We Want More Traffic!

We're not talking more rush hour traffic in downtown San José, Minneapolis, or name-your-city... we're talking ReachGlobal Latin America website traffic.

YOU -- the RGLA staff -- can help us increase our visability and site traffic, by posting the links to new content and new stories on your Facebook pages, blogs, and Twitter accounts.

Ready to get started on Facebook? It's easy.

1. Log in to your Facebook account and head to your profile page.

2. Choose the option at the top of your wall to share a link (or enlace if your page is in Spanish like mine!)

3. Copy and paste this entire URL into the box (it's a new story that was posted to the website just today): http://www.efca.org/reachglobal/where-we-serve/latin-america/get-involved/latin-america-opportunities/peru/upriver-reach

4. Click the blue button on the right to attach it.

5. Add an optional teaser to the box that appears, such as:

Imagine having five people praying over you in three languages, confronting the spiritual oppression that threatens your well-being. Read this story by a short-term member about his experience sharing God's peace in Nueva Italia, Peru.

6. Click the blue button on the right to share it on your wall.

Now all of your friends can check out the latest story.

But wait! There is another, very easy way to repost another friend's post on Facebook -- no copying of links required. Just click on the word "Share" (or "Compartir" if yours looks like the example) under the link (above Gordon's name in this example) and repost on your own wall.

Please support the region in this effort to build interest in God's work here in Latin America. Going forward, I will regularly send out emails with links to new stories that we would love you to repost.

Contact me (melissa.putney@efca.org) with any questions. Thank you for your help!!

Passion, Pursuit, and Encouragement for the Journey -- A Blog Repost

Did you know that many of your fellow teammates on the RG LA staff are blogging on a regular basis? Don't forget to keep up with one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, and share in the journey together.

Below is a recent blog post written by Cathi Duggan in Costa Rica:

I tend to be energized by spending time doing what I love -- listening to women, reaching out to others, feeding the multitudes, and opening my home to strangers I've never met. The early part of my week was a little disappointing.

(OK, more than a little) as my car broke down, and then I was unable to spend time in La Carpio. Apparently, four days without water in that barrio had provoked a protest of sorts, and the road was being blocked. For many of my friends, Twitter followers, and family, that would signal relief at 5:30 AM and a quick return to bed... I put on running clothes, grabbed the dog's leash and ran, and while running, prayed for a peaceful resolution (and abundant water to flow into that community soon) to this problem. The kids were happy that I chose to pick up their favorite doughnuts on my way back, and we spent a cozy morning together!

Does our Heavenly Father feel the same when He pursues the the thing He is passionate about--US--and we have something that impedes our time with Him? I believe so. Creating a space or place to meet Him (whether it is indoors or well, on a long morning run), being intentional, and seeking His face demands commitment... but the benefits are beyond compare!

A double blessing was waiting for me today. A listserv sent a reminder for a call-in meeting and, although I rarely take time to look at non-personal or urgent emails in the morning, this particular email caught my attention. It was strange to open it, see our family's picture on the margin... and realize, this meeting was occurring in Charlotte, NC, around lunchtime, and I could be a part of it via our stateside phone.

Although the connection failed midway through the call, this divine appointment encouraged me and the other ladies who intentionally put aside time to be together, learn from God's Word and one another, and pray. I am not alone on this planet, my Heavenly Father has placed others along the hills and valleys of my life so I may be encouraged and, in turn, encourage others. For some that means a slice of homemade pizza and a brownie, a cup of coffee, and for others a listening ear, a hug or a smile. My friends and family know me too well--for me, any of those work....

"Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." I Thessalonians 5:10-11

Prayers for Haiti & International Summit Meeting

A note from Brian:

Starting Monday, November 8, there will be a summit meeting at our Haitian center in Gressier (just outside Port-au-Prince). 

The purpose: To begin a move towards having a multi-national missions team in Haiti that is focused on multiplying healthy churches, using a broad spectrum of ministries to come alongside and develop, empower and release healthy Haitian church leaders.

The summit will include representatives of Congo, Brazil, Colombia and several ministry organizations, planning, praying and expecting God to do some amazing things.

Please pray:

• That Tomas, expected to be a hurricane by the time it hits Haiti on Friday, will have a mild and merciful impact on Haiti.
• For safety for me, my son Matthew (working with TouchGlobal), and the other RG/TG staff as they prepare for the storm and clean up afterwards.
• For unity among a very diverse set of people, cultures and languages during next week’s meetings.
• For health for all in a country where that is always a challenge.

