Friday, March 27, 2015

Welcome Back to Colombia MAF

One of the most meaningful things in Colombia in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ’80s was the presence of MAF, but due to security instability MAF and other mission organizations had to leave the country in 1985.

Today our MAF missionaries are still in the minds and hearts of several Colombians who received the Gospel through the great ministry of MAF. This year, after 30 years of absence, MAF came back in February to see part of the fruits of what many missionaries did in Colombia, and to continue partnering with the local church. 



MAF has returned now to train pastors and leaders in the areas of technology, theology, learning, eLearning and orality. Alvaro Mendes was only 18 years old when he first took a ride in an MAF airplane. A little later, he became part of the national entity under which MAF operated there. Today, 40 years later, Alvaro is the dean of academics for a Bible institute that trains and sends its tutors all over Colombia to train more than 9,000 (yes,nine thousand) pastors and leaders. 

The training we just provided to those leaders will help to continue impacting the life of thousands all over Colombia and beyond. Praise The Lord!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Merry Christmas 2014 - Happy New Year 2015

Thoughts 2014-2015

 

 

Personal

I have seen God working in my life this year. He is closer than ever. Any fear or doubt from the past has been diluted due to the certainty of His presence and work.

I've learned to listen a little more. That is not an easy task specially when you have one thousand of thoughts going around your head while listening, looking or experiencing something. I still have to grow on this. Now, I read more than ever in the past, and actually I enjoy it. I enjoy reading about different topics that I love such as: God and His work, leadership, planning, coaching, missions, theology, news, and of course my classes of business administration.

I am so blessed due to the presence of God in my life, but also for the marvelous family that He has given to me. As I see my wife and children, I really think that I do not deserve them. Each of them is amazing. I love them so deeply.

I'm really looking forward to 2015, to continue seeing God working more and more, in the ways that someone like Joseph (Jacob's son) saw Him in the Bible."The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam 3:22-23.
My key words during 2014 are: Transformation (Rom 12:2), Multiplication (2 Tim 2:2), Freedom (2 Rey 7), Jehova Tzur (Jehova my Rock "cliff" Psal 18).




Family

I've been married to a marvelous woman for 21 years. We have been taking long steps together being of mutual support. To explain what I think about her, I have to refer to Proverbs chapter 31. I love her so deeply.
This year, my firstborn and princess Grace took a big step moving to a couple of miles away seeking her dreams, and making decisions to grow. She is not alone on her journey as she has a deep conviction about God. He equipped her with such a talent, and attitude. May our God continue blessing you (my dear daughter) as you go to different places as His ambassador. (Deut 28:1-14)
My son Daniel is already such a man. He enjoys the talents that our Lord equipped him with such as the music and the sports, in order to give Him honor and praise. Son, be strong to finish your high school. Your attitude is going to take you far. (Psal 1:1-3)
My son Miguel jumped this year from being a kid to become a tall good looking young man. God has equipped you with gifts like word and grace. You will continue shaping them to share the Good News to those who do not know the Lord. This year you moved from being a good student to be an excellent one, working hard to fulfill your goals. Continue training yourself to communicate The Message to many nations. (Isa 55:5).


Ministry

God, I have seen your glory this year. Difficult year with a good number of trials and opposition, but also with a lot of more victories and joys. I have seen You working in middle of our ministry team. I am a witness of the impact you have made in each of the countries we have visited, and among those we have served. We also have learned a lot. Today is maybe not the best time for details and explanations, but we have seen your support and presence while we ministered in Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Panama, Cuba, USA, Peru... new computer centers for pastors, tablets, libraryboxes, digital libraries, trainings, workshops, meetings and much more. Thanks Heavenly God.
The year 2015 is coming with much challenges and opportunities. God has promised to be with me everyday. Also, he has put my family next to me (both the nearest and also the one who is far away in Colombia, Venezuela and USA), friends, ministry partners, organizations, and a whole world waiting for knowing about God, and others to continue growing in Him. (Is 40:30-31)

Support

I depend entirely in God. He has not only sustained me, but also my family, friends, and ministry. Thanks Lord for our life, health, friends, supporters, those who pray for us, those who sacrificially give finances to our ministry, those who counsel us, and those who we are accountable to. God please bless each of them: those who we already know and those who we are going to meet on 2015. You oh Lord has everything prepared, the table is set, please give me discernment, wisdom and humility to follow your steps, and to discover all that you have for the journey you have prepared for us.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."Num 6:24-26 ... these are my deep wishes for you and yours this 2015.


