Este Es Nuestro Tiempo (Serie)

     Lo crea o no 2018 ya está aquí. Hace varios años, pensamos que 2020 estaba reservado para las películas de ciencia ficción. Pero ahora está a solo 2 años de distancia. ¡Nuestro tiempo es ahora! ¡Este es nuestro momento!

     Comenzando con este próximo domingo de enero haremos una pausa en nuestra serie de sermones del Evangelio de Marcos.  Del 7 de enero al 11 de febrero, predicaremos una serie llamada "Este es Nuestro Tiempo," como seguimiento de la celebración de nuestro 60 aniversario, donde afirmamos la generosa inversión de aquellos que nos precedieron y siendo ahora nosotros protagonistas de “nuestro momento”.

     Queremos recibir la estafeta, corriendo nuestra propia  etapa de la carrera. Apropiándonos del evangelio, de la misión, y administrando los recursos que Dios nos ha dado.

     Durante esta serie, exploraremos la forma que, como hacedores de discípulos y como familias extendidas en misión, invertimos nuestro tiempo, energía y dinero  como parte de nuestra productividad. Invitaremos a todos los participantes de nuestros Grupos de Conexión, Grupos de discipulado y cada servicio de adoración a hacer compromisos firmes con respecto a la inversión de nuestros recursos para el reino. Exploraremos la idea de los "Cinco Capitales" tal como se presenta en el pequeño libro Oikonomía: Cómo invertir en los cinco capitales de la vida tal como lo hizo Jesús (2014) por Mike Breen y Ben Sternke; aunque este no es un estudio del libro ni es el único recurso al que se hará referencia.

     En lo que 2018 comienza, invitaremos a todos los miembros de nuestra congregación a considerar seriamente nuestras ofrendas regulares y generosas a través del presupuesto de CBC que apoya a los ministerios locales y globales. Más allá de nuestro apoyo regular al presupuesto de la iglesia, lo cual llamamos el diezmo y que es continuo, les pediremos a las personas y familias que consideren una ofrenda sacrificial especial adicional para dos causas, las cuales serían a corto plazo:

1. Una campaña financiera para remodelar el área del Ministerio Estudiantil (más información sobre esto próximamente); y / o

2. Patrocinar a un niño a través de Food for the Hungry en Filipinas (FVR, Bulacán)

     Si bien creemos que se espera un apoyo sistemático, proporcionado y continuo a la obra de Dios a través de la iglesia por cada creyente (Malaquías 3:10, Mateo 23:23), entendemos que dar adicionalmente y más allá es una ofrenda voluntaria, para un corto plazo, donde cada persona necesita ser guiada por Dios en cuanto a dónde y cuánto dar (Éxodo 35:29, Salmo 54: 6, 2 Corintios 9: 7). El primero simplemente requiere de obediencia fiel. El segundo requiere de discernimiento en oración.

     Por favor, ore por usted mismo, por su familia y por su Grupo para que todos podamos descubrir la gracia, la alegría y la bendición de dar generosamente para que la misión de Dios avance a medida que invertimos de nosotros mismos en ella.

      A continuación puede ver, hacer clic y descargar los documentos que representan el presupuesto de 2018 de CBC para que pueda observar cómo la congregación ha votado para utilizar las donaciones  que usted está haciendo y lo que se requiere para hacer lo que Dios nos ha llamado a hacer:

Narrativa del presupuesto 2018

Presupuesto Ministerial 2018

Owning Our Moment (A Series)

   
  Believe it or not 2018 is just a few days away.  Several years ago we thought 2020 was reserved for science-fiction movies.  But now it is only 2 years away.  Our moment is now!  This is our time!

     Starting with the first Sunday of January we will put our Gospel of Mark sermon series on pause.  From January 7 to February 11 we will be preaching a series called "Owning Our Moment." As a follow up to our 60th anniversary celebration, where we affirmed the generous investment of those who came before us, we want to now own our moment.  We want to receive the baton, running our leg of the race.  We want to own the gospel, own the mission and manage the resources with which God has entrusted us.

     During this series we will explore how as disciple-makers and as extended families on mission we invest our time, energy and money in kingdom ways as part of our fruitfulness.  We will invite every participant in our ABFs, disciple-making groups and worship services to make commitments in regard to the investment of our resources for the kingdom.  We will explore the idea of the "Five Capitals" as presented in the small paperback book Oikonomics: How to Invest In Life's Five Capitals the Way Jesus Did (2014) by Mike Breen and Ben Sternke; although this is not a book study nor is this the only resource that will be referenced.

