Note: A printable PDF version of this update is located here.
Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,
March has arrived, and with it comes one of our favorite reminders of God’s faithfulness. The earth is waking up again! New life is returning right on schedule, just as it does every year. And every year, without fail, this season points us to something far greater: the truth that Jesus Christ came into this world to bring us that same kind of new life, a life that does not fade with the cold or wither in the drought. Just as the earth cannot hold back spring, the tomb could not hold back our Savior. We are grateful to be entering this season with you alongside us, and we want to thank you sincerely for your prayers, your Christmas cards (yes, we just received a few a week ago!), and your faithful support. You are a blessing to us!
Advanced School of Ministry
The last several weeks have been among the busiest of the year for us. The Advanced School of Ministry conference came first, and we are glad to report that it went very well. Between 700 and 800 pastors and leaders attended this year, the week ran smoothly from start to finish, and we heard wonderful reports from many who were encouraged and genuinely impacted by the seminar. There is always something special about seeing so many men and women of God gathered together in one place, hungry to grow.
The weekend before the conference, we had the joy of hosting Paul and Janice Mainse from Canada. They joined us here in Tulancingo for a couple of services, bringing such a warm and servant-hearted spirit with them. After they preached with us on Sunday morning, we drove them to Mexico City so they could continue ministering there that same afternoon. Then on Monday, we all met up again in Cuernavaca for the conference itself. They were truly wonderful guests, and their depth of experience and genuine humility were a gift to all of us.
We ended the conference with a large graduation ceremony. Fifty students received their bachelor’s degrees in theology, and another 90-plus completed specialized ministry diploma programs. After all the hard work these students have put in over the years, it was a joy to celebrate with them. Following the conference, our team gathered to discuss the future direction of the Advanced School of Ministry. A few significant decisions were made, including the transition of the degree program from the American college that partnered with us for about 35 years to a Mexican Christian university. We are also making some adjustments to the conference schedule going forward. We are looking forward to what this new chapter holds.
Online Bible School
As soon as we returned from the conference, there was no time to slow down. Online enrollment opened just three days after the conference ended, so we immediately got to work editing videos and preparing material to include the conference content as one of our many online courses. Students who complete assignments based on the conference material, along with other online courses, can enroll in diploma programs and receive their diploma at next year’s conference.
Our spring semester officially started on February 11, and we now have just over 180 students enrolled from three countries. Anna and Sara are facilitating some of the courses again this semester, alongside our dedicated team of 8 additional facilitators and other helpers. It is a full and busy semester, with many new students joining us for the first time. We are also hard at work developing new material so that by August, we will be able to launch our full-time two-year program for the very first time. We are excited about what the Lord is building through this school!
One of the things that encourages us most is how many students keep coming back. Several who already graduated with their bachelor’s degree in theology have returned to study our newer courses. There is a real hunger for learning among so many in our student body, and that is a beautiful thing to witness.
Family
Our family is doing well, and we are thankful. Our son David continues to press forward in his doctoral studies at Texas A&M, and Daniel, Elisa, and little Ella are all doing great. Ella is 15 months old now and growing so fast! It is hard to believe how quickly time passes. Anna has been working in several areas, contributing to the Bible School, facilitating small group meetings, and also ministering regularly at our church here in Tulancingo, where she leads youth Bible studies and worship. We are proud of her and the faithfulness she brings to each of these callings.
A Note From Anna
When Faith Runs Out, God Has Enough for Both of You
“Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it… Your descendants will be so many that they will be impossible to count!” (Romans 4:18)
What if we took God at His word the way Abraham did? Many of us pray without expecting answers, believe without expecting to see results, and speak without knowing if it will come to pass. But Abraham believed against all odds. What if we did the same?
What does it mean to have faith? Faith is made up of hope, trust, and belief. But life has a way of wearing these down. When we’ve hoped and been disappointed, dreamed and failed, or trusted and been betrayed, our faith suffers, sometimes without us even noticing. Over time, we lose the ability to dream and trust in God.
But here’s where God’s character shines through: when we lose the ability to believe in Him, He has enough faith for both of us. This is the faith of God, not our straining and striving, but something that originates in Him and, by His grace, can be born in us. It goes beyond our own hopes and dreams precisely because it doesn’t depend on them.
Remember the man who came to Jesus asking for healing for his tormented son? After years of dashed hopes, his faith was shaken. When Jesus asked if he believed, the man cried out with tears: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24)
This man had no deep-seated faith of his own. But Jesus had enough for both of them. His faith and compassion were enough, even when the man had nothing left to give. Jesus healed the boy. The man’s honest, willing heart mattered more than mountain-moving faith. What does this teach us? God can give you some of His faith until your heart knowledge catches up with your head knowledge.
Notice that this is the same God who met Abraham in his impossibility, centuries earlier. Whether it is a desperate father in a crowd or an old man waiting on a promise, God shows up the same way: with more than enough faith to cover what we lack.
God keeps His promises. Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it. Whose job was it? God’s. And today, fulfilling promises is still God’s job, not ours.
Our role is to believe. When we can’t believe, our role is to hope. When we can’t hope, our role is to trust. When we can’t trust, we look at God and say, “I believe, help my unbelief.”
Faith that pushes through disappointment will eventually see fulfillment. Don’t give up before you see God’s promise come to pass. If it hurts too much to believe right now, come to God with that pain and trust He will have enough faith for both of you. Remember: Abraham’s God is your God, and He still fulfills His promises.
My prayer for you is that you will be encouraged, take heart, and find courage to take God at His word once more. He is for you!
Thanks for reading,
Anna
Prayers and Thanks
We are so thankful for each of you who prays for us and supports this ministry. One thing we were especially grateful for during the conference season was that we all stayed healthy and traveled safely. That is never something we take for granted, and we give thanks to God for His protection over our team.
There are some urgent prayer needs on our hearts right now, and we would love for you to join us in bringing these before the Lord.
- Please pray for Karla, the 22-year-old daughter of Javier and Angelica, who are dear members of our church. Karla is facing severe kidney failure and is in urgent need of a donor. Her mother Angelica had been prepared to donate, but then suddenly became ill herself and can no longer qualify. Please pray for a new kidney for Karla, and for peace and strength for the whole family during this very difficult time.
- Please pray for Maria and Alicia, two women in our congregation who are currently undergoing chemotherapy. Pray for their healing, and for God’s comfort and strength for their families as well.
- Please pray for our Online Bible School students, that each one would grow deeply in the Word of God and walk in faithful service in their own local churches.
- Please pray for safety and peace in our region. Violence has broken out in many parts of Mexico recently, and we ask for God’s protection especially over our area and over the people we love here.
Thank you again for everything. Your prayers and support make this work possible, and we do not say that lightly. We feel it deeply, and we are grateful.
Thanks! It was wonderful to connect again. If you can, please drop us a note and let us know how things are going for you!
With love,
David and Sara Lont
with Anna
