Church in Conference Brief Follow-Up

          Calvary met in Church Conference on Sunday night with approximately 100 members present.  After a time of worship in singing, Scripture reading and prayer, the congregation dealt with the business at hand.

           Nine candidates were presented by the Deacon Screening and Nominating Committee.  Ninety seven ballots were cast and all nine candidates were elected by an overwhelming majority.  We welcome the following men to the active deacon body at Calvary 2014-2016:

          The church adopted the 2014 Budget proposed by the stewardship committee and announced the launching of a budget campaign.  To see a copy of the budget click here: Calvary 2014 Approved Budget.

          The nominations for those serving in the various officer and committee positions of the church were also approved.  Before concluding the meeting, the church received the recommendation from the ordaining council to ordain Marco Murillo to the ministry.  The congregation voted in favor of the recommendation and the "laying on of hands" service will be held this coming Sunday, November 24 during each of the regular worship services. To see Marco's testimony click here: Ordaining Council for Marco Murillo.

          I am grateful for each committee that worked hard to prepare for this important Church in Conference and to each member who demonstrated his/her love for the church by participating.  I thank God for the harmony and peaceful spirit with which our church carries its business.  I pray that He accomplish His will in us and that He brings glory to Himself through us.

Done with the Ph D!

           By the grace of God and because of the support of my family, friends and church, I have concluded my journey in the Ph. D. program.  I now humbly have been entrusted with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies from the Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University.  I hold that as an immense privilege and responsibility.  Ultimately my education has been granted to me that I may be a servant, of Jesus Christ first, and of people also.

        I am taking this point of privilege to thank you as a Calvary leader for your invaluable support during this journey.  The search committee that called me and the personnel committee have been a constant support.  I will not mention all the names of these but I will pause to thank George Kydd, who has gone to be with the Lord already but whose encouragement and support still affect me today.  The deacon body has also been a blessing to my life as they have prayed and encouraged me.  The staff has been outstanding in their willingness to stand in the gap and to protect me.  The congregation has been patient and gracious during this time.  I could not have done this without the wonderful family of Calvary Baptist Church, McAllen.  So thank you!

          This past Monday I stood before my dissertation committee, other faculty and Ph. D. students to defend my dissertation.  Since the early hours of the morning as I headed to the airport I felt God's strength and grace, sensing the prayers of family and church.  I defended successfully, answered the questions, and received the decision of the committee to confer to me the Ph. D. title joyfully.

           There will be a "hooding" ceremony (graduation) in May of 2014.  For now, I'm done and extremely grateful.

Church in Conference This Sunday

           Our Fall Church in Conference will meet this Sunday, November 17 at 6:30 in our worship center.  In addition to the usual reports, the congregation will have an opportunity to:

1. Vote on nominations for the 2014 church committees;
2. Vote on the 2014 proposed budget;
3. Vote on nine deacon nominees for 2014-2016;
4. Consider a recommendation to ordain Marco Murillo to the ministry

You may access the Church in Conference packet which includes the agenda, the minutes, the financial reports, membership changes, personnel committee report, nominations report, proposed budget and committee minutes by clicking here:

Church in Conference Packet (English)

Paquete para Iglesia en Conferencia (Español)

You can see the names of the deacon nominees below:

In addition, our stewardship committee will introduce a budget campaign called "Keep the Light On."  (More information will be coming your way later).

Pray for our church, for the decisions that will be made Sunday night and come be a part of it.  I am counting on you to get the word out to your Bible Fellowships and other teams please.

Ordaining Council for Marco Murillo

           You may know Marco because of his service in our deacon body or because of his leadership of the "Instituto de Capacitación Calvary" (Calvary en Español's Institute on Wednesday Nights).  You may also have seen Aubrey teaching children, interacting in ABF and WIT ministries.  Or you may have seen their daughter Elisabet signing in our children's choir.  The Murillo's have been a blessing to the Calvary Family. 

           Currently, Marco has been serving on the faculty and staff at the Rio Grande Bible College in Edinburg.  Partially as a result of the Perspectives Course, and in connection with NAMB's (North American Mission Board) "Send North America" national strategy conference in Dallas, the Murillo's have answered a call to plant a church in the Atlanta area.  This church plant will be cosponsored by First Baptist Church Woodstock, NAMB and other entities.  Of course, Calvary is their home church and we have the opportunity to "send them" and to continue to prayerfully support them during their assignment.  Their vision is to plant a church that will mobilize people for global missions as part of their DNA.  That's exciting!

