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10 ,979ALuaas!THE BILL HOFF FAMILYAPARTADO POSTAL NO. 57QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

THE NORM DUNGAN FAMILYAPARTADO POSTAL NO.QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

fEWS OFThe [HRUEnCE OF CHRIST IN CENTRAL MEXICOPUBLISHED QUARTERLY VOL. 10, NO. 4 MARCH, 1979

AND That's The u/ay |t VA/asPerhaps It is not yet too late to share with you a capsule summary of the scope

of the work of the Bajio Christian Mission in 1970 and the two missionary families.Since their return in June, Bill and

Marge Hoff have been involved in the following:1.

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Leading the English church services.Teaching in the Spanish Bible School.Transporting people to services.Teaching 2 classes at a Bible Institute in a city 120 miles north.Calling in Queretaro (1 day a week).Calling in other towns (1 day a week)Preparing radio programs and delivering tapes monthly to 7 stations.Functioning on the camp committee andassisting in camp.Assisting local and visiting missionaries with mechanical and electronicproblems.Substituting for Norm at Universityand in Spanish teaching.Handling finances for radio ministry.Transporting people to monthly youthrallies in area cities.(Marge) Helping with correspondencecourse grading and mailing.(Marge) Teaching;English Bible School

The Dungans' primary activities havebeen in the following areas:1. Xieading the Spanish congregation.2. Calling 1 night per week in town.3. Teaching 1 night per week in town.4. Sponsoring Spanish youth work.5. Overseeing correspondence - course

work (350 new students in 1978).6. Managing the Mexican non-profit or

ganization (president and bookkeeper)7. Teaching 15 hours/week at university8. Handling Social Security bookkeeping

for 3 Mexican evangelists.9. Working with the leader of a congre

gation 2 hours from Queretaro.10. Acting as treasurer for A.C.E.school

in town (where Heather attends)11. Supply preaching for a congregation

40 miles west of Queretaro.12. Serving on the csunp ,committee.13. Writing courses for and promoting

Leadership Training materials.14.- (Mary) Helping with correspondence

course grading and mailing.15. (Mary) Teaching:English Bible School

NOTEWORTHY ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE MISSION WAS DIRECTLY INVOLVED:1. Can^: 2 weeks, over 250 campers, 15 baptisms.2. Youth Rallies: 5 participating churches, 40 youth, monthly meetings.3. Evangelist Assistance: Supply 5 Mexican evangelists with teaching material, audiovisuals, transportation for baptisms, area gatherings, etc., names of correspondence-course students for local follow-up.4. Promotion of cooperation and growth among the 5 evangelists and 13 congregationsin the area through seminars and courses stressing the need for lOCAL LEADERSHIP. SND

m PSRSOMAL GUMPSSSNovember found us on the way to

the border to obtain new visas.As Bill's sister and brother-in-law now live in San Antonio, weextended our trip so that wecould visit with them. Mark hada great time getting to know hisaunt and uncle better. We helpedthem move into their newly-pur-chased house. It was a joy tospend Thanksgiving with some ofthe family. It was cold andrainy during most of our visit sowe were glad to return home.

Mark was very excited aboutChristmas. He had a great morning. We were invited to an American home for Christmas dinner.There were 13 of us that sharedin food and fellowship.

Many days during the months ofNovember and December were spentin looking for another house torent. It became very discouraging, as they were either toosmall, too expensive, too farfrom town, etc.; but finally onDecember 30th we decided on aplace. The first week of Januarywas spent in moving. Our newhouse is smaller than the last,but in many ways we like itbetter. A small building willsoon be constructed outside tohouse the tape equipment.

Bill has begun teaching onemore class on Tuesdays at theBible institute, so is gone for acouple of hours longer that day.He says that he enjoys this class

on the Universal Epistles.Mark continues in kindergarden

and is now able to thoroughly mixup Spanish and English. He triesto construct his English sentences with a Spanish format. Butpraise the Lordit is only amatter of time until he is bilingual.

We thank each one of those whodonated to the work in Mexico.#MH

Radio BulletinThose who have read the last

issue of "Saludos" know thatthere has been a great deal ofconcern here in Mexico about thefuture of radio as an evangelistic tool. Clearly, only the Lordknows the future, but we have received a hopeful sign. XEBO, theradio station in Irapuato, notified us in January that theycould return "Dulces Momentos" tothe air. Tapes were sent immediately and price negotiations begun. The station's firm demandof a 400 per cent increase forcedthe reduction of the number ofprograms from 6 to 3 per week.

