Category: Uncategorized

October and November 2024

There comes a point in our walks with the Lord where He begins to test our trust in Him and in His Word more and more. I know the Lord has been working on this in me and it’s been stretching. I know that if He puts His chisel on me it’s because there’s an area of my life where I have not yet brought an emotion or action under His authority and light. Thank God, by His grace, He wants to grow us heavenward. I love what Chuck used to say, he might’ve got it from someone, but in response to some saying, “Don’t be so heavenly minded you’re of no earthly good,” he shared, “Be so heavenly minded you’re of every earthly good.” It’s easy to think, get your head out of the clouds, but I don’t think you can be too focused on Jesus. I think if your heart and mind are really and truly wrapped up in Him then you will be busy about the business He’s given you to do here on this earth. We have a purpose and a mission to make disciples during our time here (no matter where He sends us). Our time is short, let’s not let anything keep us from that goal—that aim. Jesus is the prize (Phil. 3:7-15). I think one of the enemy’s greatest tactics is to shame the people of God (it could be over something that happened yesterday or 10 years ago). Why do we keep bringing up things that Jesus has put away, with His blood, once and for all. It’s a tactic that, if we allow it, can debilitate the people of God. We have to remember how we’ve been redeemed. We must preach the Gospel to ourselves daily and remember His all sufficient sacrifice. The enemy wants to defeat the saints of God with shame, but the Lord wants to pick you up, dust you off, and help you keep moving forward; and all for the glory of His name. Nothing is greater than our God and King.

“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” -1 John 3:20

I pray that we all grow in His grace together. To radically deal with sin, to walk in holiness, to know greater the depths of His love, and to live more fully in His grace. His grace is His enablement for us to walk in holiness! Lord, give us more grace!

Life in the Southern Hemisphere…

October:

Man oh man, how do I sum up two months concisely? It’s been a blessing, it’s been really busy, it’s been really fruitful, and God is doing so much. Our conference had finished up right before October hit, and so it was nice to get some good rest afterward. Battled some sickness for a while, but by the grace of God was able to keep up with everything I needed to. The Thursday prayer group for Argentina, and our Casa a Casa kept on each Friday as we dove into the Word together. I was still preparing for both Tuesday night Church Planting Class, and for Fridays at our home group. It was such a blessing to see how the Lord was bringing us closer together as a group each week. The Lord has blessed me with some wonderful friends and family here in Trujillo. In October I was asked to go and teach the book of Genesis at CBI Brazil and so when I could I was trying to prepare for that as well. Classes continued and we began to get things ready for graduation and the coming semester. Construction continued and is continuing—there is a lot to do. At the end of the month all the students and a few staff went to Lima for a big outreach. It was crazy to experience the campus so quiet in between services at the church. In a lot of ways it was a good break, but I missed them a lot. They’ve all become like family and it’s hard to see them go at the end of the semester. I’m so thankful for them and what the Lord is doing in their lives. It’s amazing to see the growth that’s taking place in their hearts and minds and seeing lives transformed by the power of His Word. It’s so cool to see the discipleship that’s taking place and I’m blessed to be able to be a part of it.

November:

November was a little crazy, but the Lord saw me through it. I got to go teach the book of Genesis at CBI Brazil and was super blessed by my time there. During the busyness of everything I actually ended up missing my flight to Brazil, but by the grace of God He worked it out and I was able to get a new flight out later that night and arrived the next afternoon. Right before I left all the students got back from their mission trip in Lima so there was a lot going on. I was in Brazil for two weeks in Sao Paolo in a city called Sao Vicente and was super blessed by everyone at the campus and church there. I had a great opportunity to teach a Sunday service while I was there and it was a blessing It was a busy and full two weeks, and outside of class preparation, teaching, and hanging out with the students we still got to go have some fun, and praise the Lord it was on their free day and what turned out to be the only sunny one while I was there. I got back early the morning of the 17^th and it was back to business as usual at CBI Peru and Calvary Trujillo. It was almost a weird feeling because things were slowing down immensely—not having to study for a class on top of everything else and with our Casa a Casa’s coming to an end, the semester had one more week, and we also had our final prayer meeting for Argentina over the semester (excited for what God is doing). It was strange celebrating Thanksgiving in Peru, but it was much more than I expected. Our pastor’s wife knows how to make gluten free food and she absolutely blessed me by bringing gluten free pie, stuffing, gravy—the works! Thanksgiving food is my favorite and it was a blessing to get to spend it with good friends on the southern part of the planet. Our final Casa a Casa was on Nov. 29^th, it was a great time just fellowshipping, eating good food (Pollo a la Brasa), and getting to encourage them one last time before the break.

What’s on the Horizon

I will arrive back in the States on Dec. 23^rd. I’m looking forward to seeing you all, and catching up after almost a year here in Peru. I’ll be back for about a month and head back on the 20^th of January. Prayers would be appreciated as I need to renew my passport, drivers license, and some other things while I’m back. If you’d like to get together please shoot me a text or an email and I’d love to try to make some time to see you (I’ll also be down in Southern California for a bit too).

After I get back we’ll be within a week of our Spring Semester and we’ll be hitting the ground running. As for anything Argentina related I will keep you guys in the loop as it is there are some moving parts—I’m hoping to go again soon. As for now the plan will be to keep on with construction and administrative tasks at CBI Peru.

