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Pressing On

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 because 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!

One of our teachers showing us an example of addressing cultural norms in other places.

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.

Splitting rock with the crew…

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.

Putting those landscaping techniques to use…

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 an 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 opportunity to bless those communities we visit with food and other things that they might need. If you have a 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 I
  • 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

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Advancing the Gospel

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 is 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 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.

Near the end of our first outreach we got ready to hand out the food packages we had prepared for our first Covid relief outreach.

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!

Getting to pray with Juan…

After serving 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 Gospels of John (in Spanish). 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!

The view from the prayer station during our second Covid outreach…
While the groups were out evangelizing and giving out invites there was a group doing crafts and fun projects with the kiddos!

How To Get Involved

Would you like to continue to be a part of what God is doing in my life, and for the sharing of 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).

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Radical

Hola!

I really want to take a moment to thank you all so much for your prayers and support, I could not be here without it! The Lord is using you guys! Man, what a season of life it has been (perhaps one of the most trying I’ve experienced), but I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness to display His power in my weakness. Before I get into what’s been going on here at CSOM I wanted to update you on a couple of things. First, I’m fully funded for the School of Missions program. Second, for anyone who has not yet heard the news I graduated from CCBC with my Bachelors on May 22nd. Things have been crazy, but it’s been an amazing thing to see the Lord provide through your prayers and generosity. We serve a good good Father who knows exactly what we need, and He knows exactly how He desires to use us for His kingdom! 

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! I finished getting things ready to move out of CCBC and was given a lift up to Yorba Linda. The next day the church at CC Saving Grace lifted us all up in prayer and we had an opportunity to serve as well. It was a great time getting to meet and bond with the rest of the team. We had a get together to prep for our departure which was the morning of the 6th, and thankfully everything went well. To give an idea, our schedule typically starts with devotionals at 7am, breakfast at 8am, class from 9am-noon, then lunch, either outreach or study time before dinner, and then a debrief or prayer meeting around 7-7:30pm. 

So far, the Lord has been really stirring up my soul for the gifts and callings He has given me. Through the teachings and the required reading it has been such a blessing. The Lord is using it to get me pumped up and ready to serve and follow Him wherever He is leading. I’ve been reminded time and again the reality and necessity to truly count the cost and to take the Gospel to those who have not heard it. The reward that we have in Jesus far surpasses any risk we may find on this earth. 

We’ve already participated in outreaches! We were able to partner with an expanding church plant out of CC Rosarito (Capilla Calvario La Gloria) by helping build a stage, going out into the surrounding area to invite people to come, and had opportunities to share the Gospel as well. That day I got to meet a young man named Pedro. He told me he had been baptized in Arizona and so I continued to speak with him about the Gospel and the great hope and eternal life the Christian has in Jesus. Please pray for him, he seemed very touched, and very interested to come check out that church plant. 

The stage just before it got painted…

We’ve attended services at Calvary Chapel Rosarito, and have had opportunity to serve during one of their services. This church has a great model for planting churches, especially in a foreign context, and I look forward to serving alongside them more. The Gospel is going out, and people are receptive! Please pray for these Church plants that they would continue to be effective in sharing the Gospel and discipling those they come in contact with. 

Praying over the pastors of one of the church plants we were able to do outreach with!
Telling people about Jesus!

If you could please pray for us:

  • Boldness to proclaim the Gospel
  • To draw nearer to the Lord than ever before
  • To aid the church plants we are coming alongside
  • Unity within our team
  • Soaking in all that we can regarding preparation for missions
  • Protection and Health for the team
  • For the Lord to reveal specifics of where He is calling each of us and to what capacity
  • That the Lord’s will would be done

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

– Philippians 3:7-11 (NKJV)

Be encouraged Church, the Gospel is going out, the local body is being encouraged, and we’re being trained up to go and make disciples!

Bendiciones,

Jordon