|
 Steve
and Janice began their service with ONE CHALLENGE (OC International)
in Argentina in 1987. For the last 13 years Steve has served as
National Team Director in Mexico. Steve is a native of Atlanta, GA.
Janice grew up as a Wycliffe Bible Translator missionary kid in a
remote tribal area in Guatemala. Steve has a M.A. degree in
Christian Education from Wheaton Graduate School, and is currently
finishing a certification program in Transformational Leadership
Coaching, associated with Regent University in Virginia Beach.
Janice has a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Wheaton College.
Mexico Profile
Mexico represents a multifaceted missions challenge: 106 million
people, an incredible ethnic mosaic of Indian, rural, and, urban
populations (including the world's second largest city, Mexico
City--22 million), and a combination of nominal Christian and
animistic Indian heritage. Mexico is approx. 5-6% Protestant. Some
states have rapid evangelical growth, other states and most major
cities have a lower percentage. Porfirio Díaz, a former Mexican
president once quipped, "Poor Mexico, so close to the United
States, so far from God!" (the innuendo is that both are
hardships!). There is strong resistance to the gospel and the
evangelical Protestant church in parts of Mexico, including active
persecution on the part of some Roman Catholics. Mexico has a
growing missionary sending movement of its own. Latinos are being
mobilized to impact the "10-40 Window" and Muslim world.
Of the 250 indigenous ethno-linguistic groups (Amerindian) within
Mexico, at least 18 are totally unreached with the gospel. Another
100 tribal groups have pioneer work established, but still need
outside cross-cultural missionary presence.
Mexico is very slowly progressing out of it's former graft and
corruption. The presidential elections in 2000 broke 80 years of
domination by the "PRI"--the world's longest standing
monopoly by a single political party! Unemployment remains high; 40%
of the population is below the poverty line. The minimum daily wage
in a metro area like Mexico City is about $4/day. The average
"professional" worker earns an average of $500
dollars/month.
Ministry
Steve and Janice's ministry is interdenominational and national
in scope. Currently this involves: 1) motivating and training
Mexicans for missionary service in least reached parts of the world,
2) equipping Christian leaders in practical aspects of church growth
and leadership development through conferences, seminars, counseling
and coaching. Steve has served as an elder in a Presbyterian church
for 13 years. Janice has served as team treasurer, written Bible
study curriculum and coordinated a small group discipleship ministry
in their Mexican church. She has also home-schooled her two teens!
Steve recently stepped down from field leadership after many years
so he and Janice could dedicate more time to the development of two
exciting and strategic new ministry projects: 1) a national
counseling and coaching support network for Christian leaders, which
will include the construction of a pastoral retreat center for
leaders, and 2) a cross-cultural missionary training school to train
Latinos to serve in the 10-40 Window, the Muslim world, and other
least reached cultures.
Sponsoring Organization
ONE CHALLENGE
P.O. Box 36900, Colorado Springs, CO 80936
800.676.7837
www.onechallenge.org |