Prayer Requests

• Travels.
• Time with family.
• Passport and license renewals.
• Getting everything set up for next semester.
• Continuing to grow in managing my schedule in a way that allows for more productivity between admissions, service hours scheduling, and construction and anything else that’s needed.
• To continue to grow closer to the Lord, and walk in His will and calling on my life.
• Wisdom, discernment, His strength, leading, and provision for all that He has in store.
• Visiting a couple churches while I’m back (I’ll be sharing at my home church on Jan. 12^th).
• That my time back would be restful, and productive and fruitful to catch up on all the necessities since I’ve been gone.

Ciao Familia, los amo mucho,

-Jordon

September 2024

In many ways I’ve found the Lord to be growing and stretching me much in this season. It’s easy to keep moving and maintain in the midst of busyness, but going deep, pressing in closer, and preparing for things to come adds a different twist. I know He’s growing me in this season to not just get by, but flourish and prepare for what’s next. It takes preparation, and much more of His grace. Such a season produces an understanding of my utter inadequacies, and my great need for more of Him and less of me. Paul exhorts us in his own struggle where the Lord encourages Him in his weakness, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me,” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV). He is a good God, and no matter where I find myself. If I am feeling stretched and pressed on every side, if I feel my strength dwindling—surely He desires to show Himself strong in my life. He’s not setting us up for failure. He desires our purity, our pursuit of holiness, and our life to be lived for Him more than we do. I need His help to recognize where I’m not properly relying on Him to accomplish His will. Paul had strong words for the Galatians who sought to complete the work of God, in themselves, in their own strength. Lord, please give us the grace to understand, to see, to trust and see You glorified!

Life Lately—

The month of September… It came with a lot of work, all worthy things, and it’s amazing to see how much growth is taking place here at Calvary Trujillo and CBI Perú. There’s been a lot of progress not just physically, but spiritually. Many peripheral projects have been getting accomplished as we have many more construction minded people here now—what a blessing! Spiritually, the classes have been a blessing for the students and the discipleship that’s been taking place is always soul-searching, and pruning. I’m thankful for it all. God has been blessing me with the ability to think and relate how I need to to accomplish tasks more quickly on the administrative end. I’ve been able to help implement transcripts for all of our students and am continuing to refine and update them as the semester progresses; helping students make sure they are on track to graduate as well. God is good! 

At the beginning of the month we were blessed to have multiple pastors here to teach the book of Mark and they were a blast to hang out with! Lot’s of cooking good food, fellowship, hard work, and fun. The guys bathroom upstairs in the new dorm has been able to get a lot more attention—praise the Lord we’re getting closer! I got to help teach the book of Isaiah which was a huge honor and blessing (if any of you would like to watch the class I can get you a link). We got to have a construction team out only for a few days, but they helped us progress quite a bit—they were a blessing to hang out and work with for sure! I finally got the girls bathroom vanity completed as well! Leading the home fellowship group has been a blessing as well. A lot of the work was needed as well as we got ready for our annual South American Missions Conference—what a blast! I even got to build some planter boxes and plant some trees! An even bigger blessing I got to see some family from back home when Pastor Bond and his wife came out to speak at the conference! I got to see old friends, help drive around a lot of guests and pastors. It was a blessing! I also got to see a lot of the people who are excited, prayerful, and heading up ministry in Argentina right now! We’ve even got a fruit budding on one of our trees we planting this past summer! It’s amazing to see what God is doing here, there’s been a lot of growth in a very short time—but in that the attacks of the enemy have not been lacking—praise the Lord He is greater!

What’s Next—

I was asked to go to the CBI in Brazil early in November to teach the book of Genesis and I am honored and blessed by the opportunity to get into the Word with hearts that are hungry for Jesus. Please pray for me and my preparation. That nothing would be held back. That I would be filled with the Spirit and enabled the grace to share His Word contextually, and in a way that will draw their hearts closer to Jesus! Please pray for safe travels as well! I’m also needing to renew my passport and I may do it as I pass through Lima at the American Embassy there. Other than that, it’s business as usual. We’re progressing more and more on finishing the other rooms in the new guys dorm. We’re getting little projects done. The Lord is providing for other big works in our ministry. It’s a blessing to be a part of what the Lord is doing here at CBI Perú and Calvary Trujillo. Our semester ends November 22nd so please be praying for the students and ourselves as we get ready for graduation and want to finish well. 

Other exciting news, I already booked my flights and am going to be heading back to the states just before Christmas and will be in California for about a month. There’s much more on the horizon, and I will keep you posted as new information about the property in Argentina comes in. Currently we’re awaiting a signature to keep the ball rolling to buy the property. 

Prayer Requests—

• Teaching Genesis at CBI Brazil 
• Travel mercies
• Passport renewal
• Continued wisdom for scheduling with students and other admin tasks
• Continued unity—no opportunity for the enemy
• Continued focus and progress on construction things 
• That the Lord would give me wisdom on all the specifics for my trip to the States
• Refreshment and renewal
• For my lungs with my asthma (it’s been acting up quite a bit lately) and I may be fighting some kind of bacterial bug
• For my family back in the States
• Continued opportunities to share the Gospel
• Continued wisdom and grace to better my leadership with being a dorm steward, leading construction (alongside some of the other staff), leading administratively, teaching with Church Planting class, and for our home fellowship groups
• To learn quickly anything else related to running a campus
• That my mind would be thinking ahead enough to not only be present, but not overwhelmed in what’s to come
• The purchase of the property in Argentina for the new CBI there

Thank you all so much for all of your love and support. Thank you for reading and keeping up with these updates. I couldn’t be here doing what I’m doing without your love, prayers, and support. You are having a far greater affect than you know and I pray the Lord blesses you and the part you’ve taken. I pray that He would encourage you in all He has for you in this season and for you to walk in where He has you. I’m excited to see what He has in store for your lives!

