Centro De Comunidad

Vision and Plan for Community Center - Church Mexico

Church Mexico, a New Testament Church Planting Initiative (churchmexico.com) has a vision for a new Community Center, and "so much more".  Following is a recent Facebook post by David Power, the pastor and founder of this ministry, which speaks to the need:

"Well, normally there's about 40 adults and 35 kids sitting under a shade structure right now sharing testimonies and getting ready to sing songs glorifying to God and getting ready to hear the Word of God preached. Not tonight. We got rained out. I have to confess, I'm disappointed (but not lacking trust in the Lord). It seemed the Holy Spirit has been moving mightily in lots of people's lives this week, including many folks whom we've only introduced to the gospel message in their homes or on the streets - many were waiting for the van to join us when instead we had to notify them that there would be no service this evening, and that we'd be back for them Sunday.

This experience also caused me to be anxious to get the community center built because if we had it done, or at least part of it, all of those folks would be there right now in a safe place learning more about Jesus and God's plan and will for their lives. I really feel there was great opportunity missed.

The architectural plans are getting closer to completion thanks to our friend Rene Bustamante along with our friend Mr. Ed Luebben and his associate Mr. Dale Slusser who are with Helps International Ministries. Once the plans are complete, we will submit them and acquire the building permit for the community center. We haven't received very many funds for the building materials yet, so we're praying that generous men and women who appreciate the work that's being done here, who want to support us and who want to see the Kingdom of God further expanded in this area will express that generosity. We're also looking forward to having many friends come down to help us build. Please let me know if that's you so we can keep you updated with the progress and the dates for building after we get the permit.

Pressing On With You,
David"

Following is the Vision for this new Community Center:

While providing basic necessitates that the families have not been able to provide for themselves, we will share the gospel message, baptize believers, make disciples and teach them to obey what the Lord Jesus has commanded.

This location will also be used as a base to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. People will come to this place to be trained and taught, and people will be sent out from this place throughout Mexico to proclaim and demonstrate Jesus’ Word, Love and Power so that multitudes of people’s lives will be changed forever. As a result, a New Testament Church planting initiative will be fulfilled as Churches plant Autonomous Churches to Extend the Kingdom of God. 

The following will be included as use for the Community Center:

• Air Conditioning for families in Summer

• Small Group Bible Studies (different types: Mixed Adults; Men; Women; Children)

• Large Groups/Church Services

• Showers for Community

• Storage for Materials and Tools and Vehicles

• Temporary Housing for Pastors, Missionaries, Bible School Students and Mission Teams

• Location for Community Events

• Distribution Point for: Backpacks, Food, Soccer Balls, Blankets, etc.

• Free Drinking Water Distribution

• Location for Baptisms (portable tank)

• Classes: English, Cooking, Hygiene, Character, Financial Management, Marriage, & More

• Emergency Aid

• Whatever else the Lord might reveal to us that we ourselves haven’t thought of…
  
  

God's call in my life

I’d like to start this post by sharing a couple of my favorite quotes from our Lord Jesus Christ: 

"John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

"John 6:37: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out.”

God, in His sovereign grace, chose for me to be born into a Christian home, the youngest of four; to be raised by passionate, Spirit filled parents.  My mom led me in a prayer to receive Jesus Christ into my heart and life at the age of 5.  Now, was this when I “came to Jesus”, as the second part of Jn. 6:37 speaks to?  In hindsight, I would say no.  I began to hear the call of Jesus (Jn 10:27) from my earliest memories, through my mom’s Bible stories, to the neighbor’s Good News Club, to Sunday School lessons.  However, it was towards the end of my third grade year that this “call” became increasingly audible, and personal.  This “call of our Savior” grew and developed into a very intimate and wonderful bond by the time I entered my teens – which is when my faith in our Lord would be seriously tested for the first time.

 1963 family photo

 

During my eighth grade year our once tight knit Christian family began to unravel; so I began praying that God would do whatever it takes, except for death, to bring our family back together again. So when my parents separated early in my 9^th grade year – I felt certain this was what the Lord needed to do to eventually pull us together; even though the separation drove my oldest siblings away from the home, and my closest brother, Cliff, deep into the drug scene.  

It was tough watching Cliff dive into drugs.  He and I had been very close; just 19 months apart, he had taken me under his wings as his little buddy; we had always been best friends.  We shared the same room, the same set of friends.  My earliest memories in life were of Cliff and me playing with our stuffed animals.  We actually created a story around these stuffed creatures that became fairly elaborate as we grew up, and developed into a special connection between the two of us that continued throughout our teens.  When Cliff started into the drug scene – he developed a new set of “friends” – and though we remained close, our relationship became a little more distant. Even so, I had full confidence that God would work these circumstances out and our family would be stronger for it.

