First training given by two of our new AMO trainers in Oaxaca!

We are praising God for this very first AMO Training in México taking place in Oaxaca without our direct involvement. Congratulations to Elizabeth Aguilar and Esther Suárez for venturing out with God and expanding his work! These women prepared for a long time for this moment. Pray for them and the group they are training throughout this month, please.

Estamos glorificando a Dios en este día por el primer entrenamiento de AMO en México que se está llevando a cabo en Oaxaca sin nuestro apoyo directo. ¡Felicidades a Elizabeth Aguilar y Esther Suárez por confiar en Dios en este paso importante en Su trabajo! Estas mujeres se prepararon mucho para llegar a este momento. Oren por ellos, por favor.

Bendiciones,

Chris and Francelia

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

In Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, the Iglesia Centro Cristiano “Transformación” has built a cabin out of reused materials to serve as an education center for children from poor neighborhoods. Church volunteers gather with about 70 children twice a week for activities and learning. One family of seven children who attend are among the poorest.

The mother died, recently, and the father, an alcoholic, was injured by a car when he was crossing the street and is now unable to work. “The children are basically making their own living. We found their house a wreck and started cleaning up and working with the children and providing things they need.” said Lucy Villanueva, whose husband, Otoniel, is pastor of the church “Transformación.”

Francelia and new AMO Trainer, Elizabeth Bermudez of Oaxaca, trained sixteen of these volunteers recently, plus others from across Irapuato. They plan to implement AMO for the children in these poor neighborhoods. The church leaders, eventually, want to build a Christian school. “We have been praying for an AMO training since I heard about the program at a Disciple Nations Alliance conference, three years ago in Panama.” said Otoniel.

The church is developing their capacity to reach into all areas of their community with the Gospel. Please, pray for them and the growing number of families and local churches who are working to transform their communities.

Pray also, for our MeXED conference later this month in Mérida, Yucatán, México. Churches and ministries like “Transformación” will gather to equip, fellowship, and strengthen Christian education and discipleship in Mexico, and beyond. The dates are 20-22 September. You can register at http://www.mexed2016.org. Please, call us with any questions (830) 719-5812.

Thank you, for your prayers!

New AMO Trainer, Elizabeth Bermudez, in Irapuato

Regardless of age, everyone loves a good story!

Francelia teaching in Irapuato, Guanajuato

Posting art for the public in Irapuato

(Español abajo)

Dear Friends,

Last month in our “Pray for the Summer” post we asked for prayers for 18-year-old Eduardo, son of church leaders in Cadereyta, Nuevo León, who had been kidnapped. With heavy hearts we report that his remains were found yesterday. Please, pray for his family and the church in Cadereyta as they mourn his death.

Pray that those responsible would be found and brought to justice. Pray that, all of us, as the body of Christ will faithfully respond in God’s work of healing and transformation that will one day bring an end to these tragedies.

Estimados Amigos,

Pedimos sus oraciones para la familia de Eduardo, un joven de diez y ocho años quien fue secuestrado y matado. Oren por su familia, líderes en la iglesia en Cadereyta, Nuevo León.

Oren por justicia. Oren también por todos nosotros, como el cuerpo de Jesucristo, para responder con fidelidad en la obra de Dios que, algún día, se acabará con estos tipos de tragedias.

En Cristo,

Chris y Francelia

Aguascalientes Group

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

God’s amazing, unstoppable, plan to make disciples of all nations is most striking when the nations are rebelling. While Christian values and biblical principles are under attack in the United States, the same is true in Mexico.

Organizations promoting “sexual diversity” are collaborating with the Secretary of Education in Mexico targeting kinder and first grade children by providing free literature to schools. Many parents are outraged at the redefining of family, matrimony, and the promotion of gender-chaos.

The 2013 education reforms in Mexico set out to break control of corrupt teachers unions, implement teacher evaluations, and “modernize” education — all potentially good things. Pray for good results as theory and reality collide. Meanwhile, churches in central Mexico are planning to march this September 10th to protest the anti-biblical agenda of government and public education leaders.

At our training last week, in Aguascalientes, the concerns of parents were evident. Parents of two families recently decided to begin schooling their children at home. One of the mothers, Ruth Barrón, said, “This training is an answer to prayer. It’s just what I needed.”

