MAC Ministries

06/04/2015

Check out the recap and photo slideshow of our most recent Gr**go Soccer Camp in Renacimiento, Mexico. And please share this post to help push MAC Ministries over 100 likes!

It was a blessing to attend the 5th annual Gr**go Soccer Camp. We had a total of 13 folks participate from FPC. Five were first time participants and one had not been since the first Gr**go Soccer Camp which took place in May 2010. Those first initial trips opened the door to a half decade of ser…

06/09/2013

Megan Thornton, Reporter with the Marietta Daily Journal does a great job capturing the essence of the ministry with Casa Samuel in Renacimiento, Mexico.

What began as a mission trip by a local ministry to a small Mexican town has become the catalyst for bringing a much-needed medical center to the region.

05/04/2012

Please keep the FPC Marietta Gr**go Mission Team in your prayers today as they kick-off a 2-day event in Renacimiento. There are 12 members from Marietta (and Thad from Dallas, TX) that will be spending the next two days focusing on 200 kids, 100 women, and 50 young adult men.

The theme for this weekend is Love & Respect using the story of the Good Samaritan from Luke 2 as our foundation. Please pray that this short 48 hour event will be a success in introducing people to Christ and strengthening the faith of our brothers and sisters in Renacimiento

04/05/2012

Something to think about as we enter Easter weekend:

I had an interesting conversation this morning at my 6 am appointment. Eric and I were discussing the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10 38-41.

There seems to be a tension for us Christians in how Jesus replies to Martha’s request, saying “Mary has chosen what is better…”. The tension, to Eric and I, is that we don’t always feel that productive in just “sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to what he says”. Is that really productive?

Similar to Judas’ response to the “wastefulness” of the perfume poured on Jesus. Wouldn’t it be more productive to have given it’s worth to the poor?

I guess it depends on who you’re asking? Clearly, Jesus had a perspective that doesn’t always sit well with us.

That tension of what we view as “right” vs. what we read as Jesus’ response can sometimes cause us to avoid the situation. In the end, I’m thankful for that tension because, like this morning, we decided to dig deeper into His response.

As I come to KNOW Jesus more and more, my desire to sit at his feet and absorb him grows. I have not always been aware of this desire….it’s something that becomes more and more noticeable as I become more intentional to KNOW Him.

The tension lies in the “sitting”. But this is where I learn to “walk”.

As we approach Easter, have you taken time to sit at his feet and listen. After all, it is a gift to do so.

Thank you Jesus for your life!

02/22/2012

This is a picture of our team with the Mayor of Garcia (in the leather jacket). This meeting was extraordinary in how God used prior meetings with a private corporation and the Governor of Nuevo Leon to help stage this meeting. The meeting itself went well. We were encouraged by the Mayor’s interest in helping to provide resources from building materials to extra land so the medical clinic funding could be stretched and accomplish more.

This meeting became a celebration of sorts as we praised God for a fantastic week of “open doors”.

02/22/2012

This is my friend Lino. I met Lino about a year ago on the soccer fields. He’s in his early 20’s and is married with a beautiful infant daughter.

I have had the joy of playing much soccer with him (along with Juan, Mike, Chooey, and others) and then spend time sharing a Coca-Cola at the local bodega. It’s during these short visits that Lino has worked hard to get to know me, despite the language barrier. He has taken me on walks that revealed his home, the local swim hole and diving rock at the river, and friends that he has introduced me to.

This was the first time, that I can remember, visiting with Lino and him being lucid. At the time of this picture he shared that he had been clean for 5 months. And he was excited about it! Finally meeting the “real” Lino was a gift from God.

02/22/2012

Just before leaving Monterrey on Thursday, Feb. 9th, we were invited to participate in a Radio Talk Show hosted by a Christian talk show host named, Abigail. This radio show was conducted live at 5:30 in the afternoon (during rush hour) and appeared to have a strong listener base. All the questions that was asked were similar to all the other questions that I received during the week, “Why do we keep coming back to Renacimiento?” I took this opportunity to share about the 20+ years of relationship building that I have had in Monterrey and how our relationship with Casa Samuel and Renacimiento had developed. I believe everyone listening could see God’s hand in this relationship and mission focus. I pray that God will have used this promotion to bring others into the project.

02/22/2012

These are three close friends of mine that I met the first time I visited Renacimiento. From left to right: Juan, Mike, Pat, and Chooey. The three men are all brothers and Juan and Mike are twins. The relationship that I have with these men are the launching pad for much of what happens in Renacimiento. From playing soccer to meeting other men in the community. These three guys are committed to Casa Samuel and Pastor Eva and are great examples of the Hope that we have for Renacimiento.

It is a blessing being friends with these men.

02/22/2012

Pictured is my new friend, David, that I met in Monterrey last week. David was staying in the same hotel as us. It was late one evening and I was in the lobby doing some work on the computer when he approached me. He had heard from the hotel attendants that we were from the U.S. and doing mission work. After introducing himself, he asked if he could talk to me about Jesus. David shared a lot about his life and how over the past ten years he had become more and more disconnected from God. His desire was to become intentional in walking with the Lord as he used to do. He took the time to share and confess what was on his heart. After a couple of hours of listening and talking about submitting, we prayed that this would be a new beginning for him and his relationship with Christ. And that this relationship would spill over into ALL areas of his life.

02/11/2012

Thanks for all the prayers this week. We're home safely and I plan to post some pictures over the next couple of days.

I do have a prayer request as I am off to speak at a Men's Retreat this morning for 50 men at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. I'll be speaking on John 3: 30: He must become greater, I must become less. Have a blessed day.

02/10/2012

Just a quick update on today. Again, I felt like I was just hanging on as God took us through multiple meetings. It started at a Rotary Club meeting this morning who will hopefully get involved with the equipping portion of the clinic.

We then spent some time at the Health Department getting the Health Permit started…..we were very encouraged with the presented process.

We then had the pleasure of spending time at Senator Judith Diaz’ office. Pedro Diaz, Judith’s legal counsel, provided lunch and great encouragement and support. It was at this meeting that I realized how much God is using Pastor Eva to lead a “new” focus for Monterrey. A focus that, for lack of better words, is founded on the Gospel. Pedro and Judith seem called to help enable Eva in this calling.

From there, we went to a local radio station where I participated in a talk show hosted by a Christian talk show host named Abbie. The questions I got were similar to ones that I’ve been receiving all week…..”what has attracted you to Renacimiento?”

My answer: The people and the relationships that God has formed with the people. Coming from a place of plenty and then coming to a place of such need, it amazes me how happy the people of Renacimiento are. And I don’t see that same kind of happiness back home. I’ve been blessed to be able to look back and see how God has led me to be a part of this movement in Monterrey and how my gratefulness is growing each day as God leads us step by step through this.