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Thank you for supporting “The Great Jungle Journey” VBS!

We had 93 children attend at least once during the week. Half of the kids were not from MCC, and 8% didn't list a home church. The Gideons handed out 106 Testaments, and at least one girl had never read the Bible before. They were loved on by 115 volunteers. And raised over $1,562 for hearing aids for 11-year-old Dayana in Bolivia!

The pictures from the week are precious. The sweet faces of the children and of the volunteers brought tears to my eyes. I am SO PROUD of our volunteers.

We started each day with corny jokes and learned new songs and dances. We watched live drama productions and ate fun and colorful snacks that supported the daily lesson. We got our wiggles out in games before using our hands to reinforce the lesson in crafts. We even saw volcanos explode! We learned that sharing the Good News can be done far away as well as in our own community, and we heard our daily lessons from a new guest teacher each day. We had 15 tour guides, plus a multitude of helpers leading the kids and building relationships with them.

At our closing ceremony Friday evening, many families joined us to sing and dance, enjoy the drama team one more time, watch the slideshow from the week, and hear the gospel from “Jungle Jim”.  Then we had cookies and talked. So many people just enjoyed visiting with one another. It was beautiful to see the community created by a week of VBS.

The Sunday after VBS my heart was filled as I looked around the sanctuary and saw the familiar faces of the volunteers that worked together all week. Memories were made, friendships were formed, and relationships grew stronger.

The week of Vacation Bible School is so much more than construction paper and chaos. I have heard many stories about people who attended church for the first time because of VBS. And many accepted Christ because of VBS. 

Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

I am proud of the VBS program that we have built up over the years, but not because it’s our program. The VBS program at MCC is God’s VBS and it is meant to teach kids about Him.  

I will be stepping down from the co-coordinator role next year because Micah and I plan to enjoy his retirement next summer. The VBS team will need administrative assistance. If you enjoy spreadsheets or completing To Do lists or thinking ahead logistically, then let Cruz know that you might like to join the VBS Team. (Actually working with the kids is optional; so don’t let that scare you off.) You will have an eternal impact. 

We are continuing our series on getting to know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Micah Barker, who serves on our Deacon Council. 

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else?

I was born in Albuquerque, NM. I moved to the East Mountains when I was 13 years old.

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

I wanted to be a soldier in the Army and then a law enforcement officer. I have done both and am still trying to grow up.

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

Mrs. Wever. She was my Sunday School teacher at Mesa Baptist Church.

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

In 1985 I accepted Christ after a Sunday School lesson and after further discussion about that lesson with my parents.

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

The words of Paul the Apostle: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?

The Lord has blessed me with a beautiful wife and amazing children.

What is a blessing and what is a challenge in serving as a deacon?

Blessing: Getting to know people at our church better and work with them. Challenge: Learning to delegate tasks and ask for help.

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

Hunting, hiking, mountain biking and camping. I have always loved outdoor activities. If some of those activities happen to keep me in decent physical condition and occasionally put meat in the freezer, then that is a bonus.

What is your favorite family tradition?

Christmas Eve dinner in Old Town of Albuquerque.

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

Early morning hike or bike followed by working on a project at home, then finishing the day on the back porch with a cold drink till the sun goes down.

What is the perfect meal?

Elk or deer steak from the grill, ranch beans, salad, biscuits and a cold beer.

Who or what never fails to make you laugh?

My dog Daisy cracks me up almost daily. Even when she is bad I can't help but laugh at her once I'm done being irritated.

We asked Nicole: 

What is your favorite trait of Micah's?

Micah is good at maintaining relationships. He patiently listens to our teen daughters, puts a lot of thought into replying to texts and diligently returns phone calls. He is also really good at learning how to do things that need to be done – from repairing vehicles to replacing the bridge at the cabin.

What does Micah do that can always make you smile? 

Watching Micah play with our dog, Daisy, always makes me laugh.

It’s easy to agree with this lofty goal, but making it happen in the midst of our busy schedules can seem impossible! Thankfully, there’s a ministry giving us opportunities to serve the international community in simple, yet impactful ways. 

