October Mexico Mission - Family Conference

Buenos Dias Lynwood,

Hello again from Union de San Antonio.

Bob and I continue to promote the Family Conference tonight by putting up the remaining posters and handing out flyers to people that we meet. Something cool that has happened this time, is that we have not had to put up all the posters. Because there are some ladies in the community that are excited about the conference and are putting up more posters than we have! In fact they ran out and wanted to know if they could have some of ours, which of course we said yes and gave them the remaining posters. This is exactly what we want to happen! We want the people of this community to take charge and promote the conferences and Bible studies themselves. PTL!

Wednesday we met Dennis Johnson and Pedro Marquez for lunch for a time of visiting about future plans and rejoicing about what the Lord is accomplishing in the county of Union de San Antonio and this area of the Highlands of Jalisco. We also discussed how hard this whole area is to reach and the personal persecutions that these people face when they finally take a stand for Christ. Please continue to pray that God would open the eyes of the people to his Word and his mercy and grace.

After lunch we went to one of the local hospitals where Daniel and Laurie had thier first child. Mom and baby are doing fine and will probably come home today. The baby's name is Priscila Laurel Graff, and no, I don't know the baby's weight or length, and I don't have any pictures.......yet.

Later Wednesday evening we attended a Bible study/church service in Lagos with Dennis and the people of the community where he is working. This was a very neat time with the people, to see how much they love the Lord. It is very apparent in the way that they sing and pray. Also in their hunger for God's word. God has also provided a family that just moved into this community a couple of months ago. The man has been a bi-vocational Pastor at a church for three years in the town where they moved from. Dennis has had him preaching on Sundays and they are also out visiting with the people, trying to grow the church. Another example of God providing local people to spread His Word. Someday we will be out of a job and will have to move on to another location. PTL!

Thursday we went out to see our dear amiga (friend) Julia out in Jaugey. She is doing pretty well physically/health wise. But her husband has lost his job, hopefully temporarily. Since he was out of work we actually got to meet her husband for the first time in four years. We are going to purchase a few needed groceries today and take them back out to her. Please continue to pray for her, her family and the ranch of Jaugey.

We will do some last minute errands and logistical items today to get ready for the conference tonight.

I will ask you again to pray for this Family Conference at 7pm. The conference topic or name is "¿Como Conservar la Chispa del Amor? en engles "How To Conserve the Spark of Love" Please pray that the attendees will clearly hear the Word of God and will then have a hunger for more i.e. Bible Studies in homes.

Tu Hermanos en Mexico,

El Jefe y Roberto

Leia Mais…

October Mexico Mission - Family Conference

Hola Lynwood,

Bob and I started out at about 1am Monday morning and arrived in Mexico at around 11:15 am. We were picked up and taken to Lagos de Moreno to visit with Pedro and family. They are all doing well. We then picked up our translator and went to Union de San Antonio to check into the hotel. After we got settled in we went to go visit with Daniel & Laurie, a local independent missionary couple we have been working with down here. They are expecting thier first child any day now. We picked up our promotional posters and flyers for the Family Conference from them and spoke to them about some bible studies that they have been able to get started as a result of the previous Family Conferences and thier efforts building relationships with the people of this community. After that we returned to Leon to attend a prayer meeting with the people of the Emmanuel Baptist Church, they are the church that we have a partnership with to help us lead bible studies in the ranches. We got back to the hotel around midnight to end our 23 hour day.

Tuesday we had breakfast with Pedro and then returned to Union de San Antonio. We confirmed our date and time for the Family Conference with the Director of the Casa de la Cultura, of course as usual, they did not quite remember that we had the auditorium reserved, but it all worked out. We spent the afternoon putting up posters in the local tiendas (little shops) and on telephone poles which is the most common method of advertising local events. We also understand that on Thursday we will have a car with a speaker on top going around the town and announcing the conference also.

We got a phone call from our translator saying that she would not be able help us the next couple of days. We really needed a translator as we had planned to visit Clemintina and family in Caliche. We called Rene from Leon and he came out to help us. This turned out better than expected because Clemintina has been experiencing pressure from her friends and family in the community asking if she has changed her religion and why does she let those christians into her home. Rene was able to encourage her and she is strong. Rene deals with these kind of issues all the time and had just the right words. God is in control!!!

In the evening we got to attend a Bible study here in Union with a family Daniel and Laurie are discipling. They own a cheese factory here in Union. They have attended all of the previous family conferences and have a lot of questions. They are seeking to learn more about the Word of God and a relationship with Christ. We had a really good study time with this family and are hoping that they may be a family of peace in Union.

Today we will meet with Dennis Johnson and talk about the Family Conference on Friday. We will continue to promote the conference with the remaining materials we have. There are some ladies of the community that Laurie has a Bible study with on Wednesday evening that have volunteered to make coffee and cookies to have after the conference. It is really cool to start to see the people in town wanting to participate in the work that we are doing.

It is very apparent and exiting to see that the Lord is at work here in Union de San Antonio. Please continue to pray that we will be doing what the Lord would have us do the next couple of days as we prepare for the Family Conference on Friday at 7pm. Please pray for the people that will attend the conference, that they will be open to what the Holy Spirit might be saying to them.