The Lord bless you and keep you,

-Jordon

August Update — 2024

Already another month has gone by. Time has been absolutely flying and I find the Lord calling me closer and deeper than ever before. It’s so easy for all of me to get wrapped up in what I’m doing. I’ve been seeing the Lord, more and more, reminding me of His goodness, His gentleness, of His kindness and thoughts toward me. A Scripture that comes to mind is in Luke 10:38-42:

“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (v.40-42)

It’s so easy for me to get caught up and distracted in the work that I’m doing that I don’t stop and connect with the Lord in the depth that I would like to. This passage is something that the Lord has hidden within me over the years and in my seasons of busyness (aren’t we all busy) He lovingly reminds me to be still and sit at His feet. The things that often preoccupy my mind are far better handled in His care with my surrendering, supplication, and prayer—He knows far better. His ways are higher and it’s okay when things go differently than planned—He knows far better—and there is no where that feels more at home than Jesus. In my busyness I want to press in deeply.

August:

So much has happened in this last month, and here we are in September. Wow! From weddings, to grocery trips, to new dorms, and being reunited to good friends—life is full and the Lord is good. I was asked to be in my first Peruvian wedding (for a Venezuelan couple from our church). It was a blessing and an honor. I spent a lot of time planning for, and doing construction with a lot of the guys on campus. Our dorm has come a long way and we’re getting much closer to being done. We have the bathroom to finish and some finishing touches in our closet and clothes hanging area to do. Wherever I can I’m teaching the guys what I know, as well as picking up new skills along the way. We’ve been working on the plumbing quite a bit, we were able to have someone come out and put in a float sensor that will automatically turn on and fill our tank and turn off the pump when it’s done. Putting in new manifolds to all of our water piping and figuring out vents and where everything goes was a process, but it was a great learning experience too. It’s been a few years and it takes me back to my landscaping days. The Lord has been growing my Spanish abilities and I have been able to help at different times with worship in a bilingual setting! A highlight to the kick-off of the semester wasn’t just seeing returning students, but also getting to see one of my pastor’s and mentor’s and his family for the first class. It was so good to have some family from back home come out and represent the Rock, but also to reconnect and talk about what’s next too! We’ve even got a new student representative from the Rock as well—God is good! In August we started up our “House to House” groups and I’ve been given the opportunity to lead our Bilingual Casa a Casa and it’s been a blessing! Between daily tasks, the Church Planting class that restarted up, dorm stewarding, discipleship, leading the Argentina prayer group and Casa a Casa my time is well filled.

What’s Next:

Right now I am in the process of getting ready to teach our final class on Isaiah where I will be teaching chapters 56-66, and I’m excited to see what the Lord is going to do. It’s been a great opportunity and the Lord has greatly grown my own understanding and perception of the book in the process. Please pray for me to handle my time well as I am studying for three different teachings this week (one for Church Planting, one for Casa a Casa, and to finish off the book of Isaiah). As for the school and the church we’ve got our big South America Missions Conference coming up in a couple weeks and there’s a lot of work to be done. We’re going to have quite a few more people on campus, and it’s going to be a really exciting time. Please continue to pray for everything going on with the property in Argentina as we are in the process of purchasing it. Coming up in October we’re going to have a student missions trip down near Lima and the whole school is going. Not all of the staff are going, but I will keep you posted as to whether or not I will be.

Prayer and Needs:

If you could also be praying for the school, we always have a need for help with scholarships (for South American students) and for food. We have a direct link for the new Gospel South America website that I will try to post soon if you’d like to look and see or even if you would like to help financially in some way. 

-To draw closer to the Lord more and more

-Strength for teaching

-To grow in my Spanish abilities

-Provision for the school and everything for the conference

—Scholarships—and room and board

-Favor and smooth transitioning with everything in Argentina

—that the Lord would bring all who He wants in the Argentina prayer group this semester

—for the Lord to begin preparing hearts for the new campus

-For the teachings and all those who are coming for the conference

-the health of everyone on campus as most of us have been sick

-the new church plants and works the Lord is leading towards

—that we would trust and watch His faithfulness

-For evangelism here in Trujillo

*Please pray for my family right now as my grandma just passed about a week ago…

-that my unsaved family would come to the Lord

-that the Lord would bring His hope and healing to their hearts

Thank you so much for partnering with me to be here and walk in the gifts and calling the Lord has placed on my life. I could not be here without your prayers and support. You are a blessing!

-Jordon

Time is flying by! So much has happened in the last two months that it can be hard to place it all, but God is doing some amazing things! God is doing much in my heart as well. My strength is never enough and I constantly need more of His grace and the empowerment of His Spirit. As the Gospel of John tells us, we can do no good thing apart from Him (John 15:4). I’ve been seeing that power again and again in my life here on the field. Thank you so much for partnering with me, thank you for praying, and thank you for your faithfulness in the role’s you’re walking out in the kingdom of God.

What’s been going on?

We had a very busy vacation in between semesters. Many students stayed on campus which was a blessing for us. We were able to accomplish more with construction and outreach here in Trujillo. They spend a lot of time working on their Chuck Tracks and other work to help free up some time over their semesters as they finish sooner. 

I’ve been working on construction and admin, getting things ready for our current semester. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been really awesome to see the Lord give me the wisdom I need to accomplish tasks much faster than I would normally imagine. Running service hours for the students has been a growing task and has been growing me as well. It’s forced me to get ahead schedule wise and plan ahead not only for the students but for myself as I have tasks I still need to accomplish. I’m thankful for the opportunity to grow and I’m thankful to see how the Lord is providing strength for it all. I love problem solving and am loving the Lord’s help in growing in those abilities as well.

