Small Steps. Big Faith.

  Remember when I went to Holland with Aaron and two other staff at the end of November? It was to become as a BPMT Facilitator. What is BPMT again? The Building Power Ministry Teams Assessment tool is based upon “ The Performance Factor: Unlocking the Secrets of Teamwork " by Pat MacMillan. This tool helps a team self assess six different aspects of teamwork (Common Purpose, Clear Roles, Accepted Leadership, Effective Processes, Solid Relationships and Excellent Communication). Teams can then see in which areas of their teamwork they are strong and in which areas they are weak. During the workshop the team creats action steps to address these areas. Now that we are officially certified, our goal is now to bring this important training to Spain. Rex Winn, Marc Fuentes and I make up the BPMT team in Spain. Our next steps include translating the material and casting vision for the various ministry teams in Agape Spain. There are already a couple of teams interested in re...

"José became a Christian at the Student Retreat!!!!" "Ruben and Loida are discipling several teenagers from their church." "Next weekend, we will host a cross-cultural training for a student mission trip to Argentina."      These are all statements that I have in the last week from staff who are working on the front lines. Full-time staff on the field are a crucial part to taking the gospel to every corner of Spain and the world!     Behind each full-time staff member on the field, there is also a special team, known here as the CAPACITY team, who works KEEP these staff on the front lines of ministry by depositing paychecks for them, creating and maintaining email and website platforms for them, providing training with ministry and leadership skills for them, etc.      In February 2017, the CAPACITY team (a virtual team of 11 staff living in 7 different cities) gathered in Valencia for 3 days for our own...

Something special is stirring within Agape Spain. Slowly and quietly God has begun to raise up more laborers to serve Him full-time in our ministry. Several of these staff members, after faithfully serving for several years have proved ready to take on greater leadership responsibilities. In September three of our staff (pictured above:  From left to right, Mia, Miqui and Radvile, ) will attend "Next Generation," a two-year leadership development program. The first module of the training will include 10 days together in Tel Aviv, Israel.  A significant part of the training includes ongoing meetings with a coach who will help the staff process the things they are learning. In July I received a call from the Next Generation coordinator asking me if I would be available to coach Radvile, who will be the Campus Director in Malaga. "Of course! I would be honored!" was my immediate response. Please pray for these 3...that God would speak to them during their tim...

LDHR works with staff at each stage of their ministry careers. In June we officially hired 5 new staff and hosted an orientation outside of Malaga to usher them into this new world of ministry. Gema, Rex and I worked for weeks prior to the event, preparing materials, coordinating logistics, communicating with the new staff and praying for each one by name. While a good portion of the content involved administrative details regarding our policies and practices, we also added new theological content to strengthen their biblical base as they enter into full-time work. We wrapped up the weekend with a visit from Nacho Marques, our national director, and his family, who skillfully painted a picture of the importance of spiritual multiplication and the power of exponential growth when we make disciples. Please pray for these 5 new staff as they raise support this fall. Pray that God would provide all their needs and would protect and encourage them during these preparatory months at...

In many situations God has used English as a platform for me to share my story with others. Speaking in English has created the "foot in the door" to build the rapport and relationship necessary to earn the trust and the right to be heard when telling others about Jesus, especially those who do not know Him. However, this spring, as a follow-up from our national conference in April, God is using English to open doors into the lives of current and emerging leaders in Agape Spain. Mia, Ingrid and Marilo live in three different cities scattered throughout Spain, but they have all expressed a common need: to improve their English in order to lead their ministries well with foreigners who come to work with them and as spokespersons for their ministries at all Agape Europe events. As I have gained experience in leading teams and being a leader, my heart and my vision continue to grow for developing leaders here in Spain; but I still I don't have the official platform y...

With 100+ staff, students and volunteers in attendance from all over Spain, fellowship and good news updates abounded at our annual staff conference held in Guadarama, outside of Madrid. Ruben and Aaron came with me and participated as well. (Aaron pictured above.)  The theme was Co-Mision (Co-Mission). We were reminded of our mission , with an emphasis on collaborating with other ministries and Christian entities outside of our own in order to more effectively reach Spain with the gospel of Christ.  I  was encouraged to dove-tail this conference theme during a leadership workshop that I facilitated, emphasizing the crucial role that leadership development plays in accomplishing our mission. This mission is so big that we must trust God to raise up and develop leaders who are capable of guiding teams and  movements all over Spain to make Jesus known and to make disciples. After my workshop I received the pensive reflection, "Jill, you've given me a lot t...

Amidst the ongoing responsibilities I am taking with LDHR, this month I had the opportunity to attend a special gathering with 2 conferences in one: University students and staff from all over Western Europe AND LDHR staff from all over Western Europe descended on the city of Torremolinos (outside of Malaga) for several days of worship, prayer and strategic planning of how we will move forward in reaching Western Europeans with gospel of Jesus Christ. Since the campus ministry is where I learned to walk with the Lord and where I gained much of my ministry experience, it was incredibly refreshing to once again be among university students. My roommate was Campus staff member Dawn Miller, (first picture) who has recently returned to Spain after several years in the U.S. to earn a seminary degree in Theological Studies. We talked late in to the night, catching up on life and ministry while she had been gone and since she's been back. Also, Rex, Gema and I were able ...