Urgent Prayer Request

Please keep my dear co-pastor Juan and his wife Maria in your prayers. I learned today that yesterday Juan suffered what appears to have been a stroke, and may need to be rushed back to the United States as soon as possible for more treatment.

Please pray

1. for God's healing for Juan;
2. for God's comfort, peace, and wisdom for Juan's family and medical staff; and
3. for God's loving grace to be poured out upon our congregations and schools as we await Juan's prognosis.

Please pray also for me: that God gives me his peace and wisdom as I accompany my beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord despite the distance. Pray too that the Lord gives me discernment regarding when I ought to travel to be back with our congregations and schools at this critical time.

May the Lord pour upon you his richest blessings in Christ Jesus.

As of today - February 19th

Time for another update! My stay in San Diego has been flying past, and and I can't believe that it's almost time to move on to other areas to continue raising support for my ministry in Belize.

My visits to local churches have gone well. Since I wrote last, I have visited and preached at Anglican Church of the Resurrection (San Marcos), Holy Trinity Parish (Ocean Beach), Holy Spirit Anglican Church (San Diego), and Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church (Yuma), and I have deeply enjoyed spending time with my sisters and brothers in these congregations. This coming Sunday, I am pleased to be able to spend time with the congregation of Grace Anglican Church (Oceanside), though it will be a bittersweet last Sunday in the San Diego area. These visits have been an incredible blessing and encouragement to me as I solidify my base of prayer and support here in the United States.

But to be honest, finding funds in the form of monthly pledges has been difficult in the last few months. Despite a handful of increases in giving, I am still staring a $500/month deficit in the face. I believe that God can bring in the support that I need to continue serving in Belize, but at this moment it appears that I may have to continue raising that support in the United States for a few weeks more: at least through part of March, if not into April.

If you are interested in supporting my ongoing work and ministry in Belize, please register today to give a monthly pledge. It will be an enormous blessing for me and the people whom I am serving in Central America, and I also believe that God will deeply bless you in the process as well!

Next week I am scheduled to fly to Chicago for the A1K Summit 2013: a conference on church planting in the Anglican tradition. I hope to build relationships with other church leaders here in the States, as well as acquire more tools and skills for obeying Christ's great commission in Belize. I will keep you posted on how it goes. In the meantime, I am looking for a church or churches in the Chicago area at which to preach and share about the mission for the first Sunday in March. Please keep this whole process in your prayers!

As of today - Jan 31st

Well, my friends, it has been a while since I posted an update. Too long, as some of you have been pointing out recently. Though I am back in the United States raising support, this does not mean that I am taking a pause in ministry; rather, ministry just takes a different form as I report back to my senders what God has been and is still doing in Belize, and how they can be a part of that.

Things have been going well. Although few firm commitments have come in so far (and I need such firm commitments before I can return to Belize with any hope of being there long-term), I have been making and re-making many connections with churches and individuals that will be fruitful for future ministry in Belize. Let me give you a rundown of where I have been, and what I have been doing:

Dec 25 : I flew back to Indiana to be with my folks on the tail end of Christmas day. I was soon out the door to head to St. Louis.

Dec 27 - Jan 1 : I served at the SAMS-USA booth at the Urbana 12 Missions Conference, making connections with students and young adults interested in serving short-term and long-term as missionaries, or in support those who go to the mission field. I was also able to build relationships with SAMS staff and missionaries, and with their mission partners throughout the world.

Jan 6 : I was honored to preach at the church in which I grew up: Alliance Bible Church in Richmond, Indiana, for their Sunday morning service. My text was Psalm 90, and I focused on what our message needs to be to our own generation in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jan 10 - 11 : I went to Chicago to bail my personal library out of customs. It had arrived from Argentina, sent by my friends who had taken the time to send them off to me. By God's grace, they arrived when I was in the area, and they are now safely stowed with my parents for the time being.

Jan 13 : I had the blessing of preaching at Christ the King Anglican Church in Dayton, Ohio, and sharing with them about my missionary work in Belize. The text of my sermon was taken from Luke 2:41-52, on the incomprehensible wisdom of Christ's mysterious revelation. It was great to touch base with so many old friends, especially the rector Fr. Wayne McNamara.

