Thursday, December 31, 2009

Regional Encounter in Queretaro





Jan and I went to Queretaro to give workshops on the Manuscript Method and Apologetics from Dec. 18 to 22. The main speaker shared on Revelation 1-3 and showed that Jesus is the main theme of the book.

The students were divided into four groups to look for specific characteristics of the book like how are the words of the first chapter repeated throughtout the whole book.
What OT passages are mentioned in these chapters? What is the style of literature?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Regional Student Retreat

It was five minutes before midnight. We were still talking with Joel and Ivette, our son and daughter-in-law. They had arrived later than usual to pick up our granddaughter, Allegra and they were going to stay overnight. They had been celebrating with one of their best friends who had just announced: “We are going to have a baby.” We, John and Jan, were packed and ready to go to the regional camp of the U students in the morning. Since our workshops were scheduled for Saturday afternoon, we had decided to continue our usual Friday activities. At 11:55pm the phone rang and the world changed.




It was Ana Bello, the University Compa staff, “The Campgrounds was double booked and we are looking for a place. We can stay in one of two church buildings or we could, if you say yes, stay at your house.”

Jan: “How many are you?

Ana: “We are 16 right now and 5 or more will join us tomorrow.”

Jan: “Let me ask John and I will call you back.”

John said” Yes” right away. We started picking up personal belongs that are always in living areas. Joel and John moved 5 single mattresses into a vacant room in the first floor.

At 1:30 am, sixteen tired young people crawled in. By 2am everyone was in their sleeping place. Girls slept on the first floor and the boys in the living room (second floor) on the sofas, two bean bag chairs and some mats.




Needless to say it was a week-end we will never forget. We had always wanted to use the house for retreats, so this was a dream come true. Of course we found out our limitations as accommodations goes. AND we ran out of water late Sunday evening…..but this was after most had left. (We do not have a continuous water supply.)



Everyone seemed quite happy. There good moments of teaching and fun. (The tether ball rope is shot.) Sheyla spoke in the mornings on the importance of the Bible from 1 Peter. There were good places for the workshops. (Jan taught bible study method on the first floor.) Saturday evening John was “Bible answer man”, as the students asked questions about how the Bible was formed and “Does the Bible have more than one interpretation?” “Why is the Bible so macho?” etc.





Sunday afternoon they hiked about two miles from our house to the falls that was almost no falls at all (because of the scant water flow). But it was a good time in God’s nature.



Three days later we are still cleaning up places in the house.

Would we do it again? YES….But we do need to do some changes in the house.

Thanks for supporting us so we can have all this FUN. AND the kids could learn.

Preaching Workshop in Toluca

We left Mexico city on Friday night to get to a workshop on preaching Saturday at 10:00 am. We just had time to sleep and get to the workshop.

Preaching Workshop
We had 4 come to the preaching workshop, which is a good number. Our first task is to explain that preaching is the explanation of the text as stated in Nehemiah 8:8. Many think that preaching is something else. What that is I´s not sure.

The second thing I try to explain is that the argument of the book or passage is what is most important. Since all have had some experience in Inductive Bible Study they can see the importance of finding the argument.

We try to choose a Bible book that has the same number of chapters as people in the workshop. Each student presents a verse in relationship to one chapter. In the summer we did 2 Timothy. When the did their sermons on one verse presenting the argument of the chapter we heard the argumtment of the whole book. This was great.

We have now trained 15 with this basic workshop and have passed out 7 books by Haddon Robinson on preaching. If the leaders of the student ministry can learn to preach the impact of the student ministry will be much greater.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Apologetics Course in Mexico City

Novembre 4-6 I will be giving a course on Apologetics in Mexico City to future Student Ministry Staff. This is an important in the formation of Student Ministry Staff since we are living in a time when Christianity is not popular in the secular universities. We need staff trained in how to respond to the new atheistic trends in the universities. Be praying with us that they will become better able to respond (1 Peter 3:15) and Christian answers can be availible to students

North East Regional Camp: 1 Peter

When we return from our trip to central Mexico we will be speaking at the North East Regional Camp. We will be talking on Living Stone, Community and Pray from 1 Peter. Be praying that the students get the vision of 1 Peter.

Staff training:Biblical Exposition

Staff conference 09, October 29-Noviembre 3, 09
Jan and I are invited each to teach a workshop on Bible Exposition and The Joy Reading Bible in the Annual Staff conference for the University Student Ministry at the end of October in Valle de Bravo, México.

I had give a similar workshop on Biblical Exposition at the Leaders Training Encounter in July. It was a very positive experience for many. Since we use the Inductive Bible Study in the studies on the university campus’ , the trick is to change the delivery from questions to a sermon or monologue.

In the summer workshop I asked the students, What is the biggest cause for a bad sermon? Please write you answer en the comments below this article.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Staff Conference 09

At the end of October, we will attend the Mexican university ministry staff conference. I would like to give books to the staff, to help them do their jobs better. If you would like to help in getting books that teach to staff members, send your donation to Immanuel Christian Fellowship, Mission to Mexico, 909 NE 30th St., Portland, Oregon 97232.

