reach the families of such children with AMO in their hometowns.

After the five-day AMO apprenticeship, we assisted one of our students, Guadalupe, as she began her first AMO Program in El Morro, a community near Juchitán. She expected 20-25 children but almost 50 arrived! Guadalupe explained that the churches in the community have nothing for the children. Confirming this, we saw churches with sanctuaries but no space for classrooms. We are confident the AMO apprenticeship week served to plant seeds for a new vision for Christian education in this area where discipleship is, sorely, lacking.

Francelia teaching on local radio in Juchitán

Guadalupe signing the AMO Compact with her students (top photos) and children atop the “The Beast” for an uncertain journey north.

On Wednesday night, we were invited to teach on a local Christian radio show. Francelia taught for an hour on the Christian View of the Child, which is one of the key lessons in AMO. She also emphasized, to the estimated audience of 8000, the importance for parents to teach their children God’s Word in the home.

We ask you to pray for Juchitán, and for the many families in disarray throughout Latin America who feel compelled to risk their lives and leave their homes in search of a better life. Pray for the ongoing expansion of AMO throughout Latin America. We know that money doesn’t bring liberty…Jesus Christ and His way of life does. Please, pray for this ministry which is helping families flourish in God’s plan right where they live.

We pray for God’s blessings upon each of you and wish you a Merry Christmas!  We thank each of you who prays for us and we thank those of you who send financial support which makes this ministry possible. Let’s work together in 2015 to help more families find what they are searching for…Christ’s Advent!

~ Chris and Francelia McReynolds

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

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

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