But once again we have a teaching voice on the largest stationin the Bajio. And the responsesto the program are again comingin. #BH

A SPECIAL reTREATEarly in January we participated

i"n one of the most encouraging meetings ever held in the Bajio. Theoccasionthe first Christian Leader's Retreat, held at the camp,whichbrought together 20 or so of theChristian men from 10 congregations.

Because all of the men involvedwere working people, we took only 1day; but what a day it was. Wegathered early on Saturday morningand did not separate until earlySunday. The time was spent in worship, study, sharing, and prayer.The overriding concern was personalevangelismand the keynote speakerspent several hours sharing practical keys to effective calling.In theevening, each man present sharedsomething of his burden for souls orof problems in his ministry,and muchprayer was lifted up for each need.A late ^ night commitment servicebrought all of us face to face withboth our task and with the power ofthe Lord within us; and each of usleft with a decision to find anotherman for Christa potential leaderand to bring him to the next Retreat.

Among the blessings of the daywas that of seeing 2 men obey theirLord in baptism. We had hoped forgreat things from the Retreat, andour prayers were abundantly answered. We are looking expectantly toward future such retreats and futuresuch blessings! #ND

DUNGANS' FINANCIAL SUmARY~4TH QTR.On hand 9/30/78 $ 764.16Received 10/1 - 12/31 6733.60Spent 10/1 - 12/31 7298.58Balance, 12/31/78 $ 199.58

Familtj Affairs....MD"You scratch my back and I'11

scratch yours" has taken on a newmeaning for our household lately. Itseems, somehow. Heather contractedscabies. We'd had no previous knowledge of the disease, so-we at firstthought it was an allergy. But whenI came down with the same symptoms,we went to a dermatologist. We'renow undergoing rigorous treatment,hoping to get it licked before itspreads to others. I can hardly waitto see what she comes up with next.

We had our first "rock and roll"experience lately when Queretarofelt its first earthquake in over 25years. It's a strange experience tobe awakened at 3 a.m. by a vibratingbed. The tremor was slight, however,and there was no damage. I just hopewe have to wait at least 25 moreyears for a repeat performance.

Nathan is rapidly developing avocabulary, both in English and inSpanish. He now loves to have us"read" to him and is especially fondof his animal book. He is learningto make the animal sounds, but hisfavorite sound is still "udn udn,"which he uses whenever he thinks weare going somewhere in the car. Nowif I could just get him to stop calling tne "da da."

Heather earned herself a friedchicken dinner recently by scoringabove 95% on all her tests. Afterit was over, though, she wished shehad asked for pizza because therewere so many dishes to wash. She isquickly learning the realities oflife.

Aren't you glad you know i^sus?Don't you wish everybody did?/yi

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GAME PLAN

by Norm Dungan

Every successful athletic team, professional or amateur, has a gameplana set of means by which a goal or" objective is proposed to be reached.It is easy to stay with the game plan if it is obvious that the plan isbringing victory, but there is a tendency to disregard the plan or makedrastic alterations in it if victory appears to be in doubt. A spiritualgame plan, it seems to me, is essential for every Christian congregationand every missionary workand most congregations and missions have one.At times, there is a pressure to disregard established game plansparticularly if it appears that we are "behind," or not scoring enough"points." Now, of course, there is always the possibility that either thegame plan or the goal (or both) is inadequate; or it may be that there isinadequate understanding of what the game plan and/or goal should be andare._It is therefore my purpose here to review for you both the GOALS(OBJECTIVES) and the GAME PLAN of the Bajio Christian Mission, that youmight be aware of them and then able to make a judgment as to theirvalidity.

I. Any GAME PLAN is determined by the GOAL and the OBJECTIVES.The GOAL of the Bajio Christian Mission is that the Church of Christ be

established in Central Mexico. We understand that the Church is to be: (a)a Biblical Church; (b) a strong Churchone not dependent for life upon"outside" human help; (c) a witnessing Church; and (d) a self-reproductiveChurch.

The OBJECTIVES of the Bajio Christian/MiLssion are: (a) Matthew 28:18.Reaching people for Christ (b) people who will reach other people forChrist. 2 Timothy 2:2

The principle here is critical. THE GAME PLAN MUST BE EVALUATED INTERMS OF THE GOAL/OBJECTIVES!

