Philippians 3

No Confidence in the Flesh

¹Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

²Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. ³For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

⁷But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

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April, 2009

Dear Cluster Churches, Family and Friends,

Hard to believe it is April. I can’t believe how time can go so quickly. My apologies for taking so long to write since my last letter. I will give you an update since my last letter.

1. Mauricio Casais, team leader of El Encuentro church, is out of hospital and back to work on a part-time basis. He is still receiving regular blood transfusions as he is not producing his own red blood cells. Continue to pray for this family as a long sickness can be very wearing.
2. La Fuente’s two courses – Alpha and a Bible study course went very well. On the retreat weekend Ana Laura and Tia Olga gave their lives to Christ! God is at work. Both Ana Laura and Tia Olga have experienced significant spiritual attacks since making this decision so please pray for these new believers.
3. La Fuente (The Fountain Church) has been growing in number and maturity. It has been a real privilege to see “the light” go on for a number of people as they realize knowing Christ is a whole life experience not just a momentary one. We are thrilled that Pablo and Silvina Papávero have joined our La Fuente family and although Pablo’s duties as mission bookkeeper will keep him fairly busy we know they will bring so much to our community at La Fuente.
4. Homework help with the Otomí has been going well. Once a week I help and twice a week our Fusion interns help out with homework help. The interns, Noelle and Vanessa, also spend time in the Otomí community throughout the week and are overseeing the Sunday kids club. Pray for this ministry, that trust will be built, relationships deepen, and the truth of Christ will be known.
   

With my colleague Heather Hahn back in Canada for 3 months I will be mentoring our Fusion interns as well as overseeing our music ministry in La Fuente. Pray for me as I give leadership in each of these areas. I will also be putting on a 3 session workshop for women called The Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free. We will have this 3 hour group discipleship session each month starting in May. Please pray for these times and preparation as the women in our church really struggle with living in freedom. To the left is a picture of a typical Sunday gathering.

Here is a list of upcoming events to keep you informed of our La Fuente ministries and other responsibilities I have so that you can be praying:

Sundays – La Fuente service in the morning and Kids Club in the afternoon

Mondays & Wednesdays – homework help with the Otomí (I help on Mondays)

Mondays – (starting Apr 27) Alpha – facilitated by Jonathan Mikes and our Fusion interns

Wednesdays – (starting Apr 29) Bible Class – led by Jonathan Mikes

Apr 9 Holy Thursday service – reflection of Christ’s sacrifice

Apr 10-18 Holidays – road trip with my friend, Beth

Apr 21-23 Mexico City Team Retreat

Apr 27 New Alpha Class begins

Apr 29 New Bible Class begins

May 5 Field Leadership Meeting

May 9 First Women’s Workshop

May 12-19 Short Term Team

As many of you are aware the economic crisis is effecting global markets. 30 of our U.S. C&MA missionary colleagues are being sent home from world-wide fields as there just isn’t the giving to sustain them. The Canadian C&MA is also having to face some harsh realities. Below is a quote from VP, Jim Foster as he expalins what might need to be done to combat this situation.

“As I seek God on his purpose for this difficult time economically, I have been spoken to through Malachi 3:6ff which has said a number of things to me. God has reminded me that the Lord never changes, that we shouldn’t trust in things that change like finances, but use these difficult times to see God clearer; that this is a call to increased commitment to his global purposes; that it is a call to abandon ourselves and our needs and to give sacrificially. Our desire is to “Glorify God and enjoy him forever” but we also believe that resources are still needed to help us reach out to people outside of faith in Christ as Lord, and especially during days like this when people are seeking God for answers to the problems in their lives.

“So I long for you and your supporters to understand the urgency of the financial need that is upon us. Now that our January-February income numbers are clear, we will not be able to sustain our present expenses any longer on the approximate 80% of our 2009 budget that we are presently receiving, and though you and your field leaders are making many sacrifices in spending that are going to curtail your ministries, your Global Ministries leaders will now need to make more drastic cuts if we do not see a significant change in the giving in the next few months. The options being considered, but not implemented at present, are pro-rata (cuts to international and Canadian worker’s allowances), delaying or not sending many or most of the 24+ new workers who are presently being prepared for departure later in 2009, or even the need to lay off some present workers. Hear me clearly—we do not want to make any of these decisions, but if giving does not improve dramatically, we will be forced to act out of our moral responsibility to bring expenses in line with real income levels.

“Though we have been cutting expenses in many budgeted areas, about 50% of our budget are fixed expenses like rents. So as we arrive at the limit of our ability to balance expenses with income, if our income from churches and individuals does not increase soon, we will have to consider more drastic cuts that will hurt our work, affect our international workers’ allowances, and maybe even involve laying some off and bringing them home. I hope you understand that these actions would only be taken as a last resort, but are the natural result of insufficient funding from our churches and individual supporters to the Global Advance Fund.” – Jim Foster, VP Global Ministries, C&MA Canada

Please continue to pray for us in Mexico City as there is still much work to be done. Here is a photo at a recent art, music, and dessert event we had – these are all new contacts who still need to experience the life-transforming truth of Christ.

Thank you again for your support financially and through prayer. Any emails, skype calls or facebook messages are also always welcome! May God fill you with his peace.

Your partner,

Lisa Clarke

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