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First
Presbyterian Church Corpus Christi, Texas
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Missionary Ministries:
Reports And Updates
Below are letters
and reports from our missionaries, who are local, around the country, and around the
world. |
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Adopt-A Child Abuse Caseworker (ACAC) ACAC Back To School!! Veronica Yetez has several
children in his case load for our annual Back to School Program. This year we are giving Gift Certificates
to Wal-Mart so that the children may purchase their uniforms, tennis shoes,
socks, etc and school supplies at one location. It is so important that our children feel proud when they go
off to school - especially that very “first day” of school. New clothes, sock and shoes would
contribute to any child’s self esteem and sense of fitting in. If you would prefer to donate pencils,
pens, Kleenex - some of the generic items on a school supply list - it would
be just as appreciated! Again, thank you
my friends for your continued support and overwhelming generosity in this most
worthwhile mission. Yours
in Christ, Kim Tucker Veronica Yetez, Texas Department of
Protective & Regulatory Services Adopt a Child Abuse Caseworker |
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Navajo Mission Trip Opportunity(This will remain posted, in case you are interested in
next year’s trip) Members Len and
Judy Hall will talk about the Navajo Mission Trips that they have taken
during the Sunday School hour March 24th at 9:30am. They will share slides of their experiences and invite those
who are interested to join them on their next mission trip to Gallup, New
Mexico on June 15 - 23, 2002. Going first as chaperones on a 1994 youth mission trip,
the Hall’s became coordinators of successive trips. They have worked directly with five small, native Protestant
churches. Within those church
communities, the visiting mission teams participated in painting, repair and
housekeeping projects, and shared worship, play and meals. Several years, the team provided Bible
School. With donated computers, they
even set up a computer lab. Computer
technicians, programmers and supplies are always needed, as are experts in
other fields. The chief purpose of the mission is to provide support to those Christians who are doing active outreach to the native population in the Gallup area. This support is primarily relational, offering friendship and prayer support throughout the year. The mission trips and cross-cultural visits provide hands-on assistance and foster relationships through worship and fellowship. Assistance in the form of moneys and gifts occur as God works through collective or individual hearts. Pre-trip preparation for those going this year, will
give incite into Navajo tradition; the challenges of serving in another
culture; living and working as a team for a week. Always, it emphasizes that as God’s hands and messengers we
seek to recognize and do His will through this (His) endeavor. What are the qualifications? A humble heart, willing hands and an open mind. Who has gone? A pastor, high school and college students, teachers, parents,
an ad man, a Realtor and families. Pray about your involvement and traveling
with us to the Gallup area, northwestern New Mexico, June 15 - 23, 2002. For more information, contact Len or Judy
Hall below. Email: Len & Judy Hall Phone: 361-993-4669 (hm) 361-993-9851
(fax) |
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A Letter from our missionary in New York City (Julie Wenzell) Click here for
Julie's address A letter from: August 2003 “Last month we were holding our monthly meeting in an
Arab home for Arabic speaking MBB’s (Muslim Background Believers). We had just shared a lavish meal together,
and then moved into the meeting. We
began with haunting hymns, so beautiful and culturally preferred for worship
among my Arab friends. The veiled
woman beside me, to my surprise, was singing sincerely. Then she began to weep. We continued, but I could not help being
distracted, both because she was dressed as one who would be far from interested
in a meeting such as this, and because she was weeping, obviously touched by
the atmosphere. As we carried on with
the meeting, she felt compelled to tell us that she had become a Christian
just a few weeks ago. She was the
sister of our hostess that evening.
Our hostess comes from a large, fanatical Shiite Muslim family in Lebanon,
and her sister had been one of her greatest opponents after her
conversion. On two separate
occasions, some family members hired someone to kill her for converting to
Christianity. God had intervened and
protected her both times. One of
these individuals was the husband of my veiled friend sitting next to me. Through time, and a series of events, which included
unconditional love for her, and believers helping the family through a period
of difficult trials, the lady next to me opened her heart to Christ. The change in her life was immediate. That evening she felt compelled to tell us
the details of her personal journey, which led to this decision. Soon, we were weeping with her. There is a depth of spiritual darkness
that a Muslim woman comes out of when she receives Christ that is often hard
for a westerner to understand. With us that evening was an MBB from Algeria. When she finished talking, Nabil said, “I
have been a believer for 24 years, and yet I can never get used to the
miracle of a Muslim coming to Christ.”
I was asked to take her home after the meeting. I had to drop her off a few blocks away
from her apartment, so that her family would not suspect where she had
been. But our ride home together
formed a bond and began a friendship.