Thank you for praying for us. You can check for updates on my blog (my Twitter feeds appear in the right-side column) as the next week develops: diggerduggan.blogspot.com

Blessed To Be So Wonderfully Cared For…

by: Diane Droogsma

Several years ago, my husband Jeff and I were approached by a former missionary couple who had left the field after serving in missions overseas for five years.

Jeff and Diane serving in Brazil

Their reason for leaving the field: burn-out. And they had a strong desire to minister to and serve other missionary couples, teaching what God had taught them through their difficulties of leaving a ministry that they loved and had served in so passionately.

After the chaos of moving back to the States, once some semblance of calm returned to their lives, they reflected on those five years on the field and God taught them wonderful truths from His Word. Through their debriefing classes, they gleaned knowledge that they wished they had learned before arriving on the field.

This couple’s desire was to create a State-side support group to encourage and walk alongside Jeff and me, offering confidential prayer coverage and a safe haven in which we could share. From their experience on the field, this was something they had longed for, but it had not been made available to them.We gladly accepted this precious offer and the group was named the “Senders Group.” It has been a huge blessing to us as we serve overseas and also during our home assignments. They encourage and pray for us during monthly Skype calls where we can confidentially share how things are going on the field, including family difficulties, cultural difficulties and ministry details.

As well, they are “on call” to take prayer requests at a moment’s notice and pray for the things we have shared in our monthly call. If we are going into a dangerous area, they cover us with prayer. They remember our birthdays and anniversary by sending cards and gifts. They provide for our needs while we are in the States on home assignment, such as housing, a car, cell phones, prayer, fellowship, etc. The group consists of people that have a heart to be more closely involved in our lives, family and ministry.

As missionaries, we are continually asked by supporters what we need. So many people generously offer to send things we miss like peanut butter, chocolate chips, Ziplock bags or M&Ms. I think you’ll agree with me, however, that what we really NEED is more prayer support. As we seek to further His kingdom, the enemy prowls like a roaring lion, trying to destroy all that we do in the name of Jesus Christ! Let’s not forget to utilize the body of Christ to join us in the battle!

The next time someone offers to send you something in the mail, suggest instead that they start a Sender’s Group. Give them a chance to get MORE involved in your ministry. You’ll be blessed by MORE prayer support, MORE encouragement, and you’ll feel MORE connected to the body of Christ! And you’ll be giving others the opportunity to be blessed through blessing you!

Recruiting New Missionaries -- YOU Can Help!

When we think about our needs as missionaries, we often think about financial needs, prayer needs, material needs, etc. But what about our personnel needs?

Just recently, RG LA missionary Joyce Werntz stepped full-time into the role of recruiting new missionaries for ReachGlobal Latin America -- a role that not only serves the missionary candidate but serves our region as a whole.

Joyce is working hard, traveling to missions conferences, colleges and universities, and churches around the U.S. to identify potential candidates -- passionate, talented Christ-followers with a heart for missional service. She has the opportunity to share the RG LA needs with people who are often ready to respond to God's call -- if only they knew how they might be used.

You can help Joyce in her recruiting efforts in two ways:

1. Consider the opportunities for others to serve alongside you and your team in your country or city -- short term team opportunities, internships, or full-time missionary roles -- and tell Joyce all about it!
2. Keep your ears and eyes open for potential candidates -- and send candidates straight to Joyce.

By providing detailed needs to Joyce, you help her to match missionary candidates with their ministry sweet spot. Two of the top questions Joyce hears as she's recruiting:

• "What can I do as a missionary?"
• "How can God use me (my talents/my profession/my skills) on the field?"

And by sending candidates her way, you allow her to build relationships and guide and encourage them through the application process.

Joyce is excited about recruiting for Latin America. Get excited, too, and help her help you!

Meet Miguel De Marco -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 5 of 6)

While you may already know the other members of the leadership team, you probably aren't familiar with the newest member of the LA leadership team! In this installment of our leadership serires, Miguel De Marco shares some about his background in missions and ministry and his excitement about joining the LA family.

Please pray for Miguel and his wife, Liliana, this week as they attend REV at the national office... and please send Miguel a note to welcome him to ReachGlobal Latin America!

Name
Miguel Angel De Marco

What is your history with ReachGlobal?
Just arriving!