Dios te Bendiga,

Jeff & Bob

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference

Hello Lynwood,

Just wanted to wrap up from last weeks mission trip.

We went to Guanajauto Friday for a day of tourism and then Saturday morning I took the team to the airport to head back to Florida. I returned back to Lagos and then Union de San Antonio to prepare for the Family Conference that evening. We had good group of 30 people show up for the conference. That is lower than expected but we seem to have a lot of competition that evening, mainly graduation parties. But I thank God for the ones that did show up because they heard God's word in an interesting and understandable way. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will begin to move in these folks hearts, and that a home bible study would come from this and then a New Testament Church!!

Thanks again for your continued prayers and support, we had a productive week and God continues to open doors in Union de San Antonio and the surrounding communities and ranches of the county. The next trip is planned for the latter part of September, I will determine the exact dates soon. I encourage you to please come with us and see for yourself, a place where God is at work and we have joined Him there.

In Christ,
Jeff Smith "El Jefe"

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference

Hola Lynwood,

Yesterday we went out to Caliche and finished the painting project. It turned out real well and the people are happy about the improvement. Please pray that this will open more doors in this community to share the Gospel.

We will travel to Guanajuato today for a tourism day and I will take the team from Florida to the airport tomorrow to return home. I am staying one more day to attend the Family Conference. Please continue to pray for the conference Saturday night at 7pm. Dennis Johnson will be teaching on the¨"The Five Love Languages".

This will probably be the last time I write until I return home.

In Christ,

Jeff & Team

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference

Hola Church,

Well Praise the Lord, I ran into the city Mayor yesterday morning out on the Plaza, and after visiting with him a while, I did get confirmation that we could do the Family Conference on Saturday evening. Your prayers concerning this issue have been greatly appreciated and are working! So......for the rest of the day we went around putting up posters in the tiendas (little stores) and on telephone poles around the city of Union. We also had about 500-1000 little flyers that we handed to people as we went about promoting the conference. These conferences are being very well received in this community, so please continue to pray for a large turn out and the Holy Spirit moving in the people that attend the conference and hear His Word in a non threatening way.

Today we are going to go back to Caliche and continue the painting project we started on Tuesday.Please pray that we will get oppotunities to share with the people of this community.....the love of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:14-15a How can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?

Tenga una buen dia,
En Cristo,
"El Jefe" and Equipo (Team)

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference

Buenos Dias Lynwood,

We went to the the Casa de la Cultura yesterday to confirm the reservation for the auditorium for the Family Conference on Saturday night. As usual at first they acted like they couldn't remember that we had the room reserved but finally looked at a calender and found it was written down. We thought we were OK but were told that we still needed to get permission from the Mayor???? We will find out this morning if we have permission or not. I'm pretty sure that there will be no problem. We will put up posters and hand out flyers today, pray for open hearts of the people that we come into contact with, and for opportunities to share God's love with them. Please continue to pray for this conference and the results that will come from it.

We also painted the front wall / fence and gates at the school in Caliche yesterday afternoon. The end result was muy bonita. We will continue painting on some of the classrooms tomorrow.

We covet your continued prayers,
In Christ,
Jeff and Team

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference

Hello Church from Union,

We visited with Clemintina and family yesterday and she was able to get us a meeting with the Director of the school in Caliche, and he was very open to us doing some painting on the school. So today we are going to buy our supplies and begin the work of painting the front wall, fence and gates going into the school grounds. Please pray that the people we come into contact with today are open to us and that the Lord will provide oppotunities to share His Words with them. We will also put up some of the posters about the family conference in this community along with flyers.

We will also be promoting the Family Conference in Union the next few of days. I will go and talk to Isias, the Director of the Casa de la Cultura, today to confirm the date and time for the conference on Saturday. Please pray that this is still on the schedule as planned.

Thanks for all of your prayers,
In Christ,
Jeff and Team

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission / Family Conference

Hola Lynwood,

I met up with the team from Florida and arrived in Union de San Antonio Saturday evening about 6pm. We attended the church services yesterday at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Leon, and had a good visit with them. We got to hear about how well things are going with the Bible study out in the the community of Caliche. The leaders of the church feel that this family is ready to accept the Lord into their hearts, so they are going to present the gospel in a direct way this Saturday evening during the Bible study. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of this family that evening.

We are going to be hosting a Family Conference again this trip. The conference will be held Saturday night at 7pm, Dennis Johnson, local IMB missionary, will again be the speaker. The people of Union have been very accepting of these conferences in the past and we hope to have a good turnout this time as well. Please pray that people will hear the Lord speak to their hearts as Dennis shares these biblical principles from His Word.

We also have planned to do some painting at one of the schools in El Caliche, the same community where the Bible study is going on. Please pray that we will be allowed to do this ministry this week and that the people of the community will see us well and be willing to visit with us, and that we might get the opportunity to share the Gospel in a direct way.

