A Cross-Cultural Orientation (CCO) was held March 6-8, 2020 at the Donald Wunker Christian Bible Campgrounds in Maimón, Bonao, Dominican Republic. 46 participants with missions interest attended the activity, and the 16 trainers present gave workshops, shared devotionals, and led dynamics as they guided all those present who were exploring their cross-cultural mission call.
The CCO began with an innovative strategy where participants registered and entered the event in a peculiar way. The surprise of that first culture shock made it clear to everyone present that the event was not just another meeting. The call to serve is a call to value what we have and take advantage of every opportune moment in order to grow and develop oneself. Visiting “CCO Country” and becoming acclimated to its culture ended up cultivating an identity in the group as a whole.
Participating in a CCO is a great opportunity to understand and explore the missionary action of the Church of the Nazarene on the global, regional and local levels. Every missions-focused dynamic and activity was developed by leaders who understand and are very passionate about each topic. Participants were led in new ideas, making them aware of God’s urgent call to serve in cross-cultural missions and the many opportunities available to do so. We thank the Lord for waking us up to a reality that we didn’t even know existed before participating in the CCO. As the following testimonies show, we highly recommend that EVERY Nazarene experience what it is like to live in “CCO Country”.
“In 2011 I began asking God to place me in a Christian ministry, that he would release me from my ‘secular’ job. In 2015, I prayed again and told God that we are a missionary family, and that my children and I would be available for full-time service. God has continued to place this desire and need in our hearts. In October 2018, the Lord very clearly called me to missions and in 2019 he called my sons. My daughters are now praying, dreaming and seeking God’s guidance.
Being in the CCO is the continuation and confirmation of the call that God has placed on my life, along with my children, to serve Him in missions. It has been one of the ways that the Lord is preparing us and orchestrating our lives to be in service to Him. We will continue to be involved in missionary activities, following the call that God has placed on our lives.” –July Quiterio Cuello.
“I will look back on the CCO as a “before and after” event in my spiritual life and ministry. This camp has confirmed God’s call in my heart and at the same time his direction and guidance for me to follow it. God has raised up a focused generation willing to fulfill the Great Commission and take the restorative gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. I can simply say thank you because becoming a missionary is not a sacrifice that I will make, but a gracious gift that God is giving me.” –Rachel Mariel Compres Morel.
“I am grateful to God and to the leaders that have instructed my daughter, Elba, regarding missions. God called and she began to follow his instructions, understand her call, and obey. This is the way that God has allowed me to send my daughter as a missionary. To God be the glory for allowing me to participate in that blessing! In the CCO, I asked the Lord to speak to me, because I wanted to know Him even more. My life belongs to the Lord. I want to be a mother, a leader, and a pastor with the knowledge to speak to youth and other families about how important it is to support our youth and children in missions. There is a new generation that should be preparing to take the message of Jesus to a new world. Being able to participate in this great event, I learned more about God’s call, I learned about why we exist, and what we are called to do. There are simply not enough words to describe everything that I experienced during these three days. I want to serve the Lord until my last breath.” –Maribel Duson (Pastor).
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