MOTH Winter 09

8/14/2019 MOTH Winter 09

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Mattersof theHeart

W i n t e r 2 0 0 9 E d i t i o n

A m o r m i n i s t r i e s Q u A r t e r l y n e w s l e t

in this issue:

t lcaCc(Two-Part Series)

Page 2

GpladCMeet the Pastor

Page 4

o hzThe Founders

Fund

Page 5

Bd FdMexico Unites toHelp Their Own

Page 6


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When you compare your local church to others within your

own neighborhood, you will likely discover a dierent mode

o worship, ministry, and people. Travel worldwide and these

dierences can grow and yet as believers, these dierences

o culture, aith, and even economic

background must be reconciled in some

way when we meet or worship alongside

our Christian brothers and sisters in other

countries.

In the United States alone, roughly

80% o the adult population identiy

themselves as Christians, according to

veteran researcher George Barna o the

Barna Group. With such a considerable number o Christians, it

is inevitable that church traditions, doctrine, and personal daily

demonstration vary throughout the nation. A church on one

corner may hold a Vacation Bible School while another may host

an outreach at the local bar yet both are equally appropriate in

the way they serve the people o their communities.

Even in Mexico, our continental neighbor, these dierences are

evident. A service at a local church, or example, bears little

resemblance to that o the archetypal American church. In a

2000 Mexican census, 76.5% o the population was identifed

as Roman Catholic, and over six percent

as Protestant, with an estimated 5,000

to 7,000 churches ound throughout

the country. Yet when you consider

a typical service, they rarely, i ever,

start or end on time. What a contrast

when compared to the punctuality o

American Churches! This, however

does not diminish the vastness o their

aith or the many community outreaches perormed by such

congregations. Mexican churches provide immeasurable help

supplying ood and clothing to the deeply impoverished within

their own neighborhoods.

In South Arica, where approximately 79.7% o the populationconsider themselves to be Christian, the local church is also

Matters of the Heart Winter 2009

The LocalChurch

(Two-Part Series)

And while worldwide

worship services, prayer, and

community involvement look

different in each and every church,

our salvation is what unites us.

Now serving in the continental United States!

Serving in San Carlos Year Round.

In partnership with Arizona Reservation Ministries, Amor is

launching its pilot house-building program on the San Carlos

Apache Reservation.

Register online atwww.amor.org/Registrationor contact

LaDonna at 619.662.1200 extension 121.

San CarlosReservationMission Trips
http://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/sancarloshttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/sancarloshttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/sancarloshttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/sancarlos


3/8

Dear Friends o Amor,

As you know, serving in

Mexico this past year

has had its challenges

the likes o which Scott

and I have never beore

experienced in our 29

years o ministry. As a

result, the most common

question we have been asked is, What will it takeor Amor Ministries to decide to no longer serve in

Mexico? My answer is always the same. Nothing.

There is nothing that would cause the Ministry to

leave Mexico because Amor remains committed

to spread the Gospel.

As you read this newsletter, you will be reminded

about what is important to those o us serving at

Amor. It is the Pastors and their churches that

matter most in whichever location we are working.

It always has been that way and always will be.

So, be encouraged that in the midst o ear and

adversity, it is the Pastors shining presence and

their ministries that continue to be the much

needed ray o hope and light in a darkened world!

In Christ,

Gayla Cooper CongdonFounder and Chie Spiritual Ocer

Would you like to hear more from the

Founders? Visit www.amor.org to receive our

monthly eNews from Gayla or visit the Simply

Scott blog online.

www.amor.org

Letterfrom the Foundeactive in working to meet the unique needs o the

people. A local Baptist church, or example, reaches

out to the community by providing an anonymous

baby bin or desperate mothers. Because o the AIDS

epidemic, women ear raising their children in close-knit

communities under such a stigma. Instead, this church

provides an alternative to dumping babies in a garbage

can and oers these kids an opportunity, in some cases,

to be adopted. In the U.S. where such practices might

be questioned, one must refect on the singular needs

o each locale and consider what unites us all.

How are we to explain these dierences when, as

Websters Dictionary denes, the church is all

Christians considered as a single body? In the U.S.

alone, however, there are multiple denominations

and ways to practice ones aith. And how do these

dierences impact the work o the local church in

ministering and serving those within their communities?

Whats more, how are believers to reconcile these

dierences when serving abroad on short or long-term

missions? In a uture publication, we will consider

these questions and more.

In the end, though Websters provides us a simple

denition, the most telling comes directly rom the

Bible. Paul himsel says, For we were all baptized by

one Spirit into one bodywhether Jews or Greeks,

slave or ree Ultimately, we are all part o one body

called to love, serve, and live in righteousness. Millionso people around our globe are included under that

broad umbrella, and the vastness o it is seen in the

varied maniestations o our aith.