          Before the Murillo's leave in January, we are seeking the opportunity to ordain Marco to vocational ministry.  This Sunday, November 17 at 4:45 PM an ordaining council will examine Marco as to his call, his character and testimony, and his doctrinal soundness.  The ordaining council will make a recommendation to the Church in Conference which also meets this Sunday night at 6:30 PM.  If all goes well, an laying on off hands and commissioning service will be held on Sunday, November 24.  This will be great opportunities to affirm this family and to send them off to be on mission with God to reach those who are lost without Christ and to mobilize them for God's mission.  Please be in prayer for them.

          Below is a brief testimony in Marco's and Aubrey's own words:

Marco

          I was born in Mexico City, where I spent the majority of my life.  I accepted Christ when I was 18, which caused a 180 degree change in my life.  Shortly after receiving Christ, I had the desire to prepare myself to share Christ and the Bible effectively.  I had the opportunity to go to Word of Life Bible Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to study.  Those three years of study were very special in my life.  I not only needed to study theology, but also see first-hand what a life transformed by Christ looked like.

En 2002, I returned to Mexico to serve as the youth pastor in my local Church.  There, I met a beautiful missionary that had recently arrived in Mexico to serve the Lord.

Aubrey

          I am from Michigan.  My family accepted Christ when I was 8.  Much of our family life changed.  We were at Church almost every day that the door was open.  At age 9, I experimented my first missions conference.  The missionary was very interesting and I felt a deep desire to go to Mexico, where he was serving.  Although I was only 9, I decided to dedicate my life to serve God.

Through Church, I was given many opportunities to serve and participate in missionary trips.  God used those special times to grow my desire to become a missionary.  The same missionary that I heard as a little girl, later became a professor at the Moody Bible Institute.  Thanks to him, I decided to attend Moody and study International Ministries and the Bible.  Four years at Moody taught me much about service and the world around me.  God was putting a heavy burden in my heart to serve Him.  He gave me the ability to understand Spanish and a desire to serve people that speak Spanish. 

           In 2002, I arrived in Mexico to study Spanish, and later I was assigned to Marco´s Church for service.  God put Marco and I together as youth leaders.  We were able to get to know each other better through the youth ministry.  After a time of courtship and engagement, we were married in June of 2004.

           After 9 years of serving in Mexico together, we arrived at the Rio Grande Bible Institute to finish Marco´s studies to receive a BA, and later pursue a Masters degree.  As Marco was finishing his studies, we were invited to join the RGBI staff, where we have served for a year and a half. 

          When we arrived to the Valley of Texas, we asked God for a Church where we could serve, but even more where we could be ministered to.  We had spent 9 years in the ministry, and we needed a place where we could be ministered to.  God led us to Calvary.  Calvary has been an important part of our time in Texas.  We have been able to serve teaching children and leading adults in a Spanish ABF, starting, coordinating, and teaching in the Institute of Capacitation on Wednesday nights.  Marco has served for almost 2 years as a Deacon at Calvary.

           But more than serve, we have been ministered to and inspired by Calvary.  Our children have been instructed in the Word of God, encouraged to serve through singing before the congregation. 

           We have received a call to join a Church-planting movement with Hispanics in Atlanta, Georgia, in the capacity of teacher-pastor.  We are amazed at how the Rio Grande Valley has become a spiritual oasis for us, where we have been able to rest and renew our strength as we look to minister to Hispanics, especially in the area of Atlanta, Georgia.

Here's the same testimonies in Spanish:

Aquí están los testimonios en Español:

Marco

           Nací en la Ciudad de México, donde he pasado la mayor parte de mi vida. Recibí a Cristo cuando tenía 18 años, lo cual provoco un cambio de 180 grados en mi vida. Pronto comenzó el deseo de prepararme de manera que pudiera compartir eficazmente a Cristo y Su palabra. Tuve la oportunidad de ir a Buenos Aires Argentina por tres años a estudiar en el Instituto Bíblico de Palabra de Vida. Fueron tres años muy especiales en mi vida. Necesitaba no solamente teología, sino la demostración en la vida real de una vida transformada por Cristo.

            En el año 2002 regrese a México para ser el pastor juvenil en mi iglesia local.  Ahí conocí a una linda misionera que recién llegaba a México para servir al Señor.

Aubrey

           Soy de Michigan.  Mi familia conoció a Cristo cuando tenía 8 años.  Mucho de nuestra vida familiar cambió.  Ibamos a la Iglesia casi cada día que la puerta estaba abierta.  Experimenté mi primera conferencia de misiones cuando tenía 9 años.  El misionero era muy interesante y sentí un deseo fuerte para irme al país de México, donde él estaba sirviendo.  A los 9 años, tomé la decisión de dedicar mi vida para servir a Dios.

