Churches and Organizations

Dear Friends,

When Porfirio Perez didn't get in the back of the truck with the group of young people I was taking to the Bible conference in nearby Maravillas, I asked his nephew, Otoniel, why he wasn't joining us. “He's embarassed because he doesn't have any shoes” came the reply. The following day, when we returned to Chacacal, I quietly took the 15-year-old Mayan boy aside and had him stand on a piece of paper and traced his foot. When I returned to Porfirio's village a few weeks later, I handed him a shoe box. As the photo above shows, he couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day. He now gladly jumps into the truck on any occasion and has been to two Bible conferences in his new shoes.

We do Bible conferences because there is a great hunger here in Chiapas for God's Word. Last week I spent a good part of two days in Revelation with a group of 45 young people. Last week-end I met with 30 pastors for two days of teaching on leadership and ministry skills. Ramona and I spent the Easter week-end in the community of Emiliano Zapata presenting an Old Testament seminar, celebrating Easter and in between, helping a group of young people learn to bake in the new oven they had just built of adobe. They hope to start a business as no baked goods are available in the village. Among other things, Ramona taught them to make pizza, something they'd never heard of but devoured as it came out of the oven with savory ham and pineapples. We taught the Pentateuch and also pizza, pumpkin pie and banana nut bread. On Sunday morning we read the Easter Story and remembered Jesus in our communion celebration with tortillas and coffee: the bread and wine of Zapata.

Tommorow morning we begin a two day coloquium at the seminary here on music and liturgy with professors from Guatemala and Mexico City. On Sunday I preach in the Presbyterian church of one of my students here in San Cristobal and in the afternoon I drive to Chilon to help the Baptist church with their first ever business meeting and teach on baptism.

Coming up: a quick trip to the southern border to renew the permit on our vehicle and then a business and training meeting in Zapata on Wednesday, training for the new board in Pueblo Nuevo on Thursday and children's ministry day on Friday in Jardin, working on a course for church treasurers at the seminary and a stewardship workshop for the church in Yajalon.

Ministry is always a blend of the planned and the unexpected, the programmed and the serendipitous. We are here in Mexico, doing, we hope, what you would be doing if you were here. Making disciples in the spirit of Paul, encouraging in the spirit of Barnabas, baking in the spirit of Sara Lee.

This is our understanding of mission. Investing in people and joining them in discovering God's Word.

Thank you for being partners with us.

God Bless the Shawvers! Let's show that we care! Kindly send a love donation to AB International Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482. On your check / money order, please put "support for Rev. Chuck & Ramona Shawver" so that the funds go directly to the Shawvers. Thank you!

Dear praying and giving friends,

I think that we could all use some Good News. As we listen to the radio or watch the news on TV, we are overwhelmed with the sad condition of the world economies and of more dire predictions. I was visiting with our daughter the other night via computer phone, she was lamenting their tight budget and wondering how all this was going to work out for them. She was even considering looking for a second job. I told her the story of Chuck and I, many years ago, with babies, a small salary that never quite made it through the month, and the anxieties that went with it. We sat down to try and rework our budget and in the end, all we could come up with was to give more away. We took God at His promise to provide for those that give to the poor. Give and it will be given unto you. In the measure that you do to others so shall it be done to you. What you give to the poor you give to me. We believed those words more than thirty years ago and we still believe them and live by them today. God’s economy is quite different than the world’s economy. As Charles de Foucauld writes “The best way of always having enough is to share generously with the poor, seeing in them the representatives of Jesus himself. And then be full of confidence.” (from Meditations of a Her)

Moises taking notes at a study in Jardin

Now for the Good News. God is alive and well. We see Him in the faces of the next generation of leaders of the churches in the highlands of Chiapas, young people who cannot get enough of the Word of God. Last fall, Chuck was asked to teach two classes at the Seminary here in San Cristobal de Las Casas. One was a college-level class that was an overview of the entire Bible. The second was more of a beginners level class on Jesus and the Gospels. Chuck gave up sleep, food, and all creature comforts to prepare and give these classes weekly. We both ‘suffered’ through the birthing pains of developing these courses in a relevant and contexual manner for this particular student body.

Chuck was also preparing another course that was basically a panorama of the Bible to be given in individual churches and in regional gatherings. When these workshops are given, they have to be translated into Tseltal and/or Tsotsil and they need to be made multisensory and accessible to very intelligent, capable people that have not been given the opportunity to learn to read.

In my devotions this week, I was reading in Colossians chapters 1 and 2. Paul speaks of his ‘suffering’ for the gospel. I put ‘suffering’ in quotes because I think that in the context of the joyful results, it is hard to call it real suffering. I paraphrase Colossians 1: 25 like this: Chuck Shawver has become the servant of the evangelical churches in the highlands of Chiapas, by the commission God gave him, to present to them the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen among the Tseltals and Tsotsils, the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Chuck teaching in Chilon

Verse 29: To this end he labors, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in him. All of you reading this that have bounced around with Chuck in a combi or truck over dirt roads and iffy stream crossings, slept on dirt or concrete floors, and given up basic comforts to be a part of this ministry, understand why I include this last verse. Now go back to verse 28: We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. What a wonderful privilege! That cannot be called suffering.

As I look back over the past months, all of the paths are beginning to come together. The hard, hard work of presenting weekly coursework has steeped Chuck in the Bible and made the panoramic course more coherent. When young and old are hungry for God’s Word, taking notes, asking questions, begging for more, it is inspiring and energizing. When you experience the conversion of an entire family, a communion service where you run out of the elements because so many believers show up early in the morning to worship together and remember Christ’s suffering for them, churches with every wooden plank full waiting for a Bible workshop, only pausing for a simple meal and wanting more teaching, you know that you are living the Good News.

