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"
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Dos Hombres en Mexico - Update Saturday
Friday, January 18, 2008
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
Thursday, January 17, 2008
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
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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
Monday, January 14, 2008
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"
Friday, January 11, 2008
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!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
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
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
Friday, January 04, 2008
The Acts 1:8 Challenge
Jerusalem
- Cape Girardeau Region
- Shining Light Baptist Ministries, Charleston, Missouri
- Christian Activity Center, E. St. Louis, Illinois
- Appalachain Outreach, Jefferson City, Tennessee
- First Baptist Church, Bay St. Louis, Louisiana
Ends of the Earth
- Union de San Antonio, Mexico
- Central/Eastern Europe
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!
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?
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?
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?
