Get to Know the São Luís Mission Team

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2 Get to Know the São Luís Mission Team God has woven together the São Luís Mission Team from three families who began their journey together in 2003 at the Northside Church of Christ in San Antonio. They are a team made up of six adults and their eight children who are 10 years of age and under. During the last 14 years at Northside, the couples have worked, served and led various ministries and have proven to be effective leaders and servants. Now they are the first missionaries to be sent out by their congregation to plant a new church. The most significant ways they believe their team has grown together has been through their leadership in NEON (Need Each Other Now) groups and in a ministry called SERVEiVOR. NEON is a ministry that uses intimate accountability groups to disciple teens through the ups and downs of high school. SERVEiVOR was initially created as a fun team-building retreat, but it evolved into a more intentional, meaningful ministry. Participants are led to identify their spiritual gifts through team building games and receive a tangible experience of what the church should look like. SERVEiVOR has expanded to other area churches and schools, and has now reached outside of the United States. Observing the team s impact, David Ingram, a missionary for 26 years in Fortaleza, Brazil approached them about taking SERVEiVOR to the young people of that country. Their faith had been deepened through experiences on other mission trips, so they enthusiastically agreed. 1 In Fortaleza, the team and David were overwhelmed by what they witnessed in the Brazilian youth. Their hunger for the word, their dedication to living its message, and their response to the team s ministry approach was inspiring, motivating and impactful. It was beyond what the team had even imagined.

3 The energized team returned to San Antonio and shortly thereafter were presented with another chance to return to Fortaleza. On the second trip, it was confirmed that they were indeed making an impact in lives and in the church as a whole. The team heard stories of reconciliation, leadership, forgiveness, reunification and rejuvenation from participants and leaders alike.this time, David, Mark, Justin and Troy stayed for a survey trip with Great Cities Missions to look at two other cities for future mission teams. That trip and relationship resulted in a partnership with Great Cities Missions, and the São Luís Mission Team is now the 43rd team to be endorsed by them. They are following a successful blueprint that has proven itself time and time again. In that regard, and with the partnership with Great Cities Missions, they are not doing something that is new to them. They have been bringing people to Christ in their own culture for years. They are a group of mature Christians, parents, and friends who have been through life s storms, supported each other, grown in their faith and established deep, unshakeable roots. It is through that grounded strength that they go with eyes wide open to share Jesus love with the people of São Luís. 2

4 Get to Know the Dye Family Mark and Melynda have been married for 15 years and have an 8-year-old son, Jude. Mark is a 39-year-old Marriage Ministry Leader at Northside Church of Christ and is currently 33 hours into the 84-hour Master of Divinity Graduate Program at Nations University. Mark s earliest church memories are of his grandmother in a small room behind their church baptistery, where she taught him memory verses and stories about Jesus. However, he moved after his parents divorce and his exposure to church became limited to attending with friends or when visiting his grandparents. Melynda grew up in Baraga, Michigan, faithfully attending Catholic mass every weekend, but the traditions and rituals left her with many unanswered questions. She began seeking and experiencing other faiths through her friends, where she found deeper Bible studies and applications of Jesus teachings, and where seeds were planted that left her heart yearning to know more. Dye family Mark, Melynda, and Jude (8) Their Path to São Luís At age 21, Mark joined the Air Force. It was at Offutt AFB where Mark met Melynda, who had just completed basic training, and they began dating. Melynda heard Jesus call to seek Him during a deployment in Japan, and she called Mark and told him that she wanted to find a church. Upon her return to the States, they began attending Bellevue Church of Christ, where they were welcomed as family and by a couple who quickly became close friends and mentors. 3

