Christmas 2002

Dear friends,

As the renowned theologian, José Duque of the Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana, examined our Sunday school material, he looked up at us and said quietly, "You didn't think of this project yourselves; this ministry is of God.You have here the potential to bring about transformation in many churches."We were stunned.We believe it of course; that conviction keeps us striving through the hard times.But to have someone of his caliber affirm our work was inspiring. He went on to talk about the major challenges facing the churches of Latin America. We had requested some time for our team to talk with him, because now that we are writing not only for Costa Rica but for all Latin America, as well as Puerto Rico and the Hispanic communities of the United States, we wanted a broader perspective.

The first theme of our 2003 series, CHURCH AND MISSION, is now published: "The Road of God's Reign. Restauration and Life," based on the Gospel of Luke. We are now working on the second theme:"The Road of the Desert, Called to Persevere," a study of the book of Exodus.José Duque talked to us about the pilgrimage of God's people, keeping their eyes on the goal of God's Reign, and along the way, providing glimpses to the world of that Reign, by the way they live and form their community.In studying Exodus, I have been particularly impacted by the contrast between Yahweh (Jehovah) and the gods of Egypt: the Egyptian gods served to uphold and protect the political/economic/social system, and to deny that anything could or should change.In contrast, Yahweh called forth a group of slaves to risk everything, guided by the hope of a new life.We, as God's people today, are challenged to walk with faith toward the future that God wants for this world.

Part of our pilgrimage at Ediciones Lumbrera (our curriculum team) has been to face a 50% cut in our funding from International Ministries for next year.We realized we needed to develop a business plan.Like an angel from God, Nate Brown, son of former missionaries David and Ellen Brown and graduate student at Eastern University in Philadelphia, volunteered his time to help us.Suddenly, we, who love the world of biblical studies and creative teaching, found ourselves submerged in the unknown jargon of market tendencies, sales strategies, points of equilibrium, profit/loss statements and other incomprehensible terms and concepts.Nate, with infinite patience and good will, explained this new world to us and tried to convince us that all our fabulous insights about Scripture and discipleship are totally useless if we can't get them to the people who need to be transformed by them.

In response to this business plan, we have restructured our team to include 3 departments:Marketing and Sales, Administration and Finances, and Writing and Editing. Since there are 4 of us on the team, we gave the first 2 departments to Elisel Guzmán and split up the last one among the 3 of us.That sounds fair, doesn't it?Tatiana Anderson is responsible for the youth/adult material, I'm doing primary school and Ruth Vindas has the preschoolers. We hired Zeidy half time as an office manager and gopher.Next year will be crucial for our survival. We will work as hard as we can to increase sales and cut expenses, but will still need very significant support from people who believe in our ministry.

On this pilgrimage, it has been a tremendous blessing to work with the Wiegners and the Baits here in San José and with Ingrid Roldán in Changuinola.To have the privilege of spending time with people whose commitment to Christ shines forth in all they do, to learn from them and be inspired and encouraged by them…I give thanks daily.

Do pray for us all. For Ediciones Lumbrera as we struggle to adjust in our new roles and relationships and to trust that we will survive financially.For Sara Wiegner as she pastors the church in Ipis, and Jim as he coordinates the construction of the Centro Teologico del Caribe (CTC).For Mylinda and Gary Baits, as they teach courses at CETEBAME, the theological center here in San José, and face an uncertain future as the director of the center is laid off.For Ingrid as she struggles to give birth to an extension of the CTC in Panama and communicate to the local pastors a new vision of the gospel and ministry. We are deeply dependent on your prayers and covet them.

My warmest wishes to you in this Christmas season.I will be celebrating the holiday at my sister's house in Houston, always a perfect meeting spot, since it's half-way, in geography and climate, between Costa Rica and Minneapolis, where my mother lives.

God's richest blessings to you.

Cordially,
Ruth Mooney