Jan 16 - 19 : On the 15th, I flew out to Reno, Nevada and the next day drove over the Sierra Nevada with some clergy brothers to California, to attend the Napa Valley Clericus. We had an amazing time of worship and fellowship with over a dozen other clergy from all over the United States and beyond. The theme of the retreat was on "growing the traditional congregation", and we focused in particularly on the importance of the ancient catechumenate for forming new Christians and bringing them into the life of the church.

Jan 20 : I was privileged to preach and share about the mission with Christ Church of the Sierra in Reno, Nevada. I preached on John 2:1-11 and the transformative power that comes when Christ reveals his glory. Though a small congregation, they are poised to move into a new facility, and are already a tremendous light in their city and beyond. I was blessed by the time spent with everyone there, but especially with Fr. Ron Longero and his family whose passion for what God is doing on the mission field is contagious. I'm so grateful to have spent the time with them.

Jan 21 - 23 : It took little urging for me to swing by Fresno, California after my time in Reno, Nevada. Fr. Longero drove me down to stay with Bishop Menees and his family there, and as always I was blessed by the time of fellowship with these dear friends. Bishop Menees was then gracious enough to take me part of the way to San Diego, where he boarded a plane to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life 2013, and I hopped on a train and arrived at my destination, tired but content.

Jan 27 : This past Sunday I got to visit with two congregations. I spent the morning at Christ the King Anglican Church in Poway, California, and though I happened to arrive on the date of their Annual General Meeting, I was warmly received and blessed by their worship. After lunch, I headed up to the Anglican Church of the Epiphany in La Mirada, where I was pleased to serve as deacon in the service and share with the congregation some details about the mission in Belize. Their response to what I shared was overwhelmingly positive, and I look forward to being in touch further with this very young congregation about how they can continue to be involved in the future!

This about sums things up here at (what I hope) is the midpoint of my time back in the United States. Over the next few weeks, I do have a few more visits planned:

Feb 3 : Anglican Church of the Resurrection (San Marcos, CA)
Feb 5 - 8 : TruthxChange Thinktank (Escondido, CA)
Feb 9 : DWA House of Delegates Meeting (Newport Beach, CA)
Feb 10 : Holy Trinity Parish (Ocean Beach, CA)
Feb 13 : Holy Spirit Anglican Church (San Diego, CA)
Feb 17 :  Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church (Yuma, AZ)
Feb 24 : Grace Anglican Church (Oceanside, CA)

All this is to say, I've been keeping busy! Please keep me in your prayers, particularly that God will provide, and I will be back in Belize very soon, serving the people to whom he has called me. May God richly bless you all!

As of today - December 17th

We are rapidly approaching our celebration of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. And my departure from Belize. They happen to be on the same day, and it's all coming very quickly!

Last week went well. Our elementary schools held their last week of classes, and they are now out on break: the teachers appear to be just as elated as the students. There is a great sense of expectancy around here in San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Two of Juan and Maria's sons have arrived here in Belize to be with their parents, we have been busy holding charity dinners and community outreaches to the poor, and radios around here are constantly playing songs about snow and sleighs. Advent in Central America is a little strange.

A few weeks ago, we began an Advent discipline of holding Morning Prayer at the church every day at 7:00 AM. The attendance has been a wonderful as the worship together, and I've been alone at the church only one day morning. We have begun discussing offering Morning Prayer during Lent as well, and I have a secret desire (though not so secret since I'm putting it on my blog) to find a way to continue offering daily prayer when I return to Belize next year.

Preaching went well this past Sunday, and I also had the curious opportunity to drive a truck all the way to Belize City this past week for a diocesan lunch: my first time doing extensive driving in this traffic-pattern-lite country. The Lord kept us all nice and safe.

My focus this week is on pre-Christmas pastoral ministry and pre-flight packing. In addition, this week marks the much-anticipated end of the ancient Mayan calendar, whether for weal or for woe, and pagan religious leaders from across the country and other Central American nations will be gathering in our district for commemorative rituals.

This Saturday we will be having our youth Christmas party, Sunday evening will feature a Lessons & Carols Service, Monday evening we will hold a Christmas Eve and Pageant service at which I am preaching, and Tuesday morning I fly home to begin re-raising support. Thank you for keeping me and us and all of these events in your prayers!

As of today - December 10th

Wow, what a week! Life and ministry have been full, and this week looks as though it will be about the same!