5 The weekend after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mark and Melynda were approached by their close friend and mentor who had tears on his cheeks. He was worried for their eternal life, not knowing what would happen to them if they deployed. That conversation resulted in their baptisms and their wedding, both which occurred the following weekend. After their military commitments ended, Mark and Melynda moved to San Antonio and quickly began serving at Northside Church of Christ. When their son Jude was born with Diastrophic Dysplasia, requiring four surgeries during the first six years of his life, their faith and the love of their church family carried them through the setbacks and challenges. During the last 11 years at Northside, God has sharpened Mark and Melynda s talents and skills, while softening their hearts to His will. They have been active in youth ministry, urban ministry, homeless ministries, teaching opportunities, a marriage ministry, and mission trips to Mexico and Brazil. Now Mark and Melynda are ready to answer God s calling to go to São Luís, with a faith that He has been molding them for this journey. Ministry Involvement Short term Evangelism and VBS missions in Guyana, South America: 2004, 2005, 2006 Congregational Work weekly night coordinators 2005 NEON high school mentor program Adult, Youth and Children s Bible class teachers Men s Retreat coordinator 2007 SERVEiVOR Youth Weekend Outdoor Retreats Texas Area Churches/Christian School and College San Antonio Urban Youth Program Fortaleza Brasil (4 retreats) Children s Special needs assistant Couples Retreat Coordinators Leader of the Marriage Ministry LIFE group leaders 4

6 Get to Know the Gibbins Family Troy and Lauren have been married for 13 years and are the parents of four children: Reef a 10-year-old boy; Jonas, a 9-yearold boy; Lachlan, a 7-year-old boy; and Poppy, a 5-year-old girl. Troy began life in the small town of Ettalong, Australia. His parents took him to church faithfully and showed him how to have a personal relationship with Jesus. But after five moves in seven years for his family, church became less of a priority for Troy and as a teen he dedicated his time to friends and parties. Troy met a man from Harding University who was in Sydney with a mission team, and was amazed by his deep relationship with God. Troy moved across the world to find it for himself. He enrolled in Harding where he spent several years building and deepening his relationship with Christ, and earned a Bachelor in Business Administration. He would later complete his Masters of Theological Studies from Nations University. Gibbins family Troy, Lauren, Reef (10), Jonas (9), Lachlan (7), and Poppy (5) After college, Troy relocated to Louisiana for a job and met Lauren. Lauren is a native Texan who grew up in Navasota. During her childhood, Lauren s family spent several years away from regular church attendance. But Lauren s grandparents made sure she went to church with them, and her faith was shaped by watching them bring others to Christ. After high school, Lauren enrolled at Louisiana State University where her grandfather had attended. In fact, he made some phone calls and a Christian group was ready to welcome Lauren to campus! Lauren met and began dating Troy, and while on a retreat called Gulf Coast Getaway, she gave her life to Christ and was baptized in a very cold ocean! 5

7 Their Path to São Luís In 2003, after graduating from LSU with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Studies and a minor in Sociology, Lauren moved to San Antonio to attend the UT Health Science Center School of Medicine. Later that year, Troy followed her by opening a new branch for his employer, and they were married on December 29th. When Troy and Lauren found the Northside Church of Christ, they quickly began leading and serving. During the past 14 years, they have worked in Children s ministry; led in the Youth group, LifeGroups, and Men s and Women s ministries; mentored high school students; and started and led a homeschool ministry. They have also been on multiple mission trips. Troy visited Fortaleza, Brazil several times and surveyed São Luís as a possible place to serve and advance God s Kingdom. After years of prayer, preparation and seeking God s will, Troy and Lauren know the time has come to answer God s calling. They are ready to spread the good news of Jesus to São Luís. Ministry Involvement Children s ministry teachers and supervisors Youth group small group leaders NEON high school mentor program Women s ministry, including event planning, women s leadership, discipleship Men s Ministry Started and led a homeschool ministry SERVEiVOR since 2006 Life Group leaders Living Water mission trip to Nicaragua Sheltering Wings mission trip to Burkina Faso, West Africa Several trips to Ciudad de Angeles children s home in Mexico Three trips to Fortaleza, Brazil 6

