Dear friends and family,

From finding a place to live to become an intern at Calvary Chapel Saving Grace, the past couple of months have been such a whirlwind. The process of finding a place to stay has been a challenge to trust and have faith. For the past 12 years, I’ve lived in Santa Ana with my parents. Like an eaglet preparing to leave the nest, a young child must find the time to go discover the Lord’s calling in their life, and this was mine. 

God’s Calling:

 My parents moved an hour away from Saving Grace. Coming back from the School of Missions, I moved in with them and began a job at Starbucks near the church. It was just the beginning of how God started to work out the plan He had in store. The commute was challenging and frustrating initially, as I had to wake up at the crack of dawn to get to work on time. But the Lord is so sovereign. He has shown me grace through the challenge to “come and follow me.” A couple of weeks passed, and the internship was right around the corner. Yet, I still had no place to stay. I was beginning to lose hope that the Lord would provide, and maybe He was asking me to lay down my right of comfort. Then God came through. At the start of the second week of September, Pastor Tim  (the Internship Pastor) gave me a call saying there was an affordable place to stay that was five minutes away from the church. I couldn’t believe it! We met up with a very suitable lady who was a God-fearing woman and hospitable. Our meeting went very well. I ended up moving in that Thursday. What a blessing she is. I am now ten minutes away from my work, and five minutes away from the church I intern from. God is such a provider! It reminds me of the verse, Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” What a great way to see God’s provision when we walk with Him.

A continued call:

The Calvary School of Missions was so moving and had lit a fire within my heart, prompting me towards the call of becoming a missionary. But at this moment, I feel ill-equipped to teach the gospel, and that’s exactly what the internship offers to remedy. I’m going through the internship as a student-leader; a student coming first, for I must learn to teach and apply the Bible first in my own life, then lead others in the knowledge. As an intern, we are given many tasks. One of the assignments we are required to perform is to read through a book. The latest book we’ve read was about the life of John Calvin. He talked about learning and applying one’s very own message to their own life before a single word is uttered to the congregation. As I leaped into scholar’s shoes, I learned more of the true weight of being a pioneer pastor in reaching the nations within the 10/40 window.  Another part of the internship that has been challenging has been the outreaches and evangelizing. I often wonder to myself, “am I doing it correctly?” But the Lord has been reminding me that we are saved by grace and grace alone. We cannot do anything that will even come close to paying the cost for our sin. Why fear? Praise be to the Lord for bringing others to Him on His timing. 

What is next? 

What is next for my journey in this incredible calling as a missionary? I have been praying recently for direction in where I should go, and initially, I thought it should be Ukraine. However, as much as I’ve loved Ukraine, I don’t see the need to plant yet another church there. In Ukraine, 71% of the population is Christian, however, in Japan, only about 1.5% is. As it says in Acts, we are to go into the world and make disciples, for this is the great commission. I aim to become a pastor as a missionary and plant a church within Japan. Dear reader, I would love to ask you to pray alongside me as I want to do the will of God more than my own. In 2 Timothy 2:8-9, Paul talks about remembering Christ Jesus being raised from the dead, and this is the gospel we preach as missionaries. He goes on to say for which I (Paul) suffer many tribulations even to the point of chains. But the gospel is not chained. This means the gospel is the truth that will set the oppressed free. As I begin to learn the culture, I ask again for prayer to gain wisdom that will allow me to endure and steward this calling well.

Thank you for all your support and prayers. 

Geoff

The final week is here, and the call is real. Looking back at the last few years, I realize that they’ve been pretty tough. I have been struggling with the question: “what is my calling?” Trying to figure out if going to school was the right choice or not. While trying college out, I had to take the placement test three times, resulting in low scores. Coming from a place where I was used to getting higher grades, that was a hard pill to swallow. The experience just felt so out of place; depression soon after. I ended up completing only one semester of school. Then, feeling there was a different calling in my life, I searched for other opportunities. Upon discovering YWAM (Youth with a Mission), I saw it as a calling from the Lord. I applied immediately and got in; the Lord directed me to Louisville, Kentucky. I didn’t know what the Lord had in store for me initially, but He showed me there is such rich soil for those ready to be sent out.

