Christmas Update

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Dear friends, feliz navidad from Mexico City, where children are putting out their shoes hoping for gifts from “the three kings” and we are celebrating the arrival of the True King!

As you read this letter, the inhabitants of Mexico City are preparing for the massive holiday exodus that will leave the great megalopolis lonely, blissfully free of smog and traffic, and looking in to family and up to God. The gates of the UNAM have swung shut for the year, and students are enjoying some vacation, their academic stresses pushed into the back of their minds until school begins again at the beginning of February.

It has been a full semester on campus, beginning with our servant team retreat just before classes began, continuing with our large group, small group, and one-on-one activities (as well as special social, service, and prayer events) and culminating in our Christmas feast. Thank you so much for supporting this ministry as it reaches out to UNAM students with the gospel for the sake of Christ’s church and kingdom!

In our large group, Peter preached through the book of Acts, focusing on the amazing spread of the Gospel as the power of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and rule shook the Christian community and crashed through cultural and geographical barriers to reach the ends of the earth. We were encouraged by the power of the Gospel which enabled this marginalized band to live and die with radical faith, hope and love – ultimately conquering an empire!

In our three small groups, students studied the supremacy of Christ in a world of competing philosophies (Colossians/Humanities Faculty), the supremacy of Christ in a world of hunger and thirst (Gospel of John/Sciences Faculty), and the supremacy of Christ through all of scripture (foundations of the Christian faith/Central Quad). Two of these studies were led by pairs of students who are growing in their ability to study Scripture and to guide others in observing, interpreting and applying God’s word.

In our one-on-one meetings this semester, we continued to talk and encourage students as they struggled with loneliness, depression, dating and marriage decisions, family conflicts, changing majors, adjusting to university life, forgiveness, growing in reading Scripture, and leading and loving others. God is at work bringing students to faith and helping them grow in it!

Some big events this semester have included:

• A prayer and praise night and a costume party organized and executed by students
• A retreat in which we took 24 to the neighboring state of Querétaro for lots of fun and learning centered around the theme “lost in the middle of the movie” brought to us by Rev. Steve Robertson, a church planter with Mission to the World in Guadalajara.
• A fantastic final Christmas party in which we celebrated the birth of Christ and Ruth’s life-impacting ministry among us as she shifts her focus away from campus and toward translation this next semester.

Some big requests as we finish the semester include:

• Pray for wisdom and direction for Ruth as she works on completing translation of Dan Doriani’s Getting The Message and transitions toward other MTW/RUF work. Please keep giving or consider giving to Ruth this year, as her account has run a deficit and she will need funds to continue this year’s important translation and transition work!
• Pray for open doors for Peter as he visits churches and individuals in the US this January raising money for RUF at the UNAM. Pray for shared vision, generous hearts, and that Peter might be able to raise the 48% of his MTW budget that is currently unfunded! Every bit of prayer and $ support counts.
• Pray for wisdom for students as they make important decisions over the 2 month winter break that will impact who they are and where they are headed next semester (and beyond!).
• Pray for encouragement and commitment for students who are moving into our group, especially freshmen. Pray for our group to grow next semester and to find a permanent large group location just off campus!
• Pray for continued joy for students who are new in their faith, and for them to find and join churches that preach and live the gospel clearly. Pray for local churches and new church plants.
• Pray for diligence, discernment, and passion for Peter as he prepares sermons, small groups, spring break trips, and leaders for next semester.

Thanks again for supporting this ministry – may God bless you in this new year as he reaches your heart with his grace and equips you to love as you have been loved!

Peter Dishman & Ruth Martinez

National Autonomous University of Mexico