COSTA RICA 2019 Training #1
CBC YOUTH MINISTRY // MISSIONS
SUMMARY
This first training is all about getting our bearings correct. We had two portions - foundations & initial logistics.
WHAT IS MISSIONS?
1. The mission of missions is primarily spiritual.
I hope we can agree that the church should especially care about eternal suffering. The church is that unique gospel community chartered by Jesus Christ himself. Consequently, it should especially labor to fulfill its unique mission to guard the gospel, proclaim the gospel, and disciple those who respond in repentance and faith to the gospel.
God intends not only that his mission would go forward but
that it would go forward on his terms.
If our churches fail at that mission, no matter what other good things we do, we will have failed in the unique mandate that Christ has given us as churches. It is good to do other good things, and our churches may make different decisions about engaging in good works and social action. But it is the stewardship of the gospel that remains utterly unique to the Christian church. We must keep first things first. That is the priority of Christian missions.
2. The mission belongs to God, for his glory, on his terms.
God intends not only that his mission would go forward but that it would go forward on his terms. He means to get glory by showing that the mission is his and that his power sustains it. Any effort on our part to change or broaden the mission, or to substitute our ideas for God’s, runs the risk of trying to rob God of his rightful glory. And trying to rob an all-knowing and all-powerful God of the thing he is most passionate about in all the universe is breathtakingly stupid and ultimately pointless. God says:
For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (Isa. 48:9–11)
3. Global missions is primarily through the local church.
In one sense the commission to missions was given to every individual Christian. But in another sense it was given primarily to local churches. Each of us individually is called to obey Christ’s command to make disciples who know and obey his Word. But how does he intend us to do that? His Word is clear—normally we are to pursue obedience, build up disciples, and plant other churches through the local church. The local church makes clear who is and who is not a disciple through baptism and membership in the body (Acts 2:41). The local church is where most discipling naturally takes place (Heb. 10:24–25). The local church sends out missionaries (Acts 13:3) and cares for missionaries after they are sent (Phil. 4:15–16; 3 John 1–8). And healthy, reproducing local churches are normally the aim and end of our missionary effort (Acts 15:41; Titus 1:5).
Ref: https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-missions-and-the-local-church/
LA RANCH MINISTRIES (COSTA RICA)
Email: luis@laranch.org
Website: http://laranch.org/
Phone: 281-917-3093
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Laranchcostarica
CBC YOUTH Vision Behind Costa Rica Missions
Continued faithfulness to our core values and mission statement. As a youth group we want to make sure that this trip fits our direction and purpose. We believe that missions isn't just something we do once a year but is something we're always doing no matter where we are at. Costa Rica trip simply becomes an extension of something that we're already doing (i.e. sharing the Gospel wherever we go). Furthermore, this trip aligns with our belief of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 that commands ALL Christians to make disciples of all nations as they go (or live in the world).
Providing temporary support to and continued partnership with LA Ranch. We are going (back) to Costa Rica because we have a sustained partnership with Luis and LA Ranch. For many of us, we have seen, felt, and smelled the needs there at Costa Rica. To ignore those needs or to say, "i've already done that" would be a horrific evil on our part who knows better. We have been given an opportunity to partner with Luis and LA Ranch and our gospel ministry is to continue to encourage him and the work they are doing there.
Training & Equipping the local churches. A major thing that we want to accomplish there this year is to train and equip the leaders of the churches there, specifically those who work and serve youth. The churches that we will be working with (about 10 of them) have specifically asked us to train them in how to run a youth program and to bring as much material that we possibly have in order to help them build and sustain a thriving, healthy youth ministry.
Build the local community of CBC (Youth and Families) What we want to make sure is clear from this trip is that our team (from CBC) will be there for an extremely short period of time and will be headed back as a team. So what is crucial for us (as missions) is to build local community while we are there. The internal cohesiveness of the team is important for us so we have place strategic pieces to do team building like rest, a day of going out together, etc. I do not want our people to feel guilty for doing this either. One thing we mentioned in our meeting was that people tend to quantify missions and think that missions = the amount of work that one does. Whether they feel guilty for not working hard or sponsors want to "get their monies worth"...i'm not sure where that misconception came from. Regardless, rest and relaxation will be a part of this trip. The bulk will still be working and equipping and training but it is important to have fun yeah?
Meet the immediate needs of the Costa Rica communities. One reason why we are going also is to meet the immediate needs there. They need everything from hygiene products, to clothes, to school supplies. This obviously isn't all we're going to do there but we want to make sure we also take care of some of the immediate needs. See below for a list of items.
follow us on on social media with #cbcyouthcr2019
WHAT'S NEXT
Registration/Paperwork: If you haven't already, please register through this link: https://forms.gle/xHPjz7SUNw4Fqjas7. Additionally, please make a copy of your passport, drivers license, and insurance card (front and back) and send it to Tom Lee (tleeesq61@gmail.com).
Prayer: Be in prayer as the trip approaches! Pray for your own heart, for your team members, and for the people in Costa Rica that we will encounter!
WHAT ARE THE FINANCIAL NEEDS
2. VBS SUPPLIES ($20): This donation will go towards providing the CBC Costa Rica team with material to run VBS (Summer program) for 5-17yr olds during the week. This donation will also provide supplies for the students to use and take home.
3. CBC PARTICIPANT SPONSORSHIP ($5.00 - $1600.00) This donation will graciously sponsor a participant for this missions trip. They will represent you and this church well. They will be extremely grateful. Each member is responsible for raising $1600.00 and that covers travel, meals, transportation, and some other expenses. $300.00 of the total amount actually goes directly towards the people of Costa Rica not the participant. All of your partnership will go towards advancing the gospel through this team. Each donation is tax-deductible as a 501.c.3. gift. In addition, each member of our team will be bringing an extra suitcase filled with supplies to leave for the communities (esp. those in the slums).
4. LOCAL INTERN ($700) This donation will allow one of the students FROM Costa Rica to join and participate with the CBC team the whole week in efforts to train them for ministry so that they are able to build their churches where they live.
5. FULL SCHOLARSHIP ($56,000.00) This mighty fine donation will cover the entire trip for 35 people representing CBC and the City of Houston. This gift would relieve the entire team of financial burdens of fundraising and allow us to focus all our efforts into serving and preparing for the trip. This will also allow the entire team to use all the money we have planned for the trip to be given to the people, the leaders, and the churches in Costa Rica.
2 WAYS TO GIVE
DONATE ONLINE (Easiest way): Follow this link: DONATE HERE and Click the “Youth Missions Fund” on the "Give to" drop down menu.
DONATE BY CHECK:
Send check to: Chinese Baptist Church
900 Brogden Rd.
Houston, Texas 77024
Memo: Youth Missions - Costa Rica
TRIP OVERVIEW
Thursday, June 20 - Painting project at partner church, Monte De Dios.
Friday, June 21 - Complete painting project at Monte De Dios, do promotion in slums, and lead Youth Leaders Seminar at night.
Saturday, June 22 - VBS in Los Lagos slums (VBS, Cooking, and Construction teams). Youth Service at Monte De Dios at night.
Sunday, June 23 - Church service at Monte De Dios, Block party in the afternoon.
Monday, June 24 - VBS with special needs school (4 teams of varying levels).
Tuesday, June 25 - Rest and Relaxation.
Wednesday, June 26 - Depart for Houston