8 Get to Know the Hill Family Justin and Jill have been married 15 years and have three children: Caden, a 7-year-old boy; Rylee, a 4-year-old girl; and Addison a 3-year-old girl. Justin is a 36-year-old Physician Assistant from Bridge City, Texas. He was raised in a loving Christian home attending church three times a week, but it was after high school, through his work with inner-city youth and on medical missions, where he developed a heart for service. Jill is 36 years old, has a degree in Elementary Education and experience working in a Title 1 District with atrisk children. Jill s childhood included regular church attendance and the influence of parents who regularly assisted needy children with rides, meals and a place to stay. Hill family Justin, Jill, Caden (7), Rylee (4), and Addison (3) Their Path to São Luís After they married, Justin and Jill struggled with the pain of infertility for years. Eventually they had a son Caden, but also became foster parents and welcomed two siblings into their family. One day, they received a call from their caseworker who asked if they would consider accepting another child with some special challenges a newborn with Down Syndrome and a heart problem. After much prayer, Justin and Jill concluded that if they believed God to be who He said He is and that He called them to this purpose, then either they needed to accept the opportunity He had given them, or they didn t really have a faith at all. They picked up newborn Rylee and three weeks later found out that Jill was pregnant. Soon they would have five children ages 5, 4, 3, 10 months and a newborn! 7

9 The next year was challenging. Rylee had open heart surgery, Addison was born, and they endured a heart-wrenching custody battle for their two foster siblings, which resulted in a placement with the children s biological grandparents. Justin and Jill, who have served at the Northside Church of Christ for years, continued to lead by faith through these ups and downs of life. They now find themselves called to apply their experiences and life lessons to advance the Kingdom in Brazil. They believe God has prepared them well for the journey, and they are ready to share the love of Christ using the unique gifts God has crafted in them for His purpose. Ministry Involvement Camp of the Hills volunteer and counselor Medical mission trips to San Pedro Sula, Honduras and to Ghana, Africa; two other mission trips to Fortaleza, Brazil ACU Spring Break Campaigns Bozeman, Montana and Chicago, Illinois Middle school small group mentor at ACU New Life Church Bible class teacher/helper Northside Church of Christ High school small group mentor (NEON), Bible class and Bible Hour leaders, middle school retreat leader, men s ministry retreat leader/organizer, started annual father/son campout SERVEiVOR for 10 years Lifegroup co-leader for several years Urban Connection San Antonio: Education Coordinator for afterschool program, local women s outreach, food/clothing program Urban Connection Outdoor Adventures Led hunting/fishing/ camping trips for at-risk kids Assisted living centers devotionals for several years Co-started/leads Northside s S.A.F.E. (Supporting Foster and Adoption Efforts) 8

10 Get to Know the Brazilian City of São Luís São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil For more than 40 years, Great Cities Missions has successfully started churches in large, urban settings in Latin America. In Brazil alone, they have established thriving churches in 19 of the 26 state capitals. One of the remaining influential capitals is São Luís, Maranhão. São Luís is the largest city in the state of Maranhão and has a population of more than one million people. It was founded in 1612, and even after more than 400 years, it still does not have an established church of Christ within the capital city. São Luís is located in the Northeast part of the country and is on an island where the only automobile access is over a bridge. Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools, but English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum. São Luís is known for its tiles, and most buildings in the historical center are covered in them. The city is known as The Tiles City and Brazilian Athens. The historic center of São Luís is an enchanting neighborhood of steamy cobbled streets and pastel-colored colonial mansions -- some handsomely restored, but many still deep in tropical decay. 9

11 It s a charming area with a unique atmosphere and one of the best concentrations of museums, galleries and craft stores in the Northeast; but unfortunately, a general sketchiness pervades some of its streets after dark. São Luís is ready and asking for workers for the kingdom, and the São Luís Mission Team is ready and willing to answer those requests. The average monthly wage in São Luís is approximately $500. Both the physical and spiritual needs of the souls of this city is compelling for a love in action. 10