Joel Chávez, a private school teacher, said he plans to build his own school on land he purchased. “I want AMO® as the main curriculum along with vocational training” he stated.

Kimberly Atilano, is also preparing to homeschool her three children. “My husband and I don’t agree with the values being taught (in public schools)” she complained. She’s excited to begin using AMO.

Christian school directors, David and Cristina Roberts, who organized our training, brought ten of the teachers from their school to improve their knowledge and skills in wholistic biblical Christian education and gain a higher vision for what education can be. Their school is already in the state’s top 20 best in academics. They’ve seen an increase in enrollment in recent years and expect to see the largest number of students this year. David said parents are being denied any say in what is taught to their children in public schools.

We are thankful for all these dedicated leaders and blessed to have a part in helping them with AMO. Please, pray for all these efforts. Pray also for the millions of families and children in schools dealing with ideologies they do not agree with.

Join Christian educators and supporters in Mérida, Yucatán, this September 20-22  for MeXED (notice date change). The purpose of MeXED participants is to lift up God’s vision for education throughout Mexico and beyond. Call us for details (U.S. Mobile (830) 719-5812.

Thanks for your prayers!

Gloria Viveros teaching in Aguascalientes

(Español abajo)

(Please note: dates for MeXED have been changed to Sept. 20-23)

We would love for you to join us and many other biblical Christian educators and discipleship ministries from around Mexico, the United States, and beyond. We will meet, this September 20-23, at San Pablo Presbyterian Seminary in Mérida, Yucatán, México.

MeXED represents a broad, biblically focused, community of educators, disciplers, and supporters, all involved in God’s work of transforming individuals, families, communities and nations according to His Word. This will be a time for personal meetings as well as group learning, sharing, and fellowship together.

Our friend, Jose Gonzalez, of Semilla, will be with us again this year, to teach on the power and dynamics of Covenant and from “Machismo and Matriarchy: Toxic Roots that Blight the Latin American Culture“. In addition, there will be others sharing about what God is doing and the opportunities he is presenting. Please, call us at (830) 719-5812 for details.

(Por favor, note el cambio de la fecha para MeXED, que será del  20 al 23 de septiembre)

Nos encantaría si usted se pudiera reunir con nosotros y muchos otros educadores bíblicos y cristianos, que vendrán de varias partes de México, Estados Unidos y más allá. Vamos a reunirnos los días del 20 al 23 de septiembre en las instalaciones del Seminario Teológico Presbiteriano San Pablo en Mérida, Yucatán. (Tel. 999 941 0070 y dirección, Carretera Dzitya Km. 2 s/n 300 mt. adelante de la glorieta del frac. Las Américas, Mérida, Yuc., México.)

MeXED representa una comunidad de educadores, discipuladores y patrocinadores – todos obreros de Dios involucrados en Su obra de transformar individuos, familias, comunidades y naciones, en acuerdo con Su Palabra.

Nuestro amigo, Jose Gonzalez, del ministerio Semilla, estará con nosotros enseñando de su libro “Machismo y Matriarcado: Raíces tóxicas de la cultura Latinoamericana”. Además, estarán varias otras personas compartiendo de lo que Dios está haciendo y las oportunidades que Él está presentando. Puede llamar al seminario (Tel. 999 941 0070) para los detalles o también a nosotros (al celular de México 55 2118 3003 y tambíen por Whatsapp).

Dr. Jill Thrift, of Chrysalis Int, compartiendo en MeXED 2015 acerca del curso del curso de posgrado que se está usando para preparar Entrenadores AMO en México.

Jose Gonzalez, de Semilla, hablando en 2015 en Tabasco

It’s dry and hot and not time to plant but, that doesn’t stop God! Our week in the city of Zapopan, in the metro-area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, was definitely seed planting time for God. Thirty people participated in our AMO® Apprenticeship/training, receiving seeds (biblical principles) that produce lives and communities transformed by God’s Word.

This is the first time we’ve trained in the Guadalajara area and we’ve already been invited back. Please, pray for this group as they implement AMO for children and families.

Esther Suárez, one of our new AMO Trainers, joined us. It was a great blessing to see her finally training others after her year-long preparation with Chrysalis International. Pray for all our new trainers as they begin taking steps to train others on their own. Please, pray also for additional trainers to be equipped in 2017. Our nation’s need them!