Unfortunately, it did take death to truly pull us together as a family.  My brother, Cliff, was 18 when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. God granted us some of that “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7) to guide us through this experience.  But I was angry that He used death; it felt as if He had turned His back on me!  Not only did He use death, but He took away the person that had been closest to me for my entire life.  I remember telling God that this was TOO MUCH!  I determined that I would punish God by pulling back from the Him.  And though I could never truly stop believing in Him; I had heard His call, and I couldn’t deny that reality; I could, and did cease to follow Him as closely as I once had.

  

After about five years, I began to long for that once close relationship I had shared with our Lord.  However, it took nearly a decade of His prodding and wooing before our relationship would begin to resemble what it once was. Throughout this long decade, God never let go of me, and never let anyone or anything “snatch me from His hands”.  He is always faithful, even when I am not; but life, though not necessarily easier, is a lot better when I’m holding onto Him, and not pulling away from Him.

 1975 family photo (last time with Cliff)

I’d like to conclude by sharing two areas where the Lord has been testing my faithfulness recently. The first has to do with serving as an elder; the second with serving as an architectural missionary.  Both calls to service required commitments during the summer of 2011; both invite heightened spiritual attack from our adversary the devil; and the missionary service requires that I trust the Lord to lead others to provide my financial support.  To me; spiritual warfare and financial uncertainty sort of look like the giants that the Israelites saw when God was pointing them to the Promised Land in Numbers 13; I could respond like the Israelites and pull away, or respond like Caleb and Joshua and trust the Lord.  As shared earlier, I’ve tried the pulling away thing – NOT a good idea.  So, I would appreciate your prayers in these two areas. 

One final thought, I’ve been blessed to have had a relationship with the Lord throughout my life; I don’t know, and can’t fathom how anyone can cope in this world without our Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Guide.  If you don’t know the Lord, I urge you with all that is within me to call out to Him today, and begin to know what true life really is.

2009 family photo - with our kids, grandkids, and my (Ed's) brother, sister, and parents

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Joyce Luebben was born at about 1:45 early Tuesday morning on October 15, 1996. Elizabeth is our fifth child, second daughter.  She is also my fourth biological child, and first biological daughter; so, like each of our other children, has a unique relational connection to me.  We chose to 

 name her after two very special women in our lives; her grandmothers Elizabeth Johnson, and Joyce (Freddie) Luebben.  I remember coming home from work, and my oldest daughter, Sara, came out to great me with the news “mom’s water broke”.  So – we proceeded to the hospital; and less than eight hours later we welcomed our newest, and last (as it would turn out) baby into the world.

Elizabeth has always been very feminine, and also sort of tough (what would you expect with three brothers closest to her in age).  She is such a creative young lady; has a spectacular eye for composition with respect for photographs, and drawing.  Like Micah, she was also very good with disguises; part of her creativity I guess.  She is very intelligent, and has a quick wit…which would sometimes frustrate Micah, in particular, when they grew up.  She and Micah used to fight quite a bit, but also played quite a bit.  She knew how to push his buttons; and did a good job of this.  As a young tween and early teen, Micah and Josiah, particularly Micah, was very protective of her…God help the boy who would look twice at Elizabeth in the wrong way.

Some of my fondest memories with Elizabeth were during our first few years back in the Tri-Cities; playing games together nearly every night when I came home from work, and listening to my “oldies” records. Now I look at this young lady, our beautiful 16 year old, Columbia Basin College running start student, and am just amazed at the work God is doing in her heart.  Following are a few of her recent Facebook posts, which reflect the work that our Lord is doing with her, and give her mom and me such joy. 

I am so blessed. I don't deserve the friends and family I have.

"If you're not for sale, don't put yourself on display."

Never count success by money gained... Success is the measure of God's Will and mind that you have revealed to those around you. Success is the measure of His Will that those around you have seen worked out in your lives.

I love my family, I love my friends, I love my Savior and the life He's blessed me with...because He loved first.

At the end the day I remember... His love is enough.

"When I'm completely focused on Jesus, all situations can be the same exactly as that when I'm not, yet there's a difference; when I'm focused on Christ, I'm happy, hopeful, at peace, and loving.
Why do I always forget this?"

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

"I gave in, and admitted that God was God."
I'm here because He's put me here. I'm nervous, I'm overwhelmed,.. I'm so excited.

What can make me whole again? Nothing. But the blood of Jesus.

I see Your face in every sunrise; the colors of the morning are inside Your eyes. The world awakens in the light of the day, I look up to the sky and say, "You're beautiful."

Elizabeth, my youngest daughter, you have been such a wonderful blessing from God. I pray that you always keep our Lord front and center, and look forward to witnessing the great things He will accomplish with your creative talents, sharp intellect, and quick wit.