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Jankowiak Family Missions Update

Dear Friends,

A new religious phenomenon is beginning to take place in Central America. Guatemala has been a model for American-style numerical evangelical growth, international conferences, concerts, and the ubiquitous radio and TV programs of ever more pastors and apostles competing for the Christian ear and dollar. Now it’s living a new American import: Transfer growth, that is, people are going from one church to another on the basis of who the hot preacher or what the hot program of the moment happens to be.

Happily, in the other nations of Central America there is real numerical growth. On a recent visit to Honduras I was amazed to see thousands of people watch the Jesus movie and hear a personalized salvation message during a medical campaign near San Pedro Sula.

On the same trip, I went to the capital city of Tegucigalpa to meet the pastor of a budding congregation who practically begged me to take his church under Verbo spiritual covering and discipleship (Yes, we started a relationship to helping him to build his congregation and develop a Kingdom vision).

I was also in Nicaragua where people are turning to the Gospel in grand numbers. Our church in the capital city of Managua is at a thousand attendees on Sundays, and the social services keep meeting more needs in the countryside.

My concern is how to promote real growth in Guatemala and keep the momentum going in the other Latin America. The answers I see are pretty straightforward and old fashioned: Reach young people, and train new leaders. I’ve been meeting with the youth group leaders of our churches in Guatemala City and soon will start relating more to the ones in the rural areas.

The idea is to show them they’re youthful leaders, not just youth group leaders, and to give them an idea of the postmodern MTV world that they need to reach. My second point is to identify and train those with ministry callings to assume leadership positions.

I hope in a few years we’ll have a new crop of leaders and missionaries with a worldwide vision.
My other concern is communications. I’ve managed to get together two semi-pro TV cameras, some lights, two Apple computers loaded for media editing and production, and three young men who are working with me to develop TV programs, produce a new, improved Verbo web page (a magazine, radio programs, etc.

It’s really fun, and of course, it’s a way to get our message across that Christians need to be a people of integrity and Bible-based character dedicated to doing God’s will on this earth. Or as Jesus said, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Turning to news on the domestic front, these are days of great excitement for us. Our daughter, Angeline, is marrying Justin McLane in New Hampshire this month of August, and Lynn is doing the artistic touches for the wedding, including handmade invitations. I get to be the officiating preacher. Justin is a civil engineer and very industrious.

To add to our joy, daughter Aurora and husband Beto Tancillo are going to have their first child and our first granddaughter in October. I never quite understood why grandparents got so excited about grandchildren, but now I get it! Lynn will be with them in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the blessed event.

Nathanael and his wife, Amy, will be with the rest of the family at the wedding; along with J.T., our youngest. Nathanael continues to work in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in the stevedoring business, now as a labor contractor. Amy is working for a florist. J.T. is in his third year of Computer Systems Engineering here in Guatemala and also is an English and Portuguese teacher for Berlitz Language School.

Finally, thank you for your love, prayers and support. God bless you!