I have been meeting with her and her sister for Bible study. She still arrives veiled at our meeting
place (Starbucks), we all still occasionally weep together, but she is
absorbing truths from the Bible like a sponge. Her personal challenges are many. Please pray for her and for her family, who are so opposed to
Christians. By the way, this
individual, my new friend, is the woman I asked prayer for in a newsletter I
sent out about a year ago. Please pray for me as well. I am very busy with wonderful ministry that at times I cannot keep up with it all. Things happen so fast that on the one hand I am thrilled because this is what we have prayed and waited for a long time, yet it feels like chaos most of the time! Thank you for allowing me to be here, for your prayers, and your faithful support. Love, Julie Wenzell ***************************************************** A letter from: April 2002 “I just returned from the Middle East - the country of
Jordan. It had been many years since
I was there. Before I came to New
York, you may recall that I lived and worked as a missionary in Lebanon,
Jordan, and the West Bank of Israel.
The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism paid all of my expenses for the
trip. I traveled with six other
Hispanic pastor friends of mine. We
all work together in ministry here in New York. It was enlightening to be in an Arab country after
September 11. Jordan, as a country
and people, is as warm and hospitable to Americans as had been my experience
living there years before. I often
say that there is not a country called the Middle East. The Middle East is made up on many
countries, each one different and unique from the others. Jordan continues to be a very safe and
stable country, sort of an island of tranquility in a sea of turmoil and
conflict. Jordan is 70%
Palestinian. Yet wherever we went, we
were welcomed and accepted with warm hospitality and respect as Americans. This was true in the past, but after so
many years away, along with the negative media information on Arabs and the
Middle East since September 11, in addition to their understanding of our
unequivocal support of Israel, I was expecting a different reception. The Jordanians feel so sad, so regretful, and
embarrassed about what happened on September 11. When they learned we were from New York, quickly out came tea
or coffee and sweets for us. It was
also heartening to see how much they love their new king, Abdullah, the son
of King Hussein. In some ways they
are more excited about King Abdullah and their future with his leadership. Part of my time on the trip included wonderful reunions
with the Jordanian Campus Crusade for Christ director and news of what God is
doing throughout the country. We
worked together on the same team when I was in Jordan. He mentioned that their expansive ministry
is based on the foundation we laid for them as pioneers in Jordan as first
staff who opened the Crusade work there.
I remember thinking at that time that we really were not doing so
much. It seemed like everything that
we did required so much effort, always dealing with government officials,
working mostly just to teach the basic concepts of the Christian life. Now, we have leadership throughout the
Islamic countries. Most encouraging
is that many of the national Crusade directors in the Middle East are Muslim
converts to Christ. Some have moved
from their own countries to even tougher, more seemingly “hopeless” places in
order to bring the Gospel. All of
this has taken place in just twenty years!
In spite of all that is happening around the Islamic world, Muslims do
come to Christ, and continue on to serve the Lord.” Love, Julie Wenzell ***************************************************** A letter from: December 2001 Twenty years from now I will know exactly where I was
when the World Trade Center Towers were attacked. That event is forever etched in my mind. I was on the subway, in the Times Square
area, on my way to an appointment on the Upper East Side. Since the appointment was in an office, I
did not find out about the attack until 11:00 AM. It took me two hours to get home, in what is usually a twenty
minute trip. It wasn’t until 2:00 PM
that I turned on the TV and saw what happened. I live on the north end of Manhattan and the attack took place
on the very southern end. My
neighborhood was mostly affected by the strong, acrid smell in the air for
days from all of the debris burning. My last newsletter was sent on September 10, just one
day before the attack. Coincidentally,
in that letter, I highlighted out ministry among the Muslim Community. In just the two months since, my two main
ministry target groups have been deeply affected by catastrophic events in
New York, the Muslim and the Dominican communities. My regular routine of ministry has almost stopped, so that I
can be available to the tremendous spiritual and emotional needs within these
communities During these past few months I have often pondered how
people can do such evil things to other people. The core of the answer to this question is really a spiritual
one. Without Christ, it reveals the
depth we can go to cruelly cause harm to others. Hence, the solution for this problem is also spiritual, in a
relationship with Jesus Christ. All
of these events only sharpen my focus and resolve in reaching people for
Christ. Because of the recent tragedy, the eyes of people
worldwide have turned to the Middle East and particularly to Muslim
people. Many people have asked me how
to better understand the Muslim world.