We had 3 or 4 weddings over the summer and I even got asked to be in one (I’ll cover that in my next newsletter). We got to celebrate the 4th of July here in Peru and a bunch of people from the church and institute were there to celebrate with us—their Dia de Independencia was just around the corner and it was a great time! In my free time I’ve been training at the gym near by learning catch wrestling and taking some classes—health-wise I feel great and am loving challenging my body. As for construction a lot has gotten done as well. We’ve had a good “spring cleaning” on a few different occasions and we are now up in our new mens dorm. We are still finishing up the new guys bathroom but the living area is all good to go. In the old one, we were able to knock out a couple of rooms for married couples who want to attend on campus. 

There’s also been a good amount of outreach. We’ve done some open street evangelism, but also when we had a team come out we did a couple different outreaches, a huge one for kids and then a VBS at the church! The outreach turned out far bigger than we expected. Our students and staff put a lot of work into it and so did the visiting team. Some of our students and staff went out to invite people in the days leading up to the event, and when it began we were blown away! We believe there were over 500 kids (maybe closer to 750) in attendance with their families! They heard the Gospel, played games, got invited to church, and received free prizes and food! God is doing a work here in Trujillo and we can’t thank you enough for being a part of it and for praying for what God is doing and wants to do here.

We had another baptism which was combined with one of our church plants—Calvary Buenos Aires and, in total, over 30 people got baptized! That’s including 2 people from our deaf ministry at Calvary Trujillo! It was such a blessing to see and I’m looking forward to what the Lord is going to do next! Already more newcomers are giving their lives to the Lord!

What’s next?

If you could please pray for my friends Julian and Hope, they just got married recently and are now running the new CBI in Brazil for the semester. They are preparing to go plant a new Calvary in Concepción, Chile. After the semester they will go back to the states for a time, but are planning to go in the new year! If you could please be praying for me, Gospel South America (the organization based out of Calvary Trujillo) is in the process of purchasing the new property in Mendoza, Argentina for our new CBI campus there. The plan is to have it closely tied to Calvary La Vid—Maipu in Mendoza, Argentina. Please pray for the process to go smoothly and for the Lord’s leading and wisdom. We will also need help getting the property ready for it’s first semester shortly after. I also need your prayers for this semester. I am running a Casá á Casá that is bilingual through the church. It’s a privilege to be able to teach and lead one of the churches Bible studies and I want to do it well and in an honoring way. I will also be leading one of the new prayer groups for Argentina as we are getting ready to expand the ministry there. Please pray for wisdom there and for me as I will be teaching 2 days of our Isaiah class that’s coming up in about a week. I’ll be teaching through Isaiah 14-19, and the final day of class on chapters 55-66. Thank you so much for praying and partnering with me here. The Lord has used all of you so much—I can’t wait to see what He’s going to do!

Please pray for:

-continued faithfulness

-drawing close to Jesus—complete reliance upon Him

-being empowered by His Spirit

-the classes

-the new church plants

-things in Argentina

-the Lord’s wisdom, leading, provision, and guidance

I’m so glad to have you guys in my corner. Love you all!

-Jordon

If you would like to get involved or even help support the school with scholarships for South American students please let me know! Please let me know how I can be praying for you!

May 2024 Update

“Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

-Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” 

-Matthew 28:18–20

Legacy has been something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It’s been a common and consistent theme preceding and following my arrival here in Trujillo. There is so much work before us, and the Lord has been equipping. We’ve been praying and the Lord has been answering. He is a constant help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). The work that I’m doing now, what affect is it having and will it last? This last semester we taught from John 14 through John 16, and what powerful passages those are. Jesus is speaking with His disciples and preparing them for His departure. That He in His death would not only provide a means of atonement and reconciliation for our sins, but that He was going to prepare an eternal place for us. Even more, that He was coming back for us. These are exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Pet. 1:1-3). In John 15 He says this: “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you,” (John 15:16). We have been called to be His, to bear fruit, and not just any fruit, but fruit that will remain or abide. Our works are to be exemplary of someone who has fully surrendered their lives to Jesus, but also to leave an impact that will last; a legacy. Man, I want my works to remain in Him, to be done in His time, His way, and with His heart and means. In that, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that, by His Spirit, I need to disciple and train people to take my place. That they would be ready when I’m gone, and that they would be equipped to carry on the work the Lord is doing. There’s much to learn, and there’s much work to do, but it’s absolutely worthy of my life—it’s His. 

Moyobamba

There’s been so much going on it’s been hard to remember what’s happened in basically a month! We were in Argentina in the beginning of April, and two weeks later we had a missions trip with the school to the jungle a little further north east in a place called Moyobamba. For those who came last May it’s the Calvary Chapel that Pastor Andrew just planted at the end of last year. What a blast! It was such a beautiful area. The people were so kind and welcoming, and God is doing an amazing work! We did construction, we did outreach, we taught the Word, we worshipped, and we encouraged the Body there in the jungle of Perú. Many of the Christians there are first generation Christians and are very young in the faith, but they are learning a lot under Pastor Andrew’s stewardship. We got to be present for their first baptism and 15 people got baptized—praise the Lord! It was an amazing trip, and I hope to go back to help them again in the future. Getting to meet people whose lives have been changed by the Lord in such radical ways was an amazing thing to see. A man who had once been known by many for who he was in his past, at an older age, being saved, surrendering his life and living for Jesus was such a cool thing. Getting to see him baptized was a blessing!