Key books help staff teach and counsel university students to be followers of Jesus in a very hostil environment. Your gift can make a difference.

Let us know if you give so we can advance in purchasing books.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Student Ministry Staff Conference 2009

Jan and I are invited, October 29-Noviembre 3, 2009, each to teach a workshop on Bible Exposition and The Joy Reading Bible in the Annual Staff conference for the University Student Ministry at the end of October in Valle de Bravo, México.

I had give a similar workshop on Biblical Exposition at the Leaders Training Encounter in July. It was a very positive experience for many. Since we use the Inductive Bible Study in the studies on the university campus’ , the trick is to change the delivery from questions and group discussion to a sermon or monologue.

In the summer workshop I asked the students, What is the biggest cause for a bad sermon? Please write you answer en the comments below this article.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Christianity declines in US

Fox News reports that Christianty is declining in the US to the lowest level in history. We need to be aware of these religious changes.

Fox News

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Live video this Friday, Sept 25

This friday the 25 of Sept. we will have a live program on this blog between 7 and 9 pm central time US. We will be studying Job. The program will be in Spanish. But you will be able to see what we are learning to do. The audio will be a little boring, so feel free to leave if your not understanding.

Spiritual AIDS

AIDS = Aquired Ignorance of the Doctrines of Scripture

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Pray for Cristy

Cristy had a problem today remembering things and is now in the Hospital. Please pray for her.

We will let you know her progress.

John C.

TV by Internet


We now have an Internet TV program in Spanish. We are still learning how to do it better. We have had several positive responses in our first program on 2 Peter and Habacuc. If you would like to watch an see what we do, there is a window in the right hand column that directly links to our programs in Renuevalamente. We are very encouraged by these first results. These programs are on Friday nights for 7 till 9 pm Central time.

Be praying for these programs.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Church in Latin America

Milton Acosta has written an article for Christianity Today that describes the church in Latin America. I think he is very accurate in his discription of the situation here. I encourage you to read the article to understand the importance of what we do en Theological Education.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/august/11.40.html

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Leaders Training Encounter 09 Workshop

One of the great needs in Mexico and Latin America is the development of Bible Expositors. Around 1 % of Latin Americans pastors have finished university and many who are pastoring that have finished university have no received any formal Bible education. Most of the students who participated in the University Student Ministy do not have well trained pastors.

So when I was asked to lead a workshop on Bible Exposition, I took advantage of the opportunity. The workshop presented the basics for Bible Exposition.
  1. What is the main point of the text?
  2. How does the biblical author support what he is saying?
  3. What results did he expect from his audience?
  4. What does that mean for us today?
The first week we selected texts form 2 Timothy, and the second week we investigated Haggai (which was more difficult). Several had opportunities to preach their text in the Leadership Training Encounter.

At the end of the second week we took that last day to the coffee shop. It was a good time to talk informally about Biblical Exposition.

Leaders Training Encounter 09 Conferences

We had a great time studying Mark at the Leadership Training Encounter 09 in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. This year we had 27 attending the first week and 35 students the second. Jan and I gave talks on Mark 1-8 and Ana Miriam Peralta presented Mark 9-16.

One of the Girls Ada commented that she had not read the Gospel like what we presented in Mark. Several said that their understanding of the Gospel changed in the Encounter.














Christianity Explored



We had the pleasue of having Rico Tice with us in May to give the "Christianity Explored" course on Mark. Rico is the Pastor for Evangelism at All Souls Church, London, England. This is John R. W. Stott's church.

Rico was comissioned by John Stott to write a course on Evangelism some 15 years ago. There are a lot of issues in how we evangelize. Some emphatize the experience of the person, some decision, some the Spirit and others the Word. What creates new life in a person? This was the task Rico was given. He presented Mark's gospel as a tool for evangelism. Accoring to Rico Mark can be divided into tres parts: 1. Who is Jesus? What was Jesus' identity? 2. Why did Jesus come? What was his mission? 3. What was Jesus's call? How can we follow Jesus?

These talks are now being applied by several churches and in the student ministry to evangelize. We also presented Mark to the Univeristy students at the Leadership Training Encounter. Several became Christians as a result of the conferences.


Westmark Family Renunion

In June we attended the Westmark family reunion in Roach, Missouri. It was great to see Jan's mother, brothers (Tim and Dave) and sister (Carolyn). Cristy and Alex, and Joana got there. Unfortunately Joel and his family couldn't attend because of work. I got to meet some of our family that I had never seen before. It was a good time to be with family.








Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Great Comission is 4 all








Saturday, June 20, 2009

Scholarship for Leader Training Encounter

We need to sponsor aspiring leaders to the Leaders Training Encounter in Mexico. The Encounter begins July 11th and ends on July 24. The current economic crisis means that more leaders need help getting to the Encounter. We will be studying the Gospel of Mark and how this gospel can be used to evangelize. Please send donations to Mission to Mexico, Immanuel Christian Fellowships, 909 NE 30th St., Portland, Oregon 97232. Also let us know if you are giving so we can get the students and staff to the Encounter.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Why student ministry is important

Many people ask us why we think student ministry is so important. 