In that case, tell us a bit more about your history outside of RG.
I've been in ministry for 30 years:

• Church planter and minister (Iglesia Cristiana Evangelica Argentina)
• Editor (Christian Leadership Development; Apuntes Pastorales magazine)
• Missionary assigned to the Latin Missionary Movement (COMIBAM International)
• Leadership trainer (Instituto Forum Latinum)
• VP of Ministries with Latin America Mission (LAM) for the last 11 years
• International consultant
• Specialist in Institutional Strengthening, Strategic Planning, etc.

Why are you excited about joining the RG LA team?
I love the RG Leadership's emphasis on excellence and results, and I hope to learn and contribute to these. Also, I'm excited about the possibility of being a resource in assisting the Latin missionary movement within their indigenous ventures, helping them to develop a responsible way of sending international workers/missionaries.

What is your position on the leadership team?
I've been appointed as Area Leader for Holistic Ministries and trainer/coach for missionary agencies.

What does that mean? What do you do?

1. I will assist Brian in overseeing/coaching RG missionaries serving in holistic ministries.
2. I will train and coach Latin missionary sending structures and Christian non-profit organizations.

What makes you a good boss or leader?
I think experience helps a lot, especially with several years spent helping others to fulfill the Lord's call for their lives. Also, my pastoral background helped me become more sensitive to people.

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
Getting with the RG ethos and culture; learning how to match with the rest of the team and how to assist Brian better.

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
I am learning...

1. How to honor the Lord's call for His people.
2. How to enrich and empower them, exposing them to different perspectives and better practices.
3. How to take care of them.

Why do you love Latin America?
It's my continent, my people. It's easy for me to love it!

What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
I'm not very well familiarized with all RG missionaries and their ministries yet, but I love the ProMETA program and performance. I think it's cutting edge. Also, after the week-long meeting with the ADT in Tennessee, I'm excited about the potential for the near future of RG LA.

How can people contact you?
Email: miguel.demarco@efca.org

More Personal...

Tell us about your family.
We were all born in Argentina; my wife Liliana and I were second generation there. In 1991 we moved to Costa Rica, and in 1994, to the States.

My wife Liliana is an excellent manager. She has a BA in theology and education and experience in Donor Services management. We have three children:

• Juan Angel, 27, architect, single, pursuing his Master's at Princeton.
• Eugenia, 26, mechanical engineer, single, working with a NASA contractor in D.C.
• Gabriel, 23, BA in philosophy, single, pursing his Master's at FSU.

Where do you currently live?
The Redlands (Miami area, Florida)

What's the last book you read?

• The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success by Stein & Book
• The Castle by Franz Kafka
• The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

What do you like to do for fun?
Read, golf, bike... and eating international cuisine!

Prayer requests:

• Our adjustment to the RG LA team
• Building our support team
• Knowing the Lord's desire better

Meet Mike Gunderson -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 4 of 6)

Although he's been part of ReachGlobal Latin America for years, Mike Gunderson doesn't speak as much Spanish as his colleagues -- but he speaks great Portuguese! Learn more about Mike, his role with the ADT, and how you can lift him up in prayer.

Name
Mike Gunderson

What is your history with ReachGlobal?
We served for 20 years in Brazil. We went as church planters and then moved into leadership development, working with German and Brazilian teachers and trainers. In the past year, I have transitioned into the role of Church Planting Coach for Latin America.

What is your position on the leadership team?
Church Planting Coach for Latin America

What does that mean? What do you do?
I train church planters in Latin America, train coaches of church planters, and lead the RG church planting team.

What makes you a good boss or leader?
Who said I was good? I love Latins, training, and coaching church planters!

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I need much better Spanish, and more experience in various parts of Latin America.

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
I learned (from Keith Anderson at our ADT meetings in August) that my identity as a leader, from a biblical standpoint, is not just that of a servant, but also that of shepherd, priest, and steward.

Why do you love Latin America?
I love the warmth and passion of the Latin people.

What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
I believe we are on the cusp of greatly increasing our impact on the people of the Latin American Continent.

How can people contact you?

• Email: michael.gunderson@efca.org
• Text or call: 952-715-2589

More Personal...

Tell us about your family.
My wife Linda has been a discipler and teacher of women and youth for many years and in many contexts. She has given great energies to raising and coaching our two kids:

• Nicolas, 19, is a sophomore at Bethel in St. Paul, MN. He's majoring in chemistry and on one of the University worship teams, playing acoustic guitar.
• Ali, 17, is a freshman at Northwestern College in St. Paul. She's majoring in psychology.

Where do you currently live?
Minneapolis, MN

What's the last book you read?
Humility by Andrew Murray

What do you like to do for fun?
Play games with my family.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for our kids, Nick & especially Ali, as they transition to America and college life...
• And pray for their empty-nest parents!