Today we are going out to Caliche to see if the painting project is still on and if so we will pick up our supplies this afternoon and start tomorrow. We are also going to San Juan de Los Lagos to see what lostness looks like. This is the place where the virgin has performed a miracle many years ago and all Mexicans make a pilgrimage here to pay their respects and make promises to the virgin.

We appreciate your continued prayer support,
In Christ,
"El Jefe" and Team

Leia Mais…

2nd Annual Acts 1:8 Challenge 5k Run/Walk Youth Walk

Get out your running shoes & mark your calendars for Saturday, August 23 for the 2nd Annual Acts 1:8 Challenge 5k Run/Walk. You can pick up a race form in the church office -we will also post a download form here soon.

If your business would like to be a sponsor, please contact Terri Baker.

Leia Mais…

Prayer Guide for Appalachian Outreach Mission Trip

Pray this week for the mission team serving at Appalachian Outreach in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Team members are:
Vacation Bible School Team: Rene' & Lindsey Pingel, Whitney Bandermann, & Emily Riehn
Construction Crew: Dale Pingel

Sunday: Pray for safe travel and ease of getting registered and checked in.

Monday: Pray for Dale that he will fit right in with the construction crew he is assigned to and that they will get organized and get a good start on their project. Pray for the VBS team that they will have a good number of kids show up and that they begin to get to know them. Pray that the kids are receptive and want to learn about Jesus.

Tuesday: Pray that children continue to show up for VBS and that genuine connections are made. Pray that the children understand what we are teaching them and that the activities interest them. Pray for the safety of construction teams and that they are able to get many things accomplished.

Wednesday: Continue to pray for the construction project and VBS. Pray for the people we meet along the way; that connections are made and that their hearts will be convicted. Pray that God provides opportunities for us to witness to others.

Thursday: Pray for Dale as his construction project comes to a close, and for the children as we share the final part of the gospel message - that Christ died for us and was resurrected.

Friday: Pray for the new friends we've made and for the many seeds that were planted. Also for safe travel as we come back home to Cape Girardeau.

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference - Thursday

Hola from Union de San Antonio,

Things are going well here in Mexico. We went to the Casa de la Cultura Tuesday morning and talked the director, Isias, and confirmed the date and time of the conference. I'm pretty sure we not on the schedule but we worked it out. PTL. We received our posters and flyers from Dennis Johnson Tuesday evening and attended a prayer meeting in Lagos de Moreno that evening also. The prayer meetings down here are pretty cool...... They are mostly all prayer...... What a concept! We put posters up and handed out flyers most of the day yesterday and will continue today. We have had great reception to the conference and all have been willing to let us put up the posters in thier tiendas (stores). A lot of people say they will atttend, and remember the previous conference in January. We gave about 1/4 of the posters/flyers to our friends Daniel & Laurie and they put them up in their area of town where they live. Please pray for them as Daniel is having some trouble getting his religious visa or FM3. We had prayer with them yesterday about this in thier home, it was a sweet time of prayer for the work down here also. Last night I got the opportunity to preach in a house church in Lagos de Moreno, I was nervous but prepared, and enjoyed sharing Gods word. Thanks for all of your prayers this week and please continue to lift up the conference on Friday at 7pm. The name of the conference is "Six Secrets to a Successfull Marriage". Please pray that the people will hear and be open to the Biblical and Spiritual aspects of the conference. We will continue to promote the conference today.

Te Hablo Pronto,
Tu Hermanos in Cristo,
Jeff & Cliff

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference - Tuesday

Hola Lynwood,
Greetings from Union de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico! Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo here in Mexico, so all of the government agencies were closed and we did not get to talk to the Director of the Casa de la Cultura to confirm our date and time of the Family Conference. We will do that today, so pray that everything is still good for the use of the center. We made these plans 2 months ago with the director, but you never know what can happen.

We had lunch yesterday with a missionary couple from the states that moved here a couple of months ago, Daniel & Laurie. We are not sure of their denomination but we believe that they have the same beliefs that we do. So we are going to try and work together on a couple of projects to see how it goes. We have been praying for help, so maybe God is providing. Please pray that this will go well and we will comfortable working together.

We will get our posters and flyers for the Family Conference today from Dennis Johnson. So we will start to hand out flyers and put the poster in stores, schools and on telephone poles. We will also make personal contact with previous conference attendees to invite them personally. Please be praying that the people will be as receptive to this conference as the one in January. Hopefully they will invite thier friends and we have more people attend this time. Remember we had about 100 attend in January.

Well enough for today. Pray that Cliff and I get everything done that the Lord want us to accomplish today!

Hasta Luego,
Senor Jeff and Cliff

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission Trip - FAQ

While Jeff & Clif are in Mexico right now, I wanted to include some information to refresh in everyone's mind our goals & mission in Mexico.

Where is Union de San Antonio?
Union de San Antonio is the County Seat of the county of Union de San Antonio in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. Union is located in the Highlands of Jalisco, which has been called the ‘Dark Heart of Mexico’. In this region, less than 1% of the population is Christian. See maps below.










Why do we keep going back to Union de San Antonio?
The Missions Committee accepted the role of Strategy Coordinator Church for Union de San Antonio with the International Mission Board (IMB) at our 2006 Lynwood on Mission Celebration.