12 Get to Know Our Mission Plan The São Luís Mission Team, made up of the Dye Family, the Gibbins Family and the Hill Family, is prepared to go to São Luís in Maranhão, Brazil to start a church. They will go as the first missionaries sent by Northside Church of Christ and in partnership with Great Cities Missions. Nearly 14 years of service in Christ has forged this team through numerous in-church and in-community ministry experiences. In June of 2017, they will all be quitting their jobs to undergo six months of full-time intensive training as they prepare to arrive in São Luís in January, Great Cities Missions has already started churches in 19 of the 26 state capital cities in Brazil, and São Luís will be the 20th, with these families answering God s call. Each of these three families have committed a minimum of five years to the mission, but that really means being present until their mission is complete. Leveraging a successful model of Great Cities Missions, the São Luís Mission Team will make an impact on this large city with a main avenue church. A main avenue church is located on a principle and well-known thoroughfare of the target city, inspiring credibility and insuring accessibility, and serving as a visible outreach tool for ministry to the community. 11 In a little more detail, the São Luís Mission Team will: 1. Settle into São Luís and began intensive language and cultural training 2. Begin the Great Cities Missions plan to start a new congregation 3. Find, rent and prepare a temporary space to launch the church 4. Concentrate on outreach and growing a large faith community 5. Launch multiplying small groups that will spread throughout the city 6. Prepare members for their ministry in the church and community 7. Raise up national leaders who will lead the congregation 8. Begin the process of securing a permanent building 9. Plan other new congregations

13 Great Cities Missions has been sharing the gospel in the Latin world for more than 40 years. The ministry has recruited and trained more than 42 missionary teams, sending them out to major metropolitan cities in 11 different countries of the Latin world. Over 300 adults and their children have moved to new countries to tell people about Jesus and plant churches. Using the Great Cities Missions model of recruiting and training, over 225 congregations now meet and thousands of people now worship Jesus as Savior. There have been more than 148 different churches in the United States that have partnered in this work and countless individuals. On the staff, they have an accumulated 112 years of actually living in Central and South America. Great Cities Missions ministry provides: Missionary team recruiting Carefully screened and approved missionaries Team training that includes language preparation, team dynamics, and urban church planting strategy On-the-field adjustment assistance Ongoing care for missionary families Counsel and assistance with re-entry issues 12

14 Get to Know Our Financial Plan As the families who form the São Luís Mission Team prepare for their dedicated service to start Christ s Church in São Luís, Maranhao, Brazil, the need to develop a support base is a large and significant part of the effort. They need financial support from individuals, organizations and churches, so that their focus can shift to where it ought to be and that is reaching the lost. As a show of belief and support, their home church of Northside Church of Christ in San Antonio has pledged to provide half of the needed funding for the mission effort. But this work cannot happen without your assistance. Please consider supporting these three families as they uproot their lives in answer to His call to go and start a church in São Luís. Donation Options to Help Spread the Gospel in São Luís (1) Send checks payable to Northside Church of Christ at Hwy 281 North, San Antonio, TX, Please include specific family memo lines for either: Team - São Luís Dye - São Luís Hill - São Luís OR Gibbins - São Luís (2) Online donations may be made via PayPal through the Northside Church of Christ website at: Go to NSCOC. ORG and click on the Offerings/Payments navigation tab. There is a PayPal convenience fee of 3%. (3) For ongoing, regular donations, you may consider going through your bank s automatic bill-pay option using the memo lines referenced for paper checks. 13

15 2017 Annual Budget Category Budget Remaining Need Monthly Need Salary $105, $24, $4, Training $ 18, $ 9, $1, Working Fund $ 4, $ 2, $ Moving Cost $110, $55, $9, Survey $ 5, $ 2, $ Total $243, $93, $15, *Monthly Need is calculated June - December 2018 Annual Budget Category Budget Remaining Need Monthly Need Salary $174, $89, $4, Education $ 32, $16, $1, Working Fund $ 54, $27, $2, Furlough $ 14, $ 7, $ Total $275, $109, $9,

16 C/O Northside Church of Christ Hwy 281 North San Antonio, TX Fundraising materials donated by Reino Capital.