Meet Keith Anderson -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 3 of 6)

Which member of the Area Directional Team has been part of ReachGlobal the longest? Keith Anderson! In this installment of our leadership series, you'll hear directly from Keith... and find out how you can pray specifically for him as you continue to keep the entire ADT in your prayers.

Name
Keith Anderson


What is your history with ReachGlobal?
Believe it or not, my parents were doing support team building when I was born, so I have been part of ReachGlobal for nearly all of my life. However, Judy & I were officially accepted in 1978.


In terms of area leadership, I was involved from 1992-2000, and now again since 2004. My ministry has included church planting and theological education (Hebrew and Old Testament) in Venezuela, field leadership and administration, and now I serve as Director of ProMETA.


What is your position on the leadership team?
Although I really don't have a specific title, my focus as a team member is on leadership development.


What does that mean? What do you do?
My focus on leadership development flows out of my role as Director of ProMETA, a Master's level program designed to equip Spanish-speaking leaders in Bible and leadership. ProMETA has over 120 active students (with about 50 of those enrolled in a course each quarter). These students represent 24 different countries and dozens of organizations and churches. My responsibilities as Director are becoming more and more like those of a university president, but I hope much less bureaucratic!


What makes you a good boss or leader?
I'm a strong believer in implementing biblical leadership. Biblical leadership cannot be summarized with two or three words -- it is a complex configuration of responsibilities, attitudes, commitments, sensitivities, and submission to the Lord of the Church.


The three primary metaphors that bring together what I believe are at the core of biblical leadership are shepherd, servant, and priest. To be a good leader, it's critical that I be as biblical as possible.


What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I have made it a personal goal to work more intentionally on hearing God (and what He wants me to do as a leader), because a biblical leader is only as effective as his or her level of obedience and faithfulness in carrying out the "orders" of his or her boss.


What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
There are two major themes that God has brought to my mind in recent months:

1. The value of all His servants. Each person, in God's sight, has incredible value, and I need to make sure that I am doing all I can to develop, empower, and release His people for service.
2. The need to remember that all I do is out of brokenness. Everything I do as a leader (and as a person) is the result of His enabling, and it's critical that I live in light of my dependency on God.

Why do you love Latin America?
I have spent more of my life in Latin America than in any other region of the world, and I've been greatly impacted by the culture, customs, language, and people. There is very little about LA that I don't like, but if I had to choose one thing I love most, it would be the value Latin Americans place on relationships and the joy Latin Americans bring to life.


What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
I like the focus RG has on coming alongside what God is doing in the region. As a leadership team, we are sharpening our focus on those priorities that we believe God has given us. As we sharpen our vision, it may seem an overwhelming task, but I like it because it does two things for us:

1. It will help to keep us focused as we move ahead in the next ten years.
2. It also requires us to see ourselves as incapable to do this ourselves. It forces us to go to our knees in dependence on God. 

How can people contact you?
I can always be reached by email -- keith.anderson@efca.org.


More Personal...


Tell us about your family.
My wife Judy and I have three married sons and two granddaughters.

• Our oldest son lives in Boston with his wife and twin daughters and works online while doing his Master's online. His wife is currently applying to med schools.
• Our second son lives with his wife in the Chicago area. He's a student at TEDS and an assistant soccer coach at TIU. His wife is a marketing director for a health care organization.
• Our youngest son lives with his wife in Fort Lauderdale. He's a second year med student, and his wife just graduated as a nurse.

Where do you currently live?
Judy & I are "empty-nesters" living in San Jose, Costa Rica.


What's the last book you read?
I have read a few books in the last two months:

• Don Carson's Scandalous -- I would highly recommend it.
• Wayne Cordeiro's Leading on Empty -- also very good.
• Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son
• Tim Keller's The Prodigal God

Currently, I'm reading Robert Wuthnow's Boundless Faith: The global outreach of American churches and Justo Gonzalez's The History of Christianity in Latin America (also written in Spanish).


What do you like to do for fun?
I like most everything that has to do with beaches: snorkeling, scuba, boogie-boarding, fishing, aquariums, eating seafood (!). Also, photography and working in the Hebrew Bible.


Prayer requests:

• I’m convinced that God designed us to build healthy rhythms into our lives. This includes taking a Sabbath rest and a time for recreation (there is a difference!). Thus, I would want people to pray that I would have the wisdom and the discipline to have a healthy rhythm. 
• I would also like to have prayer for developing a growing and joyful walk with Jesus.
• Finally, mobilizing prayer for our sons and their families is always needed. I can think of few things that are more debilitating and de-energizing for missionary parents than to be wrestling with family issues across the ocean.