And while our worldwide worship services, prayer, and

community involvement look dierent in each and every

church, our salvation is what unites us. Gods love or us

transcends all borders, races, and governments to unite

all Christians as one Church, one body, and one bride

or the groom known as Christ.

AMOR MINISTRIES

CELEBRATES

30 YEARSOF SERVING THE POOR

Celebration Tour coming to a city near you!

Visit www.amor.org/30years for details.

1 9 8 0 - 2 0 1 0
http://www.amor.org/http://www.simplyscott.org/http://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.simplyscott.org/http://www.amor.org/http://www.amor.org/30years


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Meet the Pastorby Erin Illingworth, Mission Trip Coordinator

Amor Ministries is devoted to the Pastors with whom we

partner with in Mexico. The Pastors who serve on our

Mexico Ministry Planning Board work behind the scenes

to make your Amor Mission Trip possible and to maintain

relationships in the communities. It is Pastors who selectthe families that will receive an Amor house, and then later

return to visit with them after the house is built and your

group has returned home. They work countless hours on

behalf of Amor (though most groups never see their faces)

but you can change that by adding an outreach to your

Amor Mission Trip.

Take an afternoon away from building and connect with

the local Pastors. They love to meet groups and welcome

the time spent to make your trip more meaningful! You

can also get involved with the work of the local church by

sponsoring a Pastors outreach. Typically, an available

Pastor prepares the materials and location for you so that

your group can show up ready to share your love with the

community!

Group leader David Lobos has been participating in

Pastors outreaches during his trips with Go, Inc. for

years with the desire that they be a means for us to

come alongside our brothers as they pastor the needs

of their community. After Go, Inc.s Amor Mission Trip

in June 2009, he said, The joy we felt as we saw them

take ownership [of evangelizing within their areas] was

very satisfying. An outreach is an excellent way for your

group to connect side-by-side with the ministries of the

local church and experience how they work in their own

neighborhoods.


Group LeaderCorner

P.S. If you cant spare a day while building, there are other ways to interact

with the Pastors. Contact Mission Services at 619.662.1200 extension 6 to

learn more!

Amor Pastors Outreach, Puerto Peasco, Sonora, Mexico, Feb


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The Founders Fund

On the Horizon

www.amor.org

Ater completing fve homeduring summer 2009, Amorsouth Arica i in ull-wing!

July 24-August 7, 2010

Contact LaDonna at 619.662.1200

extension 121 for information

about Amor South Africa 2010.

Register online at www.amor.org/registration.

AmorSouth Arica

Mission Trips

On any given day, one o the Pastors rom Amors Mexico Ministry Planning Board could

be interviewing amilies about their need or a new house, guarding Amors Rancho Camp,

pouring a slab or an upcoming house project, or visiting a amily who is settling into their

new Amor home. It is through the Pastors that the reach o Amor is continual, lasting, and

perpetual, and so the Ministry strives to meet their needs as quickly as possible.

The Pastors ministry is not limited to leading a congregation

and providing houses or their communities through

Amor; many have planted mission churches and distribute

ood throughout the week. One Pastor has started a drug

rehabilitation center, while another runs a Christian radio

station. Amor Ministries essential philosophy o ministry is

to aid in growing the local church, and so we also support

the many and varied ministries o our Pastors.

The Founders Fund allows Amor to respond to the ever-

changing circumstances o the mission feld. Whether a

new opportunity arises to reach more lives through the

local churches, or there is an immediate need or the daily

operations at our Global Headquarters in San Diego, the

Fund provides the monies to cover those unoreseen costs.

The Ministrys desire is to be the best stewards o our resources possible, efciently usingwhat God has provided. And the ultimate goal o Amor is to expand the local church in each

country and every community where we serve.

A git to the Founders Fund is more than a donation; it is a commitment to the ministry, to

the people o Mexico, South Arica, the United States, and wherever else God may call Amor

in the uture! To partner with the Founders Fund, please send your git to Amor Ministries in

the enclosed envelope, or visit www.amor.org/WaysToGiveand note Founders Fund in

the Comments Box.

The ultimate goal of Amor

is to expand the local church

in each country and every

community where we serve.

Pastor Jose Luis Hernandez deliverskeys to proud new homeowner.
http://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/southafricahttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/southafricahttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/southafricahttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/southafricahttp://www.amor.org/waystogivehttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/southafricahttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/waystogive


6/8

MexicoUnites toHelp TheirOwnby Alyssa Robinson,

Ministry Resources Summer Intern

Our western culture oten makes the

mistake in assuming that missionary

workers only come rom industrialized

nations. Recently, a local church in

Mexico turned that assumption upon

its head. For the frst time in thehistory o Amor Ministries, a mens

group rom Pastor Juan Briseos

church, Divino Salvador in Tijuana

joined together to build homes with

Amor Ministries.