     As the year 2018 begins we will invite everyone in our congregation to consider our regular and generous giving through the CBC budget which supports local and global ministries.  Beyond our regular support of the church budget, which we call the tithe and which is continuous, we will ask individuals and families to consider special above-and-beyond sacrificial giving toward two causes, which are short-term:

1. A capital campaign to remodel the Student Ministry area (more information about this forthcoming); and/or
2. Sponsoring a child through Food for the Hungry in the Philippines (FVR, Bulacán)

While we believe that systematic, proportionate and continuous support of God's work through the church is expected of every believer (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23), we understand that above-and-beyond giving is a free-will offering, for a short-term, where each person needs to be led by God as to where and how much to give (Exodus 35:29; Psalm 54:6; 2 Corinthians 9:7).  The former simply requires faithful obedience.  The second requires prayerful discernment.

     Please pray for yourself, your family and your group that we may all discover the grace, the joy and the blessing of generous giving and that God's mission advances as we invest of ourselves in it.

     Below you can view, click on and download documents that present CBC's 2018 budget so you can see how the congregation has voted to utilize the gifts that come from you and what is required to do what God has called us to do:

2018 Budget Narrative

2018 Ministry Budget

East Asia 2016: A 21,500 Mile Journey

            I write these lines from my airplane seat as our flight returns to the U.S. today.  By the time I get home tonight I would have flown approximately 21,500 miles in less than two weeks!  My heart is filled with gratitude for the things I saw and experienced during these two weeks in East Asia.  I thank God for Calvary Baptist Church and the opportunity it has granted me and the rest of the team to participate in this meaningful trip.  The prayers and financial provisions which made it possible are deeply appreciated.

          Our journey started when Pastor Chad and I left from McAllen to mainline China to visit our CBC friends.  On this post I will neither mention names, cities, organizations or show photos of our time in China because of the sensitivity of this information.  Some of the friends of our friends in that part of the world have been interrogated by the state police recently and some have been arrested.  Nevertheless, Chad and I were able to meet some incredible Chinese students who are being discipled and are following God’s call to serve in other countries.  We talked to a house church pastor whose 2-year-old church is growing in spite of close scrutiny and intimidation by the government.  We also met international students in China who are making a difference for the kingdom and will return to their countries with a global vision.  God and His church are alive and well in China.  We are humbled to know how with such limitations these workers are faithful and dedicated to the cause.

 

          On our way from China to the Philippines we made a brief stop in Hong Kong.  There we had a brief visit with Justine Maceross Scott, whose family has been a part of CBC McAllen for quite some time.  Justine moved to Hong Kong, shortly after college graduation, about three years ago to serve on a short-term assignment with International Care Ministries.  This organization works with holistic community development in the Philippines.  CBC had the honor of participating with Justine’s support for those two years.  Justine met Eric Scott, who serves as the Student Pastor at Watermark Church in Hong Kong and they are now married.  Although she no longer serves with International Care Ministries, they are serving a local church in Hong Kong.  We were also glad to visit with Rachel Maceross, another young lady from CBC McAllen who currently lives in Taiwan. We had a pleasant visit and promised that we would continue to pray for them.

            In Manila, Chad and I met up with the rest of the team who came from the U.S. (Paulo Gatan, Chris Brana and Mark Grace).  Four of us were from CBC McAllen.  My friend, Mark Grace, who serves as CMMO for the Baylor Health Care System, accepted my invitation to come and minister to pastors, teaching them how to care for one another.  

            Our first strategic contact in Manila was the national director of Food for the Hungry in the Philippines.  Last year when our team visited La Union province, First Baptist Church of San Fernando invited us to partner with them in providing holistic community development in one of the communities where they had previously done ministry.  Our leadership team along with theirs selected a community.  Since last year we have been looking for a model and/or a strategic partner that would help us accomplish this.  Since Gary Edmonds spoke at our CBC Missions Conference earlier this year, Chad Mason and Ken Munn have been discussing and considering the possibility of partnering with Food for the Hungry in the Philippines (and perhaps in other places).  Our meeting with the Philippines Food for the Hungry director was the next step in that process.  She was very welcoming and very open to the possibility of partnering with us and First Baptist Church of San Fernando.  She even invited us to visit one of the communities where Food for the Hungry has been working with holistic development for ten years.  We accepted the invitation and the appointment was set for after our return from the Pastor’s Retreat in Iloilo.