Meet Omar Rodriguez -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 2 of 6)

For the second installment of our RG LA Leadership Series, you have an opportunity to learn more about Omar Rodriguez and his role with Latin America. Please continue to pray for the entire leadership team in general and for Omar specifically!

Name
Omar Rodriguez

What is your history with ReachGlobal?
I have been a missionary with the EFCA since 1993, serving 1 year in Mexico City and 10 years in Venezuela. I've been part of the Area Directional Team since 2000.

What is your position on the leadership team?

• Catalyst for Church Based Training
• Area Crisis Manager

What does that mean? What do you do?
Church Based Training: Our principal goal is to help local church leadership to effectively nurture believers toward maturity in essential Bible knowledge, godly character, fruitful ministry skills, and Biblical relationships.

Crisis Management: If missionaries get into serious trouble, I coordinate RG efforts to help them. [Read more about Crisis Management from this previous blog entry.]

What makes you a good boss or leader?
I'd like to think that I can lead well under pressure, and I enjoy helping my teammates to succeed at what God has called them to do.

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I'd like to be a better encourager.

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
To be a better student of those you lead, and to deal with "relational stuff" faster.

What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
The hope I feel in seeing a new generation of leaders arising to serve the Lord.

How can people contact you?
In case of EMERGENCY, my cell is 714-930-6451. Otherwise, email me at omar.rodriguez@efca.org.

More Personal...

Tell us about your family.
I've been married 24 years to Rebecca, who works at developing women's ministries in the region. We have two sons: Omar Daniel is in his second year at UCLA studying engineering. Benjamin is a junior in high school.

Where do you currently live?
Fullerton, CA (USA)

What's the last book you read?

• The Pacific
• James in the New Testament
• Deep Survival

What do you like to do for fun?
Ocean kayaking (even if I hardly get to do it anymore!), hanging out with Beck (always an adventure), and traveling with the family.

Prayer requests

• Wisdom
• Wisdom
• Wisdom

Meet Bob Werntz -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 1 of 6)

As you get to know more about Bob (in his own words) and his role on the leadership team, please remember to keep him and the other area leaders in your prayers!

Name
Robert (Bob) Werntz

What is your history with ReachGlobal?

• Worship Pastor at Park Hills EFC 1995-1998
• Founded Evangelical Free Church of Honduras church plant in 2001 – and have been part of the ADT since that time I think.

What is your position on the leadership team?

Financial Management

What does that mean? What do you do?
I monitor our financial resources and manage their application with the counsel of the Area Directional Team. I find creative ways to report the financial information so that the ADT can more easily make necessary decisions… I’m the guy that reminds the ADT of the financial realities under which we serve!

What makes you a good boss or leader?
I guess I often see things from a different angle; I like to find creative solutions.

My StrengthsFinder strengths are strategic, focus, input, learner, and deliberative.

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I want to work on balancing my desire to focus on the task with the need to cultivate quality relationships. 

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader? 
To try to see people and ministry as Christ sees them.

Why do you love Latin America?
I love the culture and the people – and I love the music!

What excites you about the ministry we’re doing in LA?
Multiplying our resources by serving national movements – including movements that are not EFC but are compatible.

How can people contact you?

• Email: Robert.werntz@efca.org
• Skype: robertwerntz
• Facebook
• Text/phone: 815-275-6346

More Personal…

Tell us about your family.
Wife Joyce serves full time with RG CONNECT. We have three sons and three granddaughters.

Where do you currently live?
Freeport, IL (USA)

What’s the last book you read?
Doce Cuentos Peregrinos – por Gabriel García Márquez

What do you like to do for fun?
Date day with Joycie! Music!

Prayer requests

• For my family
• For wisdom for the ADT
• For continued health and growth of the Evangelical Free Church of Honduras

We'd Like To Introduce You To...

...the Latin America Area Directional Team!

While everyone knows that Brian Duggan is the International Leader for Latin America, it's evident that there is some uncertainty as to who else serves as an area leader.

Please follow the upcoming short series of blog entries introducing you to...

• Arthur Ellison
• Bob Werntz
• Keith Anderson
• Miguel De Marco
• Mike Gunderson
• Omar Rodriguez

Some of these introductions may be brand new while others are re-introductions of old friends. However, no matter what your previous relationship, we hope that, through this blog series, you feel more connected to these leaders, better understanding their roles in RG LA.