Life in the month of May

Right after we got back, it was May! Time has flown by and the Lord has been doing a lot! As I write this, we have just under two weeks before our Summer Missions Internship! After we got back to Trujillo we got back into the swing of things. Getting into our daily routines, doing administrative work and construction. The students had two more classes. We had one of the first Calvary pastors in Peru come and teach one of the classes—Pastor Lucho. Then after that, Pastor Brent from Calvary Roma came and taught the last class for the students—it was a great time! I was working on accepting new students into the institute and getting things ready for graduation and even our next semester. Then we had graduation. It was a bittersweet time, but it’s so exciting to know that those finishing and being sent out not only have a heart to go, but to be faithful to the work the Lord has put them to. I’m going to miss those who are going to other places, but I’m excited to see what God is going to do in their lives! One thing that’s been amazing to see is how the Lord is blessing the deaf ministry that we have at Calvary Trujillo. It’s been growing quite a bit, and some have been surrendering their lives to Jesus. Please pray that the Lord would continue to provide avenues to minister to such an unreached community.

Right now I’m in charge of handling correspondence and applications regarding students and prospective students here at CBI Perú. In that I’m seeking to come alongside students wherever I can to disciple the guys, and get ready to take on scheduling for service hours for the rest of the summer and the coming semester. The person who’s been in charge of admissions and correspondence is getting married and moving with her husband (one of our other campus administrators) to Brazil, and then they’re going to plant a church in the city of Concepción in Chilé. That being said, with her gone I will be doing a lot more of those things administratively. I’m excited to help where I can and do my best to keep things going smoothly. 

Prayer Requests and Needs:

Please pray for me and the team we have here at CC Trujillo. There’s a lot going on, a lot of work to do, and a lot of growth taking place in the staff, the school, and the church. It’s all exciting, but we certainly need the Lord’s wisdom and guidance for what’s next, for how to adapt and change well with the growth of our ministry, and to be faithful witness to the people of Perú here in Trujillo. 

-To draw closer and closer to the Lord

-To represent Him well and faithfully

-To be faithful in new responsibilities 

-Eyes to see where I need to grow

-To have a teachable heart

-To disciple well

-To learn Spanish quickly,

-To be able to disciple well and with the Lord’s heart

-To be well prepared for teaching the book of Acts for the Summer of Missions Internship (I’ll be teaching 2 or 3 days of 12).

-To continue to be a steward of my body by working out and eating well

-To be wise with the resources the Lord is providing

-The Lord’s wisdom, preparation, and guidance as to helping plant a new CBI

Needs:

-Many of our students from Latin and South America are here on scholarship.

-The funds for the property for CBI Mendoza in Argentina. 

Thank you so much for your love, for your faithfulness in prayer and giving, and thank you for partnering with me to live out the Great Commission!

The Lord bless you, and keep you, and make His face to shine upon you…

Dios te bendiga!

-Jordon

There always seems to be much to do, and sometimes it can be hard to balance all that’s before us. It can be so easy to get caught up and distracted in all of the little things that pop up in life that we can lose sight of what’s important. It can be far too easy to say yes and not have a plan to fulfill that word. There is a work–a task that He has called us to. If we allow Him, He will give us a grace that is sufficient for that task. It’s certainly not easy, but it’s worth it. He assures us that He will enable us by His grace to be all that He has called us to be. To give us the strength, and to empower our will by His Spirit for the glory of His name. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. There is nothing more worthy of our time and attention than the Lord, our relationship with Him, and what He has called us to. 

These last several weeks have been a whirlwind. Just before April, I began my process for obtaining a religious workers residency to live and serve here in Peru. Shortly after, I was able to get a permission from immigration (as you’re not typically allowed to leave until you obtain the residency) to then go with our Pastor here to a conference in Mendoza, Argentina. That was all at the beginning of this month. The Lord provided. He opened doors, and He’s putting things in front of me to walk and serve in. There’s much to do, and as I’ve gotten older I like to be still–it’s stretching for me. Since we returned from Argentina, I’m excited to be back and to be serving as I’m taking on more responsibilities here with CBI Peru. Construction, on several fronts, is still under way, and my schedule is well balanced between responsibilities in construction and administration with the school. Much is happening here and God is doing a great work! I got to sit in on our Nehemiah class that Pastor Cory taught–it was a blessing! Seeing Nehemiah’s heart of service and devotion in the face of some overwhelming opposition. Seeing his faithfulness despite the opposition because he knew the thing that God had called him to… and that was to help rebuild the wall of the city of his ancestors. The Lord provided him all he needed, and He does the same for us today. For you and I. He’s been doing so with the church, and ministry of Calvary Trujillo. We’ve moved to two services a Sunday and we’re already very full, and more are giving their lives to the Lord. He is raising up people to serve and be a blessing where there are needs, and the CBI students are closely involved with what’s happening in the church. Growth is happening, and I’m excited to see all that the Lord is doing!

We just returned from our week of missions, and I was a part of the team that went to Moyobamba, a city in the jungle. It was a really sweet time, but I’ll share more about that in my May update–God is doing an incredible work there too!

How to Get Involved

Prayer! I need your prayers. For myself, for my walk with the Lord, that I would represent Him well in the work He has called me to, and that I would continue to be busy about the business He has called me to. We are helping train up the next generation of church planters, pastors, and missionaries here in Peru and God is doing a great work! And further expansion in time to come. Would you please continue to pray for us? For this ministry? For my role in it and that God would make and keep me faithful in what He has called me to, and that I would help relieve burdens in ministry wherever He allows me. That I would point everyone here to a risen King and Savior, and that I would exemplify His heart, His love, and His forgiveness in all things. What He has called me to is worthy of my all because He first gave Himself for me. He is the goal, He is the prize, and He is absolutely worthy.

