Articles by Den - The Crossing Place Youth Pastor

Article I

As we approached the runway in Tuxtla for our landing in Chiapas, I didn’t really know what to expect. We had already had too much adventure for one day (with our passports and boarding passes), but now reality was setting in.

We were on a mission trip in the middle of nowhere many, many miles from the comforts of home.

We loaded all the bags into the trucks and headed toward the ministry center in Chenahlo. I was fortunate to ride in the vehicle with Bro. and Sis. Jett and the founding missionary, Bro. Larry Myers. I listened to them talk and learned a lot about the ministry—probably more than I learned in three years of Bible college. About two hours later we arrived at the ministry center, unloaded the vehicles, and went to bed.

Monday morning we built 40 benches for two churches in the area. We worked hard and completed the job at about 2:00 pm. Our team worked diligently cutting boards, putting benches together, and finally painting them all. Our missionaries then took us to a church that was only about 15 minutes from the ministry center so we could see what we were about to build. That’s where I realized that God was looking to teach me on this trip. As we looked at the building and met the people in the area, several families came to us for prayer. I thought, “This is good. We’ll pray for them and have a nice little spiritual experience in the middle of our working. That will be perfect.”

Then I learned.

What did I learn? I’m glad you asked. I learned about my own inability to trust God. Why? Because we were praying for people in a remote area with no hospitals or doctors or even pharmacies to get medicine. Because they LIVE by their belief that if God doesn’t do something…I have all these options in front of me and sometimes I make God my LAST one. If one of my kids was sick I would spare no expense and do whatever it took to get them the care they needed. Not in Chiapas. Not for these people. If God doesn’t show up…well, you get the picture.

The next day we went to finish the church in Las Flores. Our students worked very hard again, and we finished putting on the roof and painting the building an hour ahead of schedule. The next day we poured a cement floor. Our students carried cement inside the building in five gallon buckets so the floor could be finished. Again we finished ahead of schedule. We came together as a group and worshipped and prayed with the people in the village.

Then I learned again.

I learned the value of true appreciation. See, I was introduced to the pastor of the church we had just finished. Bro. Russell introduced me as the man who leads the group that built their church. The pastor grabbed me by the shoulders, buried his head into my chest, and began to weep. He didn’t speak English or even Spanish, but I understood what he was saying to me. Among his tears was gratitude unlike any I had ever experienced before. He was so thankful for what we had done. Mind you, all that we had done was paint a concrete building, put on a metal roof, carry cement, and build some benches that none of us would have been willing to sit on in church today. But he was so grateful.

Then I learned again.

His gratitude was different than mine because he understood that God has to be the center our lives. We say he is everything to us, but they live that. For them, worshipping God was not just another hat that they wore during the week. It was truly a lifestyle. He is everything to them. So having the nicest building (by far) in the village dedicated to the worship of God was the most important thing they could have. And we helped them build it. And they had genuine gratitude for our “sacrifice”.

Speaking of sacrifice, on both days we worked in the village the ladies cooked us lunch. They fixed food from what they had. They fed about 35 or 40 people each day, and they were honored to do it. They even fed us in their homes. The most significant thing about these meals was the personal sacrifice they made so we could eat. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the bottled Cokes they purchased for us as well. At 10 pesos each, these drinks cost them much more than they would make in a week—That is true sacrifice.

Then I learned again.

What am I really sacrificing for the advancement of the kingdom of God? I mean, what does it really cost me to serve God? The answer is simple—most of the time it costs me nothing. Serving God is everything to these people—they would give anything for Him. I wonder—what would I really sacrifice for His kingdom?

We went sightseeing and stayed in a nice hotel before we came home on Saturday. I loved our trip, but I was ready to come home. On Friday as we were leaving the ministry center, all the kids we had grown to love and the adults in the neighborhood were there. There were many tears shed as we got in the vans to start our journey home. Our students were so deeply impacted that I believe they will never be the same again.

One more time, I learned.

This lesson will seem so simple. It almost seems crazy for me to even talk about it—but in reality, I wonder if we Americans will be able to grasp this lesson.

Let’s give it a shot.