Meet Your RG LA Pastors-to-Missionaries

A long-standing part of the ReachGlobal Latin America family -- faithfully serving as missionaries in Venezuela from 1971-2000 and as ENHANCE team members since 2001 -- George and Donna Warren probably aren't strangers to most of the RG LA staff. However, do you know how they serve you in their current role as Pastors-to-Missionaries (PTMs) for Latin America?

What do PTMs do?
As part of the ENHANCE team, PTMs come alongside missionaries to provide support, strengthen, and encourage them in their walk with the Lord. While they do work for ReachGlobal, they are are careful to maintain confidentiality in their interactions with LA staff.

The nitty-gritty of their role includes:

• Visiting with missionaries on the field
• Attending debriefing sessions for missionaries returning on home assignment to the States
• Crisis debriefing
• Assisting in the candidate process -- occasionally attending REV and PT Live
• Working towards conflict resolution
• Advocating for missionary care in churches
• Walking alongside missionaries going through difficult times
• Ensuring necessary counseling occurs when needed
• Providing tools for self-care and healthy teams (such as a the Healthy Teams Toolbox)
• Encouraging missionaries to take needed rest

What is missionary health all about?
According to George, it all comes down to the heart -- having a transparent walk with the Lord. Reading the Bible and obeying God's Word. And walking the journey with others -- having a handful of people with whom you can talk in confidence and pray in earnest.


Why might you contact George & Donna (your Latin America PTMs), for example?

• For help with emotional or mental issues or stressful situations in your ministry or personal life
• For support throughout a ministry change or ministry decision
• For post-traumatic stress counseling
• For counsel in family issues and decisions -- from children returning to the States for college to caring for aging parents
• For conflict resolution
• For a field visit from George and Donna!

While travel to the field has been difficult in the past, George and Donna love to spend time with you (the RG LA staff) in the field -- and they are more equipped to do so at this point. They have received an invitation to visit with staff in Costa Rica in November, and they welcome and encourage invitations to visit other LA locations, too.

How should you contact them?

• Email -- George.Warren@efca.org and Donna.Warren@efca.org
• Skype -- gewarrenps139
• Phone -- (714) 256-4668

For George and Donna, PTM is not a job. It's being part of a family and a ministry. They desire to be there and available for their RG LA family whenever and wherever needed.

A Snapshot from Venezuela

By Mike Gunderson

On the way to preach in one of the churches in Valencia, Venezuela, I had the privilege of worshipping with the Emanuel EFC, also in Valencia. On the surface, the church is not highly impressive, and there were only about 50 people in the first of two services.

I should have known that there was more beneath the surface, though, when I saw their church vision statement painted above the platform:

Una iglesia discipular, celular y misionera

(A discipling, cellular and missionary church)

It has a nice ring, doesn't it?

Pastor Abdy with his children & Mike

As I spent more time with the lead pastor of this church, Adby Perera and his wife, Paola, I understood that there is a lot more to Emanuel Free than meets the eye.

This church of around 150 members has 40 people in its music ministry -- and 15 of those are trained to lead worship! Every Sunday they send out at least one team to help lead worship in church plants and smaller churches in the community.

Abdy's church has a ministry called "volunteer missions training." Trainees receive basic training in preaching and evangelism, and they preach, evangelize, and do street theatre in public squares. If the police come, they disband (although, thankfully, most of the persecution in Venezuela today is mild and subtle).

The volunteer missions training is VERY hands on. Pastor Abdy shared, "I don't like cold-call evangelism, but I like what it produces in the 'missionaries' that go out." On five Saturdays during April and May 2010, Emanuel Free preached and shared in different public squares... and 48 people came to Christ!

The same training is being used in a number of churches and there are many new Christian converts. A once bi-vocational pastor started the program a few years ago, and today ten house churches have been born out of it. Now, he's a vocational pastor and just finished his "licenciatura" (bachelor’s equivalent). (Good thing he is qualified now!!)

Conference -- Missionaries & Pastors

We heard similar stories from other pastors, too, although with a curious twist to the story... No one really knows how many new churches there are in the association! They know that the number of official churches has dwindled (a story for another time), but the number of unofficial churches has grown dramatically in the last half decade or so. Praise the Lord! Some spoke of 80 unofficial churches and church plants, others of 100, and still others spoke of numbers over 120.

The number is not the most important thing. What is exciting is something that we see in church-planting movements around the world (not just in Venezuela) -- the movement becomes decentralized and growth grows beyond control.