            On Sunday we flew from Manila to Iloilo and attended University Church at Central Philippines University, where Cris Sian, a friend of our team, serves as pastor.  Our pastors retreat was held in a nearby municipality.  The retreat counted with the participation of approximately 100 people.  Most of the participants were pastors but there were also a few lay leaders.  Pastors came from  various areas including Iloilo, Cadiz, Aklan, the greater Visaya province, La Union, Pagasinan, Negros, Roxas City, Panay and Mindoro, among others.  Many of these pastors struggle to make a living but are serving faithfully where God has called them.  Most of them are very young.  They are evangelizing, discipling, serving their communities, starting new churches, and reaching the unreached.  They eagerly received the 3 days of conferences on discipleship, missions, leadership, caring for each other and community transformation.  Our theme was “Renew.”  We shared conferences, held worship, formed peer groups which are to meet after the retreat on a regular basis, and closed with a celebration of the Lord’s Supper and a commissioning service.  The pastors said they felt renewed spiritually, relationally and pastorally.  During our four days in Iloilo we had the opportunity of touching about 100 pastoral/lay leader families and approximately 70 churches.  Many of these churches are planting other churches.  Many of these pastors are training other pastors back in their respective areas.  So the ripple effect of the retreat will go further than we know by God’s grace.

            Since we wanted the pastors to experience an overnight retreat and the places that could house that many pastors at a time and at a reasonable cost were limited, we held the retreat at a Catholic Conference Center.  The nuns who take care of the place prepared food for us, welcomed us gladly, and thanked us for our conferences and what we are doing for the sake of the gospel.

            Of course our work was done in collaboration with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches and with local Baptist associations of pastors.  In addition to the ministry that CBC McAllen carried out, we facilitated the connection of Baylor Health System’s Clinical Pastoral Education with pastors in the Iloilo area.  This partnership will provide pastors further training in caring for their congregations and in caring for each other as pastor peer groups.

            Upon our return to Manila, Chad Mason and I were able to visit a cluster of communities where Food for the Hungry is doing holistic community development in partnership with other organizations.  The neighborhoods they have selected to serve experience extreme material poverty.  Many of their homes are one-room houses (about 100-square-feet total), sometimes built on trash piles.  Often these homes get flooded when the Manila Bay tide rises.  Food for the Hungry is working in collaboration with a local United Methodist Church, a public High School, a public elementary, the health department and parents from the community.  They focus on helping students who are at risk of dropping out by providing food, tutoring and other kinds of education and initiatives for the families.  Their rates of success after working in that community for ten years are impressive and encouraging in the face of so much poverty.

            I was reminded during this trip of how blessed I am and how blessed CBC McAllen is.  It is always humbling to see others do so much with so little.  I am thankful that CBC McAllen has strategic partnerships in East Asia where we are helping pastors, churches and communities.  Disciples are being mobilized to go from their countries to other countries (sometimes “closed” countries) with very little resources.  The church is demonstrating the love of God through a holistic gospel that redeems the spirit, the body, the mind, the family and the community.  I am convicted of the need to keep praying, giving and going for the glory of His name.  To East Asia and from East Asia may His Glory be known.

Summer Fellowships

      Are you ready for summer fellowships in homes?  Are you looking for a place to build community?  Are you wanting to host a fellowship in your home?  Are you wanting to step into a leadership role?  Are there friends, neighbors or family that you would like to see connect with a community group?  I hope this summer you are able to experience community in a group.

     From the perspective of church, summer begins some time between Memorial Day and the last day of school for the children.  So by that criteria, summer is just a few days away.  This summer we are encouraging groups and individuals in our church to hold regular fellowships in the home.

    For Calvary, summer is the time for big events: mission trips, Vacation Bible School, Camp Zephyr (Students), Camp Tejas (Children), the Valley Project, the Fourth of July Community Tail Gate, etc, etc.  As most of our midweek ministries (EQUIP, ICC, WIT, Remedy and The Grove) take a recess, we focus on these big events.  For the last couple of years we have also provided occasional midweek church-wide fellowship opportunities (end-of-school year bash, praise and prayer services, potluck dinners, movies and swimming nights).  This summer we are convinced that what we need is fellowships in the homes.  In addition to our big summer events, we are encouraging fellowships outside of Sunday morning.