• Empowering by the Spirit
• Using my time well
• For immigration process to finish well and smoothly
• To have eyes to see what He’s doing
• To be led of the Spirit
• For strength and endurance
• Summer internship
• Next semester

What’s Coming Up

If you could please be praying for this summer, we have graduation in 3 weeks (2 more classes), and I am gaining more responsibility for the coming semester. Please pray for students to finish well. We also have our upcoming “Summer of Missions” program, and all those who will come and intern over the summer to learn and that the Lord would cultivate a heart of surrender and to live on mission. Please pray for this upcoming semester that all who attend and serve would draw closer to the Lord and be better equipped for the life the Lord has called them to. Please pray for wisdom for the church and our pastors as we are needing to keep up with the growth that is taking place. 

Service Opportunity!!

If any of you would be interested in interning over the summer we will have a 6 week missions training program (for those ages 18-29) where we will go through the book of acts and spend three 2-week periods in three different locations (here in Trujillo and in the jungle) serving and coming alongside church plants. If that sounds like something you would be interested in please let me know!! I’ll put the link below so you can come check it out. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

I love you all and am so glad to have your prayers and support. What I am doing here would not be possible without you–thank you!

Bendiciones,

-Jordon

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a

He indeed shows Himself strong… It’s official, it’s been more than a month since we left California. You all are missed, but I am so blessed to be here and I feel very much at home in what’s going on and where the Lord has me. Our schedules here are full to say the least, but in some really great ways. Living on a campus provides a very different structure to life and living. It’s been a blessing getting to know the students more and getting to sit in on their first class this semester. It makes sense he just so happens to be from a Calvary not too far north of Santa Rosa.

I’ve honestly felt right at home. There are always opportunities for growth and learning how to focus more on others, and those are welcome lessons. The schedule here is structured in such a way to prepare students and interns for ministry. We take Monday’s off and are working/serving Tuesday through Sunday. It’s been such a blessing to connect with the people who call Calvary Trujillo home. We’ve already been able to go and have dinner with different people in the church and it’s been such a blessing!

Everyone here is so hospitable and giving of their time and resources and I’m encouraged to see it. There are a lot of things that I get to be a part of here. I’m currently helping a lot with construction, as we are getting ready to welcome our team from Calvary the Rock that’s going to help us build our new men’s dorm! I’m so excited to see so many faces from home, and I’m excited to see the impact these projects will have on students and the school. We finished up the new little storage (well mostly—all functional and in use now). Now we’re finishing up pouring concrete for the new floor for the dorm and getting ready to pour the cement for the rest of our bathroom as well as prepping to put up a steel frame for the dorm itself! It’s busy, but awesome to see things progress and be a part of it. Thank you for your prayers and support in all of this!

Every Saturday we will have outreach with the students and will be going out, and in different venues, from nursing homes to juvie, and sharing the Gospel wherever the Lord allows us! Andy has had an amazing opportunity to help lead a Bible study at the fighting gym around the corner (the owner is a student and loves the Lord). Already we’ve been seeing it grow. Please pray that the Lord gives wisdom and fruit from that time as there are many unbelievers. I’m excited to begin helping with outreach and evangelism with the school. There’s a big university nearby and I’m excited to go share Jesus! Outside of construction, serving, and staff/intern discipleship, I’m getting ready to jump into some admin work as well. I’m going to be helping in a registrar role here helping with grades, transcripts, correspondence and more. Every Tuesday we are a part of Calvary Trujillo’s Church Planting School—we just finished our second week and it’s been awesome! We even have someone teaching us Spanish on Monday nights—God is good! My prayer is that the Lord will use me to help strengthen this ministry in whatever way He would have. Please pray with me that I would be that blessing!

What’s Next?

 …To be faithful. The Lord is doing an incredible work here in Trujillo. There are two prayer teams right now for new church plants, one in Chile, and the other in Venezuela. There’s an upcoming conference in Argentina that I’ll be going to with several people from the church in April. Please be praying that the Lord would speak, and that He would have His way! Other than that, things will be business as usual here in Peru.

Prayer Needs:

-to finish construction well (we’ve gotten a lot of work done—the Rock’s team gets here tomorrow!

-to study well for our sermons with church planting class

-to be a good example to students

-to grow in the Lord and walk in faithfulness

-that He would empower by His Spirit and give boldness to make Him known

-that He would continue to help in language learning

Thank you so much for your prayers and partnering with me to take the Gospel to the nations. God is doing a work, thank you for being a part of it.

Dios te bendiga,

-Jordon

January 2024

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

I pray this update finds you well! It’s been a little more than one week of being sent out and living down in Peru. It’s already been a productive time and I am so blessed by all of the relationships that are being grown and the new ones being forged. I’m excited to see all that the Lord is going to do in this coming season and semester. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Right now, there are a lot of people on campus, but many are still to come. It looks like we’re going to have at least a few more people from the states so that will be nice to be able to grow in our Spanish together. If you didn’t know when we took off, we left last Wednesday around 1pm. We were able to talk with someone waiting near us for our flight about where we were going and what the Lord was doing and that began one of multiple conversations where we got to share Jesus. Please pray that those conversations will be seeds that the Lord will water. During our flight to LAX we got to have a great conversation with a college student sitting next to us. She had a lot of questions and I pray the Lord helped us to answer well!  We had about a 6-hour layover in LA so we went to Santa Monica. It was my first time, but Andy had already been there (for those of you who don’t know, Andy is the other missionary being sent out from my home church). We had a good time exploring a little. It was a great way to pass the time and also provided an opportunity to share the Gospel with our driver who was from India named Gouthem. Please pray that those seeds would turn to salvation!

