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It's a beautiful day to send off our Medical team!
They are officially on the way! They pulled out of Fox River at 4:40 and they will take off from O'Hare around 9:30pm tonight!
Will you pray them there with us?
Specifics...
We are excited to see what God does through these people and their gifts as this week unfolds!
Follow along this week here on the blog, Facebook, and instagram!!
On Friday, the Fox River Medical Team will be heading to Kenya, Africa. Next week they will hold medical clinics in 3 different communities. Our sister church, Crossroads Fellowship, will provide medical professionals and translators to round out the team.
Their activities include:
Prayer for the team as they are commissioned to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Kenya.
Rosie and Sue as they depart for Kenya.
On Wednesday, Rosie (Medical Mission Team Leader) and Sue (one of the medical team) went ahead of the team to prepare for their arrival on Sunday morning.
The team departs from Fox River at 4pm on Friday and will return on Saturday, February 25.
Will you join us in praying for this team?
We are so excited to introduce a very sweet new addition to our Nica family! On January 19th, 2017 Pastor Denis and his wife Karen welcomed their son, Jonathan!
Kerri is in Nicaragua now and was willing to share with us some background and how this sweet boy has quite the story at only 2 weeks old...
"I am so excited and honored to introduce you to, Jonathan! Jonathan is the new son of Pastor Denis and Karen who live in La Esmeralda, Nicaragua.
I would like to tell you a little bit of their story. Denis and Karen have struggled with pregnancy issues for years, because of some health reasons. They have gone through many ups and downs as they have tried to fulfill the desire they believed God gave them to have a child of their own. In July of 2016 they found out they were pregnant, which was nothing short of a miracle! As the months went on Karen was in and out of the hospital almost every week and she ended up on bed rest very early in her pregnancy. I can tell you that Jonathan was probably one of the most prayed for babies in the world, because so many people dreamed this for them and hoped with them!
Two weeks ago we found out they were headed to the hospital because Karen was not doing well. She made it to the hospital. The doctors said that she needed to be on complete bed rest in the hospital so they could keep a close eye on her and baby. Karen couldn’t even be in a sitting position, they were trying to keep the little guy in as long as possible. After two days of being in the hospital, we got a phone call saying she was going in to have an emergency C-section. At this point all we knew was that she wasn't doing well and that Jonathan's lungs 'probably' weren't fully developed, but he had decided he didn't want to wait any longer. So, we called everyone we knew and asked them to begin praying, we had no idea what would happen and didn’t know how this would affect the baby and Karen. He wasn’t due until early March so Jonathan was coming very early and Karen's body was doing everything it could to keep him healthy. We found out in what seemed like decades later (but in reality it was just a few hours) that the baby was doing well, better than they had thought he would be (breathing on his own), and that Karen was safe in recovery. Praise God! Fast forward a couple days... they got to take this precious HEALTHY baby of theirs home.
I got to go meet Jonathan once he got home. He is beautiful. As I sat there and watched him sleep I just fell in love with this tiny human. I don’t know how babies do that to people, but they do! It doesn’t seem to make much sense, their simple existence is enough to make you love them. Not only did I get to see this little miracle, I got to see his parents and listen to them as they talked about how he is doing and how they are doing. They are enthralled! I have never seen a couple in such adoration of their child as they are. It is truly a sight to behold. I have no doubt that Jonathan will grow up in a home that is full of love, a home that is full of Christ, a home that is one that encourages him to be who God made him to be. He is already loved by so many. I have gotten to spend more time with him and his momma since and every hour I spend with him I fall more in love. I cannot wait to watch and be part of his life as he grows up!
I want to thank you for praying for my friends, but most importantly I want share with you their thanks. While I was visiting with them they asked me to "Thank Fox River for their prayers and support", they are so grateful and know that God heard each prayer, because today they get to hold their sweet Jonathan in their arms!"
Many of you have prayed with us for this sweet family without even knowing exactly why, and we thank you for that!! Now you know and we can Praise God for the blessing of Jonathan together!!
Thanks for Praying!!! Now will you join us in thanking and praising God for the story that Jonathan's life is and will be?
Jon has just arrived in Kenya to do a 5 month internship in Kenya to complete a missions degree from Trinity International University.
Jon will be serving in Fox River's sister church, Crossroads Fellowship in Mombasa and in the community of Vipingo where we we have one of our schools. Jon has been to Kenya 3 times and has a great love for the people of Kenya. His passion is working with young people to help them know and love Jesus. Some of the things Jon will be doing:
Will you join me in praying for Jon as he begins this incredible journey?
Last week I had the privilege of being in Kenya to celebrate the graduation of our 62 students who completed grade 8. Compulsory education ends at grade 8. All students take a big national exam that will determine if and where they can attend high school. All high schools are tuition based and most students in the communities that our schools are in are not able to afford to go on to high school. It was our joy to celebrate their accomplishments and look forward to what is next for them.