International Students, Inc. operates on college campuses throughout the United States and even internationally. According to their mission statement, ISI “exists to share Christ’s love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others.” 

International Students, Inc. is thriving close to home at the University of New Mexico. Would you believe, UNM recommends that every international student connect with this Christ-centered ministry prior to their arrival? The value of the support ISI offers is undeniable!

Imagine you’re traveling alone to another country. You don’t know the language particularly well, and the culture is unfamiliar. Despite these challenges, you’ll need to assimilate quickly before your university classes begin. What a daunting endeavor! 

At the airport you are greeted, then welcomed into a home while you look for your own place. You are even offered donated furniture so you have fewer expenses to worry about as you get settled. 

Your new friends invite you to share meals, celebrate holidays and to experience local customs. Respectfully, you ask questions of each other and exchange ideas. 

These tangible expressions of Christ’s love, poured out over the course of your time studying abroad, would make quite a lasting impact! Especially as you return to your home country, a highly-educated leader in your field. 

Even for those of us who are not international students, ISI is invaluable because it breaks down into achievable steps that daunting goal of sharing Christ’s love with the nations:

Available during your lunch break to pick up a newcomer from the airport? ISI will put you to work! 

Willing to converse with someone practicing their English? ISI will invite you to the “English Corner” hosted at the Baptist Student Union. 

Got an extra seat at the table for holiday dinner? ISI will extend your invitation to students hoping to make relational connections. 

The first step to getting directly involved with International Students, Inc. is to check out isiabq.org. Contact director Joan Lasche and she’ll talk you through the steps to getting on their email list. Or, if that’s more than you’re able to tackle at the moment, be on the lookout for ways you can come alongside MCC’s Mission Team as we support ISI: 

Email mcc4missions@gmail.com if you’d like to donate furniture or household items to the cause. We’ll even pick up!

Drop off your food contribution at the church next time you hear the mission team is providing an ISI Welcome Meal. We’ll take care of the rest!  

You may choose to get involved with International Students, Inc. now, later, or not at all. Either way, I hope you’re excited to know that the Lord is working through this ministry. Thank you for lifting ISI in prayer! 

We are continuing our series on getting to know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Josh Mallett, who serves as our Tech Ministry Coordinator. 

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else? 

I was born and raised in Tijeras, NM. We live in Edgewood now, but I do miss the mountains.

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

I wanted to join the military for as long as I can remember. God closed that door long ago.

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

My parents started, and then Scott Butler was one of my closest friends and spiritual mentor for years before he passed away. My grandparents have always been a huge part of this walk. And most important was my brother, Kris. 

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

When I was the ripe old age of 8, the Lord impressed on my heart that I needed Him as my savior. I don’t remember all the details but I do remember very clearly that he called me.  

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

Psalm 34, Galatians 5:22-26, and Genesis 1-3 are the most common go-tos for me.

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?

That Jesus would be my closest friend. 

What is a blessing and what is a challenge in serving as tech ministry coordinator?

The blessing is just having fun with it, among other things. Serving in any capacity is always amazing when seen as a gift. But when you have fun doing it, it’s so much better. The challenge is making time to do the job well.

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

I love animals, especially reptiles and amphibians. And the most favorite is spending time with my wife and kiddos. Time is a precious thing and often taken for granted.

What is your favorite family tradition?

The Thanksgiving box. We write down something that we are most thankful for and put it in a box for the next year. We always read the previous year after we write down the current year thankful card. 

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

As of late most of the things I like doing revolve around what Naomi and the kiddos like/want to do, as much as I can. Usually the kids want to play video games and hop in the pool or play on the trampoline. All good times. 

What is the perfect meal?

Anything around the dinner table with family/friends. My personal favorite is with the “friends group”. How I hope those times don’t end anytime soon. But if I have to pick a food, I love Cajun. Anything spicy has always been a good go-to. 

Who or what never fails to make you laugh? 

