God is good.

We’ve really gotten into a good groove here. I think one of the greatest issues is becoming complacent while in ministry. Learning how to better foster my relationship and walk with the Lord has been a huge blessing. Your prayers have been at work the whole time we’ve been in Mexico—thank you! You’ve been praying for unity, and the Lord has helped us to walk in unity. You’ve been praying for boldness in sharing the Gospel, and the Lord has been giving it. He’s been giving wisdom and discernment. He has been keeping us in good health, and He is guiding; thank you. 

Back To The Basics

This past week the Lord has been making me more aware of pride in my heart and my great need to walk in humility with Him. I am to truly identify with Jesus, and as His follower, I need to humble myself before Him and bring my purpose and reason for being in alignment with His. I am to bring Him glory (John 15:8). Both of our books this week, Humility by Andrew Murray and The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, spoke on our need to die to self, cling to Jesus, and pursue Him! It’s been a blessing to see how God speaks at just the right moment to draw us closer to Him and to move us from grace to grace in our walks with Him. 

Church Planting and Cambodia

This week we got to hear from an experienced church planter who is working in Cambodia right now. He shared some of the challenges that church planters face. When dealing with cultural norms, some will be different from what I am used to, but that doesn’t mean that they’re wrong. Others, however, need to be corrected through the Word and discipleship. This was a sweet time, as I’m praying about whether the Lord would have me go to an Asian country to plant a church. 

Conference in Baja

This week’s teaching was appropriately tied in with church planting, as we got to attend the CC Rosarito Church Planting Conference here in Mexico. There were some huge themes of perseverance in the face of opposition and discouragement. To remember that we are called to faithfulness. It was a great reminder when one of the speakers shared that church planting is the building block laid upon evangelism and discipleship. Those two things are the direct outpouring of the believer as they walk with the Lord, and it leads to believers walking in the Spirit and being part of the Church. 

Highlights

I think some of my favorite moments this week were hanging with kiddos. While serving during one of the afternoon sessions of the conference, I got to help watch the kids while parents were attending the conference. It was really fun getting to hang out with a bunch of the kids; one of whom (his name was Orlando) was part of a family that CC Rosarito was sending out to start a church in Guatemala. As we were leaving he wanted to know if I was going to be there the next day to play basketball, and I was just stoked to be able to serve and build relationships; even just briefly. It’s such a blessing to get to see what God is doing, and how He is growing His church. Another moment that stood out to me was during one of our outreaches at CC Primo Tapia where one of our translators, Jessica, and I got to help a man named Eduardo carry his food back to his home. We got to talk with him about the Lord. From our conversation it sounded like he was a believer, so we encouraged him to attend the church. Things have been pretty difficult for him, especially with this pandemic, and it was a blessing to be able to encourage him.

As followers of Jesus, we have a sweet opportunity to make disciples wherever we are. Regarding discipleship, we students were challenged to pray for the Lord to bring people into our lives to disciple; to point them to Jesus and teach them to follow Him. Would you be up for praying about how the Lord might want to use you to help raise up someone in their faith and walk with Jesus? The reality is that we can’t, but with a willing, surrendered heart, God can use us to accomplish things we never thought could happen.

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” -2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NKJV)

How To Get Involved

Our time here is coming to a close, we’ve got one week left to go, but there is still more to learn and more people to share Jesus with. I feel the Lord has been continuing to stir my heart for church planting, and I absolutely want to be obedient wherever He is leading. As for what is next, I definitely need the Lord’s wisdom. There are some opportunities for internships that can help prepare and grow me for being able to go out when He says to go. In that, I also wanted to share some of my financial needs. I was in an accident on June 13th and need new transportation. I’m looking at buying a car that’s in good shape from my family and need to raise the funds. Thankfully they are allowing me to make payments so that will be a huge help. There is also a need for part of my rent for the month of September. If anyone would feel so led to give, the link is below. Most of all, would you please continue to pray; He knows exactly what He has:

• That the Lord would continue to reveal where He would have me go.
• That I would trust more deeply.
• For where I should fulfill a potential internship, as there are a few different opportunities.
• That the Lord would continue to give me opportunity to grow in the gifts and calling He has given.
• For continued team unity.
• For provision: 
  • That my tax return would come in soon to help pay my bills
  • Finances for car. 
  • Finances for rent (month of September).
• To put into practice these things that the Lord has been teaching since early June.
• For continued health, protection, and safety for myself and the rest of the team.
• Please pray that everything learned and gained during this time would be kept and put into practice as I get back to the States.

Dios te bendiga, love you guys,

-Jordon

Time is flying!

We have had a lot of great opportunities to continue to grow and serve here in Mexico. Thank you so much for being part of what God is doing. He’s using your prayers and support in so many ways. The unity between our team has been so great. I look forward to how these relationships will grow over the next two weeks. To be around like-minded people who love Jesus and want to make Him known is such a blessing. 