28 Graduates from Crossroads Academy, Vipingo
34 Graduates from New Life Academy, Bomani
One of the fun things we do to celebrate with our graduates is to take them to the mall. For almost all of them, it is a brand new experience. They ride the escalator, look in the shops and learn how to make pizza.
Many of these precious young people asked me to thank all of you at Fox River for your support and sponsorship through the years. Because of your giving, they have received a great Christian education that has opened amazing doors for their future. Many of the students have sponsors that have generously agreed to sponsor their student through high school so that they can go to our partner Christian high school. They are so grateful! Thank you!!
We are excited about the future for each one of our 62 graduates. Will you pray with me that God will continue to bless them in each step of their journey?
It's January and that means it's graduation time in Kenya! The school year ended in November, final exams have been scored, and now it's time to celebrate and release the young men and women from Crossroads Academy in Vipingo and New Life Academy in Bomani to the world.
We have 62 students graduating Standard 8 (that is, 8th grade), four of which have been invited to the top high schools in the country! 56 students in all are going on to high school, with the rest pursing other opportunities.
Graduation ceremonies will take place next week. Please pray for them as they take the next step in their journey, and check back here on the blog to follow along with us!
As 2016 comes to an end we want to thank you! Thank you for joining us in supporting International Missions in Nicaragua and Kenya.
Our My Gift for Jesus pledge season in coming to a close (don't worry, you can still get involved**), and we want to thank each and every one of you who has recommitted your gifts or has given for the first time! We want you to know how much we, Fox River Missions, appreciates your gifts and generosity, as well as how much our partners in Kenya and Nicaragua do.
There are so many lives being reached and changed because of the gifts you have given! Children are being educated, fed, and loved, people will receive medical care in a place where it is desperately needed, there are sports programs to reach teens by doing something they love, church growth in communities, and so much more, but MOST IMPORTANTLY... Each of these ministries are sharing the love of Jesus Christ and the hope and grace that He brings. Lives are being changed with eternal impact!!! These things would not be possible without you and your willingness to partner with God and his work.
There are not enough words to express that gratitude that the kids in Kenya and the people in Nicaragua have for you and your gifts. There is only...
Now hear straight from them...
Did you hear it? Did you hear the joy, the love, the gratitude? These people, these children, they love you and are so very grateful for you! Go ahead listen again (we know you want to)!
**It's never to late to give a gift to Jesus! Here's how you can get involved in God's work through International Missions...
Regular gifts of $25/month or $300/year will sponsor a child in Kenya and support our medical and sports ministry in Nicaragua. Many new sponsors join us at Christmas, but you don't need to wait. Join us in God's work today!
One-time gifts help with property maintenance and other special projects that continue the work God is doing in Kenya and Nicaragua. Designate donations with My Gift for Jesus at any of our Fox River campuses or by using our e-Giving system.
We have the opportunity to connect with our students in Kenya. We have set it up to be able to send letters back and forth through our database and would love to connect each of our students to a sponsor. If you have any questions on how to get connected please contact us.
Our prayer for 2017 is that you will see and feel the love of Christ that unites His people across nations and that you will see the blessings that come from partnering with God and His work!
My Gift for Jesus is in full swing here at Fox River. We love this time of year, because we get to share with you what we do and how God uses your gifts.
There are so many reasons to join in for My Gift for Jesus.
Check out 8 of ours...
This time of year we sometimes get caught up in the 'season' and at times forget why we are celebrating. Each year in December, Fox River focuses on International Missions and highlights what God is doing through partnerships in Kenya and Nicaragua. The challenge is to remember that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and to give a gift to Jesus by meeting physical needs of those for whom there is no help or hope. We choose to celebrate the birth of our Savior by giving to support these missions.
"We love because he first loved us" 1 John 4:19
All of your donations are tax deductible. We will even send you receipts for your files.
Fox River sponsors two schools in Kenya, one in the village of Bomani and the other in the village of Vipingo. That's a total of 850 students that get fed and receive an education that they might not get otherwise.
These are some of the kiddos that our ministries impact.
La Esmeralda, Nicaragua, is a very rural area in the mountains and cloud forest. It is an hour drive in a car to the nearest hospital/medical facility. Which is why the medical clinic is so crucial in this area. There are also many communities beyond La Esmeralda that are affected by the clinic. We have about 10,000 patient visits a year, and the number continues to grow. Not only do we treat the medical need with the clinic, we also meet the needs of the heart. Each patient hears the gospel before being treated for their physical condition (unless it is emergent).
The purpose of this ministry is to reach the unreached, to meet them where they are. The sports ministry meets outside of the church walls and reaches youth that would not be involved in church otherwise. As a result, many lives have been changed.
Fox River Missions meets many physical needs in Nicaragua and Kenya, but more than that, the spiritual needs of these people are being met. Lives are being changed by the Love of Christ. And you are part of that by supporting our mission!
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
Romans 10:14-15, 17 NIV
Without your partnership none of this would be possible.
