Garcia Family Blog

Hello Friends!

One of the amazing parts of my (Joel’s) ministry with SGWM is seeing missionaries sent out. We refer to them as the tip of the spear, and we and the local church are the shaft by which these amazing missionaries are thrust into the midst of the unreached to bring the light of the Gospel to them. There is nothing in life more exciting than being a part of that process!

In that light, it is so exciting to see our first Calvary School of Missions graduate to be sent out finally start to get on the field! Jorden Skiles is going for 3 months to an undisclosed, sensitive country to be discipled by a missionary family there, before returning for a brief visit to the states and then on to the Middle East. He will be an integral part of a vision the Lord gave our church long ago to start a work in that area.

I actually got to go with Jorden on his initial “vision tour” to see that country in person for the first time, a trip on which the Lord confirmed his calling to move there.

I can’t wait to move from being someone who was a part of Jorden’s journey to being sent, to now being the person primarily in charge of making sure he’s well cared for on the field. This is the kind of thing I live for!

Please pray that the Lord would raise up a team to serve alongside Jorden in the Middle East. Right now, Bryan and Andrea, who were on that vision tour as well, are preparing for their upcoming marriage and then seeking the Lord’s timing on when He would have them move to the Middle East as a part of that team. The wheels are turning on this amazing new work from the Lord! Pray for Bryan and Andrea, that the Lord would lead them during this time of preparation.

Please continue to pray that the Lord would open up a traveling opportunity for Joel to minister to missionaries on the field. It seems that some doors keep closing for that. But, right now the plan is for Joel to be part of a rotation of pastors to spend time with Jorden in intervals over his first year in the Middle East since he has no other team on the ground. Pray that the Lord would provide great wisdom and guidance in that.

We also would love to keep you updated on our ministry via our newsletter email updates if you are interested. You can sign up for those by clicking the button below:

Email Updates

You can also become a one-time or ongoing financial partner with us by clicking the button below, or by mailing a check made out to SGWM with “Joel Garcia” in the memo line to 17451 Bastanchury Rd, Ste 203, Yorba Linda, CA, 92886.

Love in Christ,
Joel, Amy, Maggie, Harrison, Jude, and Clara Garcia

Hello Family and Friends!

I hope that you’ve had a wonderful Summer! The days are still hot here in Southern California, but Fall will be here before we know it. Our kids have already officially started school up again (though school never really stops for homeschoolers, does it?).

This Summer reminds me of the importance of the crew it takes to send and care for missionaries. As Director of Missionary Care at SGWM, I help lead an army of people to support our missionaries. This includes our administrative staff and interns, but outside of our offices, there is a grouped that our own heroes, missionaries, look up to as their heroes: Missionary Care Teams.

Just this Summer, teams of believers from our church have supported a family on furlough from North Africa; a family who left just a few weeks ago to establish themselves in Rosarito, Mexico; and will help support a family in just a few weeks on furlough from South Asia. We’re also watching support teams from other churches care for our affiliate missionaries (missionaries who are not directly from our church), like a woman who is on furlough from Spain. Would you prayerfully consider becoming part of a Missionary Care Team? Please reach out to me for more information on what that looks like!

Finally, while it will probably be a while before I am able to commit to teaching more Skype classes to South Asia students, I was super blessed to be a part of the Zoom graduation for the last class I taught through the book of Hebrews a couple of weeks ago.

Please continue to pray that the Lord would open up doors and give direction on where He would like me to travel next. I take traveling seriously, as it costs money and precious time from my family, so I want to make sure that when I do travel, it is exactly where the Lord would have me to go to minister to missionaries. So far, I have not sensed open doors from Him to any specific area.

Please also pray for our CSOM students, as there has been some spiritual warfare that has led to changes in their plans that they did not anticipate.

I love you all and thank you for your support and prayers!

We also would love to keep you updated on our ministry via our newsletter email updates if you are interested. You can sign up for those by clicking the button below:

Email Updates

Love in Christ,
Joel, Amy, Maggie, Harrison, Jude, and Clara Garcia

Hello Family & Friends!

We wanted to send you just a quick update in the middle of a busy Summer. Our family is doing great, and the kids are having a blast swimming, meeting friends, and learning new things this Summer.

