SHORT-TERM MISSIONS &
DISASTER RESPONSE

This past month twenty mission-minded individuals aged eighteen to thirty seized a unique opportunity to travel to Mexico for the Cross-Cultural Missions Training (CCMT) program. This is not just sit-in-a-classroom-and-take-notes kind of training. This is full-immersion and intensive study education for those with an interest in global missions, who feel they need more instruction, exercise, and confirmation before committing to the selfless commission of mission work. This program aims to strengthen the sense of calling to those interested in serving, while also serving as an initial step in their training for service in the foreign field.

The CCMT program exists precisely to foster the seedlings of a desire to serve the Lord through missions. During the nearly month-long (May 18 through June 16) CCMT program, hosted by Rich and Angie Bout of the URCNA, seasoned missionaries and pastors trained potential missionaries in culture, language, and Bible teaching, both in a classroom setting as well as on the field. I had the opportunity to experience a bit of this training for the first time this year, joining the group for the last week of the training.

Most participants were from the URCNA, but the team also included three members from OPC congregations, two from the RPCNA, and one from the RCUS. Traveling from all over the U.S., the participants arrived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on May 18th. They spent their first weekend with URCNA church-planting missionaries Zack and Sandy Anderson, allowing for a gentle introduction to the cross-cultural experience.

Next, they drifted down the coast to a small fishing village where they were joined by URCNA pastor Paul Murphy who trained them in evangelism with a focus on loving people. Their days were also filled with studying Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, learning Spanish, and receiving guidance on entering a new culture with gentleness; listening and learning rather than judging and critiquing. Additionally, they engaged in directed readings from four books: "Cross-cultural Servanthood" by Duane Elmer, "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" by J.I. Packer, "Foreign to Familiar" by Sarah Lanier, and "Get Real" by John Leonard.

In their second week, they were divided into groups of two to four and hosted by families associated with the church in Tepic, Mexico, where the Bouts had served for more than a decade. During this time, the team gathered to receive instruction from URCNA prison ministry pastor Ken Anema. He covered topics such as forgiveness, leading Bible studies, conducting personal Bible study, effective community outreach, and evangelism.

At the start of week three, the team was split into three and sent to different locations in Mexico to be challenged to practice what they had learned. For their assignments, two students were sent back to Puerto Vallarta, six were put on a flight across Mexico to the Yucatan peninsula to work with a Mexican pastor (Presbyterian Church of Mexico) in the city of Becal, and the largest group took a seven-hour bus ride to Querétaro, where they would live and serve at Pan de Vida orphanage.

In these three locations, their ministry took many different forms. The group in Becal used their melodic gifts at a music school and participated in various forms of outreach on behalf of the local church. They endured extremely uncomfortable living conditions while the region faced a historic heatwave. Sleeping in hammocks helped them endure the heat.

The two in Puerto Vallarta carried out their ministry training alongside missionaries Zack and Sandy Anderson for a week, before joining the group in Querétaro.

In Querétaro, the group participated in facility maintenance, assisted teachers in the classrooms, and engaged in sports and other activities with the fifty orphans, many of whom had been rescued from various severely difficult conditions. The orphanage provides all their daily needs including schooling and a Christian church to attend. The team was amazed by the love and dedication shown to the children by the staff.

Daily, each of the three groups continued their times of daily Bible Study through the book of Philippians, book studies, singing, and prayer.

I joined the group in Queretaro, Mexico for the final week, where most of the team was located, housed in short-term visitor facilities at Pan de Vida Orphanage.

In this final week, the three groups gathered together in the city of Guadalajara for some final instruction and debriefing. I joined the Querétaro group on the four-hour bus ride from Querétaro to Guadalajara. In the city center, we roomed for two nights in the beautiful old Hotel de Mendoza. The group from Becal arrived by plane.

Amid the joyous reunions of the team members, we shared meals, toured Guadalajara's beautiful downtown, and sampled the delicious flavors that Mexico has to offer. I had the opportunity to share my story of how the Lord led me into full-time work for the church and to give a talk on the biblical foundations of the ministry of mercy. I discussed how the Lord often uses the ministry of mercy to draw people to Himself, as they experience God's love through His people demonstrating the gospel tangibly through acts of love, compassion, and kindness.

While I greatly enjoyed conversing with nearly all of the team members, it was a particular blessing to connect with the three young people representing the OPC: Mattenai Philip of Harvest OPC, Vista, CA, Noah Doolan of Bethel OPC in Wheaton, IL, and Julia Grove of Grace OPC in Vienna, VA. They are each mature individuals who are all serious about their faith in Christ and have a strong desire to share him with others. I was quite impressed and encouraged.

I am convinced of the incredible value and impact of a program such as CCMT in the lives of these young people. Rich Bout and his fellow instructors encourage the participants to return home with a zeal for engaging in the lives of those around them in their communities and local churches. He hopes they will contemplate their place of service in Christ's church and even consider the possibility of becoming missionaries someday, now having experienced firsthand the joys and challenges of such service. It was a privilege to participate in this tremendous effort in a small way. May the Lord use this month-long experience powerfully in the lives of these twenty young adults for the benefit of His church in due time.

Lord willing, CCMT will offer a program in 2025, so if you are someone who may hear the Lord prompting you to serve in missions and are wondering how you can discern this calling or explore this possibility, this may be the program for you. Many young people in our Reformed churches finish college, and even seminary, with some desire to serve the Lord in missions, but have little understanding of the actual context of the global field and the skills needed to serve.

And, so, often that desire remains just that—a desire. For many, it is pushed off or diminished over time perhaps because of a lack of knowledge and experience. Global missions can be intimidating, and it is often assumed that others who presumably have more training and experience will be better suited. This program may be just the jump-start you need. Please prayerfully consider joining this group next year and if you have any questions, reach out to URCNA missionary Rich Bout: ccmissiontraining@gmail.com.