• There is a growing number of house churches led by bi-vocational pastors.
• The ADIEL of Venezuela is now offering an accredited bachelor degree program in a local church-based training format.
• And we were thrilled to see that they have two missionary families in India and two families in the process of being sent to Europe.

So many exciting things!

We all left Venezuela very encouraged by what God is doing through our Venezuelan brothers and sisters. We are proud of the faithful missionaries who God has used and continues to use for His glory in Venezuela.

Call to Prayer

From Omar:

Dear LA Missionary family,

Please be in prayer for Jim and Melanie Wilson (currently raising support to serve in Latin America) and their family.

Jim just returned from a trip to Alaska last night and while he was driving home, his sister called to tell him that her 27-year-old son was involved in a serious accident. The doctors tried through the night to save him but his injuries were such that the bleeding could not be stopped and he died during the night.

Jim is flying back to Alaska to be with his family and conduct the funeral. Please pray that he will be able to make standby flights to get to Anchorage. Please pray for God's comfort to be realized by their family.


Thanks for your prayers.


Blessings,
Omar Rodriguez

Update on Martha -- Please Pray

From Mark Hendrickson

Martha has been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer on the right side. She will have a second biopsy on the left side on Tuesday and hopefully surgery as soon as possible. Pray that the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes and that we can completely eradicate it through surgery, and avoid chemotherapy if at all possible. Pray that God would be glorified through us as we go through this trial together.

Thank you for joining together as ReachGlobal Latin America staff to lift up our fellow servants in Christ!

If a crisis arises...

By Omar Rodriguez

... ... ... ... ...

At least 42 dead, 115,000 homeless in Brazil flooding

By the CNN Wire Staff, June 22, 2010 2:52 p.m. EDT

... ... ... ... ...

As Crisis Manager for Latin America, several times during the day, I check news sources to see what’s generally going on in the world. The above headline from CNN greeted me just a few minutes ago – as it did people in the National Office, our supporting churches and family. Two questions immediately come to mind. First, are our missionaries affected in some way? Second, is the EFCA doing anything to help?


If the headline seems urgent or severe enough, someone in leadership might shortly start receiving notes from some interested party with the above questions. While it is impossible to stay on top of every crisis situation, we do need to be aware that due to global communications, crisis events are broadcasted quickly and interest is generated surprisingly fast.


For those of you on the field, what CNN may consider a crisis may not at all rank as such in your perception. But, if you are sending off emergency prayer requests to your supporters regarding an emergency situation or people are writing to you about what’s going on, it’s probably a good trigger that you should inform myself or your team leader.


Crisis events are not limited to personal emergencies but also include incidents where ReachGlobal might be affected or might have the opportunity to respond to serve. At the very least, we want to be proactive about generating concerted prayer for those who are affected. If at all possible, we also want to take the opportunities placed before us to reach out to our fellow believers and those without Christ who may need help. Proactive communication to your team leader or to me will greatly help us to respond to selected emergencies in a coordinated and timely manner.


If you are unable to contact your immediate supervisor, please contact me at Omar.Rodriguez@efca.org or you can call me at my cell phone at 714-930-6451 (24/7). If necessary, call collect.

Ministering in a Roman Catholic Context

It'll be no surprise to you, the RG LA staff, that most of Latin America is predominantly Catholic. Evangelicalism is rapidly growing but still remains the minority. Despite living and ministering within Latin America on a day-to-day basis, how much do you know about the predominant religion?

Starting July 5, EQUIP (along with facilitator Dr. Ernest Manges) is offering a 4 week interactive/collaborative course on "Ministering in a Roman Catholic Context."

Take this opportunity to complete a personal KRA while learning about the history of Catholicism, complexities within the religion, and differences and similarities between Catholic and Evangelical doctrine and beliefs. Come away with practical ideas for ministering effectively to your Catholic friends and neighbors. Plus, due to the interactive nature, you will learn from fellow RG staff and have the chance to share your own related experiences. The course comes highly recommended for all staff ministering in predominantly Catholic countries.

View additional course information online or email equip@efca.org to register today! If you have any specific questions, you can also contact ernest.manges@efca.org.

Surprised by God!

By Bob Werntz


Sometimes on the mission field, we are surprised by incredible God-given ministry opportunities that are a bit outside our expectations and paradigms. During our time in Honduras, this has certainly been the case for our family.

