Missionary Spotlight | Zachary Bryan | Jun 19, 2017

Missionary Spotlight Zachary Bryan Meet Zachary Bryan, one of our newest missionaries. Zachary came on as an apprentice in May as the videographer in our marketing department. INTERVIEW WITH ZACHARY 1. Tell a little bit about yourself and where you're from. I'm Zachary Bryan, and I'm from Hendersonville, NC, right outside of Asheville. I grew up snowboarding and mountain biking, so I love the outdoors. I have a degree in show production and concert touring. I have a passion for videography, and audio engineering. I have an incredibly supportive mom and dad that always go out of their way to help me. I have a brother and sister in-law that are absolutely amazing and are two of my best friends. 2. What made you choose to serve at Casas por Cristo? Ever since my first build in 2012, God has been preparing me for a role in ministry. Since then, God clearly revealed to me that his plans for me are better than my plans. He wants me to use my gifts and talents to further his kingdom. What better place to do that than the ministry that helped push me in the right direction? 3. How have you seen God through your ministry at Casas por Cristo? God is always moving. Since I decided to step into a role with Casas, God has been pushing me out of my comfort zone. This has caused me to lean on him more so that I can learn and grow into the leader and person that he needs me to be. 4. What has been your biggest challenge so far? I would say the biggest challenge for me has been the transition period of leaving my old job and stepping into this new role at Casas. This whole process of coming to Casas and moving from North Carolina to Texas all happened within one month. 5. What are some things people should be praying for on your behalf? Please pray constantly for the ministry and for each one of us here to be used by God in mighty ways for his kingdom.

SUPPORT ZACHARY 915.778.0046 | questions@casasporcristo.org | casasporcristo.org

Missionary Spotlight | April 17, 2017

Missionary Spotlight: Miguel Flores Meet Miguel Flores, Mexican Representative for Casas por Cristo. He has been serving full-time with us since December 1994 (23 years). If you've ever been on a trip to Juárez, you've probably seen him checking up on your team while you work. Miguel makes sure all of the materials are delivered to the work sites, he checks up on the families to ensure they are ready, he serves as the caretaker of the Shane Harris Outreach Center (SHOC) compound in Juárez, he helps make maps, and he does various other tasks to keep the ministry running. On top of all of his duties with Casas, he also pastors a small church that meets next to the SHOC.

Interview With Miguel 1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, and where you're from. I am from the city of Juárez, Chihuahua, México. I was born into a very poor family, and growing up I learned the mechanic trade from my father. I married Verónica at age 18 and began working as a mechanic to support our family. After being married for two years, I began to go to pastor Aaron Rodolfo's church. Pastor Rodolfo happened to be the director of Casas por Cristo, and he got me involved serving with Casas, which changed my life dramatically. I began to understand and experience the love, unity, and work of God. Day by day, I began to know Christ more. I had been a very troubled young man with marital problems. But when I began to follow Christ and work with Casas, my life turned around, and I began to love my wife and family. We have three daughters, Jazmin (25), Lorena (21), and Cinthia (19), a son, Isaac (9), and a granddaughter, Genesis (3). This is my family. They work side by side with me now that I'm older. I began to work at age 23, and now I'm 45. I have learned a lot of things over the years in this career, primarily to give honor to God and enjoy the blessings that God gives us. I love visiting the recipient families and seeing their faces filled with joy when I announce that we're going to build their house. It's amazing to see how the families are transformed through the ministry of Casas por Cristo.  2. Why did you choose to work with Casas por Cristo? I don't think I chose to serve at Casas. I think God chose it for me. It had always been my dream to be a mechanic, but God lead me to Casas, and here we are 23 years later. That's how it is with God. His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. He knows better than we do. 3. Give us an example of how you've seen God in your work with Casas por Cristo. Recently, there was a family of 9 people that received a Casas house. They didn't know Christ. The sponsoring pastor couldn't be there for the dedication. So, I stepped in to lead the dedication ceremony. I was asking God, "What should I do and say?" God put it on my heart to share the testimony of how Christ transformed my life. This family, after hearing my story, accepted Christ into their hearts. I think that Casas por Cristo isn't only here to build homes, but also to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to families. 4. What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a missionary? It's hard to leave my family. I have to be gone all day and sometimes all week without spending much time with them. This has been one of the hardest parts of working for Casas. When my children were young, I only saw them at night and in the morning when they were asleep because there was so much work to do. So, they only had a "dad" on the weekends. 5. What are your desires for the future? I hope that my family continues serving with Casas. And my greatest desire is that my son, Isaac, will take my place when I'm too old to work anymore. Prayer Requests Please pray that God will give me the words to carry the Gospel message to the families. I know when this happens, God will do amazing things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