When our second flight was getting ready to leave, there was a man who was having some health difficulties, so the flight ended up being delayed by a couple of hours. As far as I’m aware, things ended up being okay. There were several people in the health care workers flying with us so that was a blessing. We got into Lima a couple hours later than anticipated—right at the time we were supposed to start boarding our flight, which led to a 7-hour layover until our next flight. Praise the Lord there was no lost luggage, and only minor delays. During our layover we went exploring a little in Lima and I got a much-needed haircut. We quickly realized that we weren’t in Santa Rosa anymore as we began to feel how hot it was outside. Thankfully we packed accordingly!

We arrived in Trujillo around 8:15/8:30pm Thursday night. We got all settled in as they already had a place picked out for us. We’ll be staying with the guys in the guy’s dorm for now. I’m excited to get to know them all better and to be able to speak Spanish more and more. On our first day here, we got to say hellos to people we haven’t seen in a long time and met some new faces as well. They showed us the ropes and we got right into working on some projects. There’s already a lot that has changed since our last visit, but there’s much more to come! All the growth that is taking place here in Trujillo is very encouraging. Not only that, but the new CBI campus is starting up in Brazil this semester!

Right now, we’re working on finishing up a new storage unit next to the current men’s dorm, and then we are going to begin prepping the floor for the new men’s dorm that CC the Rock is going to come and build. I even get to do cabinets, so when things slow down with the priority projects I’ll be working on some cabinets in the kitchen and doing some things with the coffee shop as well.

The Spring semester starts on Feb. 13^th, and I’m excited to help receive new students and some old ones too as not everyone is here yet. This Tuesday we’re going to get to see more what our roles will look like ministry-wise, and how we can pour into the students, make disciples, and be a blessing to the campus. Outside of our time helping in our ministry roles here and with construction I’m trying to spend as much time as I can to grow in my Spanish speaking ability. Thank you all for your prayers with that. My Spanish is already getting better, and there’s a lot of work ahead.

How to Get Involved:

Thank you so much for all your prayers, generosity, and support as I’ve come out on the field. It’s been an overwhelming blessing, and I’m really excited for what He’s doing. Right now, my greatest need is prayer. I want to honor the Lord and walk in all that He has for me to do here. If you feel so led, I think the greatest physical need is monthly giving and support. Your giving makes outreach and ministry possible, as well as opens doors to provide for physical needs as well.

Prayer:

• to be open to whatever the Lord has
• to be flexible
• to grow well in this season
• to learn Spanish quickly
• to aid however I can in the growth and development of the students and to help them understand and realize God’s call on their life through prayer and His Word
• to be faithful in the little things as well as the big
• to be an example of how a Christian man ought to conduct Himself in every way
• for physical growth as we train at the gym and are able to use that weekly for a Bible Study to reach the wrestling/jiu-jitsu/MMA gym
• continued prayers for my family’s health back home

Thank you for your prayers and support, Dios te bendiga,

-Jordon

I hope this season of life has been one filled with joy and gratitude as we exit Thanksgiving and find Christmas upon us. I don’t know about you, but if I don’t take the time to slow down then I can often miss the important things the Lord has placed right in front of me. So much has been going on and it’s so easy to be so consumed with tomorrow that I miss out on today. Planning and preparation is needed, but Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Just one verse before He tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The remedy for my busy and distracted heart is always more of Jesus. I pray in this season that He would help you to keep your focus upon Him and that He would help you to find joy and rest in the midst of all the chaos that life can bring.

It can be so easy to get caught up in what needs to get done that I my focus can easily begin to drift. It’s so easy to be distracted with all the good things that come up. The Lord is continuing to show me the areas that I can be moved (Acts 20:22-24), and is continuing to teach me to trust Him and take me to new heights. As always, sanctification can be a much slower process than we might hope for or like, but He is not in a hurry and He tells us not to despise the day of small things (Zech. 4:10). I want to be able to say, like Paul, “but none of these things move me…” (Acts 20:24). The Lord is at work, and no matter what I might feel He is making me new each day, and He will continue to take me from grace to grace. I am excited for all the He is going to do!

Things back in Sonoma County…

As you know I recently passed off the middle school group over to a family and it’s a blessing to see how the Lord is progressing the group already. It’s been growing a lot and I’m excited to see the growth that takes place as the Lord uses Mike and his wife Leslie! Please be praying for them as they continue to oversee the Middle School youth group! It’s been a whirlwind of a season. Time is short before our departure and January 17th is approaching rapidly. Between work, teaching, serving in other capacities at church, and trying to be intentional with the time I spend with family and friends it has been somewhat overwhelming. Even in the face of feeling overwhelmed I know the Lord is with me and using this time and season to prepare me for what’s to come. I’m thankful for His strength and renewal and I want to have a trusting, learning heart to receive what He is teaching me in this season. It’s all prep, and Jesus said, “he who is faithful in little will be faithful in much.” Please pray that I would be faithful and finish well. Last week I had two speaking engagements, both were a first for me, and one of them was my first Sunday message up at Calvary Chapel Willits. It was such a blessing to see some longtime friends and family in the Lord, and what a blessing to see the growth that is taking place since they planted it around 7 years ago. I got to share on our purpose as the church to go and make disciples. Please pray that the Lord would continue to provide them with opportunities to be a bold and shining light in a dark place. Every Wednesday we have missionary training with one of our pastors to prepare Andy (the guy that’s also going to Peru) and I before we head out. This has been a blessing and has provided a lot of practical reminders to help prep us for when we leave and how to get ready to go.

