New Challenges

Your encouragement, support, and prayers are such an incredible blessing to us. Thank you!

The last few months have been something of a whirlwind. Here are some key updates:

Steve’s new role: On September 1, I became the ‘International Director’ for the Americas for MTW. As International Director, my calling is to lead and serve our region as we carry out Christ’s mission to make disciples among the nations. In this endeavor, I will be responsible for coordinating 160+ missionaries through a region that stretches from northern Canada to southern Chile. My deep desire is for us to follow Christ’s example in loving our region – proclaiming the gospel of grace, equipping Christ’s followers, building the church, and showing tangible compassion to those in need.  We have a great team in place, and there are many others who participate in this leadership with me. Pray for us as we seek to lead with holiness, wisdom, love, and diligence.

Amy’s expanding role: Amy has had more and more opportunities to serve. She is discipling and counseling women in our church in Chile. Through the ministry of Parakaleo she has been training and ministering to church planters’ wives. As a conference speaker, she has had two speaking engagements so far this year, with another one tentatively in December. And (most exciting for me) she has been able to serve alongside me in a variety of settings.

The church in Guadalajara –  The time we had in Guadalajara was amazing – getting to see what God has done in the church (now a ‘particular’ church), getting to catch up with old friends, and getting to eat some amazing food. God is strengthening his body there, and we rejoice again as Antonio Barrera who has been pastoring there has been approved by presbytery to be ordained as the official pastor!

Family – Our plans are coming together (still somewhat slowly) for our temporary relocation to Columbia, TN. Johnny will be moving, Lord willing, at the end of the year so that he can finish out his junior year of high school there. Amy and I will be wrapping up some details and then following him a couple of months later. He’ll be staying with my sister and her family in the meantime. We’ll be using our time in Tennessee for three main purposes: 1) being there for our kids during some key transition periods, 2) connecting with supporters, and 3) getting to know our region without having to take so many overnight flights. Following this time, we plan to redeploy into Latin America – most likely in a more central area to provide greater access and mobility.

Joseph is now in his sophomore year of college studying computer science and cyber security. Mary Beth is a freshman studying physics. Both are at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.