What is your mission?

Just got out of a lunch with our ministry partners in Juarez, Mexico, Francisco and Rosa Ramirez. I've never personally gotten a chance to spend time with them, however, many from our church have and they have left a significant impact on the people of NMC in addition to the people in Mexico. Today, we got a chance to spend some time with them during a staff lunch. Pastor Joe shared some things that got me thinking.

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.- 2 Corinthians 4:1

There are times where ministry can get tough; that life can get tough. We get down on ourselves, we get put down by others, we quarrel with someone and look back and wish that the conversation would have never ended that way. The fact is that we can very rarely face the things that some of our brothers and sisters around the world face every day. But when any of us face these things we do not give up, we never give in and we fight with everything that we are to make sure that the ministry is accomplished; that the mission is accomplished.

If you don't know much about the greater Juarez area, know this: it's bad. Drug cartels have taken over. The police have left the area because they have no control, people are doing their own police work to protect themselves and the churches are being closed up for the protection of those that attend them. It's pretty difficult. But, in the midst of all of this chaos, we do not give up. Why? Because of the story that God's writing in Mexico.

Francisco told us a story today of a time that they were broadcasting over the radio, praying for the people and preaching the Good News and they got a phone call from one of the "hit men." The guy was obviously crying and told them that he regretted what he had done and wanted to accept Jesus that day. What an amazing story!?

It's clearly not easy sometimes and there might be times where you feel like you have "hit men" all around you with no one keeping the peace and no one to come to your aid. But God is still in control and God is ultimately going to do the work on the hearts that He needs to tend to. Our job is to persevere! Take heart! Press on! God has promised to replenish you!

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. - 2 Corinthians 4:16

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