A night watching the Three Stooges with the kids. Late night conversations with Nay. Games with the friends group. Nights around the campfire with loved ones. Memories of good times. 

We asked Naomi: 

What is your favorite trait of Josh's? 

Probably my favorite trait about him is his ability to look at a problem, any problem in the time I’ve known him, and logically and empathetically find a solution that works for as many people as possible. From issues within the work place, to anything our kids can think up, to “What’s for dinner?”, to encouraging/helping a friend. In short, he’s a logical and kind problem solver and leader. 

What does Josh do that can always make you smile? 

Genesis of Hope, one of our partners in ministry in South Asia, was created by the Landge family who has been working among the poorest of the poor since the 1980s. While meeting physical needs has value, they were driven to meet the spiritual needs, which has eternal value. They work in many different areas and engage people from Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist backgrounds. Genesis of Hope has eight children's centers focused on meeting the physical, mental, educational and spiritual needs of children and families living in the slums of a major city in South Asia. They employ engaged, creative, and caring staff to work in their own communities.  

Last October I traveled with a small team from MCC and was able to visit three of these centers and meet several of the teachers and pastors that work tirelessly for the children and their families. Several of these staff members I had met on previous trips five years ago, and some even more than 12 years ago. There is such joy from these men and women. They showed us some of the ways they are creatively teaching math and language lessons to the children and art projects they have done as a community. The centers provide a safe space for the children and the leaders provide care and emotional support. 

The first center we visited was Shahbad Dairy. MCC provides annual support for this center, which allows them to minister to approximately 80 children and their families. We were able to meet about half the students and were able to share a song, story and craft. The teachers at this center are amazing. We heard their testimonies and how Genesis of Hope has made a difference in their lives, even as staff. They were so excited to share how they are teaching the students in very creative ways.  

The second center was in a predominantly Muslim area. I was especially excited to visit this center because my family sponsors Sana, a 12-year-old girl that lives there. At this center we squeezed into a very small space. There were three connected rooms where maybe 60 kids crammed in and sat on the floor while we shared our song, story, and craft. I was also able to spend a little time talking with Sana and her mother and brother. 

The third center we visited is a new ministry that was begun by a pastor who noticed a growing slum underneath the metro lines on the floodplains of a major river near his home and asked if the ministry would be able to support another Genesis of Hope center. This center meets in a very basic open-air structure. This area receives food daily as a part of a feeding program from Amazon. It’s a rural area and gets flooded as the monsoons come every summer. 

Now imagine a super fun Vacation Bible School week at each of these centers. Genesis of Hope hosted six VBS experiences throughout their city this past week. What a sweet thing to pray about as we experience our own VBS. There were over 700 kids in attendance total. Kids had a chance to experience the hope that Jesus brings and have fun with their friends. Unlike many of the students attending MCC’s VBS, these children are from Hindu and Muslim backgrounds. Some are regular attendees of a Genesis of Hope program and for others this will be the first time they have ever had a chance to hear about Jesus. 

There are some logistics that make this VBS quite different from what our students experience in our church. While we may think it is hot here, they have experienced 110+ degrees with little or no access to air conditioning. They also managed to fit nearly 50-60 kids into spaces that we would only feel would comfortably hold 15-20 kids. The snack the kids receive may be the only nutritious food they receive that day. But there were volunteers and staff with smiles on their faces greeting each child, just like what happens right here. There was fun, there were songs, there were snacks, there were games and most of all, the name of Jesus was proclaimed. Those are the very same things that make our VBS special. 

Genesis of Hope will continue to meet the needs of children living in the poorest parts of this huge city. Our support enables them to pay their faithful staff, maintain their buildings, and provide materials needed to provide education and support for these children. Pray for all the staff of Genesis of Hope. The situation in their country is becoming more and more difficult for them to share their faith freely and sometimes even finding a space to meet together as believers is difficult. Pray for favor among their neighbors, and even with the government. When you pray this week, just remember Genesis of Hope. Please pray for each child to understand God’s love for them. Please pray the stories and lessons they learned will take root in their heart and that their families would come to know Jesus as well.