           Mi Iglesia me ofreció muchas oportunidades para servir e experimentar viajes misioneros.  Dios usó estos tiempos especiales para moverme a buscar servirle como misionera.  El mismo misionero de mi niñez era un profesor en el Instituto Bíblico de Moody.  Gracias a él, decidí asistir a Moody y estudiar misiones y la Biblia.  Los 4 años en Moody me enseñaron mucho acerca de servir y el mundo.  Dios me estaba poniendo un peso fuerte para servirle.  Me dio la facilidad de poder entender el español y un deseo de servir a la gente que habla español.

            En el año 2002, me fui a México para estudiar español, y luego llegue a la Iglesia de Marco para servirles.  Dios nos junto, a Marco y a mi, como líderes de los jóvenes.  Pudimos conocernos mejor gracias al ministerio.  Después de un tiempo bonito de cortejo y luego ser novios, nos casamos en Junio del año 2004. 

Después de servir en México por 9 años juntos, llegamos a RGBI para completar los estudios de  Marco a nivel Licenciatura ya que la meta inicial es estudiar a nivel de Maestría. Al finalizar mis estudios fuimos invitados a forma parte del personal de RGBI, donde hemos servido por 1 año y medio.

            Cuando llegamos al Valle de Texas, pedíamos a Dios una iglesia a donde poder servir, pero sobre todo, el poder ser ministrados. Veníamos de 9 años de ministerio, necesitábamos ser ministrados en lugar de solamente ministrar. Dios nos dio a Calvary como iglesia. Calvary ha sido una parte bien importante de nuestro tiempo en Texas. Hemos podido servir enseñando los niños, enseñado en un grupo de conexión en español, iniciando, coordinando y enseñando en el ICC. También durante casi 2 años Marco ha servido como Diacono ordenado por Calvary.

Pero más que servir hemos sido ministrados e inspirados por Calvary, nuestros hijos han sido instruidos en la Palabra de Dios, animados a servir cantando y estando delante de una iglesia grande.

            Recibimos un llamado a participar en un Movimiento de Plantación de Iglesias con hispanos en la ciudad de Atlanta, como pastor-maestro. Con asombro vemos como el Valle de Texas se ha convertido en un Oasis espiritual, donde hemos podido descansar y renovar las fuerzas, para tomar ahora el desafío de Plantar Iglesias entre los hispanos, el grupo más grande de las minorías en los EU, comenzando en la ciudad de Atlanta.

Last Chance to take Perspectives course this semester

          I am personally taking the Perspectives course this semester.  I have been wanting to do so for a number of years.  I have read much of the Perspectives material and have even used some of it for teaching, preaching, leading conferences and working with leaders.  However, I had never formally taken the course.  I am glad to finally be doing so.  

          Taking the course consists of attending a three-hour class per week.  Each week a different guest presenter teaches the class.  These folks are mission practitioners or mobilizers from around the country who bring expertise and experience to the class content.  Additionally, there are reading material and assignments to be completed each week.  The course maybe taken at one of three levels: Key reading (lightest load); certificate level; or college/graduate credit (heaviest load).  Thus far I have attended two classes and I have enjoyed the presentations and the reading material.

          Contrary to some misconceptions, the course is not intended to enlist participants to be international missionaries.  It is not a course about "missions" in the common use of the term.  It is a class that presents God's redemptive purpose in the past and present.  As the participant's global vision is enlarged, he or she has the opportunity to discover or affirm his/her role in God's purpose.  For a small minority of participants this may mean answering God's call to international missions.  For an overwhelming majority of participants it means living more strategically where we are now.

          The cost for the course at the key reading or certificate level is $250.  This is the cost incurred by the Perspectives entity.  Calvary is not making money from this.  In fact, Calvary is not technically offering the course.  Calvary is simply partnering with Perspectives by hosting the class on our campus (the class has been held in Mission and at RGBI previously).  We feel hosting the class is a win-win situation.  It makes it convenient for our Calvary people to take the class on our campus.  We serve folks from other churches who are taking the class by providing an adequate and comfortable setting to hold the class.

          As the Calvary pastoral staff we strongly feel like this class will help us be on the same page as we lead in our particular areas of ministry in the church.  That is why we have decided to take the class as a pastoral staff team.  Additionally, we feel like all of our Calvary leaders would benefit from taking this class as we continue to cast and develop vision.  That is why we are offering partial scholarships to those Calvary leaders who wish to take the course.  In addition to this partial scholarship provided by Calvary, there may be other scholarship funds available.  If you or someone you know desires to take the course but cannot afford it at this time, please contact Pastor Chad Mason.  We do not want anyone who desires to take the course to keep from doing so because of finances.