With all the alarming things happening in our nations, we are humbled as we see God rounding up his people to equip them to be the “salt” that he requires all of us to be for our societies. John Stott says:

Christian salt has no business to remain snugly in elegant little ecclesiastical salt cellars; our place is to be rubbed into the secular community, as salt is rubbed into meat, to stop it going bad. And when society does go bad, we Christians tend to throw up our hands in pious horror and reproach the non-Christian world; but should we not rather reproach ourselves? One can hardly blame unsalted meat for going bad. It cannot do anything else. The real question to ask is: “where is the salt?”

Those we see in our trainings are truly salt for this world and we are blessed to work with them. Thank you, for keeping us in your prayers. 

In Christ,

Chris and Francelia

P.S. ~ Last week, the transmission on our vehicle broke, at night, near Mexico City. We were able to drive slowly to our home, just thirty minutes away. The next day God saw us safely to just the right mechanic in Mexico City, provided transportation to the training in Zapopan and back again after the training to pick up the Tahoe…as good as new! We thank God for his provision and protection.

P.P.S. ~ Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the MeXED (Christian Education and Discipleship in Mexico) event, September 25-30 in Mérida, Yucatán. Please, call us at (830) 719-5812 for details.

Zapopan group trained in AMO

Esther modeling Classic Literature class

Participants engaging in biblical principles that change their worldview

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

We ask your prayers for this summer’s AMO® trainings, in Guadalajara next week and in Aguascalientes and Irapuato next month. It’s exciting that the new AMO Trainers will be co-teaching with us to gain valuable new experience! Continue praying for Elizabeth, Ely, Gloria, and Esther.

We are happy to report that, AMO Trainer, Elizabeth Bermudez and her family are back home in Oaxaca from their extended stay in California. Chevy, Elizabeth’s husband, you will remember, was receiving very specialized basal skull cancer treatments there. He is doing very well now, Elizabeth says, and all are happy to be back home. Please, join us in giving thanks to God for their return and Chevy’s improving health. Please, pray also for their state, Oaxaca, which has suffered violence and riots since our training there last month.

Our training scheduled for Cadereyta, this month, was cancelled by the leaders there due to insecurity and economic crisis. Please, pray for Eduardo, a young man from the church who was kidnapped on Sunday. Pray also for the community experiencing layoffs from the oil refinery there, of which, almost everyone in the town depends on, economically. We will continue working for a future date. In the meantime, they are sending three of their leaders to train with us in Guadalajara.

Families and businesses in Mexico deal with kidnapping, extortion and the many forms of corruption, everyday. The effects are crippling on a personal and national level. Most cases go uninvestigated and untried. Many churches that we work with are combating this by improving the education they offer to families and their communities.

“The role of education is more important than preaching the gospel and making laws, because it is the foundation of both!” – Noah Webster, Father of American Christian education, 1789

These churches are why we carry out the AMO trainings, and the long-term discipleship that follows, to equip parents and church leaders who are determined to transform their nation for God’s glory. Pray for them. Pray for the ministries assisting them.

In September 25-30, many of these ministries and individuals will be gathering at San Pablo Theological Seminary in Mérida, Yucatán, for MeXED. We invite you to join us. Please, set this date aside and pray for this time of connecting, learning and discernment. Contact us at (830) 719-5812 for details.

Thank you, for your prayers and support.

In Christ,

Chris and Francelia

Federal Judicial seal, Mexico City. Pray for churches educating future citizens and leaders in Mexico.

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds ~

It has been a very special week here in Oaxaca and God has answered many prayers. Four new AMO Trainers for Mexico were certified by Chrysalis International, represented by Cristina Inchaustegui, Director of AMO in Latin America. We thank all of you who have prayed for this over the past year.

New trainers for the AMO Program are important because many more children – thousands more over time – will be educated and inspired by God’s Word and Spirit in ways that nurture the potential God has placed in each one. Children and parents, both, are discipled.

During the week Carmen, mother of two, shared with our group how God used her two children to save her marriage. In the midst of the storm, Carmen joined her children in their AMO classes. Reading, reasoning with God’s Word, listening to classic literature like Heidi, and creating art, right alongside the children, allowed God to heal her heart and give new vision for her marriage. At home, the children literally counselled their parents with the biblical principles they learned in AMO. Over time, the couple reconciled and now focus their energies on the family and the work of the church. AMO teachers trained by well prepared AMO Trainers set the stage for this healing.