As many of you know, we hold an annual six-week Calvary School of Missions in Rosarito, Mexico every Summer. This program provides a primer for training young people in the theology and practicality of international missions and reaching the unreached. The theme is always a surrender of their lives and plans to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. This year, Joel got to go for the first week of the school to meet the students, minister to them as they grapple with missions and theology through a whirlwind first week. This has been a huge blessing, as he has never gotten to go for the first week and establish relationship with the students like this! In particular, it is really awesome for him to use his gift of leading worship to create an environment of surrender, intimacy with the Lord, and fervent prayer for the students. Please pray that the Lord would give guidance and wisdom to the students over the remaining fives weeks, and that He would strengthen them through the spiritual warfare they will experience.

We also would love to keep you updated on our ministry via our newsletter email updates if you are interested. You can sign up for those by clicking the button below:

Email Updates

Love in Christ,
Joel, Amy, Maggie, Harrison, Jude, and Clara Garcia

Hello Friends!

Check out this video of some of the things going on in our life and ministry this Summer:

We would ask that you pray for the Lord to meet our financial needs and consider partnering with our ministry financially as the Lord leads. If you would like to support us financially either on an ongoing basis or through a one-time donation, you can do so by clicking the “Become A Financial Partner” button below, OR you can mail a check written out to Saving Grace World Missions with “Joel Garcia support” in the memo section to Saving Grace World Missions, 17451 Bastanchury Rd., Suite 203, Yorba Linda, CA 92886-1873.

We also would love to keep you updated on our ministry via our newsletter email updates if you are interested. You can sign up for those by clicking the button below:

Email Updates

Love in Christ,
Joel, Amy, Maggie, Harrison, Jude, and Clara Garcia

Hello Friends!

Some people don’t realize that in a family in vocational ministry like us, the kids are as big a part of the calling as the parents! On this lovely Saturday morning as I write this, I’m sitting in the living room while my two oldest, Maggie (7) & Harrison (5) build a Magnet Tile house. I decided to take the opportunity to interview them for this update; hope you enjoy!

What is your favorite part about mom and dad doing ministry?

Maggie: I like inviting people over and telling them more about Jesus.

Harrison: I like having the young adults group over at our house every Friday night and hanging out with them!

Why do you think dad goes on trips to other countries sometimes?

M: So that he can help other people learn about Jesus. And he visits missionaries that we help support

H: So that he can talk to people, be with people, and share with people about Jesus

What is the hardest part for you when dad goes on a trip?

M: I don’t like it because you aren’t with us, but it’s worth it because when you come home I get to see all the pictures you take.

H: I don’t like missing you, but if you didn’t go, then less people will hear about Jesus and go to be with Him in Heaven.

[Note: Missing my family is also my least favorite part of trips! But Amy and I have taught the kids how important it is for dad to go visit missionaries because it’s part of the gospel going to the nations!]

How do you serve Jesus right now, and how do you want to serve Him when you’re older?

M: I am working on writing books to sell and raise money for missionaries. When I’m older, I want to be an artist and draw pictures from stories of the Bible and write what the story is about.

H: I serve Jesus by giving money to missionaries [note: last year Harrison decided to give some of his birthday money to a missionary we support] and I pray for people. When I’m older, I want to serve Jesus by being a missionary in Australia and Arizona [note: this was news to me this morning!].

I pray you all enjoyed this update, and I hope you remember to pray for our kids when you pray for our family’s ministry!

We would ask that you pray for the Lord to meet our financial needs and consider partnering with our ministry financially as the Lord leads. If you would like to support us financially either on an ongoing basis or through a one-time donation, you can do so by clicking the “Become A Financial Partner” button below, OR you can mail a check written out to Saving Grace World Missions with “Joel Garcia support” in the memo section to Saving Grace World Missions, 17451 Bastanchury Rd., Suite 203, Yorba Linda, CA 92886-1873.

We also would love to keep you updated on our ministry via our newsletter email updates if you are interested. You can sign up for those by clicking the button below:

Email Updates

Love in Christ,
Joel, Amy, Maggie, Harrison, Jude, and Clara Garcia