That leads us to where I am now, here in Mexico. The Father has shown me that I have a long road ahead of me before becoming a missionary. Through this trip, the Lord has placed and started developing a love for the Bible in me like never before. Coming here and seeing all the church plants that have come out of one church has been breathtaking. Calvary Chapel Rosarito now has thirty churches sent out from their hub. Isn’t that crazy?? What work the Lord is doing down here!

The teachings we have been receiving have been excellent. One of my favorites was a couple from South Africa. They work with Muslims, reaching them through apologetics and sports. Day-to-day conversations are such a great opportunity to show God’s love and share the gospel in a way that anyone can understand. The way they use the gospel to challenge and speak truth into one’s life is a concept I am excited to learn more about moving forward. And their testimony of sports showed how being dedicated and persevering is vital traits you need to be a missionary—being able to say no to your flesh while working out to get stronger. We can do that with our spiritual walk; the enemy is constantly looking to destroy us. We must say no to our old self in total surrender.

I thank God that I have had this experience in what I feel is a jump start into my training to go into the mission field. The Lord has been working in so many ways over the last few years. The incredible journey is just getting started! I would love for you to partner with me financially as I move toward this unbelievable call. If you feel led to support me financially, please click the link below as I still need to pay my tuition. Thank you all for your prayers and tremendous support!!!

Blessings,

Geoff

But if the watchman sees the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword comes, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. Ezekiel 33:6

Challenging in maniging

This week we focused on cultural differences. In this eye-opening class, we were presented with accounts, scriptures, and personal testimonial evidence of how culture can affect long-term ministries overseas. Feeling the weight of the great commission, I began to realize how true the meaning of Matthew 16:24, “deny himself and follow me.” is. Over 7,400 people groups have not heard the good news of the gospel. I can not fathom living in a culture without the gospel. The amount of freedom we have living in the states is such a blessing to behold. Our teacher Rob Douglass continued pointing out the comparisons of saving souls to comforts we take for granted in our day-to-day lives. He proposed the question What is truly more important, Others salvations or Starbucks? This class has truly changed my outlook on what missions are as a whole lifestyle, not just a choice to go out for a couple of years.

Half or all to the Lord

We have reached the halfway point in the school. More and more, I find going to outreaches here in Mexico of missions complex. The challenge of placing the Bible first for evangelizing is a new concept. Yet, the evidence of the Lord moving through others is undeniable. I had the opportunity to preach the word this week. This would be my second time teaching the word. teaching through the story of Joseph; God showed faithfulness through his trials, while from the naked eye, he was having a string of bad luck. The Lord used the message to touch three people there. I am excited to announce they confessed Jesus as their Lord and savor!

I would take a moment to you all who have been praying for our team to say thank you. The Lord has been so faithful as we continue to sail through these uncharted waters. This past week, we had the opportunity to go to a church plant. The church hasn’t been there for about a year, and we had the chance to go out into the neighborhood to invite people. While out, we had many opportunities to evangelize, for most of the natives were catholic. While we were out, one of the translators named Jenny and I went into this items shop to find this older woman selling random nick-nack. We began to invite her to the event we were having later that day. With great excitement, Jenny spotted a bible behind the desk the old lady was sitting behind and began asking her if she knew Jesus. She responded by saying, “yes, I do” in her native tongue. With delight, we both started to ask what church went to. She said she didn’t have a church and was looking for one. We shared the true gospel with her and invited her to the church.

This week has been filled with trials and error, Being willing to be placed where the team needs me to be, not where “I want to be.” It repeatedly seems that the Lord is putting it on my heart to be flexible where I am. Hearing and seeing the Father move has reconfirmed my calling to be a missionary. If you would like to partner with me, please click the link below as we move forward to see what the Lord has for the school and me.

Praise report!
I have been able to gain more opportunities to learn the language and speak it to others during our outreaches. We were handing out fliers, and someone taught me a phrase to politely invite them to our event at the church.