Elizabeth Bermudez, Esther Suarez, Elizabeth Aguilar, each of Oaxaca, and Gloria Viveros of Mexico City, have all worked and studied hard with Dr. Elizabeth Youmans, and others, over the past year to become certified trainers of Biblical Foundations for Christian Education and the AMO® Program. We are excited to walk together with them in God’s calling for AMO in Mexico.

Each of these trainers are volunteers. If you would like to help them get started with the equipment they need to train (computer, projector, globe, Timeline, art supplies, and other expenses) call Chris McReynolds at (830) 719-5812 or write mexico@amoprogram.com.

We also want to ask you to pray for us as we identify future trainer candidates. We are praying that another group of AMO trainers can be certified for Mexico in 2017.

Thank you for your prayers!

The group of parents and church leaders in Oaxaca trained by our new AMO Trainers!

Top L to R: New AMO Trainers Gloria Viveros, Elizabeth Bermudez, Elizabeth Aguilar, Esther Suarez. Bottom: Chris and Francelia helping with the trainer evaluations.

Director of AMO in Latin America, Cristina Inchaustegui, of the Dominican Republic, presenting our new trainers with their certificates.

Parents and other leaders in Tabasco equipping to serve the next generations through AMO.

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

Jesus Christ teaches us to sacrifice for others. We are especially thankful, this Memorial Day, for the sacrifice so many have made for their nation. We pray this weekend is a blessing for you and yours.

Next week marks a very important time for us. We would like to ask you to pray for our four AMO Trainer candidates.

Next week, in Oaxaca, Mexico, these women will complete their year-long studies with Dr. Elizabeth Youmans, as well as other professors, in a final practicum and evaluation (an actual five-day AMO training for approximately 30 parents and church leader) in order to be certified AMO Trainers in Mexico.  Many of you have been praying with us for Elizabeth Bermudez, Elizabeth “Ely” Aguilar, Gloria Viveros and Esther Suarez for a long time now. This is a very important time of growth for the ministry in Mexico that will result in thousands of additional children, over time, being taught with biblical Christian education that will change the course of history for their lives.

Please, pray for Elizabeth Bermudez. Elizabeth will be travelling from California, U.S.A., to Oaxaca, specifically, for this evaluation. We’ve mentioned before that Elizabeth, her husband Chevy, and young son Nehemiah, who live in Oaxaca, have been in California for months for Chevy’s very specialized treatment to cure basal-skull cancer. He is doing much better and insisted that Elizabeth make the trip back to Oaxaca for her certification. Please, continue to pray for complete healing for Chevy, safe travel for Elizabeth (from California and back again after the evaluation), and for God to use this whole experience to greatly bless Nehemiah.

Pray for Ely. Ely’s church is hosting the training and so she has taken on a lot of the logistics and planning in addition to her final preparations for the training.

Pray for Gloria. In addition to her preparations, Gloria and her husband, Pastor Edgar Teran, are in the midst of settling into an apartment closer to the church they serve in downtown Mexico City.

Pray for Esther. Esther is a pastor in her church and has many responsibilities in addition to her preparation for this “final exam.”

Please, pray for our good friend, Cristina Inchaustegui. Cristina will travel from the Dominican Republic, representing Chrysalis International, to evaluate the four candidates for certification. Some of you will remember that Cristina conducted many trainings with us in Mexico before Francelia became certified to train.

Thank you for your prayers. We’ll keep you informed.

In Christ,

Chris and Francelia

By Chris and Francelia McReynolds

Lilibeth receiving her certificate from STPS. Pictured (L to R) is Chris, Lilibeth, Francelia and Rector of the seminary, Pbro. José Juan Hernández García. Lilibeth recibiendo su certificado del STPS.

(Español abajo) A milestone was reached last week here in Tabasco, México, when Lilibeth Ramirez Castillo, of Villahermosa, became the first person to receive credit hours from Seminario Teológico Presbiteriano del Sureste (STPS) for successfully completing the apprenticeship Biblical Foundations for Christian Education and the AMO® Program. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, two Presbyterian Theological seminaries in Mexico have now certified Chrysalis International’s, AMO® Program with its focus on biblical training and ongoing discipleship for Christian educators.