Ramona with young friends in Zapata

The needs are great. The poor always suffer when economies are shaky. Daily we are met with more physical needs than we can deal with other than to pray and to bring each person and need before the throne of grace: a pastor who needs a more adequate home, a family who has experienced an unfortunate accident that threatens their livelihood, a young man who is losing his eye to an infection that has not been treated, young people who need help in the next step of their education, etc. We are so grateful to you for your faithfulness and generosity.

We pray that all of your needs will be met as you continue to give generously, and what looks in the eyes of the world as ‘foolishly.’

Blessings on you!

Ramona and Chuck
Shawver Journal—March 2009

God Bless the Shawvers! Let's show that we care! Kindly send a love donation to AB International Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482. On your check / money order, please put "support for Rev. Chuck & Ramona Shawver" so that the funds go directly to the Shawvers. Thank you!

Ramona and I wish you a very sacred time of Thanksgiving; an act of humble faith in uncertain times and a reminder of the one who holds us in the palm of his hand. We are grateful for many things, not the least of which is you and many others who support American Baptist International Ministries and our work in Mexico with your prayers and generous gifts.

Baptism of Matias Perez

It seems like I always say that our days are packed with more activity than I might have thought possible. Last Saturday, after 7 hours in the classroom we drove three hours to Yajalon where we spent the night, waking up early the next morning for the 90-minute drive to the small community of Emiliano Zapata for a worship service followed by a baptism. The rain and winds and cold were relentless but many folks had come and lots of food had been prepared and so the baptism went forward in the muddy creek. It was a joyous time despite the weather as I had the privilege of baptizing four young people who were born after my first visit to Zapata 19 years ago; kids I've know all of their lives. Ramona and I spent the night and returned to San Cristobal early Monday afternoon to finish preparing for an intensive course on youth ministry that would begin that evening.

Now as I write, my desk is piled high with the materials I'm using to prepare for my Saturday classes and this evening's final youth ministry class. The end of the semester is fast approaching with two conferences in the works and a vacation full of study and church visits to promote our extension program. Our teaching load at the Mayan Intercultural Seminary will be lighter next semester but we are hoping to increase enrollment in the distance learning program, spending more time on the road.

Six months into our return to Mexico we are feeling sort of like we never left. California seems a long way away, even though we miss our children and grandchildren terribly. Skype is a good connector and they are all well. Ramona will be with our California family for Christmas while Chuck will remain in Mexico visiting churches and writing.

Ramona visiting with women
in the dining room in Zapata

As you pray for us ... grace and concentration and inspiration in the preparation of Bible materials for our indigenous churches. Please continue to pray for Eloy Martinez, as he battles leukemia. Pedro Cruz is slow to recover from leg injuries suffered in a landslide as he was working on a retaining wall at his church in Pueblo Nuevo. That church also needs resources to finish the walls and prevent further slippage to the hillside. The church in El Jardin has been waiting for years for a concrete floor and resources to plaster the church interior. The small congregation in Juan Sabines purchased block to build their sanctuary but doesn't have the resources to pay for the delivery costs. Thank you for asking God to meet these needs.

God Bless the Shawvers! Let's show that we care! Kindly send a love donation to AB International Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482. On your check / money order, please put "support for Rev. Chuck & Ramona Shawver" so that the funds go directly to the Shawvers. Thank you!

This week as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior that quiet night in Bethlehem, I am reminded of exactly how Jesus arrived into our world. He came not as a mighty ruler, assuming control and exerting authority as a powerful king, but rather he came humbly, born into the dark of the night on a hillside, amidst the animals in a stable, because there was no room at the inn.

What kind of Lord is this? What kind of Savior? What kind of Messiah would be born in circumstances that were not just ordinary, but humiliating? Jesus came into the world the way he lived...and taught us to live: as a servant. His birth set the stage for his entire ministry, and showed us the way to love one another.

I am reminded of the first two verses of the great carol:
 
    What child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping?
    Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

    Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
    Good Christian, fear, for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading.

Of course, we all know the resounding answer of the refrain. But this Christmas, I invite you to join me in pondering this question anew.

First Baptist Church of Lompoc

Hispanic Department

Hna. Debbie A. Gonzalez, Deaconess
220 West Cypress Avenue
Lompoc, CA 93436
(805) 294-2433

Every Thursday: Spanish Bible Study at 7:00p.m.

The First Baptist Church - Lompoc, Hispanic Department is overseen by Dr. Jose Menendez, Ministro Asociado de Recursos de American Baptist Churches - Los Angeles / ABCOSH.

On Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 4:00p.m. we will have a special guest:
Mr. Hector M. Gonzalez

National Hispanic Counselor in the Office of the General Secretary of ABC – USA Former President of American Baptist Churches - USA 1994-1995

Mr. Hector Gonzalez serves as the National Hispanic Counselor in the Office of the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches – USA. He is the very first and only Hispanic person to serve as President of ABC – USA from 1994 – 1995. He is also the National Representative of the Christian Community Credit Union and has served on many of the ABC related Board of Directors and Trustees: AB Assembly – Green Lake, AB Historical Society, AB Seminary of the West and is currently serving on the AB Homes of the West, and the Baptist World Alliance Council. He was recognized / awarded by the Hispanic Business magazine; “One of the Most Influential” and “Who’s Who Amongst Hispanic Americans” by Gale Research Inc. The American Baptist Seminary of the West honored him as “Outstanding Christian Service Award.” Mr. Gonzalez is well known in our Hispanic Baptist Churches --- and we say:

“W E L C O M E!”