I learned this: Life is not about me—I think I finally understand that it never was. That’s the lesson. As a matter of fact, that is the thing I believe God sent us to Chiapas to find out. Sure, we finished a church and ministered to a lot of people. But I believe our primary mission was to learn that life is not about us. We spend so much time looking out for our rights—trying to press our ambitions and desires on everyone around us. Why? Because we believe life is about us. And the truth is, it just isn’t.

Kind of reminds me of a story in the Bible.

Right before Jesus was to die, his disciples were exerting their rights. You may remember the story. They were in the upper room sharing the Passover meal together. Then the disciples began arguing about who was the greatest—after three years of being with Jesus life was still all about them.

Then Jesus showed them how to be the greatest.

Not with a sermon or a story. Not even with scripture from the Old Testament. But with his life. He got up from the table, wrapped a towel around his waist, and began to wash their nasty feet. Imagine—the Son of God washing feet! I imagine that the arguing began to settle—and then finally end—as Jesus went from one man to the next washing their feet. I imagine the disciples were speechless (except for Peter, of course.) I imagine they couldn’t fathom the King of Kings taking the lowest job mankind has ever known. He didn’t even skip Judas, the disciple that betrayed Him! Why?

Because Jesus’ life proves to us that life is not about us—and it never has been.

Chiapas reinforced that in me. It reminded me that I am too consumed with me—and that is simply not the way God wants me to live. One more time let me tell you the most important lesson I learned—the one that must permeate every area of my life if I am to be what God has called me to be…

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME—NOW I KNOW IT NEVER WAS!


Article II

Cross Connections

I bet you are growing weary of hearing about our missions trip to Mexico—I hope not, because I believe the lessons I learned on that trip have changed my outlook on life forever. That means you probably haven’t heard about Chiapas for the last time.

Today I want to get personal in this article—I want to challenge you to look at your life and see where you are. Understand this…I have spent several weeks looking at my own life and have come to a startling conclusion about where my life is:

My life is too complicated.

Most of the things in my life are good things. I mean it is never wrong to try and go to schools to love on and build relationships with students. Wednesday nights are important. That’s when students begin to trust God and have opportunities for him to change their lives. Our internships teach students how to serve and live for God. LifeLine is important as well. It is well worth the time and energy that is spent developing curriculum, training teachers, and making sure proper resources are available. Then there is my family and my pursuit of a second Master’s degree. On top of that, I have responsibilities as the Assistant District Youth Director for our state. All of these things are good things. That doesn’t change the fact that…

My life is too complicated.

Imagine with me a world where there is no TV, no internet, no radio (at least not in your language), and probably most importantly no cell phone service. It is a place where life is simple. People work to have enough food to eat. They are born in a village, are educated and raised there, marry there, have kids there, and eventually die and are buried there. It is a simple life. But in the middle of that simple life is a joy that cannot be expressed—an appreciation that cannot be duplicated. Now don’t get me wrong; I have no desire to live in Chiapas in a makeshift house with NO AIR CONDITIONING; I need to see the Tigers play on Saturday and the Saints play on Sunday. I need to play golf. I really need to live in the AC. But my life needs to be less complicated.

Just because things in my life are good things doesn’t mean that they are necessary. While I was in Chiapas, God spoke to me very clearly—simplify your life. I was so busy that I realized I was missing things that mattered. And just as important I had become semi-effective…I realized it is better to do fewer things but do them well than to do many things and but do them less effectively.

I decided to simplify my life.

I looked at what was important and made it my top priority, and I got rid of some things that weren’t necessary. I divested myself of some things that other people could do for me. So far it is working.
Lucas made a great statement when we got back from Mexico. He said this, “We went to Chiapas to take our world to them; now all we want is to bring their world to us.” That doesn’t mean that we want to live like them; it means we want to make our lives simpler and appreciate what we have even more.

I challenge you today to find a few ways to simplify your life. And try to remember even more the things that matter the most—God, family, and then what you are called to do (ministry wise and employment wise). Spend most of your time doing what matters most, and then everything else will take care of itself. Try it for a few months and see—maybe we’ll all live simpler, fuller lives!

SPRING MEDICAL CAMPAIGN APRIL 14-21

We thank all the team for their dedication and hard work this week! And special thanks to Dr. Jim Nichols for the following report...