In 2009, I received a call from a ministry called International Fire Relief Missions (IFRM) in Minnesota requesting my help in connecting them with the municipal government on the Honduran island of Roatan. They felt led to minister to the firemen and medical emergency responders there, and the director of the group attends an EFC church in Minnesota. I love to go to Roatan – a beautiful island paradise where I have often dreamed of planting a hammock church. After many months of phone calls with governmental and customs officials and a couple of vision trips, the day finally came!

The Roatan Fire and Medical Services were happy to receive a fire truck and a container stuffed with over $1 million worth of supplies! A team from Minnesota traveled to the island for two weeks to train the workers on the best use of their new equipment. (At right, Roatan fire fighters, wearing and using their new equipment, receive car extraction training.)

At the same time, another ministry affiliated with IFRM (International Relief Missions) worked with a church in Roatan to train a group from their local church family to provide chaplain ministry to the emergency responders. Part of the training included going to the fire station and meeting all the workers there (pictured at left), the first steps to building a relationship between the church and the emergency responders. What a blessing to see these ministries and trainings come together after months of preparation and prayer!

God surprised us again when a group called Missions Mobilization International (MMI) contacted us. MMI had the desire to minister to the national police force in Honduras, the COBRAS, and requested our help. They arrived in Tegucigalpa with a team that specializes in training SWAT teams around the world. After several days of intense training, and once they’d earned the COBRAS respect, the MMI ministry team preached the gospel to them. Many COBRAS indicated their desire to follow Christ, and we handed out around 500 Bibles! Awesome!

Preaching the gospel to the COBRAS

Proud owners of new Bibles

May God continue to surprise us all with ministry opportunities that seem outside the box!

Add the RSS Feed for the RGLA Staff Broadcast

RSS feeds


First things first, if this is new to you… RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a way for publishers of blogs, news, etc. to make their web content available for subscription. For example, when you add an RSS feed for a blog to your email, you are subscribing to that blog, and from that point forward, you will receive an email anytime new content is published. This saves you the time and effort of regularly checking the blog on the web, and it ensures you don’t miss any important information that is published!

 

To add an RSS feed in Outlook:

As RG staff members, we all use Microsoft Outlook, and there is a simple way to add an RSS to your Outlook account.

1. Visit the webpage you would like to subscribe to – for our example, you can use this blog (RGLA Staff Broadcast).
2. If the webpage offers RSS, you will see a button with an orange box that says "Posts" -- on this blog, this is located on the right-hand side of the page, part-way down the sidebar. Click on this button. In some situations, the site may have a dropdown list of subscription methods – in that case, you will look for the orange button that says “Atom” – usually it is at the bottom of the list.
3. Click on Atom. A new page will open up – for our example, it will look like this. Copy the URL at the top of this page – example: http://rglastaffbroadcast.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
4. Return to Microsoft Outlook.
5. Go to the Tools menu at the top of the main page. Click on Account Settings.
6. Go to the RSS Feeds tab in the box. Click New.
7. In the New RSS Feed dialog box, type or press CTRL+V to paste the URL of the RSS Feed.
8. Click Add and then OK.

 

You should now be receiving the RGLA Staff Broadcasts in your email.

 

Note: The posts will not come into your Inbox! They will appear in their own folder (labeled RGLA Staff Broadcast) under the folder RSS Feeds.

 

Now you are ready to add the RSS for other blogs you follow – such as TJ Addington’s Leading from the Sandbox -- to your email, too.

 

If you have any questions or issues, please contact Melissa Putney or Brian Duggan with questions. Thanks!

Are you taking advantage of EQUIP?

Part of ensuring ongoing success in ministry is ensuring that we keep ourselves (our skills, knowledge, and training) relevant. EFCA EQUIP offers online self-guided and facilitated courses to help in that development – and they are free-of-charge to ReachGlobal missionaries!

One upcoming course to consider taking is the Healthy Missions Partnership course. One of ReachGlobal’s guiding principles is to be “partnership driven,” so understanding how to establish, build and maintain healthy partnerships is key for all ReachGlobal staff. The course will be interactive and a great opportunity to learn from the experiences of missionaries, pastors and partner organizations from around the world.

Visit the EQUIP website to read more about the course and to sign up today. The next 4-week course (+ 1-week introduction for new EQUIP users) is scheduled for June 30-August 3. The course should be offered again in the fall as well (dates TBD).

In Latin America, we encourage every RG staff member currently involved in some level of partnership to participate in the course. As we continue to develop a structure or model for defining and building partnerships, we expect this training to be immediately beneficial and relevant for our area.