The other day Andy and I were waiting in a parking lot to meet up with a group and take them across the border to our campground. We were sitting in a truck with the Amor Ministries logo on the side when a man came up to the truck and knocked on the window. He said to us, “You don’t know me, but 10 years ago you (Amor) changed my life when you built my church.”

It was incredible to be able to see an example of the long term effects of the ministry.  My hope is that all of Amor’s participants, volunteers, supporters and team members understand they are the “you” of whom this man was speaking.

Our Ministry Planning Board Members in Mexico shared their hearts with us. Please pray for them.

Jose Hernandez

Praise – We have had a difficult time with family issues but the Lord has moved us forward and His glory and power has manifested itself and He has given us victory in everything. All has worked for good.

Prayer – Pray for six members of the church who don’t have work. We would like to build a new church building but we are having difficulty getting what we need from the city. Please pray for this request.

Gustavo Rendon

Praise – Thank you very much for your prayers, they give strength and support and God has done His work. We have passed some crises, for the moment, the Red Sea is passed and we enter Jordan.

Prayer – From August 16-22 we will have a mission trip to Santa Rosalia, B.C. Sur. Prayer for our travel and that the backpacks with school supplies we will be taking will make a difference.

Florentino Gallardo

Praise – Thank you for your prayers. The Lord Jesus Christ has helped us with what we need for the function of the church. Thank you for your prayers for my family and for blessing my life.

Prayer – Please pray that God would help us start small groups that will grow families and that God would give me a wife.

Cesar Nunez

Praise – Thank you for your prayers and support that have been a great blessing and that God has answered the prayers the we gave long ago. Thank you for your support in everything. God bless you.

Prayer – I ask you to be praying for this ministry to be able to find lost souls for Christ. Thank you very much and God bless you.

Hortencio Guerrero

Praise – I give thanks because my wife was hospitalized but she is already recuperating in our house. I give thanks to God for his prayers and mercy. Glory to God.

Prayer – I ask for your prayers for the quick recovery of my wife and also for my children and my life and my ministry. Thank you for your prayers.

Ezequiel Higuera

Praise – Thank you for your prayers because God has blessed us in spiritual things.

Prayer – Please pray for me, I have a sickness. God knows when it will leave me and I know that God listens.

Mere Don

Praise – Your prayers have been very important. We have notably received help from God in various requests that have been manifested.

Prayer – Please prayer for the company Elohim that we would be lifted to support the work of the Lord. This commercial company’s food and finances are for the ministry of the Lord.

Oscar Higuera

Praise – Thank you for all the blessings that God has spilled in an equal manner to know His love. To Lydia that God would bless her and all that she does. God is with you.

Prayer – I ask for your prayers for the church that God would continue blessing and for each vision and project that is at work in the church.

Eusebio Haros

Praise – I give thanks to God for the time that I have been able to serve with Amor. Thanks to God for the time that Lydia has been with us; it has been a great blessing.

Prayer – In the presence of God, we have need of a vehicle to move the church and the families.

Adolfo Escamilla

Praise – Thank you for the salvation of my family, my salvation, for the hearing team, for my children’s school.

Prayer – Pray for transportation for my church, for the economy and the church, for some land in San Quintin for a church.

Armando Ponce

Praise – Thanks that God has supplied all our necessities for the church and us personally.

Prayer – Pray that we would have the help of God for our VBS that we would have the highest number of children possible for Christ. Please help us pray for this work.

Fausto Meraz

Praise – Thanks to God for His unspeakable gift, that He is good, and always for His mercy.

Prayer – Pray for pastors Fausto and Maria and for the church. We need a bus.

Juan Briceno

Praise – Pray for the church family. God has blessed us in everything.

Prayer – Pray for the family, church, and ministry of the prison, for a car for the family. Thank you.

Jesus Lobatos De Avila

Praise – Thankyou for your prayers. My family is very well and so is the church and ministry.

Prayer – Pray for my family, the marriages of church leaders, and a vehicle to transport people.

