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Ministry Expansion and Growth
From Canada to Mexico and many points in between, UIM International continues to experience growth and expansion of its ministry within North America. Sometimes growth comes through well-ordered plans and at other times through unexpected developments, but in every case the Lord is at work fulfilling His purposes.
We are blessed with young couples and families that are processing through the necessary phases of required cross-cultural training and preparation. This arduous and yet very necessary dynamic of missionary training results in missionary longevity. A missionary needs to be equipped in the Scriptures and have proper understanding of biblical truth in doctrine, but he/she must also apply biblical truth in relationship dynamics. Cross-cultural training accomplishes this. In this issue of UIM Connection! read an account of two fine missionary couples (one with a family) that recently completed such a necessary component of their missionary training.
The other spectrum of God's sovereign, and in many ways "unplanned," provision is the recent addition of missionaries from the former Crusader Ministries. UIM was privileged to process and receive these choice servants of the Lord, enabling them to continue their already long-term ministries in Mexico. We are so privileged to welcome indigenous missionaries as well as a special "American family" that have lived out their lives in Mexico, essentially "indigenous" themselves in the great country in which they serve.
Thank you for taking the time to connect with UIM International through this UIM Connection!
Serving our sovereign Savior,
 Dan Fredericks, Executive Director UIM International  |
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Endured Pain for a Higher Gain
UIM Canada field missionaries Daniel and Geneva Koster, along with Tyrell and Kate Zehner, arrived at Gateway Cross-cultural Training in Langley, BC, Canada, on January 28. They had no idea what adventures the next three months held for them. Fourteen adults and seven children from four different countries attended Gateway. Most of the students had just finished learning English as a second language and were a close-knit group. When the Zehners and Kosters arrived, they knew no one. They took a short tour of the facility and then moved into small rooms located in the center of the hallway. The first night they discovered how thin the walls were as they listened to other families deal with their children in a community setting. Classes were held mainly in the morning, but there were a few days they were held after lunch. Each week there was a new subject to learn and books to read. Topics included how to learn a new language, how to avoid creating unhealthy dependency between foreigners and the national church, how to handle conflicts that arise from cultural differences and misunderstandings, the importance of the missionaries' walk with Christ as they seek to bring Him to others, discipleship, worldview, church-planting, and building strong cross-cultural teams. In small, culturally-diverse groups they discussed how to solve problems on the mission field. The Zehners and Kosters were constantly reminded how other cultures see problems very differently and sometimes the solutions create more problems. Each week the work load was increased to prepare each student for stressful situations. They eventually realized the goal was not to do everything, but to do as much as they could without giving up or getting frustrated. Everyone had chores and jobs to do throughout the week as well as attending chapel before dinner. Both the Zehners and the Kosters found the training very difficult at the beginning. They had to adjust to other cultures along with having very little personal space. Even though Gateway is located in Canada, with all its foreign students, staff and school rules it created a very unique culture of its own which they had not experienced before. Much of the free time was used learning how to interact with one another in a way that did not offend. They had every type of person from time-orientated to people-orientated persons and from indirect to very direct people. It was easy to create a conflict without even trying, but it forced them to watch carefully how they were received by other cultures and taught them they can never assume others understand their motives.
Both families have learned a lot about themselves and about God's global church. They have come to understand better what it means to follow Christ as well as how to communicate non-verbally with others. Many helpful and challenging things were shared in their class-time and they look forward to implementing them in their future ministries. It was good to see how God is working in other cultures and how they can work better with the First Nations culture.
 | | Gateway Participants |
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Gaining Through Growth
The Lord continues to grow and expand the ministry of UIM. Recently the leadership of Crusader Ministries in McAllen, Texas, needing to close and find a new home for its missionaries, contacted UIM. Its indigenous missionaries serve in many of the same areas of Mexico where UIM presently serves. After discussion, correspondence, and meetings, it was affirmed that Crusaders Ministries was compatible with UIM's positions on doctrine and philosophy of ministry.
On April 9, Concepción & Benita Díaz, Isaac Díaz, Jacob & Linda Wiebe, Cara Wiebe, Honorio & Pascasia Cruz, Desiderio & Nohemí Lozano, and Güido & Sandra García were received into UIM's membership. Bibiana Chavez has begun her application and plans to continue it later along with her husband, Luís. These indigenous missionary units will serve under the UIM Mexico Board.
 | Recently added UIM MIssionaries and
Leaders of OTUS |
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