II. The GAME PLAN (but not the GOAL/OBJECTIVES) is affected by CIRCUMSTANCES.

In spor^s^ any team' s strategy~is artected~by circxims'tances: weatheFT" ~the opponent's strengths and weaknesses., tho. team's strengths and weaknesses, etc. Just so, the game plan of the work here has been dictated inpart by circumstances:

(1) We are foreigners. That circumstance dictates that we do all possibleto ensure that (a) the churches' existence and growth not be dependent uponour continuing presence, and that (b) the worship and life of the churchesbe allowed to develop Scripturally, but in Mexican ways and forms.

(2) Americans are seen through polarized lenses by the majority ofnon-Christian Mexicans. (a) We are a threatin that we are seen asexploiters and oppressors in our capitalism. (b) But we are also a meansto an endin that we are seen as means to money, prestige, U.S. products,and even a possible job in the U. S. The two extremes of this circumstancedictate a great deal of caution in our personal proclamation of the Gos.pel,lest our message become confused with either the negative or the positivecultural.image of the proclaimerI It must.be noted that no simple disclaimeris likely to quickly dispel either misconception that is held.

(3) Both religiously and politically, Mexican people are authority-oriented. Their institutions engrain regimentation and paternalism. Givenour GOAL/OBJECTIVES, we face a task of re-orienting thinking, at least asregards one's faith. The impact of this circumstance is that we mustdeliberately and consciously resist the pressures to become "authority" inmatters of faith; on the contrary, we must urge, teach, and practice theBiblical concept of the priesthood of all believers.

(H) As a corollary to #3, it can be said that, in general, Mexicanshave an inferiority complex, which manifests itself in at least two'ways intheir lives: (a) They cling with tenacity to what they have always knownand donewhether those things be good or bad, true or false, beneficial orharmful, (b) They find it extremely difficult to believe that they arecapable of meaningful change, much less of teaching spiritual truth to others.The significance of the circumstance: Since the missionary/preacherrepresents "knowledge," it requires great patience, much encouragement,

GAME PLANpage 2

and a non-threatening form of teaching in order to instill a sense ofconfidence and worth in the Christianboth necessities if he is to sharehis faith effectively with others.

Now, then, what practical influences have these 2 principles made onour game plan?

(1) We have been very cautious about our role in conversion. Whereat all possible, we have been seed sowers rather than harvesters ourselves,and we have sought to allow the moments of decision-making and baptism to takeplace in the atmosphere and presence of the national leadership and church,rather than through the presence and pressure of the foreign missionary.

(2) We have avoided seeking or being thrust into positions of authoritywhether that be within a congregation or within the area, especially amongthe national Christian leaders and potential leaders in the churches.

(3) We have also tried to avoid the role of "authority behind theauthority." We believe it is no better to be the boss behind the scenesthan to be the boss-on-stage. Therefore, our ministry has focused onsupport taskseducation of leaders, helping both native leaders andcongregations to be better and more fully able to be about the job that theyare called to doreach their own people with the Gospel. We attempt toopen new, untouched fields by finding those with a hunger; and then weattempt to bring the church into contact with them, that the Gospel mightbe preached personally and that decisions might be made for Jesus Christ.As part of the church, we share in the evangelizing, but we are not theevangelists.

(4) We have refused, as much as possible, to dictate forms or procedures to the churches, believing that such decisions and directions mustcome from the Word. This means that we have had to seek means of pointingbelievers to the Word and teaching from the Word, but in a way that willallow the church to respond to the Word and not just to our interpretationsof the Word.

III. RESULTS.

At times we have been questioned about the results of our GAME PLAN.Indeed, many times we have asked ourselves about results, particulary whenwe see the numbers and tangible "results" of others who hold to differentGOALS and who can therefore employ different GAME PLANS.

There is little doubt in my mind that heavy-handed authoritarianism andpaternalism on the part of missionaries, evangelists, and preachers wouldbring about more spectacular tangible results. But the question is: Willsuch a game plan bring about our desired GOAL/OBJECTIVES? Should weabandon our GAME PLAN? Our decision up to now has been "NO." Although weare deeply concerned with growth, we are not prepared to achieve thatgrowth "at any price."