915.778.0046  |   questions@casasporcristo.org   |   casasporcristo.org

Missionary Spotlight | Gail Andrews

Meet Gail Andrews, our Human Resources Manager. She has been serving with Casas since 2013. In addition to leading teams in México and Guatemala, she keeps our staff insured and organized. She also works with our intern program and coordinates our social media. INTERVIEW WITH GAIL 1. Tell a little bit about yourself and where you're from. I'm from the Cleveland, Ohio area. I graduated from the University of Akron in 2013 with a degree in Human Resources and Marketing. I have one older brother and a sister-in-law that live in Houston, TX (unfortunately, we are still an eleven hour drive apart). I've played volleyball almost all of my life, so I enjoy staying active. I could probably eat popcorn every night and be a happy camper. 2. What made you choose to serve at Casas por Cristo? I was first introduced to Casas on the 2011 spring break trip that my college ministry was going on. I decided to intern after graduating in 2013. During that summer God worked in my heart and showed me that Casas was what He was calling me to. I love that I get to combine my education with my passion to serve tangibly, all while sharing the Gospel message to teams and families.  3. What has been your biggest challenge so far? For me, the most difficult part is being so far away from my family and friends. My mom is my best friend; I probably talk to her everyday (or close to that), and it's hard to be at a place in my life that I only get to see my parents two or three times a year. But they just joined me on a Team Casas build this past October. It was surreal to have them serving here with me. 4. How have you seen God through your ministry at Casas por Cristo? There have been so many ways that it is hard to pick just one. I think the fact that God has brought people into my life (on both sides of the border) that make me feel like a part of their families is one of the most precious gifts He could have given me. To be loved by the people I build for, build with, and work with has been such an incredible blessing. I have learned so much about life and about His love for me and His people through each person that I've encountered here, and for that I'm forever grateful.  Please Pray For... My ability to learn and retain Spanish. Consistent financial support. The ability to show God's love to the people I build for and with each week.

DONATE SUBSCRIBE TO GAIL'S NEWSLETTER 800.819.8014 | questions@casasporcristo.org | casasporcristo.org

Keeping Up With the Roth's

Read the latest from Jason and Janette Roth and follow their work with Casas por Cristo.

Update from Bob & Gwen Wenberg

Keep up with our staff missionaries as they update their supporters about Casas por Cristo and their work here!

Gwen and I will be completing our eighth year with Casas the first week in June. We thank and praise God for how He has provided for our needs.

We want to thank the people of First Baptist Church for your prayers and support.

God has brought Casas through another year.  I would like to update you on some of the things that are happening in our ministry.

In 2012 we built 183 homes in Juárez and Acuña, México, and San Raimundo, Guatemala.  We are off and running this year.  There will be 40 homes built in the month of March. This is a busy month because students are celebrating Spring Break. In Guatemala there will be 8 homes built, 22 in Juárez, and 10 in Acuña.

According to the Mexican authorities there is 78% less violence in Juárez this year. I believe that it is because of these statistics that the amount of teams coming to build is increasing.

