Recently, I was asked to describe what I do as the Director of Saving Grace World Missions. Well, to answer that question, I would need to catalog a book-load of information. None of us have that kind of time, but I would like to share with you three important things that paint the picture of how I support missionaries, promote ministries, and help fulfill the Great Commission from my office here in So Cal. The following examples provide a snapshot of what God is currently doing as I serve at SGWM.
Cows for Uganda
My good friend and long-time SGWM missionary Pastor Brian Kanyike was in the US on a brief furlough. Taking the time to meet with missionaries is a priority in my ministry at SGWM. So, this meeting provided the opportunity for Pastor Brian to share how blessed a remote village has been with the funds that we raised to construct two wells that provide, for the first time, fresh drinkable water. He further expressed the desire to purchase two “milk cows” as he continues to reach out to the people in this village. His commitment to God’s people doesn’t stop there, the next level of need is a source of protein as most of the children are malnourished. My task was to organize the SGWM team, make the request known, and within one week we raised over $1,800.
Mission Class in Pakistan
As I am connected with missionaries around the world through SGWM, I was approached by Pastor Nadeem Messey about doing a missions class. While connecting with him online, he shared a need to get more Biblically grounded concerning missions. The purpose he shared was to be trained concerning the Biblical basis of missions so that he, in turn, could provide training and be equipped to send the Pakistan youth on short-term missions trips. The goal and hope is that the Lord would raise up, from this group, full-time church planters in Pakistan. I am amazed that from my desk, God is using me to stir up a passion for missions in places like Pakistan.
Church Planting in Mexico
People don’t often contemplate the magnitude of uprooting a family, moving to a cross-cultural situation, and starting a ministry. The level of specialized coaching that is needed is immense. As the director, this is my primary role at SGWM and requires much time and attention. The Brechtel’s recently returned from a one-year language school in Mexico and are starting the transition to become church planters through SGWM. This week, I started their missionary training in our home office. The purpose is to equip and coach them through this transition with the ultimate goal to send them fully trained and ready to establish a church in Oaxaca Mexico.
“On Tuesday we discussed with Pastor Mike the importance of developing a vision for communication as missionaries. The training was immensely profitable in giving us an understanding of the importance of maintaining relationships with those we partner with back home. We focused on the importance of the missionary taking the responsibility to share all that God is doing in their lives and ministries in the hope that those back home might be encouraged to take steps of faith with us for the furtherance of the Gospel.”
– Jon & Alison Brechtel SGWM Missionaries to Oaxaca Mexico.
Until Next Time
This update is merely a small snapshot of all that the Lord is doing in and through my ministry here at SGWM. I hope that this helped develop a clearer understanding of my day-to-day ministry life. Thank you for taking the time to read through this short update and thank you to everyone who has faithfully prayed and supported my family and me for the past twelve years.
If you are not a part of my support team and would like to partner with me as I advance, promote, and help fulfill the Great Commission, please CLICK HERE.
God Bless,
Pastor Mike
A few weeks ago Pastor Mike shared his desire to post weekly missions articles. Train4Missions.com is is the site that he is currently building. You can check it out, but remember that it is still in the “under development” stage.
Pastor Mike and his wife Erin serve State-side as full-time missionaries through Saving Grace World Missions and raise their own missionary support. If you would like to partner with Pastor Mike and Erin to help them further the ministry of Missions Training, please click the “ways to give” image below.