But one question remains to be answered: Will OUR game plan EVER reachthe GOAL/OBJECTIVESwill it bring about the ends that we desire? A goodquestion indeedone to which I cannot glibly give an affirmative answer.Clearly, if I did not myself believe in both the GOALS and the GAME PLAN,I would either change the plan or leave. I believe there is evidence tosupport the thesis that the plan is working. But my confidence is no^guaralfTt^. 11"i^p^s:iblelfhat we""have arrowed""otir~own~weaknes^~s andfears to influence our plan. For example, in the places where circumstanceshave dictated that we ^ the leaders and authority and ^ the evangelizing,

growth has been very slow and the church has not been dynamic! Is theproblem in the situationor is the problem in ME?

I do not know. However, this much I do know: I will not knowinglyallow overeagerness, fear or panic to force me to abandon the GOAL/OBJECTIVES, for these I hold as worthwhile, valid Biblical principles.The GAME PLAN itself is still open to question; and we encourage qualifiedanalysis and comment. But we are not yet prepared to abandon the plan onthe sole grounds of "lack of results," for the results we seek are neitherquickly reached nor easily measured.

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^ '979

ALunas!THE BILL HOFF FAMILYAPARTADO POSTAL NO. 5/QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

THE NORM DUNGAN FAMILYAPARTADO POSTAL NO. /ijlQUERETARO/ QRO, MEXICO

NEWS OFThe [HnilEHGE OF CHRIST IN CENTRAL MEXICOPUBLISHED QUARTERLY VOL. 11, NO. 1 JULY, 1979

SHARING THS TASKWe have tried to suggest before in these pages that the Bajio Christian Mission is

not a "separatist" organization. We are not intent upon "doing our own thing." Quiteto the contrary,we try both to help and receive help from the ministries of other workers in the country and in the area. In previous issues, we have talked of some ofthese cooperating brethren:

*the five Mexican evangelists (Chon, Hermilo, Higinio, Juan and Socorro) who do somuch of the follow-up with correspondence students,contribute to the radio programming,sustain the camp ministry, etc.

*Mexican Evangelism Now, a group of men and churches in the Virginia area who bothoversee the work of and raise the support for the Mexican evangelists.

*the four other Bible-correspondence-course centers that share with us in developingmaterials for our students, creating new ways of reaching the lost, and in maintainingour Non-profit Organization status in Mexico.

In passing we have also previously mentioned another important contributor to ourwork. But this time, we'd like to give you a more detailed picture of the work of BobWright and his "Hogar de Esperanza," (Home of Hope)-

The principal ministry of Bob and Bev Wright, along with their co-worker, PeggyRussell, is the Children's Home of which they are founders and directors. Begun nearly10 years ago here in Queretaro, the home now consists of a 90-acre farm, two largehouses, the beginnings of a school building, a garage, an animal barn with cows,horses,pigs, chickens and rabbits and 27 abandoned children; ranging in age from infant tohigh-school.

Now you'd think that would provide more than enough work for several families,wouldn't you? AND IT DOES. But Bob is also actively involved with our work here inthe Bajio.

Bob is our printer. The Lord has provided him a rather complete printing facility,including copy camera, press, cutter, and folder. He prints letterhead, courses, newsletters, envelopes, tracts, and booklets for us as well as for many other missionariesand workers in the country. The children in the home assist with assestibly, folding andstapling work.

The Wrights are also involved in our camp. They donated the property for it; Bobengineered much of the building; water and electricity come from the home's facilities;the reservoir for swimming and irrigation was built jointly by the home and the camp;camp security is maintained by the home; and during camp the Wrights donate much food.

Both we and the Wrights are interested in increasing the mutual ministry that wehave enjoyed through the years. With the agricultural and horticultural experiencethat Bob has gained here, we would like to be able to use him as a resource person inthe establishment of agricultural projects among the rural mountain Christians, with aview toward improving their animal stock and increasing production from their land.

As you can imagine, the Wrights need much prayer undergirding. They are overworked,and desperately need additional responsible houseparent help. (A new family is comingthis summer, and they too need much prayer, that they might be able to adapt and find arewarding ministry within the home). Additionally, at present there is a problem withthe home's water system which has created a severe shortage and which may involve thedrilling of a whole new well. And the children of the home need to be lifted up inprayer, that they may grow to be responsible Christian citizens of this country, usingtheir lives and work to touch other lives for Jesus Christ-

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Famntj Affairs"The. Lo^d gZvctli md the. lofid

taketh away. be. the name.ojJ the LoA.d." T'ti6 has be.e.n ou/l-theniz ZateZy. M many you. knoi^,we have faecii Ujoajiq ui the. 6amtfiznted /ioa6e ^ QaeM.^;taM.o ^on. 10yejViii payAjiQ a AAxUcutoiHily lown.tnt. It ha& tnuZy bzeji a btzi>6~tng 0^ thz Lo^d.

