Annual Report of Missions Mobilization and Genesis Mesoamerica

Every year we submit a report to the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) of Mesoamerica detailing the achievements, challenges, and future goals of the Missions Mobilization and GÉNESIS ministries. This year’s report will be given the first week of October 2023. Although we have omitted the lists of our travels and ministry commitments, what you will read here is almost identical to the document that has been submitted to the Regional Office, according to the template they request. What stands out? After reading, would you pray for us as we seek to deploy an army of cross-cultural workers into the harvest fields as well as impact entire cities in the power of Christ?

MINISTRY: Missions Mobilization and GENESIS

COORDINATOR(S): Scott and Emily Armstrong

BRIEF REPORT OF ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT: Many trainings and services have been held virtually through Zoom, Facebook Live, etc. by us and our capable team, including Genesis Training Online from July through December 2022.

ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR:

1. The successful re-branding of our Global Missions ministry to MISSIONS MOBILIZATION.

2. The preparation of Chihuahua, MX as a Genesis site and the training and sending of two (soon to be three) missionaries there to plant churches and impact the city.

3. The equipping of 90+ people in missions through our School of Leadership curriculum (including our launch of the program in Cuba).

4. The involvement of an estimated 800+ participants in Maximum Mission or similar trips in the past year.

5. The training of 203 new participants in 8 Cross-Cultural Orientations throughout the region.

6. The deployment of 69 sponsored (volunteer) missionaries from 13 countries serving different periods of time from August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023, and representing a total of 3,791 days and 90,984 hours volunteered in missions. This includes missionaries with Genesis, Discover Missions, Love Your Neighbor, Manos a la Obra, Project Paul, Called to Serve, Mission without Limits, and others.

7. The continued resourcing of the local church and missional leaders through The Worthless Servants and Siervos Inútiles podcasts and the blogs: www.transformaelmundo.com and www.transformtheglobe.com.

8. The successful conclusion of the Genesis Church 8-month program in four congregations in the Central District of Dominican Republic.

9. The training of 50+ pastors and leaders of NMI and MM in leadership principles and urban missions through the studies of Good to Great by Jim Collins and The City by David Busic.

10. The organizing and carrying out of a truly historic global event: Discover Missions 2023.

CHALLENGES PRESENTED IN THE YEAR:

1. Lack of knowledge and personnel required to create and implement the software needed for our burgeoning Genesis Church program.

2. Reticence of some local and district leaders to send and support their own missionaries, primarily financially.

3. Lack of funding for our ministries on a field and district level.

4. Changeover in personnel on field and district levels.

5. The situation in Haiti has proven discouraging as we try to work with leaders (outstanding as they may be) to find ways to mobilize during unrest, violence, and dire circumstances.

6. After training a total of six Genesis missionaries to impact Chihuahua, MX and Mayagüez, P.R., only two were able to be deployed due to one visa being denied and sickness in our missionaries or their immediate family members.

GOALS FOR THE NEXT YEAR:

1. Train twelve missionaries online and residentially in Santo Domingo on the Dominican Seminary campus, in installations to become known as the Center for Missionary Formation.

2. Deploy twelve Nazarene missionaries with Genesis to three new Genesis sites.

3. Continue to create and implement curriculum and strategy to train the existing urban church to become more missional and involved in urban church planting. This will include a relaunch of the podcasts, articles twice a week, at least two webinars, and more.

4. Launch an online process entitled “A Genesis Church” where local, urban Nazarene congregations can evaluate themselves and grow healthier and more missionally. For 2024, we want to see at least 20 congregations engage in this as a pilot program.

5. Acquire 3 new partnerships for priority Genesis sites and continue caring for other ministry partnerships.

6. Evaluate and present missionary candidates for approval for assignment, as needed by the region and denomination.

7. Offer 1 or more Cross-Cultural Orientations and 2 short-term missions experiences in each field.

8. Graduate 60 students from the School of Leadership (Missions specialty), and assess what this strategy and resource will need to look like going forward.

9. Deploy ten students and two sponsors to Discover Missions Kenya in June 2024.

10. Identify and begin to prepare three future Genesis sites, which will receive missionaries in 2024 or 2025.