          Lesson 3, this next week, will be the last opportunity to attend the class without registering or paying.  It will also be the last opportunity to sign-up for the course.  I want to encourage you as one of our Calvary leaders to come and listen, consider taking the class.  Of course, signing up on week 3 will mean that you will have some catching up to do with the reading and assignments.  I think it's worth your consideration.  I strongly recommend the class to all of our Calvary leaders.

          You may either choose a Monday night or Tuesday morning session for the class.  Monday nights the class meets from 6:30 to 9:30 and Tuesdays from 9 AM to 12 PM.  For more information visit Perspectives.org.

Benjamin Aguirre and Family in Concert

            Benjamin Aguirre and his family will be offering a concert on September 29 in our worship center.  We have been blessed to have Benjamin on our staff for approximately four years now.  Bro. Benjamin serves as the Spanish Language Ministry associate in our church.  Through this part-time role he leads the Spanish worship service utilizing the great musical talent and spiritual gift God has given him.  Additionally Benjamin exercises his pastoral call through teaching on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, and through pastoral care, assisting Rolando Aguirre in various ways.

            Previous to coming to Calvary and RGBI (Rio Grande Bible Institute) from Mexico City, Benjamin had been ministering as a Christian musician and production engineer along with other Christian music artists touring in Mexico and in other international venues.  He felt God call him to pastoral ministry.  So he came to RGBI to study for pastoral ministry. When we invited Benjamin to join our staff, he was a student at RGBI and held a student visa.

  
        Once Benjamin graduated we asked him to remain on our staff and we entered into an agreement with RGBI to request the processing of his religious worker visa and subsequently his residency.  We have been involved in this immigration process for sometime now and are close to finalizing it.

          On September 29 at 6:30 Benjamin will offer a classical guitar solo concert in our worship center.  His family will also feature for a portion of the concert.  A love offering will be received toward helping with the immigration process expense.  We strongly feel that God has brought Benjamin to minister at Calvary and are committed to doing all we can for him to stay with us long term.  Come to be blessed by the Aguirre family's musical talent and to be a blessing to their ministry.  Invite friends for an evening of inspiration.

Dissertation Progress and other Updates

           It has been four weeks since I last posted on this blog!  These four weeks have been busy, blessed and exciting!  Allow me to share with you about my recent dissertation progress and about a couple of other updates.

          Last week I submitted my first draft of chapter 5!  This is the last chapter of my dissertation.  I have already received feedback from the chairman of my dissertation committee and he has asked that I make a few revisions.  Once I do that, the entire dissertation will go to the rest of the committee for either further revisions or final approval.  Once final approval is given, a dissertation defense date will be scheduled.  When I defend the dissertation successfully (by God's grace), I will be completely finished!  I don't care if anyone will call me "Doctor" after that.  I just want to be "done"! :)

          Please know that I am extremely grateful to God for this milestone and to you as a Calvary leader for your prayerful support and encouragement.  I know I couldn't have done it without God.  I am also aware that I couldn't have done it without the support of the Calvary staff, personnel committee, deacons, leaders and congregation.  Please continue to pray for me in these final stage of revisions and defense.  I will keep you posted.

          During these last couple of weeks, we have kicked off our fall semester here at Calvary.  That's always an exciting time in the life of our church.  Our EQUIP, Remedy, ICC, Grove, WIT and choir programs are up and running with adults, students and children involved at all levels.  Additionally, we are hosting the Perspectives course on our campus.  This course enriches what we are doing in our discipleship and leadership development strategy here at Calvary (although it is not a Calvary program and it is not limited to Calvary people).  I will write some separate posts regarding the EQUIP course that I'm leading and the Perspectives class (which I am also taking this semester) this week.  Additionally, I will share a post with you regarding a concert to be presented by Benjamin Aguirre and his family.

          Allow me to also share with you that the Music & Worship Study committee, chaired by Judy Prater has finalized their report and recommendation.  They have presented this recommendation to the personnel committee and the personnel committee is working to prepare the profile and job description that will allow a search committee to do its work.  We will keep you posted on this.

          As a final note, I report to you that we had extraordinary budget giving this summer.  At the same time we continued to monitor our expenses closely.  In spite of the fact that the summer is usually a low-giving high-expense period of the year, we functioned in the black (spent less than what came in) each month of the summer (June, July and August).  We may not meet our current budget by the end of this year but I feel very optimistic about finishing the year in the black.  In fact, we may be there by mid-fall.  We will live within our means.  We will learn to work with less but we will do what God has called us to do.  I am so grateful for a congregation that is giving generously and for a staff that is serving unselfishly.  We give God the glory for all that.  Below is a chart that shows a giving comparison by month between 2009 and 2013.  You will see that we defied the usual summer slump this past summer.  (We also defied the usual summer slump in terms of worship attendance.  Notice the chart that shows attendance 2007--2013 at the very bottom).