There is an excellent web site that offers extensive information on
this subject. It was created to
answer questions Muslims have about Christianity. It has some of the best references and bibliography available
on this subject. It is Answering-Islam.org. Visiting this web site can answer your
concerns and questions, more than anything else I can suggest. I have also been asked if I knew anyone personally who
died in the World Trade Center attack.
I knew one person, an EMS worker, who died next to Father Michael
Judge when debris fell on them. She
was 25 and had a small son. Last year
I attended her sister’s wedding. The
family is struggling to accept her death.
Her parents will raise the son.
And, I know many, many people who new people who lost loved ones or
friends both on September 11, and in the American Airlines plane crash in
Queens. There is so much ministry to be done; we are all working
around the clock. People are very
receptive to any spiritual outreach; Muslims, Arabs, and Hispanics
alike. News updates since
Sept. 11: On Dec. 1 we held our Christmas banquet for our friends
with our Jesus for Muslims ministry.
Two hundred and fifty people attended, including converts to Christ
out of Islam from 22 different countries.
It was a magnificent time together, with speeches, testimonies,
international music, excellent Middle Eastern food, and a powerful talk from
a Lebanese brother. ---An Emergency Response Phone Center in our office
with 24 lines was established to receive emergency requests and for
contacting churches. Both staff and
volunteers, setting the stage for greatly expanded future ministry, have
called more than 2,400 churches. We
have hired a bi-lingual receptionist to help things run more smoothly. ---Since September 21, two million “Fallen but not Forgotten” magazines have been distributed throughout the city. They have been eagerly accepted by people longing for hope in the face of enormous sadness. Some volunteers have been to “ground zero” where the magazines were literally snatched from their hands by onlookers. The head of the New York firefighters arranged for every firefighter and policeman in the city to receive a copy. E-mail: Please forgive me if I
have not answered your e-mail. This
is usually the last form of communication that I get to. My computer is in my office in Queens, and
since I live in Manhattan, and do not go to the office every day, I do not
check my e-mail daily. When I am in
the office, I usually wait until the end of the day to read my e-mail, and by
then am often too tired to answer. In
addition, our e-mail system is old, and my e-mail gets deleted quickly. I am in the process of correcting this
problem. Thank you for
understanding. I do better with
letters. There is so much going on in
our office, that it is often difficult for me to get thoughts collected to
properly answer e-mail. In the face of the worst human evil, we are experiencing the best of human compassion and camaraderie. At least for now, New York has become a gentler place, with people sacrificing in small and large ways to help alleviate the suffering of others. Thank you so much for your concern for me, expressed in so many loving ways. You have embraced me with encouragement and kindness. Love, Julie Wenzell “And do not fear those who
kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul: but rather fear Him who is
able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28 ***************************************************** A letter from: September, 2001 Last month I returned from Colorado State University,
the site of Campus Crusade for Christ’s staff training (5,000adults in
attendance). This year was highlighted
by the “passing of the torch” as Dr. Bill Bright, after 50 years, turned
over the leadership of the organization to Dr. Steve Douglas. Dr. Bright’s health continues to decline,
but he was able to be with us, and encouraged us in his same motivational
way. In this letter, I would like to share some highlights
of our ministry within the Muslim community here in New York. Now that I am settled in my new location,
I am devoting more time to our Muslim work. Some statistics: At a recent banquet we held for the
Jesus of Muslims ministry, (which now has become on officially incorporated
ministry), a total of 142 attended, including 37 Muslim background believers,
and 11 unsaved Muslims. The unsaved
were impressed with the organization of the program, the warm atmosphere, and
the new things they heard about Jesus.
Please pray for their salvation.
The worship time included special music groups of Arabs, Albanians, Pakistanians,
and Nigerians. Those that we minister to who have come to Christ from
a Muslim background are from: Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon,
Turkey, Albania, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Trinidad, Guyana, Iran, Ivory
Coast, and several who represent language people groups from the Caucus
mountain region (mostly part of the former Soviet Union). They are Circassian, Karachai (ever heard
of them?), Lezgen (ever heard of them?).
They have come here through the fall of Communism, where we have the
opportunity to share Christ with them. The largest group in the New York area, who have come
to Christ out of Islam are the Iranians and the Albanians, then the
Guyanese. There are about 25 Iranian
believers in the metro area. Here, the most open group of Muslims to the Gospel is
the Albanians. We are seeing large
groups of Albanians coming to Christ, again partly as the result of the
collapse of Communism. In fact, a
church service has begun, just for them, because there are so many desiring
to worship Christ in their own language.