There are so many more... We would love to hear some of the reasons you choose to give. Share with us in the comments, on facebook, twitter, or instagram.
If you want more information on My Gift for Jesus, check out this blog post. Or come see us at Fox River in the foyer this weekend at any of our campuses.
Each year in December, Fox River Christian Church focuses on International Missions and highlights what God is doing through partnerships in Kenya and Nicaragua. The challenge is to remember that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and to give a gift to Jesus by meeting physical needs of those for whom there is no help or hope.
LA ESMERALDA, NICARAGUA is in the mountains and even basic healthcare is hours away. In partnering with the church in this community, God has given us the privilege to build a medical clinic staffed with a doctor, nurse and pharmacist. This clinic has over 10,000 patient visits in a year and serves many communities on the mountain. The sports ministry reaches about 70 young men in the community through structured sporting events. Both ministries are meeting real physical needs in hopes to open the door to share the good news of Jesus Christ. In 2016, we celebrated the clinic's 5-year anniversary.
BOMANI & VIPINGO, KENYA are 2 communities north of Mombasa in which Fox River sponsors a church, school and nutrition center. the greatest need in these communities is for education that breaks the cycle of poverty. There are 850 children from age 3 to high school that receive an excellent Christian education, 2 meals a day on school days, uniforms, all school supplies and basic healthcare that includes health education. This year marks 10 years since we began this journey in these communities. It is incredible to see how these ministries have changed lives, family and the entire community!
Join with us in this journey to be the hands and feet of Jesus. $25 a month is all it takes to sponsor a child in one of the Kenyan schools or support the clinic & sports ministries in Nicaragua. Here's how you can get involved:
Through your compassionate giving, you are offering hope to a child, a family and an entire community by demolishing the strongholds of physical and spiritual poverty!
When we heard Scott's story we knew we had to share it with you all. God is working and He uses us in ways we would never imagine!
Check it out...
"In 2010, I went on a construction mission trip to Nicaragua to build a medical center that Fox River was funding. I had a couple of things close to my heart concerning this trip. The first was that my son was coming along, and I was excited to see if he would deepen his relationship with Christ as a result of serving and being among 30 men, all of whom were believers. I also had the simple call from Christ to fill a need – and the villages near the medical center site most certainly had. It was fulfilling to know that one speck on the planet would have health care where none existed before our trip. That was what stuck with me throughout the trip and beyond. What God had in store was much greater than what I had imagined or even thought of imagining.
While I spent the week making cement, I had a following of children who hung out at the site. They seemed to be present to pass the time and make a little mischief. I loved it. Then, they began to work. Kids from the age of 6 were carrying bricks, making cement, pushing wheel barrels full of cement to where they needed to go and other physically demanding work. I was nothing short of impressed with their willingness to help and their exuberance and joy. I thought that, at the most, the new clinic would improve their health. They would be able to fight off infections, their mothers would have a lower infant mortality rate, and the like. I assumed these kids would work with their fathers in their trade or work the fields as many of the other teens were doing. What I didn’t expect was how tying the clinic to the church would change everything.
In 2016, I returned to Nicaragua with my wife and daughter. I was in the medical team, while they were on the community team, doing evangelism and outreach. Upon arrival, I saw a couple of faces I recognized. Some of the kids that worked with me had grown up and were there to greet me. Fortunately, the Lord had prompted me to process some of the photos I took on my previous trip and bring a stack with me. They really enjoyed being able to see their childhood pictures.
Jorvin was one of the kids I remembered. I had his childhood picture, still in my possession. Donna, the full-time resident evangelist was with half a dozen of us as evening began to set in, prompted us to share our stories. Jorvin was sharing his emotion-filled story. He had decided to work for the church. This meant he had to leave home. He had to leave family. To speak of leaving the family in this culture is quite a break in the norm. His love for them was great, but his calling was greater. He had even decided to leave the small community of Esmeralda and go to seminary in Managua. Think of moving from rural Iowa to the heart of Detroit. It was a culture shock and a big transition. He was filled with love for Christ, but was also sad with what circumstances had brought. I think he wondered where all this came from and if it was the right thing to do. That is when I stood up and gave him a picture of him from six years earlier. I told him that I had been praying for him for the last six years. No more words were said. It seemed clear when he stood up, wrapped his arms around me in tears and hugged me that it was God at work.
The kids that worked and played with me six years earlier are leaders in the church. Out of the bunch, Norvin leads worship, Denis is the pastor, Katherin is working with women and children and heading out to seminary as well. The bulk of leadership at the church are the ages of 13-21. The church is thriving! They have matured and stepped up to be the examples of joy and love, which are the hallmarks of a true Christ follower.
In 2010, I had no idea I would be standing on the same site in Nicaragua six years later, and witness how God works. Over time, over circumstances, through people. He has a long-term vision for us, and I was able to see a small slice of that work through Jorvin’s story.
I could not be happier with what I witnessed in Esmeralda this past summer.
~Scott Mathison"
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