Casas’ family news. Our Casas family is increasing in size.  This is happening in more ways than one.  We have an intern and an apprentice missionary that are hoping to become full time missionaries with us when they finish their requirements for staff. Their names are Jessica Selburg and Rachel Weller. A former Casas missionary, Ryan de la Pena, is returning with his family to El Paso and is coming back on staff in the middle of February.

Three of our missionaries, the Laffan’s, the Kirklin’s, and the De la Pena’s will be having babies in the near future.

Casas Por Cristo has reached another milestone in the life of this ministry.  Brandon and Heather Culp have moved to Guatemala to become our first full time missionaries outside of the continent.

Please continue to pray for more teams to register, for the safety of our missionaries and the teams that are building. Pray for the new missionaries and their efforts to raise support so that they can become part of Casas’ family.

Gwen and I want to thank our church family for their support and encouragement as we work at Casas as missionaries.

Continue to pray for our Mexican nationals, David Quiñones and Miguel Flores, who work for us in their native country.

With all our souls we praise the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, in how he has watched over us. 

In his service,

Bob and Gwen Wenberg

Lighting a Fire

In case you missed out on our last Beyond Building digital magazine, we're making each article available to you here.  

Day 10 | Staff Missionaries

As missionaries with Casas por Cristo, we are often complimented on the radical way we have chosen to live our lives. I think the first time I received a compliment like that I had no idea how to react. Sure, doing this can be difficult, but the difficulties that come with being a full time missionary don’t seem to be that big of an issue. When you write down the sacrifices on paper, it seems like a lot. We have all moved away from our families and put everything we know behind us. We sleep in Mexican churches for half the year. We lead construction in some of the worst conditions with untrained volunteers. We even have to fundraise our salaries to work here. But to me, these difficulties don’t seem that bad.

It’s like when you were a kid and the doctor gave you a lollipop to distract you from the shot. Jesus Christ and all that He is doing melts away the difficulty. When I see a single mom receive the key to her home and then give thanks to God through tears, difficulty might as well not exist. God has given us such a vision of His love that it’s all worth it. I think of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:15-18:

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

I don’t write all of that to brag or boast in us, but rather to boast in the Lord for what He accomplishes through ordinary men and women. We receive compliments all the time for being extraordinary, but we know that we are supernaturally sustained and blessed. All glory, honor, and praise go to our God who uses us to do wonderful things. I don’t think anyone here at Casas saw themselves doing this. God shaped us, moved us, and worked to assemble the team we have here. And the sight of Him as he works through us creates such a profound peace and satisfaction that picking up a cross to come after Him is truly a joy.

Pray for us today that God would continue to give us a vision of eternity. That everyday would be a joy to lay down our lives for the sake of others. Pray that as we come to know Jesus so deeply, so would the teams and families that we serve. Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower us and embolden us to make a large impact for the Kingdom. We need your prayers, it is God who sustains us.
-Justin

Day 3 | Pray for Staff Support

Today we ask you to join us in praying for the financial and prayer support of the staff missionaries of Casas por Cristo.

Every missionary has answered God’s call to serve; walking by faith, to serve Christ and His people. Each missionary has left the comforts of friends, family and their hometown to move to the middle of the desert to be used by God.  They work hard every week to accomplish all of the ministry’s tasks that keep it all moving. When not building across the border, they can be found in the office doing everything from answering the phone and emails, getting materials ready, and meeting with families and pastors. These staff missionaries do all of the jobs necessary to accomplish the task of leading international mission trips; all the while raising their own support.

We ask you to pray for the staff today; that they may be confident in their decision to lead a life of service, and that God will bless them. Pray that God will provide the financial gifts and prayer support needed to further and continue a life of a service. 

Join us in praying for Bob, Brandon, Brittany, David Q., David R., Gwen, Jason L., Jason R., Josh, Justin, Kurt, Pete, Scott, Mikell, and Miquel.

-Mikell