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For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks: but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchange the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Romans 1:20-23

The Indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon inhabit a massive area that covers approximately 300,000 square miles—making up roughly 60% of Peru’s national territory. Their population is estimated around 500,000 to 600,000 individuals spread across more than 50 distinct ethnic groups and nearly 25 uncontacted or voluntarily isolated tribes. These communities speak at least 44 distinct native languages and dozens of regional dialects. Their living conditions reflect a complex balance between traditional rainforest livelihoods—such as subsistence farming, fishing, hunting, and foraging—and severe modern challenges. Many communities live in remote riverbank settlements accessible only by boat, lacking reliable access to clean drinking water, modern healthcare, quality education, and electricity. Furthermore, their territories and traditional ways of life face persistent threats from illegal deforestation, gold mining, oil extraction, and agricultural expansion, which contribute to environmental contamination and land displacement.

The religious and spiritual practices of these peoples are centered on animism and shamanism, shaped by a worldview that considers nature, humans, and the spirit realm as deeply interconnected. Specifically, animism is a traditional belief holding that all natural elements—including plants, animals, rivers, mountains, and trees—possess a spirit or life force (pachamama or forest spirits). Spiritual and community life relies heavily on the shaman who acts as an intermediary between the physical and spirit worlds, responsible for diagnosing and treating illnesses, driving away negative energy, foretelling events, and retrieving "lost souls". 

This is the backdrop against which Pastor Victor operates to bring the life-giving gospel to these largely forgotten people. You can imagine that ministry is difficult under these conditions. However, in the strength of the Lord, Pastor Victor has overcome isolation, hopelessness and cultural practices to further the gospel.

Given the large area, low population and the hazards of the jungle, isolation is a real problem. Villages tend to be small on the order of 50-200 people with very limited opportunity for communication where the only mode of travel is a multi-hour boat trip. This is difficult for the small churches and their ley pastors. To break down this isolation Pastor Victor along with 17 other brothers organized a 3-day conference this past August to help encourage and equip the Indigenous pastors in the Loreto region. Pastor Victor has bigger plans to construct a facility in his hometown where such events can be held on a regular basis. MCC is currently looking at how we might be a part of this vision.

In September, Pastor Victor traveled to the community of Jeberos. Here he faced issues of hopelessness among the villagers. Difficult living conditions, disease, and lack of economic opportunities have driven many villagers to a sense of low self-esteem and alcoholism. Through worship, teaching and encouragement, twenty were reconciled to the Lord recognizing their worth as image bearers of their great Creator. Another man placed his faith in Christ.

Cultural practices are a constant challenge to spreading the gospel. Very often Pastor Victor will be confronted by the village witch doctor/shaman, even to the point of physical threats. The sad part is that the shaman is usually more concerned with his position and the income that it produces than any challenge to his animist faith. Culture also influences social practices. Where a dispute occurs and cannot be resolved through compromise, the problem is considered resolved when one party murders the other. Recently Pastor Victor was able to council feuding parties on biblical grounds to resolve an otherwise lethal situation.

MCC has been supporting Pastor Victor for about five years. Please see the accompanying prayer points and pray for God to continue to use Victor in a powerful way. 

“The men from Juntos are the only positive guys that my kids have ever been around. They are the only good example they have.” Karen and I stood in her apartment parking lot talking about her four boys. She was telling me that the three youngest weren’t allowed to play outside anymore because they kept getting in trouble and fighting with neighborhood kids. Her oldest has chosen to live with his dad and is spending his days and nights on video games. She was clearly overwhelmed by the situation – three young boys cooped up in a small space in 100+ degree weather while she is trying to make ends meet. “Any time there is anything happening at Juntos, please come take them!”  

This summer Karen’s boys participated in Kids Club, summer camp at CrossBarX Youth Ranch, sports camp at Highland High School and two of them met with their mentors weekly. Her oldest, now in high school, spoke weekly with a Juntos volunteer who is discipling him.  

As the school year kicks off they will all attend weekly Rally Nights at Juntos (our Monday large group outreach), continue to meet one on one with their mentors through the Juntos Mentors program, and participate in tutoring and outdoor opportunities with godly volunteers. Her oldest son will have the opportunity to participate in leader training with other young high school students.    

Programs are not our focus at Junto, but, rather, we call them “a vehicle for relationship.” Through them, the Lord has provided wide open doors into families like Karen’s. As we build trusting relationships, the Gospel naturally flows and there are many opportunities to share the transforming love of Christ.

Although Juntos is a youth leadership program, we believe that the Lord has put us in a position to minister to whole families. As a reminder, “At Juntos we believe that whole families and entire communities can be transformed by young people discovering and living out their God-given purpose.”  

Spending time with Karen’s kids has allowed us develop a deep, trusting friendship with her. This has led to Gospel conversations and a front row seat to the transforming, healing, and restoring work of Christ in her family.

“‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you a stranger and invite you in?’ ... The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:35-40

Over 900,000 international students will attend U.S. universities this year. They are strangers in a foreign land, experiencing separation from friends and family and the challenge of navigating a different culture and language. Fortunately, International Students Incorporated (ISI) is there to help them get settled at over 900 university campuses across the U.S.