This past week I received word that Bishop Wright has officially requested that I continue to serve in the Diocese of Belize on a long-term basis. All systems read "go" at this point for further work with Juan and Maria here in Cayo, so now all that is lacking is the promise of additional financial support to sustain the ministry in the year to come.

Our retreat with the Bishop and other clergy here went very well also. We touched on many areas of life and ministry, the struggles that we share as pastors and leaders of churches and ministries, and what lies ahead of us as we consider the goals and priorities of October's general synod. While we left the retreat more tired than we arrived, it was a great time of fellowship and encouragement as we approach the Christmas season.

I was also asked to preach Sunday at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Belize City. I was thrilled to be able to serve in this way, and I had a wonderful time with the congregation there sharing God's word at both services. God was very good, and I look forward to being back at the Cathedral sometime soon.

Unfortunately, the planned and expected performance of Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb did not happen: the lack of electricity in the performance building kept us from being able to manage it. I was pretty bummed about it, but I trust that God had a purpose and a plan, and I look forward to the possibility of singing some of the same songs on Saturday at a benefit for the elderly.

This week looks busy. I've already been to Belmopan to renew my visa, and I will be preaching this weekend on Philippians 4:4-9. And it is with that perspective, that of "Rejoice in the Lord, always!" that I consider well the activities of the week and ask God to give me grace to serve him well in all of them. Thank you for joining with me in this prayer, and for supporting me in so many other ways!

As of today - December 3rd

We survived the weekend. I survived the weekend. And we had a good time.

The preparations last week for the bishop's visit and consequent confirmations were more than a little taxing. The confirmation candidates at St. Andrew's (San Ignacio) were in order, but for a variety of reasons we had to take special care to examine the candidates at St. Hilda's (Georgeville). The churches were decked out in all kinds of splendorous decoration, and on Sunday the bishop's visit was met with tremendous attendance in both places.

It was terrific having Bishop Wright and his lovely wife spend Saturday evening and Sunday morning with us. Sunday afternoon after they left, Fr. Juan and Maria and I spent the afternoon hopping from one party to another, enjoying the company and enjoying the food. But I arrived home last night completely and utterly exhausted.

Preparation for the Behold the Lamb concert in Georgeville continues this week: we are on for 7 pm this Friday (we need your prayers!). Thursday and Friday will see Fr. Juan and me traveling to Burrell Boom (in the Belize district) for a diocesan clergy retreat, so this week is proving to be quite busy.

We also began offering Morning Prayer today as an Advent discipline at St. Andrew's, leading up to Christmas. Three congregants joined me at 7 am (despite the rain!) for a solid time with the Lord.

That's the gist, folks ... I'm going to get back to it here. Thank you so much for your prayers!

As of today - November 26th

Thank you all for your prayers. Things are cooling off here weather-wise and heating up otherwise, as we prepare to head into the season of Advent this coming Sunday. As I mentioned last week, this Sunday the Bishop Wright will be coming for his episcopal visit. We are decorating the church, bringing up Garifuna singers and drummers from Dangriga, examining the confirmands, and otherwise making ourselves quite busy. Thank goodness the work with the schools is lighter this week.

Apart from that, I am very excited to be moving ahead with a small project of performing a Christmas concert with some friends of mine as a benefit for the poor and elderly of Georgeville. On December 7th, we will be putting on our (probably very modified) version of Behold the Lamb of God. Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for this concert. Pray that it will be a blessing not just for the poor and elderly of Georgeville, but also for those who come to listen to the Biblical narrative retold before Christmas.

Preaching on Revelation 1 (Christ the King) went well this past Sunday, and I am looking forward to spending Saturday not only at a Cursillo Ultreya, but also with our youth group that continues to go strong. I am rather encouraged by how God is bringing our young people together.

Other projects and visitations and ministry continue unabated. Hopefully a haircut will happen again sometime soon as well. I am still beginning to ratchet up the preparation for Deputation 2.0, and covet not only your prayers but your involvement in that process. If you are interested in giving to this ministry, or have ideas about where and to whom I might discuss this mission, please let me know!

Again, thank you for all your prayers and support!

As of today - November 20th

Today would have been my last day in Belize, but prospects change and I continue adjusting. Rather than flying out today, I am set to return to the States on December 25th, with the hopes of possibly returning to Belize soon. Still, this is a big day. I have now been in the country for more than six months!

