Archive for October, 2013


Oct 31

A Beautiful Account of God’s Work among the Rabinal Achi

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Mission

To highlight God’s work among the Rabinal Achi, Karen Gregory recently published an article for TGC’s International Outreach, “Christ for Guatemala’s Mayan People.” It’s a wonderful article that will make your heart rejoice. Here’s how it begins:

Our group from Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had taken a second mission trip to the town of Rabinal, in the Baja Verapaz region of Guatemala. We wanted to spread the Gospel to the Achi people, descendants of the once-mighty Mayan nation.

On that memorable day in 2004, we traversed a mountainside for two hours. We hiked alongside Pastor David Ixcopal, his wife Maria, and several of their 11 children, with the goal to share the Jesus film—the pastor’s only Western gospel resource at the time. A donkey carried the film, along with a generator and sheets that would serve as a movie screen. By evening the entire village of Patchalum viewed the movie; for many, it was their first exposure to the glorious Gospel of Christ.

For several days we accompanied Pastor David up and down steep mountains, taking paths between corn rows to reach the low, dark dwellings of Achi families.

I was overwhelmed by the Guatemalan pastor’s daily response to the call of Jesus, and the willingness of his family to ignore the seemingly impossible task to spread the Gospel. Their crushing poverty, amazing energy and boundless joy, in contrast to my many resources, paltry excuses and constant grumbling, made me weep. I returned home a broken woman.

Read the rest of Karen’s article here. To learn more about our Rabinal Achi Partnership, visit the DSC Global Missions Page.

Oct 24

Who Are the Unreached? – Preparing for Missions Emphasis Week

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Events

To prepare for Missions Emphasis Week, which begins this Sunday, watch this short video by John Piper answering the question, “Who Are the Unreached?”

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By way of reminder, here is a list of what’s going on at DSC this week:

Sola Aqua | October 20-30

We’re in the middle of this! If you haven’t started already, fast from beverages except for tap water and pray for God to bring living water to the peoples of Native America, Guatemala, and North Africa. Then, donate the money you save to DSC’s water projects in Guatemala.

Special Guests on Sunday Morning | Sunday, 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM

At our Sunday Services, Matt Ellison will preach from 3 John and Philippians, a sermon titled, “Caring for Missionaries in a Manner Worthy of God.” Matt, a member at DSC, is co-founder and Chief Ministry Officer at Sixteen:Fifteen, a church missions coaching organization that has been instrumental in the formation of DSC’s vision for missions.

In addition, Rodrigo Barrera, our beloved missionary and Wycliffe Bible Translator, will share about he and his wife Carol’s ministry among the Mayan Rabinal Achi in Guatemala.

Dinner with the Missionaries | Sunday, 5:00 – 8:00 PM (Registration closes Friday at 11:59PM)

Dinner with the Missionaries,” including a Q&A with Carol Barrera, Cindy Harper, and Mrs. G. Click here to for more information and to register. Enjoy a nice Pacific Rim dinner, free child care (12 and under), and access to the Silent Auction.

Silent Auction | Sunday Morning – Wednesday Night

The Silent Auction will be open Sunday morning at 8:00 AM, then on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and on Wednesday from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, just before our Lord’s Supper service. Click here, here, here, and here to read about the various things and services that have been donated bye DSC members for this auction.

Lord’s Supper Service | Wednesday, 6:30 PM

Mr. G, our SNAP Team Leader will be sharing about the progress and upcoming transitions for him and his family. They look to launch to France en route to North Africa in January. Click here to learn more about the Sunrise North Africa Partnership (SNAP).

Also, swing by the Book Nook for several featured books on Global Missions.

It’s going to be a great week!

Oct 23

“Work Matters” Conference at Hope Church this Saturday

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Events

Here’s what D.A. Carson had to say about Tom Nelson’s fine book on Christian vocation, Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work:

“Not many pastors are adept at encouraging the Christians they serve to think deeply about the work they undertake during the six days when they are not gathering for corporate worship. So many of our applications and exhortations, as important and as faithful as they are, deal with prayer, Bible reading, family relationships, and evangelism, and not with the work that takes up much of our time and that we are called to offer up to God. I first heard Tom Nelson bring some clarity to these matters in some addresses at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and I am delighted to see his reflections expanded and put into print. This book is greatly needed.”
—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

On Saturday, October 26, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Hope Church will host a half day conference with Tom Nelson, “Work Matters: Integrating Faith and Work.” If you’d like to join, the cost is free, but you’ll need to register here.

If this subject has your interest, check out Nelson’s sermon, “Is Work a Four-Letter Word?,” this video interview by Crossway, and this written interview by The Gospel Coalition.

Tom Nelson is the Senior Pastor of Christ Community Church in Leawood, Kansas, and a council member of The Gospel Coalition.

Oct 16

“Revelation 7” – A New Song for Cause for Praise, This Friday

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Events

cause_for_praise_2013

DSC’s fourth annual Cause for Praise worship concert is this Friday, October 18, at 7:00 PM at Desert Springs Church. We use the word “concert,” but this event is more precisely a special and extended evening of corporate worship in song. The event will be recorded and several songs from the evening will be released over the next year.

As has become our tradition, we will learn a few new songs together. One new song we’ll sing is part of a future DSC recording project called, “Songs of Revelation.” As the title makes clear, this will be an album of songs based on texts from the Book of Revelation.

For a taste of what’s to come this Friday, here are the lyrics to a song based on Revelation 7:

Revelation 7
Chris Elliot, Drew Hodge

1. O eyes, behold the multitude
of souls amassed from ‘cross the globe;
No tongue from lyrics to preclude
a cry of praise to God enthroned.

Before the Lamb, clothed in white,
all in accord they cried . . .

Chorus
Salvation belongs to our God!
Salvation belongs to our God!

2. Saints and angels gathered round,
elders and the creatures sang;
Before the throne all faces down
beyond all time God’s glory rang.

Before the Lamb, clothed in white,
all in accord they cried . . .

As you are probably aware, DSC’s musicians have written a number of songs over the past few years, many of them recorded and available for listening and download at DSC’s Bandcamp Page.

Oct 14

Baptism Testimonies from Sunday, October 13, 2013

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Gospel

Yesterday we had the joy of witnessing the baptism of ten brothers and sisters, five in each service. As a new tradition, we will post the baptism testimony videos following our baptism services. Below are the video testimonies from Sunday morning! You will be blessed by these testimonies of grace.

As we listen to these testimonies, let’s praise God for his salvation of these people and remember these words from the Apostle Paul for all of us who are in Christ:

… all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
— Romans 6:3-4

9:00 AM Service

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Isabel Betancur, Larry Gallegos, Ramona Gallegos, Carlos Stearns, Courteney Gurule

10:45 AM Service

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Melissa Velez, Eric Lewin, Amber McBride, Campbell Beck, Emma Beauchamp