STPS, in Cedro de Nacajuca, Tabasco, is awarding students three credit hours in its Christian Education program for completing this thirty-hour AMO Apprenticeship and San Pablo Theological Seminary in Mérida, Yucatán, is awarding a special certificate in Christian Education for successful completion of the yearlong AMO Trainer of Teachers on-line course and practicum, taught by Chrysalis International. These certifications can give helpful backing to parents and teachers across the country that are striving to transform education and better nurture children and their families with God’s truth, beauty and moral goodness.

Nurturing what God has already placed within us is central in AMO. Jesus’ command to “Feed my lambs ” or “Apacienta Mis Ovejas (AMO),” (John 21:15), is the inspiration behind the curriculum and the training that is so essential to provide biblical vision, methodology and ongoing discipleship.

We ask for your prayers:

• As volunteer trainers/directors in Mexico, we ask for your prayers for strength, perseverance, and wisdom in helping ourselves, and others, “renew our minds” and our approach to education.
• We ask for your continued prayers for Gloria Viveros, Esther Suarez, Elizabeth Aguilar, and Elizabeth Bermudez who are approaching the final phase of the AMO Trainers of Teachers course in June in Oaxaca. Pray for God’s direction for them once the course is completed.
• We ask, especially, for your prayers for Lilibeth, and all those like her in Mexico and beyond, who are working hard to transform education in obedience to Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 to “…go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them all I have commanded you…”.
• Thank you for your prayers and support. Please, call us anytime at (830) 719 5812.

Un gran logro fue alcanzado la semana pasada aquí en Tabasco, México, cuando Lilibeth Ramirez Castillo de Villahermosa, se convirtió en la primera persona en recibir horas-crédito del Seminario Presbiteriano del Sureste (STPS) por haber completado satisfactoriamente el entrenamiento de Principios Bíblicos de Educación Cristiana y del Programa AMO. Como ya lo mencionamos en notas pasadas, dos seminarios presbiterianos de teología en México han certificado el Programa AMO de Chrysalis International con su enfoque entrenamiento bíblico y discipulado continuo para educadores cristianos.Gracias por todas sus oraciones y apoyo. Por favor, llámenos en cualquier momento a nuestro número en E.U. (830) 719 5812 y en México al 5521-3003 (célular y Whatsapp).

El STPS en el Cedro Nacajuca, Tabasco está otorgando tres horas-crédito a los estudiantes en su programa de educación cristiana al completar el Entrenamiento de AMO de treinta horas y el Seminario Teológico San Pablo en Mérida, Yucatán está otorgando un certificado especial en Educación Cristiana por el curso satisfactorio de todo un año del Entrenamiento en línea AMO para Entrenadores de Maestros y sus prácticas, que enseña Chrysalis International. Estas certificaciones otorgan un soporte útil a padres y maestros en todo el país que están luchando para transformar la educación y apacentar de mejor manera a los niños y sus familias con la verdad, la belleza y la bondad moral de Dios.

Apacentar lo que Dios ha puesto de antemano dentro de nosotros, es central en AMO. El mandato de Jesús de “Apacienta Mis Ovejas (AMO)”, (Juan 21:15), es la inspiración detrás del currículo y el entrenamiento, la cual es muy esencial para impartir visión, una metodología bíblica y un discipulado continuo.

Pedimos sus oraciones:

• Como entrenadores voluntarios/directores en México, les pedimos sus oraciones por fortaleza, perseverancia y sabiduría para que Dios ayude a toda la nación a “renovar nuestras mentes” y en nuestro enfoque en la educación.
• Seguimos pidiendo sus oraciones por Gloria Viveros, Esther Suarez, Elizabeth Aguilar y Elizabeth Bermudez quienes ya están cerca de la fase final del curso de AMO para Entrenadores de Maestros en junio en Oaxaca. Oren por la guía de Dios sobre ellos, una vez que el curso se haya completado.
• Pedimos especialmente sus oraciones por Lilibeth y por todos aquellos que como ella en México y más allá quienes están trabajando duro para transformar la educación en obediencia al mandato de Jesús en Mateo 28:19-20 “… vayan y hagan discípulos en todas las naciones… enseñándoles que guarden todas las cosas que les he eseñado…”.