HISTORY OF THE CALL
The Lord first called Priscilla and I to serve as missionaries to Mexico almost ten years ago—before we even met each other. In fact, our common calling to Mexico was one of the things that first brought us together. When we got married six years ago, our plan was to move to Mexico shortly after our wedding. The Lord had other plans! As the Proverb says, “A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9). After four years serving the Lord in student ministry in Colorado and another two years devoted to family time in California, we feel strongly that God is telling us it is time to finally step into the calling He has had on our lives for all these years.
SHORT TERM VISION
As we’ve sought clarity from the Lord in recent months as to the details of the work He has for us, a few things have come into focus. We are now confident that God has called us to plant a church on the northwestern side of the city of Chihuahua, Mexico. Priscilla and I believe that Chihuahua (and on a larger scale all of Mexico) is in desperate need of more Jesus-centered, Bible-teaching, theologically-solid, missional churches. Chihuahua itself is a city of around 900,000 people and seems to have very few of these types of churches. The northwestern side of the city in particular is an area that is growing immensely. There are many new neighborhoods and very few churches in the area to minister to the influx of people. On top of this growth, this side of the city also contains a large state university--UniversidadAutónoma de Chihuahua (UACH). After hearing that there are no Christian ministries pointing the students of UACH to Jesus, my heart burned all the more to minister in this part of the city. Priscilla and I feel that young people in Mexico (let’s say from about 14-30 years old) are marginalized in the culture and largely unreached by many evangelical churches in the country. Although our desire is not to lead a church that ministers exclusively to this group, they do hold a special place in our hearts and we believe God wants to use our family to point many of them to Jesus. I think of Paul’s words to the Romans, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14). As Priscilla and I make our home in Chihuahua, we yearn to be those that tell the people there the good news of Jesus Christ through our words and our actions.
LONG TERM MISSION
The way I am wired, it is often easier for me to see long-term vision than it is for me to see the short-term steps leading up to that vision. (Priscilla is the one that makes sure we are able to function as a family on a day-to-day basis)! With that in mind, my long-term focus can be summed up in a phrase I heard from a close friend of mine--I actually don’t believe that God is calling us to Mexico to plant a church, I believe He is calling us to Mexico to plant churches. My long-term desire is to spend time discipling and raising up leaders who can be sent out to plant churches all throughout Mexico and Latin America. Priscilla and I understand that planting the church in Chihuahua will need full commitment from our family for a long period of time, and we are prepared to give that commitment. Lord willing, however, the church would be planted with a missional focus of planting more churches built right into its DNA. The plan then would be to eventually create an in-depth program aimed at raising up pastors to plant churches all throughout Mexico (and eventually into other parts of Latin America as well). Discipling potential leaders so that they are trained and equipped to be used by Jesus to impact the world is probably what I am most passionate about. It’s just like what Paul spoke of in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” This kind of discipleship has an exponential impact for the kingdom of God that reaches far beyond our immediate spheres of influence. That’s exciting to dream about! We know this will be a lifetime of work, but Priscilla and I are committed to serving the Lord in Latin America for the rest of our lives (if that is indeed what He has in store for us). One of the Scriptures that the Lord has given our family is Ephesians 3:20-21. It has inspired us time and again to trust God for great things that He may receive the glory from our lives. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Be glorified through our family Jesus!