Jose Luis

Praise – Thanks for the health of my mother. I give thanks for your prayers.

Prayer – I ask for prayers for four brothers in my church who are sick: Brother Agustin, Brother Noemy, Sister Angelica, and Brother Isandro.

Romelio Perez

Praise – My wife, Mari, had an operation on her nose and she healed very well from her surgery. My mother will have a hernia surgery next month.

Prayer – Pray for health for my mother that she would live in Him. I need Bibles with large print hard backs. Thank you.

I received this quote from an organization that sends out short, daily devotionals. It speaks to what Amor tries to accomplish through partnership with the Church.

“Family values and social justice aren’t separate issues. The health of the community depends on the health of the family and the health of the family depends on the justice of the community.”
- John Perkins, from Welcoming Justice, co-written with Charles Marsh

What do you think?

Amor is stoked to be Jedidiah’s Summer 2010 Partner! Jedidiah is a rad company doing amazing things and Amor is honored to partner with them to look for creative & collaborative ways to change the world. Through the opening of these new doors, we can tell more people about the work Amor is doing around the world and how everyone can be involved.

Jedidiah is not only helping us get the word out. They are partnering with us financially as well. 5% of their total sales for the Summer quarter will be going to Amor.

On June 1, 2010 Jedidiah will be launching a full line of mens and womens clothing inspired by Amor Ministries. Until then be sure to pick up one of these tees and $10.00 from your purchase will go directly to Amor.

Check out their blog and website, buy some sweet clothes, and help continue the work of Amor.

Kamar works for Amor as a Field Specialist. We think she’s pretty great. Apparently we’re not alone.

Sent in by a someone who worked with Kamar this Spring.

On January 10th, 2010, San Diego artists, organizations (like Amor Ministries), and community members will come together for the first ever REVO San Diego event. Hosted at Bondi Bar in downtown, REVO San Diego will be a night to celebrate the creativity of local artists as well as support San Diego-based organizations that are battling social injustices here and around the world.

What: REVO San Diego
When: Sunday, January 10th, 2010@ 7pm
Where: Bondi Bar, Downtown San Diego
333 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101

More info: www.revosandiego.com

Other Details: $5 suggested donation at door. All ages!

Hi Friends!

Please check out this awesome opportunity to help some amazing organizations (including Amor) simply by voting.

Project 7 is an organization giving out $15,000 to 7 different non profits that are tackling 7 different social justice areas. Amor is a finalist in the “House the Homeless” category and we need to get votes in for our cause. Just go to http://www.project7.com/voting/ and vote. Then tell all of your friends!

Photo by Kurt Blake of Huntington Beach, CA

If you have a photograph from an Amor Mission Trip that you would like to see as our Photo of the Week, please email it to jon@amor.org .

I recently read this quote from Oswald Chamber’s My Utmost for His Highest:

“A missionary is someone in whom the Holy Spirit has brought about the realization: You are not your own.”

Chambers goes on to talk about 1 Cor. 6:19, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.”

What exactly does it mean to “not belong to yourself”. I mean, we are physically controlling our bodies, making each movement on our own, right? I feed myself, clothe myself, bathe myself, etc.

I think what he is saying (and what Paul in Corinthians is saying) is that as missionaries (which I believe as Christians that is our goal – to spread the Gospel to those who haven’t heard it, making us all missionaries no matter what our profession) we have to realize that even though we have been put in physical control of ourselves, our lives, and the paths we choose, as missionaries we are called to something greater than the comfort of our daily routines. Through Christ we have tremendous value – a value worth the death of a King – and we are called to give that life back through serving the Lord and his people. And that is why I am sitting here today – uprooted, friendless, in a city far from home. Because I don’t belong to myself, and my comfortable life back home. I knew that if I stayed in NYC (and didn’t come to Amor as a year-long intern) I would be “belonging to myself” and not serving the God whom I do belong to – the God who wants me here.

Joanna Flavin is serving as a year long intern with Amor Ministries. You can read more on her personal blog, www.theflavins.com