Who would have thought that this once very closed country would now be
receptive to the Gospel. Another dramatic work to Muslims is taking place in
Astoria, Queens, near where I used to live, by a brother from Bangladesh who
lives in this area. What brought him
here? A man who is partly paralyzed,
not young, and who is carrying a tremendous load almost alone in running the
center. He needs help to keep the
center going. He has seen ten Muslims
Bangladeshis come to Christ since he began this outreach. This brother came to Christ many years ago during the
civil war between East and West Pakistan.
This is when the two countries became divided and East Pakistan became
the independent nation of Bangladesh.
During the war he was repulsed with Islam when he saw the killing and
raping of Muslims to Muslims. Other
factors, too long to relate, contributed to his conversion, but eventually he
was given a Bible in his own language.
He read it and became a believer in Christ. He suffered a stroke as a result of the persecution he
subsequently underwent for his faith, which resulted in his partial
paralysis. Interestingly, there has recently been a movement of Muslims from Bangladesh coming to Christ through the reading of the Bible in their own language. Until recently, there was a ban in Bangladesh to the translation and distribution of the Bible. When the ban was lifted, a few years ago, the Bible became accessible to anyone. People began receiving Bibles and coming to Christ. When one considers how difficult Muslims are to reach and their historic resistance to the Gospel, these believers are monuments to God’s great power to change lives. Thank you for allowing me to be here. Love, Julie Wenzell PS: One of our Crusade ministries. Family Life, has an outreach through small group studies for couples, radio broadcasts, and weekend conferences. I am enclosing a voucher that offers a special rate for one of these meaningful conferences. If you need more information or a brochure, you can call the 800 number, or visit their web site listed on the voucher. Address: Click on Julie’s name above, in order to send her an email, or write her a snail mail(which is what she prefers) addressed to: Julie Wenzell 101 Cooper Street
#1-C New York, New York 10034 Phone:212-544-2696 Also, visit: Campus Crusade For
Christ |
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Mission 911 A new
“hands-on” mission project was endorsed by our Mission and Outreach Committee
at their last meeting. It is called
Mission 911. You may have read about it in the Caller Times (click
here for story). Tony Reyes,
an elder at Grace Presbyterian Church, has begun an apartment ministry to the
homeless at 911 Park Street just a few blocks from our church. Through his ministry, he hopes to change
the neighborhood. He will tell us
more about it in a Minute for Mission during worship on Sunday, April
29th. We want to help this project by
collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items on the first Sunday of
each month beginning in May. Mission 911
Gets Resource Center Mission 911
celebrated the opening of a much needed resource center that also doubles as
a library and meeting room. Four
computers were donated to the resource center, and it also houses their new
office. Brother Tony Reyes is
allowing the Holy Spirit to work miracles on Park Street. Mission 911
Update Letter of Thanks from Mission
911 “To our friends and contributors: As we ended
our first six months of this year at Mission 911 and began our second half of
the year, we wanted to let you know how your support and contributions have
helped us over the last six months.
As we reflected on what we have done this past six months and how far
we have come since opening the mission, we realized again how important you
are to Mission 911. Because of you,
we have helped many men and women to plant a spiritual seed so that God can
work in their lives. Your help and
contributions have also: v Helped over
35 residents at Mission 911 v Touched
lives through giving and donations of food v Provided
food from the food bank v Provided
means to pay the utilities and phone bills v Provided
transportation, via bus, for men who needed to travel out of state to be back
with their family v Provided
maintenance of the vehicles at Mission 911 v Provided
means to refinish the chapel v Provided
means to refinish the Laundromat v Provided a
resource room/meditation room to help men & women of the community v Provided an
Internet & computer network for the mission & for the community v Able to get
several individuals back into society and back on their own with work,
housing and transportation v Shown many
by your visits and time you spend as volunteers, that there is a God who
cares and He works through people who care, something many of our residents
have never experienced and have never believed v Most of all,
the men & women that come by the mission have a place where they call
home & have a family atmosphere. v Support and
work from different churches as part of their mission outreach. As we begin
our second half of the year, we hope you will continue with your support of
our mission so that we can continue to improve our services to the homeless
and those less fortunate than we. We
sincerely thank you for all the help and support you have shown our mission
and hope you will continue to help the rest of the year.” In Grace and
Peace - Walt Bodger, Aaron Diaz, Stuart Elovitz MD, Judge Joe A. Gonzales,
Bertha Ott, Tony Reyes, and Lee Trujillo Sincerely, Tony
Reyes, Mission 911 Director Also, visit: Mission 911 Home Page |
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