10th Anniversary of the Mexico City CYM

Rafa, one of the graduates from our program in Mexico City and youth pastor in a town called Ojo de Agua, said, “When I was younger I believed that pastors only worked on Sunday, but now that I’m in youth ministry, I often remember the words of my professors reminding me that what happens throughout the week is just as important.” He was speaking at the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Center for Youth Ministry in Mexico City.

There have been more than 65 graduates from the Bachelor’s and Certificate programs throughout the country, and more than 19,000 young people are attending churches that have youth ministers trained by YMI representatives.

I was in Mexico City last week for the celebration as well as to teach a week long intensive course on Discipleship and Mentoring of Young People. There were 9 students from all over the country, and I had a great time teaching them principles that will help them be better mentors and disciplers of young people in their local church context.

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Philip Talks About Youth Ministry In Romania

Philip is a Senior at the Baptist Bible Institute of Bucharest. He was one of the students in my class when I taught there last week, and he will be one of the first to have taken all 9 youth ministry courses being taught by Youth Ministry International in Romania.

In this video he talks about God’s call on his life and his experience in youth ministry.

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Youth Ministry in Romania

“I don’t know what church I will serve in, but I that my heart and my experience and all I’ve done has prepared me for youth ministry.” That statement from Philip, one of the Seniors at the Bucharest Baptist Bible Institute, made me smile as I sat in the chapel with him after my class was over last week.

I had traveled to Bucharest to teach a course called “Professional Orientation to Youth Ministry” and to be with our missionaries there. Part of my new role with YMI is to support our existing programs around the world and assist in the care of our missionaries.

I spent March 4-14 in Romania teaching and spending time with the Rice family who moved to Bucharest less than a year ago. We talked a lot about language learning, adapting to a new culture and the ministry on the field there. I also hung out with their kids and just had fun with their whole family. It was fun to let them show me around and teach me things about their new home.

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The Missionary’s Relationship with Language

This week I am in Bucharest, Romania, with my friends Phil and Scottie Rice. Their family is the newest on the field for our organization, having arrived about 8 months ago.

It is really fun to see how their story has come around because Phil visited my family in Mexico City when he was in college. I have seen God lead him through the entire process, and he is finally here, living the dream!

Right now, that dream includes learning Romanian. On top of all of the other cultural stresses they have right now, they are knee deep in conjugating verbs and learning vocabulary. While difficult and stressful, it is necessary and key to their success in their new home.

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