Great Meeting With Juarez Seminary

I am writing this from El Paso, Texas where I am working this week. Yesterday I participated in interviewing a prospective field team member for the Juarez field. Today Michael Williamson and I had the most amazing meeting at All Nations Seminary in Juarez.

We first attended their Wednesday Chapel and then met for several hours with the Seminary's President John Lee. Or "Juan Lee" as they call him here in Mexico. Amor is building several houses on the Seminary's campus for married students. It appears that we may be building them as soon as this June.
















Scott and John Lee at All Nations Seminary

What's most touching about us helping the Seminary with these homes is that the school is full and they had to turn away eight applicants for the Seminary this past August. They have the class rooms and other facilities but no place to house them. Imagine that, eight willing students want to study to become ministers and missionaries and there is no room for them. I felt honored that Amor could participate in serving the needs of the Seminary by providing housing for these willing servants of Christ.

We soon discovered that we had far more in common than we ever imagined. John Lee is formerly from Los Angeles, not far from Amor's first headquarters in Gardena. Tijuana was also the start of John Lee's ministry in Mexico where he began preaching in the La Mesa, Tijuana prison in 2000. Tijuana, of course, is also where Amor started.

The most amazing connection we shared is when John Lee told us how several churches in Cancun, Mexico had already asked All Nations Seminary if they would start a seminary in Cancun. Last year John Lee visited and met with these Mexican pastors in Cancun and there were some obstacles discovered that prevented them from moving forward; not having a facility to hold the seminary was just one of these issues.












Seminary President John Lee

All Nations Seminary has numerous extension around Mexico and they are now in discussions and in prayer with us to form a partnership with Amor to develop a seminary extension at the proposed Cancun Christian University.


The final thing I think that is worthwhile to mention is that the All Nations Seminary is located on the paved road right next to where we turn onto a dirt road to drive to our new Juarez camp. The seminary is probably less than two miles from our camp.

Cancun Christian University

I have created another blog that I will be posting to about the development of the Cancun Christian University. This is a project that a major donor has asked us to participate in and is currently under review by the Amor Ministries Board of Directors. While the feasibility of the project is being undertaken, the donor continues to develop the 12 acres that the University is being built on in Cancun, Mexico.

To see how things are continuing to progress, please go to the blog below:

Cancun Christian University Blog

Did Your Light Shine Today?

I have often been amazed at how God uses what we might consider to be insignificant events to bring forth very significant changes. I was reminded about this during my recent reading of the book entitled "God's Golden Acres". As we continue to make plans for expanding our work to South Africa I have been reading many excellent resources about this amazing country. God's Golden Acres is a children's home in South Africa for children who are affected by the HIV virus which is devastating the African continent. The founder and director, Heather Reynolds, tells a tremendous story about a incident in her life before she was walking with God.

Heather accidentally ran through a stop sign on the way to a meeting when her automobile's brakes began to fail. She was pumping the brakes but it didn't slow the vehicle down and she ran through a stop sign. With her son ,who was just a toddler in the back seat in a child's seat, she collided with a brand new silver jaguar sports car. When she and the other driver checked to see that everyone was alright, the only concern the driver had was that everyone was fine. Heather said she was fine. "Anyone else in the car" he asked. "Just my son in the back and he's OK", Heather responded. "Then let us thank God that no one was hurt", and he placed his hand on the shoulder of his friend and together they bowed their heads in prayer.

Heather began to cry. He probably thought she was crying, she thought, because of the shock. However, what she was really thinking was, this is how I would like to be. This is the sort of Christian I would like to become. She whispered to God, "From this day on I will seek you. in truth, with an open heart and with an open mind."

Some 22 years later one of Heather's board members recommended an outsider to take the Chairman's role for God's Golden Acres. It was the very driver she had crashed into 22 years ago. This was also the very person she had called to tell that she had given her life to God one night at Deep Valley, and whom she phoned the next day to say: "I just want you to know that I am the woman who crashed into you all those years ago, and I want to tell you that it was your Christian behavior that turned me again to God."

Never underestimate when God will use your small and even insignificant comments, acts of kindness, and when you shine your light shine.......let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Banking For The Poor

Technology continues to amaze me. Applications for non profit organizations as well as directly for the poor are becoming astounding.

For example, I just sent an email to one of our Finance Committee members with an article about how cheap cell phones and online banking is being used to bring banking directly to the poor for the first time. Many poor women in Africa are buying the first cell phone in their village and charging the villagers per call as they contact their relatives, do business, and do their banking. Not only is technology changing cities, wireless technologies are rapidly affecting rural economies- one village at a time.

Obviously I love this stuff. Just like the last three blogs I did. One was done by calling an 800 number to Gabcast which is then automatically posted to my blog. Another I left a voice mail message on my cell phone, recorded it with some sofware on the phone, and then it was also automatically posted wirelessly to my blog. This posting was written on my cell phones keyboard and then sent to my blog. Amazing! I can't wait to see what's next.

