Winter 2014-15 CrossBits

Winter 2014
P.O.BOX 9844
Yakima, WA 98909
in this issue >>>
Ministry Reports
Mixtec Community Update
Fundraising
Upcoming Events
Crossing Cultural Lines to Link People to the Cross
Crossbits
upcoming events
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for
his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1 ESV
December 31: Last day to postmark year-end donations.
January 10 at 9:00AM: CrossLink Board Meeting
Pray for our Board as we consider next steps!
coming soon >>>
January 16 – 25: Mexico Health Fair
Pray for the medical mission trip planned to Jalisco, Mexico.
In the Next Issue
Spring 2015: Concert of Prayer & Worship for the Hispanic Community
Stay in touch with us on our website or Facebook to get details early.
Concert of Prayer
May 21 at 6:00PM: CrossLink Board Meeting
Pray for our Board as we are reminded that God is faithful and everything is about Him!
www.crosslink.info | 509.895.7710 |
CrossLinkYakima
Mixtec Community Outreach
Appreciation Dessert
"The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed." Psalm 103:6 ESV
The Great Commission calls believers
Crosslink and volunteers from
The Appreciation Dessert in October was
a wonderful opportunity to celebrate
God’s people working together and to
give God all the glory for the
accomplishments of the past 15 years. It
was a privilege to see how God
transformed so many lives and see the
spread of the good news of the Gospel.
to be witnesses for Christ to the ends of
the earth. Following that call may take
you across the globe, but the ends of the
earth may be closer to your doorstep
than you think.
partnering churches in Yakima and in
Montana dropped off blankets, coats,
and warm clothes in a visit November
16 to help meet basic needs in the
Mixtec community. The outreach
coincided with a promotion for
English as a Second Language
classes that are both practical
and evangelical.
We also remember our disappointments,
which God uses to remind us that He is
faithful. Our reflections help us keep the
central focus of our ministry on God – as
we depend entirely upon Him and trust
Him to transform lives. God creatively
puts His people together to do work that
glorifies Himself.
December 13: Christmas Shoe Box Drive
We are gathering Christmas shoeboxes for the Othello Mixtec group. When you put together a
shoebox for Samaritan’s Purse, please also put one together for CrossLink by December 7.
Mexico Health Fair
Missionary Reports
t
celebrations >>>
As we move into the upcoming year and
reflect upon our purpose as a ministry,
please pray with us as we explore what
God has next!
In nearby Othello
and Mattawa, over
1,000 Mixteco
Indians (also
called Mixteco)
live in extreme
poverty, many of
whom were
brought into the
area with false
promises of high
wages and legal
papers. As a result,
pocket Mixtec communities pay
outrageous rental rates for shacks that
can barely be considered shelter because
they do not have the right documents.
Originally from the highlands of
Guerrero State in southern Mexico, most
adults speak limited Spanish and no
English, instead they speak a dialect of
Mixtec – a language that does not yet
have its own translation of the Bible.
While meeting the physical
needs of each person is
important, the spiritual need for
a pastor to share the gospel in
the language of one’s heart is
even more important. Right
now, the cultural and language
barriers of the Mixtecs hinder
them from fitting into churches
that target Hispanics. "The biggest
challenge is finding someone who
speaks the language," says Elias Garcia,
who has been working with Othello
native Santos Villareal to reach out to
the Mixtec community. "Or finding
someone who is willing to spend time
and learn the language."
If you would like to create or deliver
Christmas shoeboxes filled with
goodies for Mixtec children, please
contact CrossLink at 509.895.7710
for more information.
missions >>>
missions >>>
Mexico Leader’s Retreat
Venezuela Teaching Ministry
During November 2014, Al Martinsen returned to Venezuela to teach a
biblical conference series on deepening our relationship with God using the
practical tools that God has given us.
“We would like to extend our
gratitude to all of those persons
involved in the preparation,
planning, providing, and executing
of the Leader's Conference in
Guadalajara, Mexico.
Main Session at Leader’s Retreat 2014
In 2006, we were asked to help the
Venezuelan churches by teaching them
Biblical principles for developing godly
relationships. Al Martinsen has been
privileged to serve in this ministry by
developing and presenting one-day
conferences each year since then. The
subjects have focused on building
biblical relationships among pastors,
church members, families, teens,
children, and those who do not know
Christ. Last year was a somewhat
different request – they asked for a
conference on Embracing Our God-given
Sexuality – Living Within the Limits of
Sexual Purity & Holiness!
Youth Group at Leader’s Retreat 2014
The weekend was a time our family was able to spend in rest, not only physically, but
spiritually. Brother Scott Thielen and his wife Patti were a great blessing to us as they
shared truth and encouragement through the Word. We feel greatly honored to have been
invited to participate in this event. It is something that we would not have been able to
afford or do for ourselves because of time and economic restraints. May the Lord continue
to bless you all and fill your storehouses beyond measure because of your faithfulness to
Him. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.”
Cardenas-Cisneros Family
Ciro, Alicia & Marissa
Quitupan, Jalisco, Mexico
prayer >>>
fundraising >>>
CrossLink Medical Missions