What is a Strategy Coordinator Church?
A Strategy Coordinator Church (SC Church) assumes the role of the field missionary or field coordinator for an area or people group. Since Lynwood has accepted this role, the IMB is not going to devote any personnel or resources to this area. If the Gospel message is going to be shared in this area, it is a result of Lynwood’s trips and efforts. For more information about an SC Church, go to the IMB MAC Region website (http://www.macregion.org/) & click on the SC Church button at the top of the webpage.

What is our goal as the SC Church?
Our goal is the share the Gospel and plant an indigenous, self-supporting, reproducing church in Union de San Antonio!

What can I do? PRAY – GIVE – GO!

Leia Mais…

Mexico Mission - Family Conference - Union de San Antonio

Hello Church,
Deceos des de Union de San Antonio! Cliff Crosnoe and I arrived in Union on Saturday and visited with our amigo Pedro and his family in Lagos de Moreno. On Sunday we went to church in Leon at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, our partner church here in Mexico. We got some really exciting news from Pastor Joel and Solomon. They have been out to Caliche twice to have Bible study with Clemintina and her family. By the way her husband´s name is Faustino and he is on board also! This is the family I have asked for prayer for, that they might be interested in having Bible study in their home, and IT IS HAPPENING! Praise the Lord!!! They are very receptive to the word and the church in Leon is very excited to be working with us, with this family. Please continue to pray now that the Holy Spirit will speak to thier hearts through His Word, and they will come to know Him as Lord and Savior. Pray also that they will comfortable with asking friends and neighbors to thier home to participate in the Bible studies. Also please pray that the priest in this community will allow this to continue when he finds out what´s going on. We need to keep Satan away from this place as long as possible. We will go out to Caliche this afternoon to visit with Clemintina and children. If you can´t tell....... I am very excited about this family and what God has in store for them. Again please pray for this family, it´s the only way this will work,if we continue to bath it in prayer.

Thanks for remembering Cliff and I in your prayers also,
Dios te bendiga,
Tu hermanos en Cristo, Jeff & Cliff

Leia Mais…

Pray for Mexico Mission Team - Family Conference

Please pray this coming week for Jeff Smith & Clif Crosnoe as they prepare to hold the second family conference in Union de San Antonio, Mexico. The conference topic will be on Marriage and is a follow-up conference to the Parenting conference we held in January. Dennis Johnson, IMB field personnel, will be teaching at the conference. This week Jeff & Clif will be hanging up posters and passing out flyers each day, as well as going door-to-door inviting those who came in January to attend this conference too. It is an exciting time in our Mexico outreach.

Please put Friday, May 9 on your Prayer Calendar because this is the day of the conference and your prayers are vital to the success of the outreach.

Leia Mais…

Medical Missions Union de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico - Wrap-Up

Hello Church, Jeff Smith here,

Just wanted to let you all know that we arrived home safely Sunday morning around 11am, about 12 hours later than planned due to delays at the Atlanta airport. Thanks for all your prayers for our travels home.

I also thought I would give you a short wrap up for the week. We had on our team 3 doctors and one dentist. They saw a total of about 135 patients, children and adults, in 3 days. We held 3 clinics in the towns or rancheros of Caliche, El Jaugey and El Jaral. We handed out the Gospel of John to all who entered the clinics.

Please pray especially for a family in the town of Caliche that we have been building a relationship with since last July. At the end of the day in Caliche we asked the mother of the family, Clemintina, if she would be interested in holding a Bible study in her home. She said yes but she would need to talk to husband, and as we were talking he walked up from the house. We were able to share the gospel with him and ask him also about the Bible study, they both were very interested an told us they could have a Bible study in their home any night but Saturday. Along with our partners at the Emmanuel Church in Leon we will try to get this started as soon as possible. This is very exiting because this could be the start of a house church, if it the Lord's will. Please pray for the harvest of the seeds we have been sowing.

It's hard to express in the words of this blog just how much progress we have made in this very dark and lost place in Mexico. But the Lord is opening doors and we are right where he wants to be. Please pray that we will see a New Testament church started in this area and that then they will multiply into even more churches. That is is the desire of our hearts, to bring more into the Kingdom of our Lord.

Thanks for all your continued support of our Acts 1:8 challenge in our uttermost. Please continue to pray for these people, that the Lord will open their eyes and remove the dark clouds that seem to be over this area. Remember that it all has to start with prayer and it's the most you can do, not the least.

On mission with Him,
Jeff Smith

Leia Mais…

Medical Missions Union de San Antonio - Friday

Hola Lynwood Bautista Iglesia,

Things have went very well this week and we have been able see to the Lord at work and have felt the prayers coming from all of you prayer warriors at home.