Becoming A Student of Culture

Last week I was reminded of the spiritual war we find ourselves in as Christians. This world is filled with darkness and we have the antidote. We have Jesus and we have the amazing opportunity to tell people about Him. There are a lot of ways that the Lord has been breaking my heart for the lost. Did you know that there are about 17,000 unique people groups on this earth, and 7,000 of them have not been reached with the Gospel? That means that they don’t even have access to it. To put this into perspective, there are 1,000 churches for every 1 unreached people group. If more churches made it their goal to reach the unreached, then we could reach them in this lifetime! In regards to reaching them, I was also able to see how big of a barrier culture can be. With the Lord’s help, and a lot of patience we can reach communities all around the world for Jesus. People are headed toward a Christ-less eternity, and we have the answer. I believe the Lord has been stirring up my heart greatly for the unreached, and wherever He leads I will gladly go. 

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!’” -Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV)

Christ Is Gain

At both of our outreaches this week we were able to bring the Gospel, and food relief for around 60 families. We prepared games and lessons for the kiddos and shared testimonies and the Gospel with the adults. It was a really sweet time to build relationships with some of the people in these communities. At our first outreach, there was a little boy named Josué that I got to connect with while playing fútball (soccer). It was really great to see the smiles on the kids’ faces as they played and had a good time with our team. At our second outreach on the Kumuyey tribe’s reservation, we got to meet a little boy named Abraham. He had been stung by a bee, and we were able to talk, help, pray with him, and one of our leaders, Bryan, was able to share with him about where his name comes from in the Bible. Please be praying for the Kumuyey as the pastor who served them died about a week ago. Right now there is a young man named Angel there in his place; please be praying for him, and also for someone to come out full-time and love and serve the group of believers there.

How To Get Involved

When we go on outreach we are going to give people Jesus, but our hope, flowing out of that, is to meet physical needs as well. If you would like to be a blessing as we continue, then please indicate that under the note section when giving. If you would like to partner with me in seeking to bring Jesus to those who do not know Him and feel led to give, you can do that through the giving link as well. Again, the greatest need is prayer. Would you please pray:

• For continued unity
• For boldness to proclaim the Gospel and meet people where they are at
• For a burden to reach those who do not know Him
• For us to be Jesus’ hands and feet while we are here
• For wisdom and discernment as we go out
• For continued provision
• For the Lord to continue to make callings clear
• For health, safety, and protection as we finish out our time here

With all of this said, I’d love to hear how you guys are doing and how I can be praying for you!

“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” -Acts 20:22-24 (NKJV)

Blessings,

-Jordon

Man, 3 weeks!

Can I just say what a blessing it is that you’ve taken the time to come and see what God is doing in my life? I can’t tell you how much it means to me. Jesus has been showing me so much, and I can’t wait to see what’s next—thank you for being His hands and feet in my life. It honestly just kinda blows my mind that the Lord wants to use me to bring honor and glory to His name. Wow, thank You, Jesus!

Hungarian Schooling

Our class sessions have been amazing. We were able to have Phil Metzger as one of our teachers this past week. The reason this was so special is that he and his wife were missionaries for 20 years in Eastern Europe. They have firsthand experience with taking the Gospel to the nations. Hearing those experiences is an absolute treasure for someone seeking to do the same. I think one of the things the Lord was really revealing to me was that I’m not called to make disciples of my culture. As an ambassador of Jesus, I am called to meet other people where they are at, and to be Jesus’ hands and feet in their lives. When I understand their culture better I can know how to properly bring the Gospel. If I don’t, I may hurt my opportunity to make the Gospel known there. Friday’s class played a huge role in all of this as well because Pastors Joel and Mike from SGWM spoke on true worship. The Lord used this to remind me that my purpose and motivation for all that I do is to be done out of love for Jesus—to worship Him! You guys, we get to worship the one true living God!

No Time to Be Picky

The outreaches I helped with this week were a little different than most we’ve had so far. Ultimately, plans in ministry are subject to change. Chuck Smith used to say something along the lines of, “blessed are the flexible for they will not be broken.” We got to experience this firsthand with our outreach on Saturday. Even though things looked different than we thought, the Lord had a sweet plan where He gave us the opportunity to do some physical labor to help out. In that, we were able to get to spend time with and enjoy our brothers and sisters there. Originally, we had planned to go and serve through teaching and kids ministry, but that wasn’t the need. We got to get our hands dirty instead. 

Running a church is hard work (not that I know from firsthand experience). When a ministry or new work is being started with a set amount of people it’s a huge blessing to have an infusion of 10 plus workers into your crew for a day. It was a blessing to be able to go and serve and love on these sweet people. Being able to share, between both of our groups how God has changed our lives. I’m thankful that the Lord used us to refresh His people. One of my favorite moments was being able to sit around with everyone and listen to Pilar, the wife of the associate pastor at that local Calvary, share her testimony. It’s an amazing thing when someone sits down with you, a group nonetheless, and shares all that God has done for them.