Thank you for your
generosity!
Mixtec Community

Remember to post mark your
year-end donations by
December 31st!
Pray for patients and providers going to
the Mexico Medical Health Fair in
January.
Pray for the CrossLink Dental Van to be
fully remodeled and equipped for dental
ministry in Mexico in 2015.
Pray for the basic needs of the Mixtec
Community in Othello and Mattawa
this winter season.

Pray for a pastor who will fall in love
with the Mixtec people and help plant
a church in their community.

Pray for the spiritual needs of the
Mixtec Community and a willingness
to let Jesus transform their hearts.
Photo from a Dental Mission in 2012
Nearly 20 years ago, the seeds of
CrossLink were planted by a short-term
team of believers from Yakima who went
to Venezuela to work with a group of
small churches. The task was to partner
with believers from the Venezuelan
churches in areas adjacent to them where
there were no known evangelical
believers and to share the good news of
the gospel by going door-to-door and
family to family. This one-time mission
trip became a long-term partnership!
Since that beginning, believers from
Yakima have systematically returned to
Venezuela to work closely with the
Appreciation
Dessert
>>>
growing churches
there, and
Venezuelan
believers have come to Yakima and
helped us reach Spanish language people
with the same good news!
Through the years, the opportunities and
work in Venezuela has broadened to
include children’s outreach, hosting a
conference for pastors and their wives,
giving professional assistance to public
works employees, and serving teens.
Al Martinsen had the privilege of
returning again this November 5th – 21st
and the conferences this year will be a
continuation of last year’s subject.
However, we will discuss more in depth
how we can deepen our relationship with
God and to better use the self-control
and practical tools that God has given us
to enhance our intimacy with Him – the
picture projected is a passionate, loving,
committed, and intimate marriage.
In addition to the conferences, there will
be opportunities to share the gospel with
people who are unaware of the invitation
to embrace Jesus as their savior. As we
visit different churches each day, we will
encourage struggling brothers and sisters
in Christ.
Please join us in praise for what God
has done in the past through this
partnership between Yakima and
Venezuela, and then join us in prayer
for those with whom we will have
contact with this year!
www.CrossLink.info | 509.895.7710 |
CrossLinkYakima
Spring 2015 Concert
of Prayer & Worship
Coming
Spring
of 2015! with area
We have in
been
collaborating
pastors to create a space one night this
Spring for CrossLink supporters and
churches to gather together in unity over
the Hispanic Community during a time of
worship, reflection, and prayer for
Spanish speakers. Stay tuned….
Continue Praying for
CrossLink Missionaries
The Aguilar Family
Juan & Dina with sons
Henri, Josue & Juan, Jr. (not present)
The Sali Family
Judah & Alyssa with sons Benjamin & Lane