Life here is going well: the routine of ministry (worship, home visitations, study, school visits) continues. We're quickly approaching the feast of St. Andrew and the visit of the Bishop, and then a lot of activity that will come throughout the month of December, in all our congregations and schools. I'm looking forward to it, but it's going to get crazy for a while!

Yesterday (Monday) was Garifuna Settlement Day, a big holiday celebrating the arrival of the Garinagu people to the shores of this country. There were impressive public festivities that occurred so early in the morning that, despite my best efforts to set my alarm, did not involve my attendance. Still, I enjoyed celebrating the day, and it's a great example of one of the many incredible cultures present here in Belize.

I am beginning to really get in the swing of finding more financial support for my ministry here in Belize. It's been terrific to hear from current and former "senders" about their plans to give in the year to come. I'm so grateful for those who are helping to further the work here in these churches and schools by supporting me.

Apart from this, it's "business as usual" (which hardly means "usual" in the usual sense of the word). I intend to preach from Revelation 1 this Sunday, focusing on the theme of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. It is an epic (literally) theme of which I'll only be scratching the surface. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will do the rest.

May God richly bless you all, and thank you so much for your prayers!

As of today - November 12th

Greetings from the Belizean highlands! Things have been going well over the last few weeks: a lot of basic pastoral work, and not much else. The days are full as the nights get longer, and we're rapidly approaching the beginning of the traditional December business and even craziness, kicked off by our official visit from Bishop Wright on December 2nd to celebrate the feast of St. Andrew, Apostle and Martyr.

As I look towards the strong possibility of staying longer here in Belize (pending a few conversations), I have moved the date of my traveling back to the States from just before Thanksgiving to Christmas Day itself. I am excited to be celebrating Christmas Eve with the brother and sisters here in Belize, and I'll be excited to see my family in Indiana before heading to the Urbana Conference a few days later.

Also, in view of this strong possibility of my staying longer, I am getting in touch with current supporters, former supporters, and potential supporters (that means you!), asking people to find concrete ways to be a part of my ministry and mission here in Belize. These are tough times, and giving for my ministry has dropped to nearly 50% of budget. If I'm to stay here much longer, by the beginning of 2013 I will need to build up again not only the amount of money that is being pledged, but also the amount that is actually being given. If you are currently giving to my mission, thank you so much! If the Holy Spirit is nudging you to begin giving, please listen and answer his call to help meet the needs of this ministry!

Besides that, there is little to tell besides the fact that I am having some technology issues and problems about which I share more at a later date. Until then, please keep me and my computer in your prayers, and I'll try to post updates here and be in touch as often as possible.

Take care, and thanks for all the prayers!

As of today - November 1st

It's been too long, way too long, since I posted an update here! And a lot has happened ... let me see if I can give you a highlight of the last month!

First of all things have really been moving along since Juan and Maria Marentes came back from vacation! We have settled back into our routines of ministry, and we've been moving ahead with further developing our homeless ministry, catechism classes, Juan's doctoral thesis, youth group, and much much more. In that sense, there has been very little "new" that has been going on, but the regular course of ministry is grueling but exciting from week-to-week!

A few weeks ago we experienced grueling at its highest point: Diocesan Synod. The Synod rolls around only every two years, and we spent two whole days assembled in deliberation and discussion. As an observer, I was privileged not only to attend but to participate in discussions surrounding the issue of ministry and an encouraging young people to hear and pursue calls to ministry. Many issues were touched at Synod (land rights, the death penalty, schools, pornography, violence, and wome's ordination, etc. etc.), and there's too to say here. But it was wonderful to be there, and it was great to spend time with people from all over the diocese, building friendships and eating tacos (ah, that's a long story!).

I was also privileged to head out with the Bishop last weekend as we hit up some of the "river missions": St. Philip's (Willows Bank) and St. Thomas (Double Head Cabbage). I was able to bring the Word from Mark 10 about blind Bartimaeus, and I really enjoyed meeting the people in those places and spending time with the Bishop and some of the other ministers working in these villages. I was also able to sit down with the Bishop and discuss my future prospects for ministry here in the diocese, a conversation which seemed to hold out some fairly good possibilities for my staying. While I don't want to be overly forward at this moment, I think it is safe to say that all major interested parties, including myself, have a desire for me to continue serving in Cayo with Juan and Maria. We'll see where the Lord takes me in the next few months!

Thank you all for your prayers, and I look forward to giving a regular update in the next week or two! A blessed All Saints' Day to you all!