“No Compromise” - Mexico Outreach '99

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. " (Galatians 2:20-21)

Several of the high school youth (Caren J.- team leader, Kristin P., Dominick G., Wendell A., Magnus A., Thomas B. and Josh A.) and two adults (Pastor John Foss and Rosalina S.) are preparing for an exciting and life-renewing, life-changing week in Mexico during the month of August.  During the week of August 14-21, the youth will be traveling to Ensenada, Mexico and will be ministering to children as they lead a week of Vacation Bible School at a local church.  We will be joining about 300 other youth from throughout the country who come together at a "base camp" just outside of Ensenada and then are sent out to various parks and churches in the Ensenada area to do their ministry.

The theme verse for this year's trip is Galatians 2:20-21.  The message of this verse represents why we participate in ministries such as this trip.  Why would anyone want to spend a week traveling to a foreign place, camp in the dirt and dust of a hot inland valley and pay money to do this?  We do these things because Christ lives in us and calls us to "love our neighbor" and to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the "ends of the earth."  Harold Percy, in his book, Good News People, writes, "Evangelism is important to the church, because the world is important to God."  Our selfish, sinful self would want to only do the things that would give us pleasure and benefit, but since that sinful self has been "crucified with Christ" it is our heart's desire to serve God and other people.  We seek to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We do this, however, as people who are sinful and who need to "die to sin" each day of our lives, and choose to live for Christ.  There will be times during the week that our lessons will not go as planned, that we may get lost in the city and that tempers may fare up due to the close living quarters.  We need to rely on God's grace each day to get us through when things get difficult.  It is only by His forgiveness and grace and the presence and power of His Holy Spirit that the message of our Savior, Jesus Christ will be heard and effectively communicated to the hearts of the hearers.

Please pray for the youth and adults as they prepare for this important outreach and as they minister to the children.  Pray that team members' love for one another would be seen by the children and that nothing would hinder the message of God's love for them in Jesus Christ.  Pray for safety and for physical and spiritual wellness of the team members.  You will be able to pray for them specifically during the special commissioning of these "missionaries" at the worship services on Sunday, August 8.  Thank you for the support that many of you have already given the team through prayer, donations of needed supplies and support of the fundraisers.

Remember that God calls each one of us to our own "Ensenada."  Where is God calling you to share his love?  Next door?  In your workplace?  In your family?  To people living in another country?  Pray for God to give you opportunities to share your faith and expect Him to answer!  Learn more about sharing your faith in the Sunday morning Bible class that meets during the month of August.  As baptized believers in Jesus Christ, we all have a message of hope and life to give to our world.