Peru-bound!

Right now I’m working on getting all of my paperwork ready to apply for a visa in Peru. Documents need notarization and to be apostilled (that’s a new one for me: it’s kind of like an international notary). Outside of some of those practical things for immigration, I’m trying to take time where I can to get my belongings packed up and sold/donated before I leave. I’ll be keeping some things, but much will go, and I will be trying to pack as lightly as I can when I go. I’ve got a lot to do, please pray that the Lord would continue to clear my path and make clear to me what doesn’t need to get done that I’ve unnecessarily added onto my plate. Please pray that I would finish well!

Here’s what’s left to do:

• a few different cabinet/construction style projects
• passing on or selling anything that I’m not taking (or putting what is staying in storage)
• getting everything else filled out and returned in time before we leave (all the legal documents for immigration)
• clearing out my residence and getting it ready for rent/sale (minor construction involved there)
• getting any final things that need to be packed and ready to leave

How to get involved…

My greatest need is prayer! Would you please pray with and for me and for the ministry the Lord has set before me?

• That Jesus would always remain my greatest priority—especially when busyness and necessity wants to draw me away from the secret place
• That I would be intentional in my times of prayer and seeking Him
• That I would have eyes to see the needs He would have me fill and how I can get others involved
• That I would have His heart in all He sets before me
• To finish things well
• To enjoy time with loved ones before I leave
• For continued financial provision
• That I would notice and utilize discipleship opportunities 
• That I would be a blessing and help to the ministry in Trujillo

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support! I cannot express how appreciative I am! It’s amazing to see what the Lord has been doing and I just want to thank you for being a part of it.

As the Lord leads you, if you feel led to partner with me financially, the greatest need is for monthly support. One time gifts are always appreciated and are also a huge help as there are a lot of upstart costs and other things that can come up. Thank you so much!

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” -1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)

“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 

Time can move so quickly! I am so thankful that the Spirit of God does an amazing work within His people and that we are ever being changed and moulded into the likeness of our Savior. Day by day He is making us new, and I look forward to seeing what He has in store for tomorrow! No matter where you find yourself today, especially as we move toward eternity, make Christ your aim! Run after Him with the strength He will provide! Time is short, let’s be about His business!

Peru (Part 2)

From power outages, to worship nights, to church planting, my time in Peru was a whirlwind! CBI Kauai was also there with us. Between all of us, we had a lot to do, and the Lord gave us the wisdom and ability to get it all done; and with time to spare. A few of the guys and I from the Saving Grace team were working on getting the new church banner up for Calvary Trujillo. We had a lot of help from Calvary Trujillo students as well as Kauai. This thing was huge! Almost 10 feet high by 50 feet long! After that I helped with the new coffee shop that was set up in the patio area (right under the overhang we helped install this past May). I even got to do some cabinet-work. The Lord knew what we needed and He helped us to get it all done! 

Each morning a pastor would share a morning devotional with us to start the day. These devos were a great preparation for what came with the conference. One of the devos that stuck out to me the most was on Acts 20:24 where Paul writes, “but none of these things move me…” He knew he was headed to Jerusalem to be bound and he continued anyway. What moves me? This has been a constant reflection since I heard it, and the Lord has been working away on me that I might be able to say as well, “but none of these things move me.” Please pray that I would be so rooted in Jesus.

Getting to serve there alongside the students, staff, and the other short term teams was a huge blessing. Seeing their hard work, tenacity, and joy in the face of many obstacles and trials was an incredible thing. Be encouraged church, there are a lot of young people that want to see this world effected for the Lord. He’s doing an incredible work, and the growth that is taking place is a beautiful thing to see.

What’s next?

I am excited to say that this January, Lord willing, I will be heading to Peru to serve alongside Calvary Trujillo and CBI Peru. I have an incredible opportunity to serve and learn the ropes of helping run a Bible College. An opportunity to disciple and help raise up the next generation of church planters, pastors, missionaries, and to see them sent out wherever the Lord calls them. I am excited to see all that the Lord has in store, and to be able to grow in the call He’s placed on my life. Jesus is coming soon! Let’s be busy and about His business! This whole world needs to hear and I won’t be satisfied, I won’t stop, until I’ve walked in all that He has for me this side of eternity! It’s not just me going, but the Lord has stirred in the heart of a good friend to come as well. Please pray that we would stand firm and be faithful in all that He has set before us.

How to Get Involved

Thank you for partnering with me in prayer! It has been a long time in waiting for the Lord to reveal what’s next, and I’m excited to go! This season, in many ways, has been surreal and bittersweet as I will miss my family (biological and spiritually speaking) a whole lot. This life is a vapor and where Jesus leads I must follow! Would you please continue to pray for me? To be faithful, to fall more in love with Jesus, and to make disciples well? Would you pray for me that I would follow His leading in all things, and that His Spirit would provide the wisdom, strength, and grace needed for all that He is calling me to? I need His strength, His guidance, and His wisdom. I know He will provide all that is needed, and I look forward to seeing how He does it!

If you would like to get involved by partnering with me financially, there’s a link below to help make that possible. Thank you for your support!

In Christ,

-Jordon