Amor houses are usually built by

Mission Trip participants rom the

And so the project was brought back

to where it startedto the Pastors o

the Mexico Ministry Planning Board

o Tijuana. Ater learning o the

circumstances, the Pastors collectively

oered to build the house using

members o their own congregations

Undeeated, they immediately

gathered groups and jumped into

action to serve the people o thei

very own communities. Inspired by

the Amor Mission Trip groups who

had come to build, and provided with

U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom

within three to fve days but earlier this

year, one house remained unfnished.

Ater beginning the building process,

suspected drug activity in the area

caused Amor to reassign the group

to a new worksite, leaving the project

in its earliest stages o construction.

Instances such as this have occurred

in Tijuana or decades yet because

Amor values the saety o its

participants, they moved the young

builders out o potential harms way.

Beyond the Field


Cant make theAmor Mission Trip?

You can still transform lives by

becoming a Casa de Amor Partner.

The Casa de Amor Giving Program

provides funds to purchase building

materials for homes in Mexico.

Casa de Amor A single Amor house only costs $2,400!The $25 monthly gift of a traditional Casa de AmorPartner is grouped with seven others to provide a familywith a home.

Or, you can be creative and explore new ways to give likeKurt Blake, whose 30th Birthday Party With a Purposeraised $3,600 for Casa de Amor!

To learn more about Kurts party and to be inspired, visitwww.amor.org/blog.

Pastor Adolfo Escamilla and Armando Ponce with local volunteers. Maclovio Rojas in Tijuana, Mexico
http://www.amor.org/give/casadeamorhttp://www.amor.org/bloghttp://www.amor.org/give/casadeamorhttp://www.amor.org/blog


7/8www.amor.org

PuertoPeasco

Mission Trips

Just in time or spring and summer!Shop now at www.amor.org/store.

Youll fnd mens and womens T-shirts,

hoodies, and accessories in new designs

and styles or all ages.

All proceeds from the Amor Store

support the programs of Project Hope.

Back by popular demand!

Now Serving Year-Round!

Amor Ministries has extended our season to

serve the people o Puerto Peasco, a small

fshing town on the Sea o Cortez, just south

o Arizona. Mission Trip groups can register

online athttp://www.amor.org/Registration

orcallAndrea at 619.662.1200 extension 135.

the materials that were supplied by Casa de

Amor partners, the local church built an Amor

house in the Amor style.

In spite o the violence that has surrounded

Tijuana or years, God has encouraged the

local church. This pivotal event has urther

promoted these Pastors desire to continueto build in their communities and even send

their youth to work alongside Amor groups.

Perhaps one day soon, we will see churches

on both sides o the border working together

to ulfll the Great Commission.

If you have a story about how the Amor

Mission Trip transformed your life along with

the interesting work youre now doing as a

result, we want to hear more! Please contact

Cristy Booher at 619.662.1200 extension 115or e-mail her [email protected].

Pastor Armando Ponce and local volunteersMaclovio Rojas in Tijuana, Mexic

June 200
http://www.amor.org/trips/locations/mexicohttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/mexicohttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/mexicohttp://www.amor.org/storehttp://www.amor.org/registrationmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.amor.org/storehttp://www.amor.org/trips/locations/mexicohttp://www.amor.org/registration


8/8

1664 Precision Park LaneSan Diego, CA 92173

619.662.1200

www.amor.org

NON-PROFIT OR

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDOXNARD, CA

PERMIT NO. 121

We Welcome Your FeedbackIf you have story suggestions

or photos to contribute, please

email Cristy Booher, our editor,

at [email protected].

Calendar ofEvents

South Africa Mission TripsDela, south Afica

Jul 24-Augut 7, 2010

Register online at www.amor.org/Registration

or contact LaDonna at 619.662.1200

extension 121 for more information.

San Carlos ApacheReservation Mission Tripssan Calo, AZ

seving All yea-round

Register online atwww.amor.org/Registration or

contact LaDonna at 619.662.1200 extension 121

for more information.

30th Anniversary

For Celebration Tour dates andinformation, visitwww.amor.org/30years.

Puerto Peasco Mission TripsPueto Peaco, sonoa, mX

seving All yea-round

Register online atwww.amor.org/Registratio

or contact Andrea at 619.662.1200 extension

135 for more information.
http://maito:[email protected]/http://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://maito:[email protected]/http://www.amor.org/30yearshttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/registrationhttp://www.amor.org/registration

Documents

MOTH Winter 09