Yesterday, we went to visit the city of San Juan de los Lagos which is home to the shrine to the virgin of San Juan de los Lagos. This is basically a temple where the people worship a doll/idol that the people believe brought back to life a 4 year old girl who died in a circus show in the late 1600s. Each year approximately 8 million people from around Mexico make a journey to this temple. The whole towns economy is based on this idol and the millions of people that come every year to visit. For some people, they walk from their hometowns and it can take up to one month to complete the journey. Outside of the temple, multiple vendors are selling small baby doll idols, rosaries, and crufixes and other goods. Inside the temple, we got to see idol worship firsthand. These people are lost and need to hear the gospel of Jesus. When I was standing at the front of the temple watching the people bow down to worship this doll, all I could think of was Ephesians 6:12, that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but the against the rulers, against the authorities (the priest of the temple), against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. This was the best way I could describe the inside of the temple as they have the location of the doll at the front at center and the crufix of Jesus off to the side. Continue to pray that God will work a miracle in this region of Mexico.

Remember us in prayer as we travel back to Cape Girardeau. We will see you on Sunday.

Hasta luego,

Senor Miguel

Leia Mais…

Medical Missions Union de San Antonio - Thursday

Hola amigos de Lynwood,

Yesterday, we set up our medical clinic at El Jaral. We were indoors at a building that is used by the government to have a health clinic every month. This ranchero was much more spread out than the ranchero that we visited the day before. We saw 18 patients total. We had to walk about 1 mile to get the key to the building, when we got to the persons casa, she was not there but her teenage son was there and after we talked to him he agreed to go with us to open up the building so we could have our clinic. As always, God continues to provide when we trust in him and continue to pray. The teenage boy that I mention above was somewhat rough, he had several facial piercings (some were definitely homemade) and dressed like he wanted to be a gang member. It was suprising to me that in this remote part of Mexico that we would see someone like but we should remember him in our prayers. He did not give us any trouble during our clinic. The view was beautiful from our clinic on the hillside.

Today, we are going to visit San Juan de los Lagos. We will get to experience first hand the lostness of the people of this region as they worship the virgin of San Juan. Some of our members who have been previously describe this experience as Jesus needing to come and run off the money changers from the temple.

Te hablo pronto,

Senor Miguel

Leia Mais…

Medical Mission Union de San Antonio - Wednesday

Hello Church, El Jefe here,

Yesterday we went to EL Jaugey and set up our medical clinic. We did not have a building to work in at this ranchero. So we set up tents, and all three doctors worked together side by side under our portable canopy. We were outside yesterday and it did get somewhat windy but we survived. We saw 25 patients. We visited with our contact in this community named Julia. When she came into our temporary clinic, I asked her if she had any medical problems and she replied "I am just too old," we all had a good laugh. She was happy to see our team again.

Please continue to pray for our team today including our translators (Rene and Felipe) as we go out into El Jarel to have another clinic today. Pray for the opportunity for us to present the gospel to the people of this community. Pray that our presence will continue to be salt and light to this region of Mexico. The people of the community are asking other residents about us and we know that the Lord is going to reap a harvest in this region.

Tu amigos en Union,


For the El Jefe, Senor Miguel

Leia Mais…

Medical Missions, Union de San Antonio, Tuesday

Hello Church,
Thank you for being patient.
We arrived in Union de San Antonio Saturday afternoon and our travels went well. We went to church Sunday morning with our partner church Emmanuel Baptist Church in Leon, GTO. We had a wonderful time of worship with the people there. We purchased our medicines for the medical missions that afternoon. We organized our medicines and got ready for the week the rest of the evening. (And of course we had ice cream)

Monday we went to a community named Caliche for our first medical mission. As soon as we got of our vans we were met by the mayor of this town, and he asked how could he help us. We told him we wanted to set up a medical clinic out by the park. He suggested we use some rooms that he knew of that were open. This was great, because it was very windy. These rooms were directly behind the local Catholic church and were actually property of the Catholic church in this town. After setting up our clinic, we had a slow start but after the first hour, everyone started to come to see us. When we were finished, we saw 95 people.

We visited with a local family that has shown interest in our message and could potentially be a family of peace and the beginning of a bible study in this community.

Today, we are headed to Jaugey for another medical clinic. Please continue to pray daily for our efforts because we definitely saw God´s hand at work yesterday. We have visitied this community previously, and we hope to have an opportunity to share the gospel message directly with the people of Jaugey today.

El Jefe
Jeff

Leia Mais…

What were you doing at 1:30am?

The Mexico Medical mission team left Lynwood parking lot @ 1:30am Saturday morning off to the 'ends of the earth'!

Please pray for them this week as they minister in the surrounding ranches of Union de San Antonio. Team members are: Jeff Smith, Blaine Russell, Mickey Roper, Vonnie Robison, Byron Aden, Michael Clippard, Steve Smith, Suzi Smith, James Hoffman, Linda Hoffman, Ermalee Smith, Ted Guffey, Kim Fuller, Bob Stillwell, Cheryl Stillwell, and Hank Mellone.

Check back through-out the week for updates from the field on their progress.

Leia Mais…

Celebrate Recovery Trip to Central/Eastern Europe

Our goal in going to Central/Eastern Europe this fall will be to plant at least one Celebrate Recovery group. The curriculum has been translated into Russian, but the publishers have yet to hear of a group forming.

With the help of our one of our own, Phillip, we have identified three congregations that are open to exploring this type of ministry. In fact, we have already sent a copy of the material to these groups of believers for review. We very well may see God plant the first, of many CR groups, in that country.

