Pearce Church - Missions

Max and Kristin
McGinnis

Committed to Learning

Imagine being a bi-vocational pastor - one who works a 40 to 50 hour week in secular employment as well as have responsibilities of leading/shepherding a church plant. In addition to these time-consuming and challenging roles, your church leadership wants to see you continue your theological studies so that you can move toward ordination. In addition, while attempting to achieve this educational goal, you are also caring for your family on a household budget that is less than $10,000 a year. Needless to say, finding the time and money to travel over 200 miles to the closest Free Methodist seminary (bible school) for two days of study a month seems almost impossible to accomplish.

For our Santiago pastors, this has been their challenge since the FMC started work in the capital city. Thankfully, we have very dedicated, bi-vocational pastors. However, they have not been able to continue their theological studies due to the fact that our Asbury Latinamericano Seminary is located 5 hours south in the city of Chillán.

With this as a backdrop, it is exciting to announce that, in July of this year, the FMC will be opening an extension campus in Santiago. This extension of Asbury Latinamericano Seminary will be able to offer the same three-year course load that is available in Chillán. Max will begin as the initial director of the extension campus, and the La Gran Comision FMC will be the place where classes are held. The pastor of the La Gran Comision, Eduardo Pizarro, as well as other key lay leaders, have worked diligently to make this extension a reality.

In the months ahead, please pray that all the necessary preparations will fall into place. Please pray as well that, in the years ahead, we will have multiple, ordained pastors better prepared for Kingdom advancement.

This Past Month's Happenings

Max's mom and dad were able to come and visit for 9 days!!
Max had weekly mentorship meetings with some of the conference's young pastors
After his monthly meeting with our pastors in Santiago, Max had an eventful car ride home through street fires, rock throwing, and protesting. We thank the Lord that he made it home safely.
Kristin was asked to be a part of the women's leadership team at the local church we're attending (La Gran Comisión). She is meeting with them bi-weekly to plan events and workshops that will be offered to the women of that church and its neighborhood
Grandma Dye (Max!s maternal) died on April 15th at the age of 97. She was an avid prayer warrior and will be greatly missed. We thank the Lord for the opportunity to “attend” her funeral via webcam.

And The Start Of:

..another school year: Addison in 5th grade, Felicia in 4th grade, and Isaac in 1st grade (We want to be sure to publicly thank Alison and Christine for a wonderful job of teaching our children last year! We sure appreciate your sacrifce in doing so. We miss you)
...another year of club soccer for Addison and Isaac
...another year of ballet for Felicia

Praises and Prayer Requests

Praise Notes:

For a good start to the “new year” of activity and routine
We have been able to remain healthy throughout these busy months

Prayer Items:

We just started our neighborhood ESL class. There seems to be a lot of interest in learning English. Please pray with us as prepare for each Thursday evening's class (9-10pm)