Church Transformation for Integral Missions

This past week Scott and four other missionaries from Mexico attended a conference in Nicaragua. The conference was for CRWM and CRWRC missionaries in Latin America who are involved in church planting and developing. The conference focused on the indicators of a healthy church and how to help churches move towards being more healthy. One day the group divided into 6 smaller groups to visit and analyze local churches, Christian schools, and other Christian agencies. There was also a seminar by Jim Palmer describing a Christian people movement on the Coco River. Jim also identified four key missiological principles to start a church planting movement.

Agua Viva plans to start Sunday Services in May!

The team of leaders at Agua Viva has a target date of May 25, 2008 for the inagural worship service at the mission. Please pray with us for the planning of this event, and that many new people of the community will attend. Several families have stopped by showing interest in Sunday services, because of work schedules they can not attend during the week.

We also hope to have the new Santuary ready for this event. The construction has continued: Dave Crum (OPC missionary) had a work team help to install the insulation and drywall. The Rodriguez brothers are applying the cement stucco on the ourside of the building. There is still lots to be done, and we have two teams planned this summer who will help with the finish work.

As a team; Israel Ponce (Elder at the "Arca" church) and family, The Crum family, and ourselves will be working out the details of worship style, music, materials, children's classes etc. in the next six weeks. Please pray for wisdom in making these decisions.

Update at the rehab center.

Paulino Luna and the men from the rehab center have continued to work on the foundation for their new building. They poured the rest of the foundation and the floor! The holes are all covered up, only the rebar columns sticking up show where they were. Just like in our lives, the foundation is critical even though it remains hidden. Thanks again to our friends from Calvary CRC of Holland, MI, for your help with this big project!

John and Jerre De Young visit Tijuana

John and Jerre De Young retired last summer after many years of service with CRWM in Tijuana. They are now living in Zeeland, MI. They drove out for a visit (through a major hail storm) the first week of April. We were excited to see them, our girls grew up with Uncle John and Aunt Jerre! Their many friends here were also glad to get the chance to visit with them again. The De Youngs were encouraged to see that the work in Terrazas and Dios Altisimo continues to grow. Continue to pray for their trip, they plan to see family in California, and friends in Washington before returning home. Pray also for their health.