A country that has known no freedom, may find the true freedom that our God offers. Please be in prayer that God would help us find the right team to go, and that our timing to go will be His timing. In Jesus name...Amen

For more information, please contact Mike Ketcherside through the church office and let him know you are interested in going to Central/Eastern Europe.

Leia Mais…

Vacation on Purpose in 2008 UPDATED

Want to make a difference in 08?
Take a short-term mission trip & GO on Mission for God!

Jesus said to them, '. . . Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. . .' Matthew 28:18-20

Appalachian Outreach - Jefferson City, TN
June 15-20, 2008
Team Leaders - Dale & Rene Pingel

Judgement House Mission Trip
July/August 2008
Team Leaders - Susan Russell & Janie Beaird

Celebrate Recovery Trip - Central/Eastern Europe
Fall 2008
Team Leader - Mike Ketcherside

Union de San Antonio, Mexico
For more info on any of the Mexico Trips, contact Jeff Smith

Family Conference/Evangelism - May 2008

Construction/Outreach - July 2008

Evangelism - September 2008

Medical Mission Trip - November 2008

Leia Mais…

Dos Hombres en Mexico - Update Saturday

Hello Lynwood,

Mark & I got home this evening around 6pm. Thanks for all of your prayers while we were in Union de San Antonio. We know that you were praying for us and the people of Union because the week ended with a very well attended Family Conference last night. We had about 80 adults and 20 children show up at the conference. WOW! Praise the Lord! Surveys were handed out at the end of the conference and the bulk of the comments were very good! Several people there said they were interested in learning more about the spiritual aspects of the conference. The people were also asked to give us their addresses and phone numbers, so next trip, we will follow up on these contacts and invite them personally to come to the next conference and hopefully get to share more with them in their homes. Please pray for these families and their openness to God's word. Remember our goal is to see home Bible studies started.

Again thanks for all of your support! We'll talk to you all more at church.

Dios te bendiga,

"El Jefe"

Leia Mais…

Dos Hombres en Mexico - Update Friday

Hola Church, Buenos Dias de Jeff & Mark,

Yesterday we had a good meeting with Ricardo´s friend Brisa. She is a christian working and living in San Diego de Alehandria, a small town close to la Union. She seems very interested in finding and working with some christians in the area. Since there are none, she was very happy to find us. She grew up in a christain home in Guadalajara. She is planning to come early to the conference tonight to help us set up. Also some of the workers from the DIF are planning to come early also to help us if needed.

We also made two home visits yesterday, one in Caliche and one in La Tapona with previously contacted families showing interest in the Family Conference.

We will spend the day in Union prayerwalking, prayershopping, handing out the Gospels of John and ecouraging people to come to the conference. Please continue to pray for the hearts and minds of the people here to be open to the message presented tonight.

Tu hermanos,
Hasto Domingo,

Jeff & Mark

Leia Mais…

Dos Hombres en Mexico - UPDATE Thursday

Dear LBC - thanks for all your prayers & support! Yesterday was a GREAT day - we posted over 50 posters all over Union at the tiendas, lights poles, DIF (Mexican version of DFS & Health Dept), schools, & even the Catholic elementary school!

We are definitly creating a ´buzz´ around town - last night while we were on the square, someone asked us if we were the ones from Missouri! Keep praying, since we are creating a buzz, someone has been going around this morning already & ripping down some of the posters!

Today we have an appointment to meet with a Christian from another pueblo around Union, she is a friend of Ricardo, therapist for DIF.

Also today we will continue meeting people in town, hanging up posters & going to the ranches to let people know of the family conference. There are 2 families, one at each ranch, who want to attend the conference we will be making contact with today.

Please pray for wisdom with follow-up, pray for a person of peace, & pray for a home to be opened in Union where a Bible Study group can held.

On Mission for Him, Mark & Jeff

Leia Mais…

Dos Hombres en Mexico - UPDATE Wed

Hello Church, Jeff and Mark here,

We are in Union de San Antonio, yesterday Mark got down here, then we were putting posters in several of the local tiendas we have relationships with from past trips. Last night we spent the evening with one of our IMB missionaries, Dennis Johnson, doing home visits, Bible studies and prayer meetings.

Today we will continue to advertise the Family Conference throughout Union de San Antonio. Please continue to pray daily for our week - see the daily prayer guide down below.

Hasta luego

Leia Mais…

Dos Hombres en Mexico - UPDATE Monday

Hey Lynwood, Jeff here,
First of all thanks for your continuing prayer support. Yesterday I spent the day with the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Leon, GTO, MX. This is the church that we have partnered with to help with the work we are doing here in La Union. It is great to get to worship with these people and see their hearts they have for the lost.

I met in the afternoon with Pastor Joel and his wife Erica to talk about the progress of the work in the ranches (small villages) of Union de San Antonio. They are working with us in 2 of these ranches currently, and they are going out every other Saturday. They have about 30 people attending the activities each week. Please continue to pray that we will see the fruits of this partnership with this church. We want to see a Bible study started in each of these ranches, that will lead to changed lifes.