     What does that look like? 
     There are primarily two ways in which a home fellowship can take place.  One of them is for an Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) which meets on Sunday to plan for home fellowships throughout the summer.  Another is for an individual or family who desire to start a new group to do so.  The frequency of these fellowships will be determined by the ABF, individual or family who leads it.  Some may choose to do it weekly, others bi-weekly and others monthly.  Contact Paulo Gatan, Pastor for Administration and ABFs and let him know of your plans so we can pray, support and celebrate what God is doing.

     What is the purpose of these fellowships? 
     The purpose is two-fold (1) to experience community as disciples like we have discussed in our "The Table" (#cbctable) sermon series; and (2) to invite friends, neighbors and family who might otherwise not participate in a Sunday morning ABF.  Hopefully some will come to trust Christ through this experience or will become more interested in the gospel.  We need more "Guests" at "The Table!"  In fact, some new ABFs may emerge from this effort.

     What formats are recommended?
     ABFs are free to use whatever format for fellowship that best suits the needs of the group.  As we talked about in the "Menu" part of the series we encourage fellowships to include food, prayer, Bible study, worship and caring for each other.  It is difficult to do all these extensively.  So one idea is to focus on one or two aspects that compliment what takes place Sunday morning.  We strongly suggest to ABFs that they consider doing an Alpha class at a home either in the summer or fall.  This will provide both an opportunity for fellowship and for sharing the gospel with neighbors, friends and family.  Once the Alpha course is completed the new people can be incorporated into the regular ABF or a new ABF may be launched from it.  Another options is for someone to start an Alpha in a home with a view to start an ABF or home group.  For those interested in doing so, our pastoral staff, including Pastor Paulo Gatan, will provide orientation, training and resources to do this successfully.  Simply contact one of the pastors if you want more information about this.

     We ask for a joint effort in prayer for this summer as ABFs, groups and others seek opportunities to build community and to share the love of Christ with others.  Without constant fervent prayer our efforts will be in vain.

     So, what are you waiting for: pray, talk to your group (or talk to your leader), and plan some fellowships in the homes this summer, and then keep praying!  I know my wife and I are going to start start a home fellowship this summer and we are excited about it!

Paulo Gatan Recommended for Pastoral Staff Position

     Paulo Gatan will be recommended to fill the position of Pastor for Administration and ABFs at CBC's Church in Conference on April 24th.  On November 22, 2015 the personnel committee recommended that a search committee be elected in accordance with CBC's bylaws and that such committee give priority consideration to Paulo Gatan.  Paulo has been serving as an interim for this position since November 2014.  The Church in Conference elected Maxine Nash, Wendy Brana, Hector Garza, Jose Luis Jimenez, Tom Boone and Ken Munn to form this search committee.

     The search committee met on January 10, 2016 to discuss the profile for the position, the need to consider other candidates and Paulo Gatan's qualifications for this position.  At this first meeting the committee elected Ken Munn as chairman and voted unanimously to recommend Paulo Gatan for the position with the current budget compensation and benefits package.  Ken Munn will make this recommendation to the Church in Conference on April 24th.

     For more than a year Paulo has served in this position overseeing the administrative matters of the church, giving support to our ABF ministry, leading Alpha, filling the pulpit on occasion, baptizing, participating in mission trips and working alongside the stewardship committee, the building and grounds committee, the nominating committee and the safety and security team among other things.  Paulo has demonstrated an exceptional ability to relate to people at various levels, to get the job done and to do so with a servant heart and a great smile.

    Paulo is a Calvary member, who has served as an ABF leader and an active deacon.  He holds Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Divinities degrees from De La Salle University in Manila (Philippines) and from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg (Virginia).  In addition to church ministry Paulo also has experience as a business partner/manager (Cleveland Health Care, LLC, McAllen, TX, Managing Partner and Privacy Officer; Lighthouse Staffing Solutions, LLC, McAllen, TX, Managing Partner; North Point La Union Corp., San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines, Operations Manager).

     According to CBC's bylaws the vote will be by secret ballot and it will require a 75% affirmative vote in order to fill the position.  We trust that members will pray and participate in this important decision for the life of our church.

Pastor Marcus en Sabático

(To read this blog post in English click here).


