Twelve Days: Day 7

Meet Ariel and Luis!

Since I don't have separate pictures of these guys, I would like to introduce you to them together.

They are both from the small high-jungle town of Shell. When Ariel shares about his call to missions, he shares the story of Nate Saint, whose story you might be familiar with from the move End of the Spear. Those five missionaries were based out of the town of Shell as they ministered to the Waodani indigenous people, who ultimately killed them.

One of Ariel's strengths is charisma (or Woo, as it is called in English in the Gallup StrengthsFinder themes), and it is very notable from the first time you start talking to him. He is charismatic, confidant, and friendly, and so passionate for the Lord.

Ariel and Luis have both worked in indigenous villages to plant churches. When Luis shares of this experience, his flexibility in all circumstances comes through when he speaks of eating bugs and sleeping on the ground when necessary. Luis is so laid back, and loves people so much that he wants to take the gospel to them.

Pray for Ariel and Luis as they continue to raise funds in order to be deployed in January with the Ambato team.

Twelve Days: Day 6

Meet Nikol!

Nikol Calderón is from Riobamba, Ecuador and is excited to put aside her studies for the next two years to become a part of a church planting team. We are excited to see her thrive in the church plant as she is a vivacious fun young lady with a passion for missions.

The inspiration for Nikol's call to missions comes from a song by Jesús Adrian Romero, which says, "You don't have to look for anyone else, I want to go.  Here is my time, here are my hours, here I am."

Twelve Days: Day 5

Meet Nancy!

Nancy Ojeda hails from Riobamba, Ecuador and is passionate about getting on the field to start church planting. She is such a blast to be with and knows how to hold her own with sarcasm. Nancy has already finished her fundraising and will deploy in January and be part of the team planting a church in Ambato. 

She shares, "I can't imagine my life not doing His will.  I understand that when the Lord calls you He also backs you up.  I'm leaving behind all that I am for cause of God's love because, He loved me first.  My best decision is Christ."

Twelve Days: Day 4

US Mobilization Team

These churches were planted, built, and have been covered in prayer because of the Mobilization team.

What if we could train and deploy every person in the world who is called and able to serve? What if there was an avenue in which we could disciple all nations to Jesus Christ? What if the Church remembered that to be mission-minded is not enough, and that we must focus on mobilizing the called to win the world for Christ.

Often times we forget that the most important link between the called and the field is mobilization. I am here because I met members of the Mobilization Team on campus of Southern Nazarene University in 2009. Everyone on the field works with a mobilizer who helps them find the way God has uniquely equipped them to serve.

But the Mobilization team has an extremely tough job! So join me in prayer for them today, that god would encourage their spirits and lead them to the people he has called.

Twelve Days: Day 3

The Cercado Team

Arequipa, Peru is a city close to my heart, since I lived there for nine months during my time of 40/40 training. It is a beautiful city of about one million people, considered to be "The Land of Eternal Spring."

But Arequipa is a tough city to do ministry in, since it is located in the Andes mountains where people are generally not very receptive to the gospel.

But my friends in one of the very first church plants of XSA are planting a church in the urban center of Arequipa, the district known as Cercado.

Please pray for the members of this team:
Chris and Anndee Stringer and their daughters, Cluster Coordinators
40/40s Sheena Green, Brenda Portocarrera, Jessica Strickland, Kelsey Halterman, Mike Wheatley, Heyner Rustafo, Ray Bezjak, Sammy Martinez, Megan Schimmer, and Elisabeth Nuñez.

Twelve Days: Day 2

SAM Mobilization Team

For the first time, Extreme Nazarene has a mobilization team for South America, seeking and deploying national missionaries into an Extreme expansion of God's kingdom.

This team currently includes myself, and Trevor Allen. We have both worked as 40/40s in Peru, planting churches in Cusco, and Puno.

Now, we find ourselves in Quito, Ecuador, seeking out 40/40s to send to four cities of Ecuador, and mobilizing local churches to send them. After six months, we will move to Chile to do the same thing there.

We are also seeking another member (or two) to join us in this mission in South America.

God is doing amazing things and blessing us greatly!

Twelve Days: Day 1

What is Extreme Nazarene Ministries?

The purpose of Extreme is to seek and deploy people into an Extreme global Expansion of God's kingdom by prayerfully and thoughtfully engaging the specific talents, skills, experience and resources God gave them and to further develop them into full-time constructors of the Kingdom.

Extreme began in 2005 in the Ukraine with just one long-term staff person and 113 short-term volunteers. Projects have taken place over the last seven years in Ukraine, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay.

The newest project of Extreme is called "Extreme South America," a five-year project during which we will plant 16 churches in urban cities of South America, in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, and more, using the 40/40 model and the Master's Plan strategy.

The two goals of the project are to:

1) Plant self-funded, self-replicating and self-governing churches

2) Develop 40/40™ Missionaries for Judea, Samaria and the ends of the Earth

Join us in prayer for Extreme and this huge vision God has given us!