MCC teams up with the local ISI chapter in serving the University of New Mexico. It is part of our strategy for accomplishing cross-cultural missions right here in our own community. Working with ISI we are able to expose international students to the gospel as well as disciple those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord. Many of these students return home to influential careers, as well as the opportunity to have influence for the gospel.

Welcoming the stranger takes many forms. At UNM alone, ISI has served hundreds of international students through:

• Airport pick-ups for 95 students
• Temporary homestays for 85 students
• Furniture for 480 students
• Friendship partners for 85 students
• Hiking and sightseeing trips for 77 students
• Serving 1,750 lunches at the Welcome Center
• Three home groups meeting weekly
• Forty students attending Bible studies
• Fifteen students being discipled

More important than the statistics is the lasting impact that the welcoming of international students is having. One student started going to church with her host family and after several months made a profession of faith and was baptized. She was discipled for several months before she returned home to Germany. She is now leading a Bible study with six high school age girls, teaching them the truths she learned during her time in the U.S. Another student was introduced to Jesus through his friend who was an ISI volunteer at the English Corner. The student and friend met together regularly and often went grocery shopping. After a short while, the student announced he wanted to follow Jesus. He is now being discipled before he returns home in December. Beyond these two, three other students made a decision to follow Jesus this year through the efforts of ISI.

With ISI we have a unique opportunity to do cross-cultural ministry right in Albuquerque. If you are looking for a new opportunity to serve, there are a lot of different ways to get involved with ISI. If you are interested in helping or want more information contact Vince Tidwell at (505) 413-2647.

A cool breeze off the Pacific Ocean brought balance to another warm, sunny day in San Diego. Zoe Mukendi and her friend Mackinsey Darrough scanned the coastline. They weren’t looking for a place to sit; they were looking for someone to talk to about their faith. 

It was the last week of Cru’s 2023 San Diego Summer Mission, Zoe and Mackinsey’s last chance to have a spiritual conversation in a San Diego neighborhood called Old Town that had become familiar over the last nine weeks. 

Mackinsey spotted a man sitting by himself. They approached and asked if he’d be willing to share his spiritual beliefs and hear about theirs. The man, named Chad, agreed. 

Zoe, Mackinsey and Chad talked for about an hour. 

They walked Chad through the Knowing God Personally booklet, which shares the gospel. At the end of the booklet is a prayer, offered to anyone who wants to begin a relationship with Jesus. When Zoe and Mackinsey got to this page, Chad looked up at the sky.

“You guys are the fourth group of people to talk to me this week,” Chad said. “So, I feel like something’s pursuing me here.”

Zoe and Mackinsey joined Chad in prayer that day to begin his relationship with Jesus.

“I saw outreach and evangelism as going to talk to people to convert them,” Zoe said of her outlook before the summer mission. “Now I practice [the tools we learned] today in conversations. You show God through you — your actions, your words and your mindset.”

Students learned how to talk about Jesus in a variety of settings during the San Diego Summer Mission. Some days these conversations happened on local campuses, other days while they were on the clock at their part-time jobs. 

No matter the setting, by the end of summer, students counted more than 500 spiritual conversations in San Diego.

Of the 42 stateside summer missions offered by Cru, San Diego Summer Mission is among the oldest and most established, dating back to the 1970s. Each year, students develop a strong foundation of faith by engaging in regular evangelism, discipleship and personal reflection.

Weeks after returning to Southern Methodist University, where she studies civil engineering, Zoe said she’s more confident in asking people what they believe and looks for ways to bring what she learned last summer into her daily rhythms on campus.

“People are a lot more open than we think,” Zoe said. “I feel like I put people’s ‘nos’ in their mouths before they even have the chance to be asked a question. People who look like they’re the most busy or like they don’t even want to talk [might] happen to be the most open people.”

A Legacy of Changed Lives in San Diego. Sarah Wontorcik. March 2024.

https://storylines.cru.org/lang/en/stories/2024/03/legacy-of-changed-lives-san-diego.html

The summer heat in South Asia is relentless. Temperatures soar, dusty streets grow quiet, and for many children living in the slums, summer can feel long, difficult, and isolating. But this summer, hundreds of children from our Genesis of Hope centers will step into something very different.

They will walk into a place filled with laughter, music, friendship, and hope.

For many of these children, life is marked by poverty and hardship. Yet during Vacation Bible School, they will have the opportunity to leave behind the challenges of their daily surroundings and enter a safe environment where they are known, valued, and loved. They will make crafts, sing songs, play games, share meals, and build friendships that create lasting memories.

Most importantly, they will hear about Jesus.

In a nation where many children grow up with little or no exposure to the Gospel, VBS becomes much more than a summer activity. It is an opportunity for children to encounter the love of Christ, learn biblical truths, and discover that they are created with purpose and dignity by a God who knows them by name.

Behind the scenes, volunteers and teachers are working tirelessly to prepare every lesson, activity, meal, and gathering space. They are praying that each child who attends will not only have a joyful week but will also experience the transforming love of God.

As you look at the photo, notice the smiles, the excitement, and the anticipation. These are not just children preparing for camp. These are young lives being given the opportunity to hear the Good News, perhaps for the very first time.

"Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 19:14