Water is wet because it is water, and Christians are involved in missions because they are Christians. Missions is not a good work to gain a jewel, but a good fruit of a good Savior. Missions is the sovereign work of grace.

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I have posted a link here to Heartcry because sfjm supports the work, and the biblical truths that are preached through this ministry.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Next Trip!

Dear Church,

In every one of Paul’s letters he starts with a greeting that includes “Grace and peace to you”, and that is my greeting to you all, that the grace and peace of God would be multiplied to all of you. That through the ordination of the father, the actions of Christ, and the workings of the Holy Spirit you would be sanctified into the image of Christ that the world would see the rightness of God.
Thank you all so much for your faithfulness in praying and supporting the ministry of Sing For Joy Missions! God is doing amazing thing right now, and continues to open more doors that we can speak of the Christ to those who have not heard!
On January 24th, next Sunday, a group of 8 Mexicans, and 2 gringos (Americans) will leave from Mexico City and we will head back down to the jungle in Chiapas to Benito Juarez. As many of you know from the last update that this is a region of indigenous people who have never heard the story of Christ, and we will be sharing the Gospel with them for the first time. Each one of the people going with us are involved in the discipleship classes that Ivonne and I give each week. Each week we meet with one or two in a group and are teaching on the attributes of God. She meets with the ladies and I the guys. We are so excited to start seeing some fruit of the labor that has been done. It is our prayer that one of the people going with us will receive a calling from the Father to eventually live among the people of Benito Juarez and serve as a missionary to them. I ask that you would join us in petitioning the Father to place a calling in the life of one of these. It has always, from the day the Lord poured out His grace on me and saved me, been a desire of mine to be part of reaching the un-reached and to know that we have that opportunity has given me Joy that is truly inexpressible!
Below I will post a list of names of the people that will be part of this trip, and I ask that in your churches and in all places you would gather this week and intercede for these saints. As you pray I ask that first you would pray for things Spiritual. Pray for each individual and their communion with the Father. That this would strengthen that relationship, and would serve as an encouragement for them. Also that God would keep them from the evil one. The place we will be is a very spiritual place, and that type of warfare will be there. Pray that each would be so eager to spend time in the Word daily learning more of the Father, and that the things they learn they would apply and practice.
Secondly, I ask that you would pray for things physically. This will be a very strenuous trip. We will be taking a twelve hour bus ride all night Sunday, then all day in vans 2.5 hours of which will be going about 10 mph on a dirt road only to arrive at a town called Sabanilla from which we will be walking 9.5 miles into the jungle. Needless to say it will be difficult. Pray that in the mist of the difficulties physically we will exhibit the love of Christ with one another. I am so excited and encouraged though knowing the difficulties physically each of the people on this team has said that the physical cost of going on this trip does not compare with the fact that these people have not heard of Christ!
This past week I have not been able to leave Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. And as I ask for you to pray make these verses part of that prayer Eph. 6:18-20 “18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak”.
Once again I want to that all of you for your prayers and support! God is doing great things and using His people to do it, and it is very exciting! I ask that you continue to be faithful to the voice of the Lord in holding the rope and your role in that. Also in all of Paul’s letters he closes them with “Grace and peace be with you”, that also is my closing to you all. May your life be overflowing with the grace and peace from God. Continue in the race with your eyes fixed on the Father! Remember that Jesus said “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Spend your life and everything you have learning of God and the Christ! In 1968 Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth wrote in a letter: “In the Church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians”. Theology is the study of God and what will consume eternity, do not waste your life here!

Por La Gracia,
jonathan

1 comment:

Victoria said...

Hi Jonathan,

It is great to hear what Yahweh is doing through your ministry. Our family will continue to lift you up to our Father and keep you in our prayers.

Love and Blessings,
Victoria