     




     

     Marcus Rodriguez, nuestro Pastor de Familias con Estudiantes, principió su sabático esta semana.  El Pastor Marcus ha servido a nuestro estudiantes en Calvary por mas de siete años.  Hace un par de años que pudo ver a los estudiantes que estaban en el 7o grado cuando el se unió a nuestro equipo graduar de la High School.  Ahora que una nueva generación de estudiantes se están discipulando en nuestro ministerio juvenil, Marcus ha desarrollado nueva visión y estrategias para cumplir el objetivo.  El Pastor Marcus trabaja con estudiantes de secundaria (middles school y high school) y de universidad también.  Su tarea es acompañar a los padres en la preparación de la siguiente generación de discípulos misionales quienes harán un impacto en su mundo.  

     Mientras el ministerio estudiantil en Calvary avanza con ímpetu ahora, es importante que Marcus tome su sabático.  Esto contriburá a la saldud del ministro como también a la salud del ministerio en Calvary.  Para más información en la naturaleza e importancia de un sabático, ve mi blog relacionado al sabático de Rolando Aguirre haciendo click aquí.  (A propósito el Pastor Rolando regresó de su sabático hace dos semanas y se mira y siente renovado y listo para la siguiente etapa de su ministerio en Calvary).


     El Pastor Marcus tiene planes de leer, refleccionar, y observar otros ministerios durante su sabático para crecer en su entendimiento de temas como la identidad pastoral, el ministerio de la iglesia hacia las familias, y el liderazgo pastoral.  Entre otras cosas, tiene planes de leer varios libros, visitar iglesias, entrevistar líderes y escribir sus reflecciones.
 
     El sabático de nuestro Pastor a Familias con Estudiantes principió el 7 de marzo y concluirá el 11 de abril.  Marcus ha desarrollado un excelente equipo de obreros quienes llevará adelante el ministerio juvenil durante su sabático.  El ministerio estudiantil de Calvary proseguirá en la ausencia de Marcus: Grupos de Conexión Juveniles (SBFs) el domingo por la mañana, "Remedy" el miércoles por la noche y los eventos especiales.  Para más información en cuanto a las personas contacto durante su sabático, las actividades semanales, y los eventos especiales haz click aquí.

      Doy muchas gracias a Dios por el Pastor Marcus.  Por favor ora para que este sábatico sea un tiempo de renovación espiritual, física y ministerial para Marcus.  Ora para que nuestro ministerio estudiantil continue hacia adelante con fuerza al seguir en la ola de "One Weekend," y ora para ver como tu puedes contribuir al ministerio estudiantil en nuestra iglesia durante este tiempo.

Pastor Marcus on Sabbatical

(Para leer este blog en español haz click aquí).



     Marcus Rodriguez, our Pastor for Families with Students, began his sabbatical this week.  Pastor Marcus has served in our student ministry well over seven years.  A couple of years ago, he saw those who were in 7th grade when he joined our staff graduate from High School.  As a new generation of students is being discipled in our student ministry, Marcus has developed new vision and strategies to move forward in this goal.  As Pastor Marcus works with middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students, he is coming along side parents to help prepare the next generation to be missional disciples who will make a difference in their world.

     While the CBC student ministry has great momentum right now, it is important that Marcus take his sabbatical.  This will contribute to his health as a minister and to the health of the CBC ministry.  For more on the nature and importance of a sabbatical you may visit my previous post on Rolando Aguirre's sabbatical by clicking here.  (By the way, Pastor Rolando has been back from sabbatical for over a week and he feels and looks renewed and ready for the next stage in his ministry here at CBC!)

     Pastor Marcus plans to read, reflect, and observe other ministries during his sabbatical to grow in his understanding of subjects like pastoral identity, church family ministry, and pastoral leadership.  Among other things, he plans to read several books, visit churches, interview leaders, and write reflectively.

     Our Pastor to Families with Students' sabbatical began on March 7 and will conclude on April 11.  Marcus has developed an excellent team of student workers who will be carrying the ministry forward during his sabbatical.  The CBC student ministry will go on in Marcus' absence: Student Bible Fellowships on Sunday morning, Remedy on Wednesday night and the calendar events.  For more information on the contact people during this sabbatical, the weekly activities and the special events click here. 

     I am so thankful for Pastor Marcus!  Please pray that this time of sabbatical will be of renewal for Marcus' spiritual, physical and ministerial life.  Pray for our student ministry to continue to move forward strongly as we follow the wave of "One Weekend," and pray to see how you can contribute to the student ministry in our church during this time.