So many things can distract us and act as obstacles in our path. Maybe things don’t go as we’d planned, but God is so good, and we get the opportunity to go and be His hands and feet wherever He takes us. Wherever you’re at, be encouraged. Remember that the Lord is with you, He loves you, and that you, like us, have an opportunity to not only make Jesus known but to encourage the believers around you by serving and loving them like Jesus.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” -Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)

How To Get Involved

God has been doing a lot, and maybe you’ve been wondering, Jordon, why are you doing this school of missions? Well, I feel the Lord has laid on my heart to go and do missions. To take the Gospel to the nations (Matt. 28:18-20), and to do so wherever He leads. All I know right now is that this is a time of preparation, and as the Lord reveals what the next step is I want to be ready to respond in obedience to what He’s calling me to do. The Lord is growing my heart more and more for church planting, and flowing out of a church plant a school of ministry where locals in the area can come and be trained up in the Word of God. Then they would be able to be sent out to areas where they can far more effectively reach their people than I ever could. That heart is something that the Lord began to grow in me starting with my first semester of school at CCBC in 2014. If you feel led to give, there will be needs as time continues to go on. Needs for plane tickets, housing, and things like that, for going on scouting trips, and then, of course, the actual going. If the Lord is stirring in your heart to be a part of what He’s doing and what He will do then there’s a link below to give. As we continue to do food relief and outreaches there will continue to be opportunities to bless those communities we visit with food and other things that they might need. If you have the heart to add to the blessings in these outreaches, then you are more than welcome to do that as well. With that in mind, our greatest need is prayer, so if you would please continue to pray:

• For continued wisdom and discernment as we go out
• For boldness to share the Gospel
• For me (and all of us) to be completely yielded to the Spirit in all I (we) do
• For provision for everything that is needed upon going back home 
• For me to serve and place the needs of others above myself
• For health, safety, and protection for the team and me
• For continued leading and direction for where the Lord is leading me
• That we would continue to come alongside and support the church plants we are helping and be a blessing to them
• That we would all walk in unity
• That above all, the Lord’s will would be done

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

With love, in Christ,

-Jordon

Hey, it’s me again!

I never would’ve imagined all that the Lord would teach me in these first two weeks. He’s really been speaking to my heart about surrender. I want to thank you all for coming alongside me and praying for the ministry and outreach that we’re doing here at the Calvary School of Missions here in Mexico. Again, I could not be here without your partnership, investment towards the Gospel, and God’s call on my life. Not only has this time been great for reaching people with the good news of Jesus, but it’s been a wonderful time for growth and preparation in taking Jesus to the nations. Our classes have laid a biblical foundation for what Church planting and missions are to look like. We’ve had seasoned, long-term missionaries share their testimonies as well as teach classes which have been crucial in forming a proper understanding of what we will face on the field as we go.

Advance

I completely understand that right now is a really difficult time for many. COVID has stirred up a lot of fear and worry in this season of life. Those are the sorts of things that cause us to want to retreat and keep to ourselves, but we have to remember that this is a crucial time. A time that should stir within us the importance of making the Gospel known; and not only that but to help meet the physical needs of those around us as well (as safely as possible). Right now is the time to advance the Gospel, and for the students and leaders here we continue to count the cost as we go out to serve these communities.

The Lord has used us to be able to bless a lot of families here in the local Church. This last week we took the opportunity to love on a couple of different communities by providing COVID relief: food packages, getting to spend time with those in need, playing games with kiddos, sharing testimonies, and sharing the Gospel with many of the adults who attended. At both events, I was able to share a brief testimony of how the Lord has saved me, and what He has done in my life. Our hope is that the Lord would use the testimonies given by all to plant seeds in the unbeliever and encourage our fellow believers.

At the first COVID relief outreach we went to a neighborhood that had a lot of need. When we got there we went out and invited everyone we could to come and join us for the afternoon! One of my favorite parts was to get to hang out with the kiddos at the end; to get to hear their laughter, and to get to see them run around playing with their balloon animals and swords. I’m really thankful we got to go. Please pray that they would think on the Bible story that was shared, that they would think on how much the Lord loves them, and that they would seek to run after Him! The second outreach was held at a church not too far away from where we are staying. I had the privilege of getting to pray with an elderly man named Juan (his son is the pastor at that church). We were able to pray for his other son who was not walking with the Lord as well as Juan’s grandson. What a precious thing the desperate cry of a father is; our God hears!

After serving at and attending church on Sunday we were able to go out to a local park, share the Gospel, and give out invitations to church with Spanish booklets of the Gospel of John. We split up in multiple groups to engage with the people there. It was a really great time to see the younger people of our group being pushed out of their comfort zones and growing to enjoy talking with people about their faith. Thank you for your prayers—God is absolutely using them!

How To Get Involved

Would you like to continue to be a part of what God is doing in my life, and part of sharing the Gospel? Please know that the Lord is using you through your prayers and giving. Needs will continue to arise as time goes on and the Lord continues to reveal His calling. If you feel led to give, the link is below.

Most importantly, would you please continue to pray for us and this ministry:

• To draw closer to the Lord
• To have continued boldness in sharing the Gospel
• For health, safety, and protection
• That the Lord would continue to reveal calling
• To continue to count the cost
• For His provision
• For a willing heart to go wherever He leads
• To get everything He’s wanting me to learn
• For the families and people that we have and will minister to
• For what’s next as well as potential vision tours of where God is calling me for longterm missions

I love you guys, blessings,

-Jordon

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you,” (Matthew 28:19-20a, NKJV).