Mexico #1 - Friends Old and Friends New
by Doug Nielson, Outreach Foundation trustee
…in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.… (Romans 1:11-12)
From October 21 to 29, a team from The Outreach Foundation heads to Mexico to both encourage and be encouraged by existing partners as well as begin a new partnership. COVID, amongst other things, has prevented us from visiting our brothers and sisters in the faith in Mexico and we are excited to actually meet in person those we have only known via e-mail and Zoom. Our “dream team” consists of Executive Director Mark Mueller and his wife, Reverend Toby Mueller, Reverend Deena Candler, Doug Nielson and his wife, Mary Lynne.
Our first stop will be in Villahermosa, Tabasco to meet with the faculty, staff and students at Sureste Seminary. This long-time partner is training up the next generation of pastors and church planters that will work in churches across Mexico. We will hear updates on how Sureste has adapted to teaching all their courses online due to COVID as well as inspect the damaged dormitory building that The Outreach Foundation is raising funding to repair.
Our next stop will be in Mexico City to meet with the leadership team of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM). Partnering with the INPM is brand new for The Outreach Foundation, so we are excited to learn how we can best work together to advance the kingdom in Mexico. One of their key initiatives that we hope to become involved with is planting churches in northern and central Mexico where there are few evangelical churches.
Our last stop is in Mérida, Yucatán to visit the faculty, staff and students at San Pablo Seminary. San Pablo focuses on providing theological education to leaders and pastors from southern Mexico, especially those that speak Mayan as a first language. We will come alongside the San Pablo team, led by Rector Amós Cahuich Yam, to better understand how we can support them as they recover from COVID disruptions and continue to teach their student body remotely. We will review facilities and dormitories that were damaged by the major tropical storm that swept through Tabasco in 2020. We are also excited to spend time with long-time Outreach Foundation global worker, Don Wehmeyer, who teaches at San Pablo.
Please pray that throughout our eight days in country, God will open our eyes and our hearts to see how he is moving in Mexico and how we can come alongside our sisters and brothers in this country. More updates to follow!