In Christ, "El Jefe"

Leia Mais…

Dos hombres en Mexico

Jeff & Mark are in Mexico January 12-19, 2008 preparing for a Family Conference outreach event in Union de San Antonio. The conference will be Friday night, January 18. Check back for updates from dos hombres en Mexico!

Leia Mais…

Pray for January Mexico Trip

I've heard it said, "Well the least I can do is pray for you guys while you are in Mexico". I want to tell you that prayer is the MOST you can do! Without your prayers we will never break through this dark cloud that seems to be over this region called the "Highlands of Jalisco". The IMB calls this area " The Dark Heart of Mexico".

Let me share with you some specific ways that you can be praying for this week in particular:

Saturday Jan. 12th - Pray for safe travel for Jeff, and for a strengthened friendship with one of our key contacts and supporters, Pedro Marquez and his family.

Sunday Jan. 13th - Pray for great time of fellowship with our partner church "Emmanuel Baptist Church" in Leon, Guanajuato.

Monday Jan. 14th - Pray that the advertisement that we have planned for this event will all come together and be effective.

Tuesday Jan. 15th - Pray for safe travel for Mark, as he will be arriving today. Also pray for the ranches that we will visit out in the county, that will want to send people to the conference.

Wednesday Jan. 16th - Pray for Dennis as he prepares the materials and content for the conference, that he will have everything he needs, and that he will have a peace from the Lord, only the Holy Spirit can provide.

Thursday Jan. 17th - Pray for hearts of the people that will be attending this conference, that God will soften their hearts and open their ears and eyes to the Holy Spirit and the spiritual aspects of the conference.

Friday Jan. 18th - Pray that the conference will be well received and attended by the community, and most of all that the attendees will have a hunger for more of God's word, and will be willing to open their doors for home Bible studies in the future.

Saturday Jan. 19th - Pray for safe travel back home and wisdom for follow up details.

Thanks church for your continued support and prayers,
Jeff, Mark and the Mexico Lead Team

Leia Mais…

January Mexico Trip - Family Conference

Hey Church, Jeff Smith here,

Just thought I would let you all know that Mark Strickland and I will be in Union de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico during the week of January 12th -19th.

On Friday evening January 18th we will be hosting our first ever Family Conference in the city of Union, at their Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture). The conference title is "How to be the Parents My Children Need". This conference will be presented by Dennis Johnson, one of our IMB missionaries that works in the region around/close to our adopted county of Union.

Many of you may remember Dennis from our last missions weekend. Although Dennis does not work directly in our adopted area of Mexico, he is familiar with the people group and understands the culture. He is having great success in cities located in the Highlands of Jalisco with these conferences ie: forming local Bible studies in homes with neighbors, which hopefully will lead to home churches starting up.

AND This is what it's all about, church....... starting multiplying churches in the county of Union de San Antonio!

Thanks church for your continued support and prayers,
Jeff, Mark and the Mexico Lead Team

Leia Mais…

The Acts 1:8 Challenge

Jerusalem

• Cape Girardeau Region
• Shining Light Baptist Ministries, Charleston, Missouri

Judea

• Christian Activity Center, E. St. Louis, Illinois
• Appalachain Outreach, Jefferson City, Tennessee

Samaria

• First Baptist Church, Bay St. Louis, Louisiana

Ends of the Earth

• Union de San Antonio, Mexico
• Central/Eastern Europe

Leia Mais…

Jerusalem

“. . . and you shall be my witnesses in JERUSALEM, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”

These are some of the last words Jesus said to his followers before he ascended into heaven. These words came from the same voice that spoke the world into existence and that raised Lazarus from the grave – this command must have been important if it was to be the last one he gave his followers while still with them on earth. It was important – we were made for a Mission! It was so important; he repeated this message four times prior to this time at his ascension.

As we developed our Mission Vision, we focused on this last command of Christ – the Acts 1:8 Challenge. For Lynwood to be a Great Commission Church on Mission for Christ, we must reach our Jerusalem – the Cape Girardeau area! One way Lynwood is reaching our Jerusalem is through our Holiday Food Baskets. On a FAITH follow-up visit to a food basket delivery, one family said to a team, “We have been in Cape for over 3 years and your church is the first one to contact us – why?” As a result of this first contact through a Food Basket, this family attended a Life Group class regularly at Lynwood. How many other families are in Cape that have never been touched with God’s love because no one went out to His witnesses in Jerusalem?

Each week an army of witnesses go into our Jerusalem during FAITH and a group of faithful serve the wounded at Celebrate Recovery – will you join these troops serving in Jerusalem? Will you go meet our Jerusalem at the SEMO District Fair? Will you serve Jerusalem when they tour Judgement House?

God has given us a vision for extending our reach into the public schools and on to SEMO Campus – will you join us in praying how God would have us reach our next generation? Is God calling you to the next generation?

Lynwood is extending our Jerusalem to include Shining Light Outreach Ministries in Charleston, Missouri. We are partnering with Shining Light by taking His love to at-risk children through Backyard Bible Clubs and Kid’s Clubs. Will you join us in this partnership?