Students are one of the keys to the religious future of any country. When a person is a student they are open to consider new ideas. Many times after university they become closed because of family ties and work responsabilities. 

Help us keep this area of ministry open.















Saturday, June 6, 2009

Impact of Student Ministry







Spanish blog

To keep in contact with students we blog. The blog began when I broke my foot in July of 2007. I didn't know much about blogging when I began. I began to discover counters and other widgets about a year ago.



















Before looking at the visitors that have come in the last year, it is useful to see where the Spanish speakers live.























In one year more than 3000 visitors have come to the Spanish blog. They have come from all countries where Spanish is spoken.

Leaders Encounter 2009




Añadir imagenIn July 2009 we will be participating in the Leaders Training Encounter, where the key future leaders of the Student Ministry will be trained to study the Bible, evangelize, lead small groups and develop key projects for their schools.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Christianity Explored

May 22 and 23 we will have Rico Tice, pastor of Evangelism, All Souls Church, London, will be presenting a conference in Monterrey. He only speaks English. The English conferences start at about 11:15 and will end at 5:30pm Central Time (Chicago). We will take a break for lunch for approximately 1 hours.

We will be putting a stream cast of this event live on internet. There a two Internet video services that will will be trying. Their windows are at the top of the right column on this page. 

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Flu Fobia

We are trying to organize an event on evangelism. The biggest problem is the fear that is present as a result of the flu virus talk. Many don't want to "risk" anything. The problem is that this virus has resulted almost normal compared with other virus'. People have a greater risk of dying from just going to bed that from being exposed to the virus. More people die from being in bed that from the virus. I don't know what it is going to take to get out of the virus syndrome. Be praying that people can leave the fear behind.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Swine Flu advances

Today, Monday April 27, the National Government of Mexico suspended classes in the whole country because of Swine Flu. We have heard of several Christians who are reported to have the disease. One girl who attende our missionary convention in Guadalajara is preported to have the symtoms.  

Also there was an Earthquake in Mexico City that put everyone in the streets as they have had severe quakes in the past. This also puts more people at risk from the flu. 

Be praying that a solution to the flu is found soon, and that God protect us from this disease.

We are looking for ways to give classes by internet to those who are home bound to avoid the flu. Pray that the Lord open doors in this time of Crisis.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Flu in Mexico

Please be praying as the swine flu continues to claim lives in Mexico. There is an Mexican English News Paper that you can read and keep up with what is happening. www.thenews.com.mx.

I was talking to a friend in Mexico City last night and she said the 3 members of her church had the disease. She asked that we pray for Mexico.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

False Religion: Christless Christianity

Christian Smith has identified a false religión “made in America”. He calls this religión “moralistica, thearpeutica deism”. The key points in this religión are:

1.       God created the world.

2.       God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible an most world religions.

3.       The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.

4.       God does not neeed to be particularly involved in one’s life except when needed to resolve a problema.

5.       Good people go to heaven when they die.

These popular ideas indicate that we are good, God is good and we should be nice. We don´t have to know much to go to heaven and to live our own lives here on earth. We just have to do good things. Knowing the Bible story is unnecessary.

This religión is rapidly taking the place of Christianity arround the world. People need good Bible teaching if they are going to “resist”, we must teaching the whole Bible story and not just accomedate our cultural images of Jesus with Bible texts. 

Monday, March 16, 2009

Lasting Truth

Tradition says that Saint Patrick wrote these words. I think they are a clear expresion of Christian faith. I am posting them so that we can remember Christ on St. Patrick's day 2009.

Lorica of Saint Patrick (Lorica means breastplate)

I arise today
through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
through belief in the Threeness,
through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
through the strength of
Christ with His Baptism,
through the strength of His
Crucifixion with His Burial,
through the strength of His
Resurrection with His Ascension,
through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.
I arise today
through the strength of the love of
Cherubim,
in obedience of
Angels, in the service of the Archangels,
in hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
in prayers of
Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets,
in preachings of
Apostles, in faiths of Confessors,
in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
through the strength of Heaven:
light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire,
speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,
stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.
I arise today
through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me,
God's host to secure me:
against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices,
against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils):
against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul,
against incantations of false prophets,
against black laws of heathenry,
against false laws of
heretics,
against craft of idolatry,
against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul.
Christ to protect me today
against poison, against burning,
against drowning, against wounding,
so that there may come abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
through belief in the Threeness,
through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ.
May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Missionary Convention Vive 09

We are preparing to go the Vive09 which is a missionary conference planned on the model of InterVarsity's Urbana, which has been successful at recruiting missionaries in the USA for many years. I will be giving conferences on God's Big Picture, which is a summary of the Bible where the theme of the Bible will be developed and explained. This is key to understand Christian Missions and their relationship with God's Mission.

I also recommend two books that develop the missionary nature of the whole Bible: Arthur Glasser, Announcing the Kingdom: The story of God's mission in the Bible, Baker Academic, 2003. and Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's grand narrative, IVP, 2006.

Be praying for us as we speak to Mexico's university students about their part in God's Mission.