Wow, tht iond ha& 4>te.n tobte^4> lU> even mofie thAough ou/lCh/uUtZan ^amCty -isi Suma, hujiom..Becooie the omeA. o^ the hou6edecided to move back M,o it, wewe^e ^oKced to move. And thegfieatoA bte66ing -6s that thechuAch in Vujma i!> loaning cl6 themoney to bu.y a hou6e. Ai you oJieh.ea.ding thil, cue ctAe pfuxiiiAjig theioAd in ouA new houdel Va'll come.

k6 you. might imagine, househunting and moving have occupiedthe majon. paAt o^ ouA family timelatety. But theAe have been otheAmomentii tacked in heAe and theAethat have been meaniyig^uZ to mepeA&onaZty. Foa. example, HeatheApn.e& ented me ivith an originallOHiting i^oA MotheA'6 Vay. I quoteexce/tpti ^Aom it-

Mothers are good for ticklingyour toes.

Mothers are good for keepingsecrets.

Mothers are good for playingbingo with (maybe they aren't because they almost always win.)

Mothers are good for dependingupon.

And I Aotf "QhXbtt&6ing Aom the LoAd."

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^ Personal QMmpses(jJhile maiiy ojJ yoa weAe iu^^oiing

{^Kom the cold, ^lood{>, etc. in theStxkteJi, we we/ie ^u^^eAing ^A.om theheat heAe in QueAetoAo. TheAe hasonly been a couple o{^ u}eek6 coolloeatheA in the past yeoA.

The heat bother me mon.e thanmO'St be.caase July Hit is the duedate ioA. the iouxth membeA o^ ouA{^ojnity. if}hen Sitl asked MoAfe ii hemuld tike a little bfiotheA oa iis~teA, he iaid "yes. 1 waw^ a ^ive-yeoA-old bAotheA to play ivith!" Henow -4eem4 content that it caclZ be alittle baby and that (lis GnimdmotheAHo^lJ and Aunt Jackie aAe coming tohelp h\ormy and Vaddy.

Bill has completed his yean, o^teaching in San Luis Potoii [120miles noAXhj. Wo moAe Atsing at3:45 a.m. each Tuesday to take the4--30 bus. He toilZ not be teachingnext yeoA as he plans to wo/ife on histhesis if)hich \M!i complete an M.A.de^-^ee in VnxLctical ministAies.

MoAfe has enjoyed school and seejnsto have lea/ined much. He is nowquite fluent in Spanish jJoA his age.My motheA'-i day gi^t uias a veAy nicealbum o{, many o^ the pictuAes anddAauU.ngs that he had made duAing theyeoA. He spends his a^teAnoons withthe neighborhood "kids" and then enjoys coAtoons on T.V. His ^avonXtepAogAom is "Pink PantheA," He des-cAlbes SaXuAdays as the day that "Iplay all day."

The building has now been completed in OUA patio.- Jt houses thetape equipment and seAves as a lOOAkaAea ^OA Bill.

Let us all pAocZaim ChAist. ^

P? W HSn o MK P< CA.TJ C/JH t-" MC

hristian missionHOFF APARTADO POSTAL 57 QUERETARO, QUERETARO, MEXICO

September 13 1979

Dear Friends in Mission Servicesi

It is with sadness that we read about the financialproblems that have beset your work.

Although this is the first time that we have writtenyou, we greatly appreciate your work and love for missionaries. The Horizons magazine is a real blessing to us andas missionaries we are very interested in what others aredoing in their fields of service.

Thank you for caring for us. Please accept thissmall check in appreciation of your love and may manyothers see the need to contribute so that Mission S.eryj.aes__and the magazine Horizons might continue on.

In Christian service.

Bill and Margy Hoff

P.S. On July l8th Rebecca Marie was born into our family^She weighed 7 lbs. and ^ ozs. Her brother, MarkGabriel,falong with her parents)thinks she ispretty special.