La Biblioteca, Billy and Sarah

Our trip to Matamoros is fast approaching, so it seems good to tell you a little more about it!

While every mission trip is full of more opportunities for ministry and adventure than we even anticipate, the main focus of this trip will be visiting drug and alcohol rehab centers. During the last trip that Psalm 67 made to this area they had several opportunities to visit, and discovered a great hunger for discipleship. Billy and I will have the exciting honor of recording this experience!

Distributing Bibles, December 2012

One way that we hope to bless the people that we meet is through a small Theological Library. The people in these centers are hungry for truth, and we would love to bless some (or all) of them with a solid resource in their own language. Our dream is to build the bookshelves as a team effort and supply them with books that can teach when we are far away.

Each library will cost approximately $130 to build, including bookshelves, which I thought was remarkable! If you would like to be a part of this ministry you can give any amount by clicking HERE. Just specify in the memo that this is for the "May - Theological Library".

If you are unable to give financially, please remember us in your prayers! If we're able to do anything without them, we won't be doing anything of value.

Dios te bendiga!

Billy & Sarah

servantphotographer.blogspot.com 

An Exciting Adventure In Sight, Ellie Jackson

 
I’ve applied and was accepted for another trip to Matamoros Mexico, to the same church I went before—and can you believe it, I’m even more excited this time! (Which says a lot!)

During my first dive into Mexico, I was able to see the depths of potential, but I didn’t reach them. Specifically in two areas:

First, I didn’t volunteer myself like I might have, had I been in my comfort zone. I wasn’t looking for opportunities to step into the awkward to do some good. And I saw opportunities slip by me and I didn’t seize them. I know a second mission trip isn’t going to break me of my comfort-zone-barrier, but I’m going to put forward a better effort.

Second, I came home with the enormous task of “I must write absolutely everything front to back, and right now!” I failed, obviously. Few articles were written about the amazing experience I had and the inspiring people I met. I credit that mainly to the weight I gave myself. The enormity scared me out of it and it never got done for fear of having it done wrong. Later I did write some of it out in my journal so that I would always have it, but it never got out to the church that prayed and supported me through the mission trip. Again, it won’t be perfect this time, but I’m making it a particular goal to write these things out, and to begin while I’m there. During the last mission trip that Psalm 67 Missions Network made I heard many, “It was incredible.”s and “I’ve never seen anything like it.”s, but I didn’t hear a lot about what “it” was. I want to write that for you. I only have my skills, but I’ll stretch me as tight as I know how to document this trip.

Once more, I plead for your prayers. Exiting my comfort zone is not my strength, neither is discipline or patience. But my strength is loving people, and I want to put that into full use on this mission trip, even when loving looks and feels silly.
The trip is between May 22nd and May 31st, and until then I will be raising support, both prayer support, and financial support. I will also be working in improve my Spanish, as hopeless as that seems.

Like I said, I’m incredibly excited. We expect the Lord to do amazing things through this trip.

If you feel led to support me financially, you actually can online now, by going to my profile: https://psalm67.managedmissions.com/mytrip/elliejackson4 But I want your prayers even more than that. Prayers that God will give me a godly attitude and skillful hands.


In Christ's love,
Ellie Jackson

Team Mexico Update - Theological Library

During our work in December our team visited and shared the Gospel in various locations that were programs for those who have been addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. These moments were powerful and brought to our attention some great needs. We asked the directors to list some of their greatest needs and their responses were shocking. We found that there were many that expressed a desire to be discipled, many who professed faith in Christ, and they wanted someone to teach them. Second to that was they desired to have access to resources that would help instruct them in their journey as a believer. Now, some facilities needed clothing for the individuals and some said that food donations would be very helpful but they were clear that their greatest need was discipleship.

Here we are in May. Our team is preparing to work with our partner congregation in Mexico to provide a week of discipleship training and part of what we would like to do is to create a theological library to leave at each of these locations. Even if we could just place a small library in just one, this would be a start. So, we are in the process now of selecting what resources we would like to leave with them, checking their availability, and we would like for you to pray with us. Our hope is to build a bookshelf with the residents and stock the shelves with books that have been helpful for believers for years. Would you pray for us that God would provide and that we would have discernment in selecting these resources?

As a matter of praise...we are delighted to see the growing number of sound theological resources available in the Spanish language. We pray that this number will continue to grow along with the access that others have to these resources!

If you or your congregation would like to contribute to the theological libraries, you may do so by clicking on "Make a one time donation" and specify in the memo "May - Theological Library."



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May Mission Team Updates

Earlier this year we were asked by a partner congregation in Mexico if Psalm 67 would be able to work with them in a evangelistic effort this May. Our missions board made this a matter of prayer and gave a resounding "amen" to this effort and now we would like to share with you some of the details and bring you up to date.

We are looking at a group of approximately 12 individuals that will coming from the US to work alongside brothers and sisters in Mexico and co-labor in sharing the Gospel in the streets, substance abuse rehabilitation centers, centers of detention, etc. In addition to this our multinational team will work in discipling young adults that will be gathering together to work with us. We have a desire to conduct a medical clinic as well as provide a "theological libarary" for some of the above mentioned facilities. In December we found many believers in these areas and they do not have access to sound, Biblical teaching on an ongoing basis.

We would ask that you would pray with us as we are in the process of selecting the team members. We currently have more people interested in going than we have places for them to serve. This is a wonderful problem to have! We are asking The Lord for discernment in selecting those whom He would have go. Secondly, we are asking for some who cannot go to help serve as a financial partner to make it possible for others. Each team member will need to raise approximately $475.00 for their part in the mission. In addition to this we will need to help raise support for the theological library, medical clinic, and perhaps a light construction project.

We will keep you updated on here as well as through our social media accounts. Thank you, as always, for praying!

Psalm 67 Missions Network


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Home Schooling

Perhaps you read the title and you thought that you were going to see an article on why a family should (or shouldn't) choose to educate their children at home vs any other context. Though this is a worthy topic, I hope to introduce something similar, but a little different.

I don't really put a lot of emphasis in statistics. Oftentimes I see them misused or skewed because the right questions are not being asked. However, this morning I was looking over the following quote from the 1999 Report from Global Consultation on Evangelical Missiology. Here is what it says:

Eight out of ten nationals who come to the West to receive training never return home.

Now I admit that I have not read the whole report and I am sure that there are many other comments as to why the numbers are the way they are. But this had me thinking for a second about how we counsel others in regard to cross-cultural training for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel in a "non-English speaking" context.

First, one of the desires of Psalm 67 is to work in "non-English speaking" contexts. While one could argue the need to teach others the English language, that will not be our task. We desire all nations (and language groups) to have access to the Scriptures in their own language. We love the thought of brothers and sisters of multiple languages praising The Lord together in their own language that The Lord has given them.

Second, out of good intentions, and because we have hospitable, caring partners, we struggle with the "let's invite them here" mentality. We meet church leaders, new converts that want to be discipled and we love them, and want to "bring them home." Though we could have lots of discussion on this, here is a thought for consideration. Are there ways that already exist to "home school" these individuals? Are there ways that we can send others back to the region (and language) of these individuals that it may benefit everyone around, locally and at home? If so, how can/should we do this? Let me say that this is not the only option, but perhaps this option is not considered as much as the option to first teach a foreign language (English) to a national from another country, bring them to the US, and then train them theologically.

In a follow up post we will discuss some advice for those who are desiring to serve in a "non-English speaking" context and how you can prepare yourself for service.

Let the Nations be Glad!

Aaron


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