A medical/dental team of 7 people from Louisiana (along with Dr. Lulu from Tuxtla) served for a week alongside Russell and Charlotte. There were 3 dentists and 4 helpers: Dr. Ken Morgan, Dr. Damon Hughes, Greg, Valerie, and Jordan Iseral, and Carol Fulkerson. It was a wonderful week that kept everybody plenty busy serving the needs of the Indians in the mountains of Chiapas.



We worked in 4 different churches. Our first stop was Takiakum, home church of Pastor Jose, who is an overseer. Pastor Jose has reached out and evangelized many congregations in his area, some of them requiring him to walk over 12 hours by foot each way! One example of this was the church that was recently built last October in Chacte'. Pastor Jose had to walk 12 hours over one mountain, down through a valley, and up another mountain, to get to this village that speaks a different Indian dialect (Tzeltal instead of Tzotzil) in order to evangelize and provide leadership for a group of young, hungry Christian Indians until they could raise up a pastor of their own. This is so typical of the way that waves of evangelism and church growth is spreading through these mountains!

Next we went to Chanal, a Tzeltal village of about 20,000. The church that we visited there had also been built only recently, and was the first evangelical church in this town. Before the building was constructed, there were about 46 families meeting in a few homes. Many of these Indians are walking up to 3 ½ hours each way to attend services here. Dr. Lulu saw over 100 patients that day, and at mid-afternoon she still had a very long line of people waiting to see her that extended outside of the church!

After this we went to Palestina, a poor suburb (or colonia) of San Cristobal, the second largest city in Chiapas. This is the home church of Pastor Cesar, a young, dynamic, and very brave pastor. Keep him in your prayers as he is dealing with a difficult area which he feels God calling him to.

Our last stop was Rancheria Sinai, home church of Pastor Octoviano. This is a predominately Chamula congregation that started as the result of a group of Chamula Indians who had to flee their home village under the most severe persecution. There is still one area nearby that is so closed to Christianity that they will kill, or run out of town, anybody who converts to Christianity.

Lives were touched (Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Chamula, Mexican, and American), hugs and laughs were exchanged, pain and suffering were relieved, hurting and needy were prayed for, and God was daily lifted up and exalted. I am constantly amazed (but not surprised) how God can assemble the perfect team each and every time. People, some of whom barely knew each other at the beginning of the week, are now like family. Relationships and bonds between team members are stronger in one week of serving God like this than many relationships in the States are after several years. But the relationship with God, that comes from serving Him, and feeling Him work through his broken vessels, is beyond words!

Thank each one of you who have provided support, prayers, assistance, and finances. Those of us who go are blessed, obviously. But God will richly bless each of you for your faithfulness in being an extension of our team.

THE CROSSING PLACE APRIL 8-14

The youth from The Crossing Place Fellowship of Franklin, LA spent their Easter holiday helping others many miles away from home. 24 teenagers and 5 adults arrived in Chiapas late Sunday night for a week filled with experiences that no one will soon forget. It was a first time missions trip for most of them. The impact the week had on all of their lives was incredible and life changing. It brought us tremendous joy to watch God at work in their young lives and also see the people of Chiapas so blessed in the process.



What a beautiful job everyone did on the block building of San Jose Las Flores! We were able to walk away with the construction totally completed. During the first few days, the team put the roof on the church, poured the cement floor, ran electrical lighting and painted the church inside and out. They also made 40 benches. 20 for Las Flores and 20 for the village of Chanal. On another day they painted the inside and outside of the church in Sakmesatojtic.

Following supper each evening, the team gathered to hear from one of the leaders that was present and also share what God was doing in their own lives. It was wonderful to see so many drawing closer to God through this week’s experiences and new understanding of Kingdom principles.

Den, youth pastor from The Crossing Place, did a fabulous job of putting this team together. We thank Jerry and Ann Jett of Harvest International for their generous contribution for the block building in the village of San Jose Las Flores. As founding pastors of this group from Franklin, the Jetts have a personal interest in promoting a heart for missions among these wonderful young people. We also thank Pastor Brad, present pastor of The Crossing Place for encouraging his congregation to be involved with this mission endeavors.

Each member of the missions team wrote a personal note of thanks and left them on the table in the missions facility. We read them through our tears and appreciate their kind words. The reports of what has occurred in this youth group since their return home to Franklin is incredible. We thank God for continuing the work that He has began in their lives! We look forward to many more weeks together in the future!