Update from Potters Field Ranch

“Thomas said unto Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going; and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” - John 14.5,6        
 

As we have been commissioned to make disciples and preach the Gospel to the whole world, the answer Jesus gives to Thomas is the message we are to bring – there is a heaven and Jesus is the way.  It is all about Jesus!  He does not just show the way, He is the Way; He does not only speak the truth, He is Truth; He does not just give life, He is Life.

Jesus makes it so simple for those who desire a relationship with God the Father.  It is only through Jesus and it is not complex.  Because of the finished work of Jesus upon the Cross, you and I, and the nations, can come boldly to the throne of grace and receive mercy in time of need.

The way to the Father is exclusive, but the invitation inclusive.  Ask the Father today who you could introduce to Jesus, to partake in this wonderful relationship you now enjoy.

Past, Present, & Future

For the last 15 years Pastor Michael and Pam have traveled world wide sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, His promises and their testimony of what He has done in their lives. When Pastor Michael and Pam met, their individual careers, a regional marketing director for Wall Street and a Broadway entertainer, respectively, were growing without measure, and their worldly success seemed to be all that they had ever wanted; however, those attainments had proved unsatisfactory, and their souls grew increasingly restless. Blaise Pascal, the 17th century French philosopher, said that “every human being is created with a God-shaped void”, and it is only God that can fill that void within, in hope to serve those who are without.
 
Pastor Michael and Pam, however, found themselves not only restless in their chosen professions, but their marriage was equally discontent. Within weeks of having met they married in Las Vegas and the genre of a Hollywood romance was anything but reality. In order for them to grow in union with one another they would have to first grow in relation with their Creator, individually. After many trials, God had proved Himself faithful and they were wooed by their Maker to serve one another as He had served them, through longsuffering, patience, hope and love. As their marriage matured in Christ so did their desire for full time ministry, hence both Pastor Michael and Pam walked away from their worldly endeavors, and the potter and his wheel accompanied by his bride and her music took to the road and began what is to be known as Potter’s Field Ministries (PFM).
 
PFM has toured the United States, Spain, Italy, El Salvador and the Philippians, bringing thousands into relationship with Jesus Christ, and yet it seems that the mission has had its greatest affect upon Pastor Michael and Pam. They had been, therefore, on the Potter’s wheel long before the Potter’s message was to be carried from their heart to the heart of humanity. That which comes from the heart reaches the heart, and because of their yielded lives to the Master Potter the potter and his bride have recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, 15 years of which have been spent serving the Lord through PFM as mission throughout to those who are hurting within.

This month PFM and Potter’s Field Ranch (PFR) Ministry Training School (MTS) were at the Send the Message (STM) conference at Calvary Chapel Spring Valley, Las Vegas, hosted by Pastor John Michaels. Pastor Michael and Pam gave their presentation as the closing event on Wednesday evening, October 17. The STM conference, tailored to equip and encourage God’s saints for the mission field, was overflowing with teachings, worship, workshops, and prayer. As they finish up in Nevada at Calvary Chapel Pahrump and Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain they will head toward California, where they will minister through the middle of December. Please keep them in prayer as they continue their mission to present Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life. Click here if you would like to attend an upcoming event!

Servants Being Sent

Potter’s Field Ranch (PFR) Ministry Training School (MTS) had the opportunity to serve the Send the Message (STM) conference in Las Vegas this past weekend, where our students had the opportunity to apply a servant style leadership. Ministerial leadership has its beginning in God’s Word, followed by serving His body. The theology of self-denial is at the heart of a servant style leadership, for as the apostle Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Cor.15.31), and John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn.3.30), so we must deny ourselves, pick up our Cross daily, and follow Him (Lk.9.23).

Our students learn servant style leadership by first learning self-denial through a series of physical and mental disciplines. For example, early morning devotionals, homework and classroom time, service on the ranch, local outreach, and community and church service.  We also took our students on a 26 mile hike in NW Montana where harsh elements in tandem with physical rigor showed them not only their weaknesses but necessity for finding strength in Jesus.  “You have to come to a point where you simply trust God and rely on His Spirit,” said Amanda Lynn (Warm Beach, Florida); and Justin Burnett (Wenatchee, WA.) said, “If you’re strong, He will make you weak.  If you’re weak, He will make you strong in Him.” The ongoing purpose is to keep the student humble, resilient, dependant and Spirit led, buffeting the body and mind. In denying our strength we must rely on the grace, mercy and strength of Jesus Christ.