[Posted with hblogger 2.0 http://www.normsoft.com/hblogger/]

South Africans/Welsh Leave Rosarito, Mexico

Gabcast! Simply Scott #1

South Africans Have Arrived

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Eleven South African young adults and ministers arrived in San Diego this weekend. They are a part of a team consisting of British, Welsh, Canadian, and South Africans who have joined Amor in Rosario, Mexico this week to plan, do, and learn how to build homes in South Africa in 2008. This team of one hundred will build five houses and participate in training meetings and discussions with Amor staff covering nearly every aspect of organizing, planning, and facilitating a mission trip.

On Saturday, March 31, the South Africans learned all about Amor's history, Mission, Values, and projects. A highlight for me was a live broadcast that was done from our conference room to a South African radio station called FM 90.7. One of the members of the South African team, Humphrey Birkenstock, is a radio broadcaster for this station. He called South Africa on his cell phone as several of us were interviewed and we listened to the broadcast via audio streaming on his laptop. It was a truly exciting and amazing experience that was aired by a radio station that has an audience of over 200,000.

This radio station has also set up a web page on the radio stations home page to share regular updates on the progress of their trips. You can view this journal at the link below and look for "Five Nations Mission: Trip Report":

FM 90.7 SOUTH AFRICA

A Board That Cares

I love catching Amor board members in action and I was able to do just that this week in Juarez, Mexico. I found Dan Kuban working with a group building a new church. Author John Carver, who wrote the classic book on board governance entitled "Boards that make a difference", characterizes a board member as wearing two hats. One hat is the hat that represents his role as a member of the governing board. Another hat that a board member can wear is the volunteer hat. Carver states that, "It is important that the hats are kept distinct in everyone's mind".

I love that our board members frequently wear these two hats. I believe it shows not only the passion that our board members had for our mission even before they joined the board but that they also continue to put their hearts and souls into touching the lives of the very people Amor Ministries endeavors to love and serve.

In this case, not only is Dan Kuban wearing his "volunteer hat", as you can see he is wearing his very special and unique volunteer glasses. Dan loves to work in the field helping Amor groups build homes and churches not because he is an Amor board member, but because he loves the Mexican people and he loves serving poor as an instrument of God. You can find Dan in Juarez pretty much every year during March in Juarez. Wearing my favorite hat!

To Blog or Not To Blog

The first time I ever blogged I wrote what I figured was an unthrilling piece of why I decided to blog. Guess what? I have been asked that very question again. Why should Scott blog? Its an importanst question to ask after all. Now I wish I hadn't deleted my very first blog entry. That delete button...I have learned to love it and sometimes loath it. Well, according to the articles that Alon, our Director of Development, has been giving me.... its important to know why you are blogging and just as important for those who read your blogs to know.

So, I will tell you why I am blogging. Any growing organization faces a number of challenges as they address the increasing pressures of growth. One of the greatest challenges is preserving and championing the culture and values of the organization. Telling the stories that truly share what the heart of the organization and its people are.

That being said, I want to really tell you about why I even have the inspiration to write this blog. MY CO-WORKERS! That's right. For the last year I have been reading about non profit leaders who were blogging and I really didn't grab onto the value of it. I think one of the most important things a leader can do is truly listen to the people they have the opportunity to work with. First Bob Brewer, our System Architect, suggested I start blogging last Spring. So I tried it. I really couldn't understand why I was writing and where it was going. Its actually a rather unique medium because its hard to quantify what the impact is of your investment. You write, you post it, hopefully someone reads it. Then Alon approaced me and said, "You really should be blogging". I put some thought it in and then got really busy with other things again. And again Bob walked up to me at the National Advisory Board Meeting and said "I really think you should consider blogging!". Maybe I was a little hard headed on this one. I love listening to everything our team members suggest. Its definitely one of the greatest strengths of our ministry...the ideas and brilliance of every team member. Maybe it was the "third time was a charm", but I decided to take on the challenging task of blogging, again.

I am excited about this. I just ask that you give me some room to learn about how I can truly add value to what you do, feel, and know about Amor and the great ministry we get to serve and share together. The easist part of this is knowing that I get to share even more with the people I truly love, each team member and all the great people that God has brought into our lives who share our passion for serving Christ.

Bob, Alon, and all of our co-team members... thanks for the inspiration. I hope I serve you well in sharing encouraging, interesting, and real stories that are relevant and worthwhile to you.

Last thing I want to add about this is something I read last week in a book I started ready that has a really silly title, "The Little Black Book of Networking". The author, started an email newsletter that first went out to hundreds of people. Over the years the interest in reading his weekly "e-zine" grew to tens of thousands of readers. Now that's amazing growth and a real inspiration. I don't know what God has in store for this blog but all I ask it that God gets the glory for it. And remember, I need your input and ideas to make this blog successful. I look forward to writing this together with and for you.
Scotty

Its Relational

I just spent a good part of the last two days with the Amor National Advisory Board. What a great group of people with real committment, passion, and vision for Amor. I was again very touched by their deep desire to help our ministry continue to improve. My insight on this years meeting was seeing a real interest in deeping the experience that all our participants have when they work with us in Mexico.