Those who desire to be part of our ministry support team please send your donations safely to  CLICK HERE

Friday, December 12, 2014

Prayer Letter October 2014

 

Transformation and Multiplication

Most of us Christians have someone who we call “my pastor,” but…


Who is the pastor of that pastor? A good number of pastors live and serve isolated in the middle of a group of believers who expect and demand a lot from them.
During the last years we have had the opportunity of training pastors in different countries in Latin America with great success.
Of course, there are Bible institutes and seminaries, but the statistics tell us that only 5% of the pastors around the world have had at least some access to formal theological training.
As a ministry, one of our focuses is reaching those 95% of pastors in our region who have received either little or no theological training.
The picture above is probably the best way to summarize what the training we are providing is about. We have been training pastors not only to fill them with knowledge, but to equip them to let God work transformation in their lives (Rom. 12:2), and to serve other peers and leaders (2Tim 2:2) so that they too can become strong servant leaders “transformed by God for multiplication.”
In the picture above we were training 105 pastors in Santa Ana, El Salvador last September.








Most about our projects and activities...


In the last months we have trained pastors, missionaries and Christian leaders in Cuba, El Salvador and Panama. In Cuba alone, at our project that is two years old has more than 4,300 pastors involved in the different levels of training in the areas of theology, mentoring, and technology. We are starting two computer centers for pastors in the cities of Placetas and Holguin, Cuba the end of October. These centers will serve around 700 pastors.




Family: big treasure


As you know our daughter Grace (18yrs) is attending College in Massachusetts. Rosalia, the boys and I are in the process of adapting to not having her at home. She is doing very well.
Miguel (12yrs) is now almost my height and continues growing also in knowledge and closeness with our Lord. He has became a good volleyball player. (7th grade).
Daniel (16yrs) continues playing guitar and singing at church, school and also in other ministries. He is also doing well at school (11th grade).
Rosalia is a great blessing to both the family and the ministry. She has been jogging and participating in some 5-10km races. Her ministry is having a great impact in the lives of many pastors and leaders.



Ministry impact


We have completed 18 out of 24 of the projects and main activities we planned for 2014.
We have quantitative data to share with you: we have delivered more than 1,000 digital libraries, 130 tablets, and 25 library boxes, into the hands of pastors.
Also, during the year we have trained around 200 pastors directly. One of the countries where these trainings took place there is a current movement of more than 4,300 pastors located in the different levels of training as a result of our ministry.
However, we prefer to focus more on the qualitative data. We have the privilege of knowing some of these pastors in a deep way becoming witnesses of the transformation in their lives, families, and ministries.
Thank you for your partnership which enables these ministries and impacts lives.




 

Please Pray For:

“I give thanks to my God always for you because...” 1Cor.1:4


1. Our family

Our daughter Grace has been very busy and enjoying her new life as freshman in college while we adapt to the changes.

2. New members of our team

That the new members of our team will be blessed while using their expertise and love among the team and those we serve.

3. Pastors Learning Center

The two new computer learning centers in Cuba completed successfully last November.

4. Seeds for more teams

Six families are currently in the process of preparation to serve in our ministry in Costa Rica, Colombia, Spain & USA.

 

Pray, give and tell

We encourage each of you to continue praying, giving, and sharing our ministry.
 

Please send your donations to:
 

Mission Aviation Fellowship
PO Box 47
Nampa, ID 83653


“For the ministry of Mauricio and Rosalia Sanchez”
 

www.maf.org/sanchez

Monday, December 13, 2010

Brazil Learning Technologies


More than 50 years ago God called some MAF pioneers to serve within the country of Brazil.

Brazil is a 200 million people country where main language is Portuguese, which is the 5th worldwide more spoken one.
Around two years ago some conversations with key Brazilian leaders started in order to dream, think and pray about the possibility of starting Learning Technologies ministry in Brazil.

Now, we have seen the Lord working in miraculous ways allowing us to serve and visit that beautiful country to develop technology and education projects.
One year ago we started some consulting meetings with the leadership of SETIEL seminary which is located in Curitiba and Sao Paulo.
SETIEL has been training pastors and leaders all over Brazil, sending well trained professors to every corner in the geography of the country.
They face the limitations in relation to time, distance, available professors, resources and more.

The consulting phase turned some months ago into training as part of a new project for us to assist them in the design, planning and developing of an advance level training for pastors and leaders using a distance education model. The work has been growing so fast to the point of starting some other projects, like the Oral Strategies workshop last October in Samtarem Do Para.

Besides that we are in close communication with our associate ministry there called Asas de Socorro (Annapolis) to start and develop a on site Learning Technologies ministry in Brazil.

We already have a tremendous network of organizations and we have been providing consulting and assistance to them.
Please pray for Brazil. We already have a family in our team who most likely will be the first LT family moving to Brazil soon. Pray please for all the resources we need there.