Stepping Out

“I love my job!” Jen Schmidt, missionary on the Matthew Team in Guadalajara, Mexico recently experienced one of those moments of coming “fully alive” when a group of youth from a church plant were hanging out at her home. She and Stacy Kuhns (a student of the Matthew Training Center) were talking with Alfonso at the time.

When Jen met 19 year old Alfonso almost three years ago, his ambition in life was to become an actor or model for the sole purpose of making a lot of money. Jen is overjoyed as she walks alongside Alfonso and witnesses God’s transforming power at work as He changes the young man’s heart and molds him into the person he was created to be.

In January Alfonso completed HADIME, a 10 day discipleship program designed to challenge the youth to discover their gifts, strengths and passions, and to dedicate themselves to different ministries. Alfonso has been sensing that God is inviting him to consider being a missionary one day.

Jen and Stacy have been talking with Alfonso in regards to participating in SOAR: South Texas, a 10 day discipleship training and mission program that provides an opportunity for youth and young adults to minister alongside local churches. Jen was incredibly encouraged by his honest heart as he shared his excitement, fears, and uncertainties about this next step of obedience.

Praise the Lord for the work that He continues to do in Alfonso’s life. Pray that God would raise up prayer and financial support and that Alfonso would be granted a US visa so that he can participate in SOAR: South Texas. And finally, pray that Alfonso would continue to follow God’s leading, no matter what the cost.