The brain-storming sessions were great too. Sheri could hardly keep up with all the ideas as she wrote them down for our future discussions. What's my favorite part? Thanks for asking! Once again, hearing how much they each loved the Amor staff. They love working with, talking with, and just plain spending time with each and all of us. We talked quite a bit about how Amor is all about being missional and relational. Great words. In an article entitled, "The Missional Church" by Jim Thomas, missional is described as moving from missions as an activity in which a few Christians are sent to foreign countries to convert unbelievers, to mission as God’s most basic purpose, intended for all believers. Sounds like what Amor is all about.

Amor Board member Mike McClenehan shared serveral times during our meeting and specifically challenged us to being "missional". If you would like to hear more about this from Mike just click the video link below:



"Relational" is the word I heard that I love the most. I think it really describes the primary characteristic any person working with and for Amor. The team of auditors this week from GLT even mentioned it to me numerous times. They said they loved coming to the Amor office to do the audit because every one at Amor has such a great attitude, they are fun, and really warm. They also mentioned that they do alot of work with other ministries and we really stand out. I think its the key ingredient for why I love getting up in the morning and coming to work. I get to work with the most enjoyable, fun loving, dedicated and committed group of people I have ever know.

So, to the entire staff of Amor Ministries...
I just want to close this entry with saying, THANK YOU......
for making my time on this earth so full of love,
for sharing your lives and valuable time with me,
for your deep and abiding committment to the mission of Christ,
for loving everyone we come in contact with,
for making this so....... much fun!!!!

More on "Muchas Gracias"

Mary G. Reoblings is the Chairman of the board of a large Trust as well as having been on the board of a very large university. During a funding campaign she shared with a colleague about the "seven thank you's", "People like to be thanked, they want to know that what they have done is appreciated, really appreciated. When we get a gift that we think is special,lets find a way to thank the person at least seven times before we ever ask them again for another gift. "Seven times!

They followed this "seven times" admonishment. There was a letter from the president. A letter from the chairman of the board. A handwritten note from the vice president. And a letter from the treasurer with the official receipt. Several months later, a note from a student who had received some scholarship assistance. A letter from the head of the department whose discipline had been particularly affected by the special campaign. A very brief personal note attached to the announcement of the groundbreaking ceremony, reminding the donor of how important their gift had been in making this day possible. Count them, seven times, and it was easy.

When the next campaign was announced, these people averaged gifts three times the amount of their original donation.

And what a better and nicer world it is if we are all saying "thank you" seven more times than we already are. So, to that end, my first "thank you" is for you having taken the time to read this post.

Muchas Gracias

A few weeks ago Gayla, Amor Ministries' Chief Spiritual Officer, shared that our theme for Spring of 2006 was simply "Thank You". It stems from our gratitude for all those who serve with us. Its not surprising then when I was reading a book that Alon, Amor's Director of Development, gave me that shared that major donors should be thanked no less than seven times. The specific number is of no real significance. Its the importance of how we should thank those who share with us in very appropriate and numerous ways.

When I think of all the people over the years who have sacrificially provided support and provided encouragement to Amor and to all of us who serve, I get very humbled. I am reminded of the phrase I often hear on Southwest Airlines by the flight attendants, "We know you have a choice of who you fly with. Thank you for choosing Southwest".

I know the phrase "major donors" is the standard phrase in non profits for those who significantly support our work, but I prefer calling them "major friends". "Donor" sounds almost like "customer" to me. I know we don't consider our supporters customers! We are all amazed that people drive and fly in from all over the country, Australia, Canada, and even Europe to serve along side us. They don't serve us, they serve along side us. We are partners and "friends" in ministry. We couldn't accomplish what God has called us to do with out their support, their prayers, and their friendship.

When I say "friends" I think of a whole slew of people involved in our ministry. I immediately think of our mission trip participants, our Mexican Pastors, and our group leaders. I can't help but think of those who pray for us, who financially support us, who make donations of all kinds for us. I remember those who donate countless hours like our Board of Directors, our committee members, our National Advisory Board, our Nexus participants, our Barnabus volunteers, and our one year long interns. I even recall those we do business with us like our vendors in the US as well as in Mexico.

We want our "major friends" to be life long friends. Not someone that comes on a trip one time and forgets about us. Not someone who sends in a check after reading our newsletter and we thank in a receipt letter and then we forget about. We want "major friends" who share in our work to feel appreciated for their partnership with us, and know they are a "major" part of our ministry. Can you imagine what a difference someone makes in our ministry and our lives when we continue a friendship that lasts for years. Hopefully 20 or 30 years, or more!!

The seven thank you's I mentioned earlier are all about making "friends" not making "customers". We want to share our ministry, our gratitude, and our time with our "major friends". Why a "relationship" you ask? Well, the first thing that comes to mind is, its the right thing. Its why we are called into a relationship with Christ. It why we are called into fellowship in the church.

And its why saying "thank you" is so natural for us. Everyone we come in contact should, to the best of our ability, feel like a "friend" to Amor. So, I end this note with a great big "thank you" for being a part of this amazing ministry which you make so enjoyable and fulfilling to serve at. And.. of course for making this all so outrageously fun!!! Thank you!!!

Scotty