God says in Habakkuk 1:5 ‘. . . look and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.”

You were ‘made for a mission’! We need leaders who have a burden to reach our Jerusalem, the Cape Girardeau area. Is God calling you to your Jerusalem? Take a mission trip home! Don’t wait – accept the Acts 1:8 Challenge now!

Leia Mais…

Judea

“ . . . and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, JUDEA, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”

As we accept the Acts 1:8 Challenge, our Jerusalem – the Cape Girardeau area must be reached, but we also need to reach our Judea to fulfill the Great Commission. What is our Judea? Is it Missouri? or Missouri & Illinois? Or Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee & Arkansas? With nationwide cell plans, the Internet, and the ease of transportation, we have defined our Judea as Missouri, the Christian Activity Center in E. St. Louis, and Appalachian Outreach in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

How does our Mission Vision include our Judea? Later this year, we will continue our partnership with the Christian Activity Center (CAC) through the Adopt-a-Child Christmas gifts for the children at the center. Next year we will continue building our relationship with the CAC by taking a Judgement House mission trip to E. St. Louis. Also we will return next year to Appalachian Outreach to continue building relationships and assisting in their ministry.

Opportunities to serve are also available through our Disaster Relief teams to those in need at times of tragedy. By meeting their immediate physical needs, we gain the right and the access to meet their spiritual needs.

There are over 5.7 million people in the State of Missouri with an estimated 48.3% being either unchurched or lost. One-half of all Missourians are lost & will spend eternity without Christ if we do not Go & Tell! We need to be in a state of concern for the Show-Me State!

We were ‘made for a mission’ to ‘reach one more for Jesus!’ Are you praying for God to show you how you can accept the Acts 1:8 Challenge here in Judea? If not, will you?

Leia Mais…

Samaria

“. . . and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, SAMARIA, and to the ends of the earth”

Our Mission Vision for Lynwood is focused on this last command of Christ – the Acts 1:8 Challenge. As we have seen, our Jerusalem is the Cape Girardeau area and our Judea is part of the Midwest. So where is our Samaria? When Jesus spoke these last words, geographically Samaria is the region between Judea and Galilee. This was a ‘known’ region to the people of Jesus’ day. Therefore, we have defined our Samaria as the United States & Canada.

Today the USA is a lost continent – it was founded on Christian principles, but it has strayed from them & accepted pagan practices. There are over 324 million people living in the USA & Canada with an estimate of over 200 million people that are lost. That means 2 out of 3 people are lost! The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has over 5000 missionaries with a goal of starting 2000 churches each year.

According to Dr. Bob Reccord, former NAMB President,
“If we reach our homeland for Christ it will be because a church planting movement caught fire in North America and burned bright, even in the darkest areas of this land we love. New churches in new places reaching new people will bring transformation that today we can only pray for and dream about.”

As a part of our Mission Vision, we have sponsored a new church start in Miami, Florida. Pastor Alfredo & his family are working hard to reach the Cuban population in Miami. Our partnership commitment with them is over in December, but they will always be a part of the Lynwood family. Where is God leading Lynwood to partner with a new church planting movement? Pray with us as we seek God’s new partner for us in church planting!

Also our Mission Vision will continue to include assisting in the rebuilding after the hurricanes in Louisiana and Mississippi. Can you give a weekend or a week to help in the rebuilding efforts?

We were ‘made for a mission’! Is God calling you to be an Acts 1:8 Christian in our homeland? If not here, then where?

Leia Mais…

Ends of the Earth

“. . . and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ENDS OF THE EARTH”

We have looked at this last command of Jesus for our focus of Lynwood’s Mission Vision. We defined Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. So where is the ‘Ends of the Earth’ or the Uttermost? If we can go anywhere in the world by hopping on a plane or send an email around the world or have a conversation on a cell phone or satellite phone, is there still a place called ‘the uttermost’? Don’t we have missionaries all over the world?

The answer to all of the above questions is YES. We can hop on a plane, send an email, & have a phone conversation with the uttermost, but all of these are monitored and restricted by those in power. We have defined the Uttermost as the Unreached People Groups or people living in restricted access areas of the World.

What is an Unreached People Group (UPG)? An Unreached People Group is a people of common language and culture for which there is no indigenous (locally led) church movement having sufficient strength and resources to ensure continuous multiplication of churches.

Jesus last command to His followers was to be His witnesses in THE UTTERMOST! How can Lynwood fulfill this part of the Great Commission? Currently Lynwood has defined our Uttermost as the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico – specifically Union de San Antonio. This is in the ‘dark heart of Mexico’ – less than 2% of the region is evangelized. There is no evangelical church in this area. Lynwood is the Strategy Coordinating church responsible for taking the Gospel to this area. Right now if we don’t send down teams, no one will! Jesus said, ‘the fields are white unto harvest, but the workers are few. . . ‘

Is God calling you to the Uttermost? GET A PASSPORT AND CALL JEFF SMITH! You were ‘made for a mission, to become a ‘world-class Christian’ to ‘reach one more for Jesus!’ Will you accept the Acts 1:8 Challenge?

Leia Mais…