Prayers:

For our team to fight against sickness
for our team unity
One of our team’s family members passed away suddenly. Prayer for her walk and strength

Please, if you have any prayer requests, I can be praying for you all comment below.

Blessings,

Geoff

Week three, we have had over 11 people confess faith in Christ. The Lord has blessed our team immensely. While we were evangelizing, the group had an opportunity to talk to a young couple who had an intriguing view of where they were going when they died. They claimed to believe a self-truth where everyone could proclaim their truth. I had the opportunity to discuss their belief, and it was an excellent lesson to teach how to have an open conversation.

Before school, I read the book called “Tactics” by Gregory Kokl. Within the book, it gives the insight to tackle the discussion at hand. Kokl calls it the “Colombo tactic.” A series of questions you can ask a person to find more information on their beliefs and worldview. Upon knowing this information, I began asking one of the couples what his truth is. He started saying; He didn’t care about what he believed. Hearing this reminded me of how many young people today are influenced by outside sources. The couple continued to say they didn’t care about what anyone thought as long as they stuck to their beliefs about being a good person. As we continued our conversation, they began to be closed off. However, as Kokl writes, “our goal is not to convert them but to place a stone in their shoe.”

As it was fantastic having the opportunity to evangelize and share the gospel, I couldn’t help but feel I was ill-equipped to spread the good news. The enemy can play such mind games in the field as our team goes out and preaches the good news. Through all the struggles in this past week, the Lord has challenged us to put into practice 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 saying, “3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
It was such a good reminder always to put my faith in God.

On one of our outreaches this last week, we had the opportunity to come alongside Calvary Church Homex to build a playground for the community. We started with a flatbed of land and a dream in the outskirts of Beirut. Upon creating the play equipment, we had a program for the kids and adults. Our theme was ‘Jonah and the whale.’ I can’t describe the feeling I had to have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people in this community! While the week was filled with ups and downs, I am so blessed to be a part of this team. I am so thankful for all of you who take the time to read this very newsletter and interceding for our team. If you haven’t already or would like to become a donor towards my tuition, click the link below. If you have any prayer requests, I could join you in prayer. Please comment below as well.

Prayer requests
To find peace in the Lord as I navigate the enemies attacks
continued unity with the team
learning the language to be able to communicate with the locals

Blessings

Geoff

One week down of class, outreaches, and leaving room for Jesus. The Lord has moved in even the last few days. During one of our outreaches, we came alongside Calvary Chapel Vista Del Valle to help in an event for the residence. While we were there, we had an excellent array of kid programs, Games, adult teaching, worship, and evangelizing. In the scorching sun, swiftly, the Lord moved through our team. Once we got to the park, we hit the ground running, playing games and expressing the little knowledge we had of Spanish. 

The kids were so joyful and energized. We played soccer with the kids while the moms got their nails done. A few of our team got a chance to share the gospel with a group of teens. Unfortunately, they didn’t confess to Christ as their Lord. It reminded me about the 10/40 window, where so many people groups have not been reached with the gospel. As the day continued, I had an opportunity to hear a testimony from one of the girls who interns at the Connections House we stayed at. She brought me to tears as she poured out her life story laying out the hard family life she endured. She was abused from a young age. Anger grew as she wondered why a loving God would allow such pain in the world. The Lord soon gave her a chance to leave this life that she was living as she met one of the members of Calvary Chaple and allowed her to accept Jesus as her Lord and savor. She is now serving our team with a beautifully changed heart. Hearing her story reminded me of why I am out here to learn how to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. 