After we lay the foundation for a servant style leadership we prepare for missions. Herein lies the test, for to be a disciple means learning how to depend on and trust in the Lord in any and every circumstance. “The Lord has shown me that joy and security are found only in Him, not in people, places, things, situations, or circumstances, ” said Joe Redling (St. Petersburg, FL.) in response to the events before him. As the Son of man has not a place to rest His head, so we as His disciples have no place either, save for in our Savior Jesus Christ. “I’ve realized what it means to truly rest in Jesus. I don’t have to figure things out; it doesn’t depend on me” (Christa Stoltzfus, Philadelphia, PA.), and in that the mission does not “depend” on us, so we, in any given circumstance, may “truly rest in Jesus” (Mt. 11).

In our affluence, however, these circumstances will have different meaning in light of the poverty and oppression that will be witnessed during a third world experience. Therefore, in preparation for El Salvador we educate through culture classes, world evangelism books and media, and the necessity of debriefing what has been seen.  From the classroom to the mission field the knowledge is worked into the heart through first hand experience, preparing the student for world mission.    
            
If you extend your soul to the hungry

And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Isaiah 58.10

Our light shines in the darkness when we feed the “hungry” and “satisfy the afflicted.” We are called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor.5.20), living epistles (2 Cor. 3.2, 3), lights shining in the darkness (Mt.5.14-16; Jn.1.5), and so our goal for missions is not only evangelism, but revealing the love of Christ through clothing and feeding the poor, ministering to the hurting and broken, providing for the widow and orphan, laboring with and for the afflicted, and pouring our lives out as a sacrifice for the higher calling of raising disciples. Amen, and so amen.
 
I am ready and willing. Go for God. – Troy Meyer, Los Angeles, CA.

One Year Later

After a year of being at the Potter’s Field Ranch (PFR) Orphanage in San Martin, El Salvador the boys have adjusted much better than could be imagined. Through daily devotionals, community service and regular participation in church community their integration has been a wonderful witness; and now, when their family members visit, the boys share the love of Christ with them, in the same manner it has been shared with them. The boys are embracing the house rules and understanding the necessity of obedience to and respect for authority. Along with daily exhortation and instruction the boys interest in and assimilation of their education has been exceptional, with increasingly higher scores on their exams. When one engages wholeheartedly that which God has placed before them joy is the byproduct, and this joy is visible as the boys serve the church through an outreach program called Little Samuels. The program, led by their house parents Alejandro and Claudia, is focused on evangelism and community service, especially on how they may serve the local children, reaching their borders for Christ. 

Soccer and other games round their week for as the boys are taught responsibility and integrity in their schooling, chores and personal conduct with one another, so they are encouraged to live life and play as reward for a job well done.  The boys are engaging their new lives with enthusiasm, reflected in their correspondence with their North American sponsors. As they follow the guidance of godly instruction the Holy Spirit is healing the traumas they may have from their past. What an awesome picture of God’s redemptive heart! Our God is missionary God going into the darkness so that His light may shine its brightest – If you extend your soul to the hungry, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness.

Along with the growth of the boys at San Martin, construction on the property continues toward completion. The drainage system for the school building is complete, bungalow # 1 is in its final stages and the administration offices for the school have begun. Over the next year we plan on building another home that will host 10 children, and another bungalow to host missionaries. In 2008, our Christian school will be opened for the children, grades 1st through 6th, as an outreach to the community. We are prayerfully awaiting to receive our next boy and eager for the many more that are on the horizon.

Meet…

The Potter’s Field Ranch (PFR) Orphanage in San Martin, El Salvador is closely linked to Calvary Chapel San Salvador (CCSS) in that we see the work between the church and the orphanage as one work under God. Our liaison between the church and the orphanage is Violeta Regina Acosta de Hernandez, the wife of Anibal Hernandez. Violeta began her work with PFR in April of this year, supervising various projects that happen at San Martin, as well as collaborating in the receiving and deploying of missionaries from PFR. 

Violeta and Anibal met in college in 1982, where they were both studying business administration. They were married in 1985, and after having fallen in love with Violeta, Anibal’s career interests took a new direction and he joined the El Salvadorian Air Force to serve as a pilot. They have two boys, Julio and Eduardo, ages 21 and 8, respectively. She came to faith when she accompanied her husband Anibal while he participated in a CCSS soccer outreach. In order to play he had to attend church at least once a week, and in 1996 they received Christ and have been serving the church ever since.

When Violeta was asked what her primary passion is, after Anibal and their two boys, the answer flowed from a confidence that was anchored in experience and hope, that is, she said, “I have a true passion to serve my Lord through service to my brothers and sisters.” And this mission statement, so to speak, enjoined with her life verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4.13), empowers Violeta to serve our missionary God as missionary to her people and those that would come up alongside her. Thank you Jesus that You are the way, the truth, and the life, and through You the mission to the nations is one mission, and Your Word is at the helm!