Jessen’s in Peru FAQ

Hello friends,
I am embarrassed to admit it but I’ve been caught talking to myself a few times, so if you would do me a favor and have this conversation with me I won’t feel so bad. Here we go. You ask the questions and I’ll answer.

I’ve heard something about you and your family going to South America this summer. What’s up with that?

That is correct. I am so excited to be leaving May 22 to fly to Ecuador where I’ll meet up a short-term team to lead them in sports ministry and church planting. I’ll then travel via bus to connect with a couple other e3 guys, and we’ll travel to various parts of Peru teaching at Leadership Development Conferences (LDC’s). On June 3rd, Jenni, Scarlet and Maverek will meet me in Lima, Peru. In the following 2 ½ months we’ll be working in various parts of Peru teaching and helping to start new churches. We’ll be returning to the USA on August 19th.

Is this some kind of vacation or something? What will you actually be do­ing?

I’m glad you asked because this is a very important question. We will be doing two types of ministry while we are there. In order to equip our national brothers and sisters to be able to reach their country for Christ, we’ll be teaching in what we call Leadership Development Conferences (LDC’s). LDC’s are conferences that pastors and other lay church leaders are invited to attend. During the conference we teach on the vision of church multiplication, evangelism, prayer, training leaders and mak­ing disciples. Equipped with this training and other tools, national leaders can then begin to train others on how to lay the foundation for a church planting movement. This foundation allows God to rapidly expand His church in their area, after all, it is He alone who builds His church.

Our second form of ministry will be leading short-term mission trips. As teams come down from the USA we’ll lead them in sports ministry clinics that will lead to the start of new churches. By God’s grace and with His strength, we hope to be able to help plant 20 churches over the course of the summer.

Will you guys be doing anything else?

When we are not involved in LDC’s or leading trips, we’ll be visiting and encouraging our many Peruvian friends. We will also be surveying other areas for future work. We will invest time in studying a people group in the north known as the Lam­bayeque. The Lambayeque has approximately 28,000 people with only four evangeli­cal churches. We will begin planning an extreme adventure trip next spring to help the Lambayeque begin making disciples and planting churches within their own peo­ple group. We also hope to investigate unchurched coastal areas where surfing may be used to break down barriers, build relationships and make disciples.

Well, that all sounds great. How can we be involved?

John Piper has been quoted as saying, “Lord, let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.” It is our prayer that the Lord will do mighty things in and through our family while we are there so that His fame may spread. Prayer is the key to any success we could possibly have during our time there. Please pray for unity, peace, protection, strength, humility and health.

That is awesome, I’ll definitely be praying for you but is there any other ways I can be involved?

Actually, there is still time to join us! Our trip August 7-15th could still use you! It’s not too late to sign up. Call or email us if God is nudging you to join us on the field.

Also, God’s provision through our financial support team is what makes all this pos­sible. If you’d like to join our support team, tax-deductable gifts can be sent to: e3 Partners Ministry, 600 Development Dr, Suite 120, Plano, TX 75074. By including a note that says the gift is for Kelly & Jenni Jessen the funds will be routed to our min­istry account.

Boy, 3 months is a long time. How can we follow what you guys will be do­ing?

Electronic communication has allowed us to provide much faster news from the mission field. We will be communicating with our friends and family through email and our website. If you are not currently receiving emails from us you can send a blank email to oin-jessen-ministry-partners@lyris.e3partners.org and you’ll auto­matically be signed up on our email list. We will also be providing updates at www.jessenfamilyministry.blogspot.com.

Now that was a great and informative conversation! Thank you for your interest in our ministry and we look forward to sharing with you in person all the amazing things we saw God do in Ecuador and Peru when we return.

Until all the nets are full,
The Jessens

A Summer of Gospel Training

Men of LifePoint,
As LifePoint continues to grow and develop, the need for training and equipping to engage in mission grows exponentially. It is true that often when a church grows, vision suffers and is easily lost in the scramble to maintain. It is not the vision for LifePoint nor my desire to maintain anything. Advancement is the modus operandi of the gospel while faithfulness in fundamentals, expanding leadership for disciple-making, and broadening our scope of missional work is the rhythm of the gospel. We see this throughout Scripture, and LifePoint will continue to practice both. As we serve God’s kingdom to share the gospel with all peoples of the world, we must be clear we understand what the gospel is.

This summer will offer an opportunity for any man interested in clarifying and sharpening his understanding of the gospel. In June and July, I will lead a study every Tuesday and Friday morning for the purpose of training men in the gospel and preparing them to lead at LifePoint church. We will practice the disciplines of reading, study, fellowship, prayer, repentance, and encouragement. Tuesday mornings, 6:30 AM, will be in south central Springfield home of Lindy Massey (Maps will be available on Sunday). Friday mornings, 6:30 AM, will be in Ozark at Belgium Waffle House, Hwys. CC and 65. Both days of the week will cover the same material, so there is no need to attend both sessions. Choose the one that is most convenient for you and plan to join this time of fellowship, study, challenge, and training.

June’s study will use The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges. This book covers a basic explanation and understanding of the gospel. In addition, Pastor Lane will use the reading chapters for each week to discuss how gospel rhythms are used at LifePoint to lead and train more people for mission. Copies are available on the resource wall at LifePoint. Pick one up and read the first four chapters to prepare for our first week of meetings, June 2 and 5.

I look forward to experiencing the hand of God among our men this summer. Any man is welcome. Every man will be engaged. Join me.
Pastor Lane

Sermon Series | Ruth

1. Sovereign in Suffering. As we begin our study of Ruth, we see that life falls apart for this book’s characters in the first five verses; however, God puts those lives back together in the next 80. Pastor Lane provides keys to studying this short book, and we learn of Elimelech’s three fatal mistakes. (April 19, 2009)
2. Kindness in Provision. This week, we continue our study of Ruth and learn that in the provision of life, God’s kindness shows itself. We are also reminded that God’s generosity is always greater than our need. Knowing these things, we must ask ourselves, “Do I believe that God’s hand labors in my life for my good? And who is getting the glory for the kindness in my life?” (April 26, 2009)
3. Faithful in Surrender. In our third week of study in Ruth, we see how God is bringing about the gospel in the lives of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, and we learn that when we labor for the gospel, risk is intricately involved. (May 3, 2009)
4. Good and Glory in Redemption. As we finish the book of Ruth, we study how Boaz represents how we are to be ambassadors of the gospel. First, we are to faithfully represent the sender, and second, we are to effectively communicate with those to whom we are sent. In the last few verses, we see that the story is just beginning and that God’s care for our lives matches his plan for redeeming the world, for good and glory. (May 10, 2009)

Download all four sermons (82 MB).

April Edition of “Backpack Download” Arrives

Impact partners David and Alicia sent us their April newsletter from Central Asia this week. In it, they recap the work they’ve been doing there for the last year and explain how their tenure is winding down. They also share how they’re gearing up for a summer in the States and for a move to a different city next fall. For the full scoop, download their newsletter (PDF)…

April Edition of “The Monthly Witz” Arrives

Impact partners Craig and Bryn Hauquitz sent us their April newsletter this past week. In it, they share how they’ll be saying goodbye to their friends in Albertville this month and coming back to the States for the summer before returning to Cameroon, Africa. They also share the blessing of having language partners while they were in France and send us some family updates. For the full scoop, download their newsletter (PDF)…