As this week ended, I was in awe of how the Lord answers prayers and moves in a powerful way. So many times, I tend to see a miracle and think that it was pure coincidence. Yet, over and over again, God comes through in a new way. I have been dealing with a lot of self-isolation during my quiet times. But the Lord is sovereign, and He has me in his hands. over and over again, I see the Lord say through situations and even nature saying, “trust in me.” I have never felt closer to the Lord as I learn more about missions and my team. I can’t explain it further from the moment I’ve gotten here, but to say The Lord has indeed called me here. He has blessed me such much with a leadership that wants to get to know you and teach the bible to you. Thank you to all who have taken the time to pray for the team and me. I am so blessed by you all. I have yet to reach my goal for my tuition. If you would like to partner with me on my journey to spread the gospel, please click the link below.

prayer requests

• To stand against the enemies attacks 
• For the people here to hear the gospel
• Our learning of the bible and principles of mission work

We haven’t been at school a week, and the Lord is already challenging our team to see the world differently. Our first teacher, Pastor Trent, has taken us on a journey through the Bible, finding ministry foundations. He challenged us through the Scriptures to humble ourselves before all the nations as Jesus did. Setting the example, “to serve, not to be served,” is found in Matthew 20:28. Another main point that stood out was the progression of Jesus going out and calling disciples. Pastor Trent masterfully put a strong case pointing that many of the disciples knew Jesus before “dropping their nets and following Him” Matthew 4:18. Being at the School of Missions changed our outlook on the great commission.

While the students are, hungry, passionate, and ecstatic to learn about the gospel, we will be going out and street evangelizing to the residences here. On our first outreach, we packed delicious sandwiches to give to the families living at a dumping ground. Yes, you read it right, a dump!  This experience was eye-opening with heaps of waste everywhere. The people there were living in cardboard boxes, and it made me think of the sight of poverty in Haiti. But this is literally in our own backyard. Imagine the amount of discomfort.  While we were there, our team had three opportunities to lead four of the locals to Christ. It made me realize the amount of hope that Christ can bring to others that have nothing.

As we excitedly prepare to go on more outreaches in other locations in Rosarito, would you partner with me, praying for our safety and relationships while serving the people? I as well need to raise my tuition towards the school of 1,300 dollars. If the Lord places it on your heart to partner, here’s a link below. 

Prayer requests: 

For our team that we can focus and draw near to God while we are here

To reach the lost in a connecting way

For the health and wellness of our team

https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift2?giftid=8D244815C5CE420

Blessings,

Geoff

Over the past few years, I have gotten to travel to 4 different countries for missions. To find many different cultures while experiencing God in a new way. The Lord has given many opportunities to preach the gospel and serve others. Let me pause and say thank you to all who have supported me and prayed for our team. The Lord has shown me there is so much to learn to be a missionary.

Going to YWAM (Youth With A Mission) this year has equipped me to learn practical things for missions and life in general. While there, I was a part of a basketball elective where we took the sport I love so dearly into biblical terms. The most challenging part of the elective was working against the competitive aspect placed in so many sports. I wanted to have a biblical view of both the team and competition aspects of basketball. I had to step back and think about why I was playing.

• 

During the last part of my training (the outreach phase), we traveled to Ukraine and assisted a YWAM base in the country’s capital, Kyiv. The Lord gave us opportunities to work with a middle school and pre-school, be involved with an English club, and minister on the streets. I worked with the preschoolers the majority of the time. Having the chance to teach Bible stories and sing songs with the kids was such a blast. This one boy named Levi, a ball of energy was so much fun to be around, and he always included everyone in his games. He reminded me of Matthew 19:14. In this verse, Jesus doesn’t turn away anyone, including the little ones. It truly is impressive to see how God can show us simple truths even in the smallest avenues.

• 

Now that I’ve graduated from the Discipleship Training School with YWAM, the Lord is leading me to another school. It is a missions training program that’s associated with a church named Calvary Chapel Saving Grace. We will be traveling down to Mexico to a planted church in Rosarito, where we will be learning what it takes to start a new church cross-culturally and taking a deep look into the book of Acts. The departure date is July 11th; I need $1,300 for the trip. The fundraising is a part of my six-week training. Would you please pray for my classmates and me to prepare to be sent off to the school? If the Lord lays it on your heart to partner with me to pursue missions. please click the link icon below.

Thank you for your prayers and support

Geoff

• Instagram
• Link

Prayer needs:
For the team and the church, we will be staying
Spiritual warfare
Finances
To learn all that God has for me on the trip
Patience

•