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Posted on June 19, 2023 Jae in Mexico – Ministry Update
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Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

Greetings from Mexicali!

Praising God for His Provisions and I’m so grateful for my air conditioner cooling my little cozy place!  It’s been hot here in Mexicali. We had been in the high 90’s and a few times we reached 102F degrees. Summer is just around the corner and we’re halfway through 2023. It felt like we just greeted the New Year yesterday, but pretty soon we’ll be getting ready for Christmas shopping.

Ministry Update:

Time flies! I’ve been here in Mexicali for 9 months now. I’ve been helping in the Seminary’s library cataloguing books and we’re still working on them. They were books that was donated to the Seminary.

In February, we welcomed Rev. Dr. David Wheeler, one of our MTS (Masters in Theology in Latino/a Ministries Program) Professors as our main speaker for a 3 days conference the Seminary hosted here in Mexicali. Then, the next day, I drove Dr. Wheeler and the Seminary’s Director, Pastor Gregorio Gamboa to Ensenada, and on the 3rd day of the conference, we went to Tijuana. For the three days of conference, we had very good attendance, and it was so nice to see some of the MTS students that live in Tijuana. From Tijuana, the following day, I drove Dr. Wheeler back to the San Diego Airport.

In March, I drove again to Tijuana. I met with Adalia Gutierrez-Lee (my area director), Sarah McCurdy (IM’s Education Coordinator for Iberoamerica and the Caribbean), also with Deliris & Moise Carrion-Joseph (IM Global Servants in Tijuana). We spent time talking about how we can help meet the needs of the Deborah’s House Ministry.  At this time, the proposal for the project still needs to be written and approved, and also the budget needs to be raised.

 

Rev. Dr. Wheeler

MTS Program:

Praise be to God! It’s been 7 years now since we partnered with Palmer Theological Seminary/Eastern University and started the MTS Online Program – Masters in Theological Studies in Latino/as Ministries. Groups have been formed in eight countries, composed of students from a total of 16 nations. And a total of 157 have graduated, including our most recent graduates of 14 men and women in November 2022 in the Dominican Republic.

As of March, of this year, we started our 21st cohort in Brazil. God has been faithful to this ministry, and He is being glorified. We are thankful for your prayers and financial support to this ministry. You are being an instrument for the formation of these hard-working students to become better Christian leaders in their churches and to lead others to Christ in their own communities.

 

 

  • I am praising God and giving Him all the glory for His will and faithfulness in my life.
  • Praising God and I’m so grateful for all my faithful ministry partners, my MPT (Mission Partnership Team) who are faithfully walking alongside me on this journey, and all the wonderful people he brought into my life.
  • Please continue praying for my parents’ health and their safety.
  • Please pray for Dolly’s health and her grieving heart. Dolly is a member of my MPT.  She had a stroke a few months ago and her grandson passed away about 2 weeks ago.
  • Please continue praying for my relationship building with our brothers and sisters here in Mexicali and learning the Spanish language fluently.
  • Please continue praying for our students, here in the Seminary and the MTS program.
  • Please pray for the churches here in Mexico, and specifically here in the Baja California Region.
  • Please continue praying for all our missionaries, area directors and IM staff who work behind the scenes.
  • I’ve been sick twice since January, but I am praising God and grateful for His healing and provisions… Since it’s getting hot lately and will be very hot in the summer months here in Mexicali, our wonderful friends and ministry partner, Dr. Ted Mihok and his wife, Paula, from Whidbey Island, Washington gifted me a portable carport. I am so grateful!  Thanks to Ptr. Gregorio, his two sons, Israel and Pedro, and the grandkids they helped put it together.  It was a party! 😊It’s a huge help!  It’s not so hot anymore when I get into my vehicle.  God is good!!!
IM News:

I would like to highlight our beloved CEO/Executive Director of International Ministries (IM), Sharon Koh for achieving her degree in Doctor of Ministry.

May God bless you as you continue to serve our most high and faithful God through walking alongside IM Global Servants, staffs, and volunteers.

Congratulations, Rev. Dr. Koh!!!

Thank you so much to those of you who sent cards in the mail.  It’s really a wonderful surprise to receive something whenever I open my mailbox.  Totally brings a huge smile!  And those who continue sending words of encouragement through email and text messages, I really appreciate that you are thinking of me.  You bring joy to my day.  Thank you!

May God bless you abundantly as we partner together for the work of Christ.  Glory to God!

In Him,

Jae’s email address:  jstockton@internationalministries.org

Jae’s Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 3695 – Calexico, CA 92232