2 Years. 198347 Memories. 1 Constant God.

2 years. 198347 Memories. 1 Constant God. Coming to close one chapter and starting the next! These past two months since the last update have been the busiest that I have experienced in ministry so far as I have been coordinating this year’s Avance Summer Program.  Amongst all of the busyness, the Lord has been revealing to me opportunities that I never saw coming and I am very pleased to fill you in on EVERYTHING! First off, the Summer program with Avance has been such an encouraging experience to lead and we have such a great team of participants that have changed my perspective on short term missions.  The past eight weeks, I have seen the twelve young adults who have come transform into servants who are willing to do whatever God calls them to do.  Many of these students came with very little Spanish speaking skills and they are now wrapping up their summer experiences by preaching, leading worship, and helping lead children’s vacation Bible School.   I am confident that God put me in this position to help these young adults grow.  However I praise Him for the skills of creativity and innovation that He has blessed Robin and I with as we have put a pretty great spin on the how the Summer Program here in Mexico operates.  The participants have gone into this summer with such and intentional approach while pursuing the theme of IMITATE based off of Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma”. We have implemented an intentional approach on evangelism where we have brought the students through different areas of the city, reaching specific profiles in each place.  This includes teaching the students to share the Gospel in different ways and also giving them the tools necessary to share in Spanish as well!  There also has been other outreaches planned such as concerts and visits to local ministries, which have allowed our participants to experience God in many new ways.  Through the past two months, God has continued to make it clear that young adult ministry is right up my alley, specifically forming young leaders to serve throughout the nations! This is a group of our students at a local hotspot, Coyoacan, where we used a tool called Soularrium that I learned to use to share the Gospel during my time with CRU! As briefly mentioned in my last support update, I am continuing to discern what steps are necessary in forming my ministry for the long-term transition into mission.  At the very beginning of the month, I was accepted into Eternity Bible College, about an half hour north of Los Angeles!  Since March, I have been searching for a program that would better my knowledge of the Bible, specifically in the areas of Discipleship and Counseling.  Eternity offers a program that lasts for just one year.  After much prayer, discernment, and many conversations with my mentors here in the field and those from home, we have come to a unanimous decision that pursuing a program like this would be a great blessing onto my future ministry.   With my visa expiring in just a couple weeks, I have made the decision to follow the Lord across the borders once again, but this time back to the United States to better prepare myself for a career in ministry by pursing a degree in Christian Counseling.   Although there is much sadness in leaving this country that I have come to love so dearly, I am confident that the Lord is inviting me into this next season of life to learn more about Him and His Kingdom.  In the same moment, I am also very pleased to know that when I do return to the mission field at a long-term capacity, I will be able to counsel others in many areas that I have not yet been prepared to serve in. This process of discernment has been a difficult one as I feel very called to serve internationally and going back to the States for a season was a bit of a surprise to me as it may be to those who are reading this letter.  After talking with United World Mission, we have come to the decision to take the next two years for me to continue my training and also work on the side to pay off student debt that I would like to have eliminated upon my next return to the mission field in just a couple short years.  Aside from investing in my education and preparing myself to return to the field from a fiscally responsible perspective, I am also very pleased to share with you that this move to California also involves what could be a huge a part of my future ministry.   At the beginning of the summer, a very long anticipated relationship started with one of the other Avancistas whom I met here on field last year.  Kaylie has also been working with Avance for the past 14 months and has the desire to return to the mission field after finishing her education.  Far before receiving the conviction of continuing my education or even returning to the field long term, I knew that a relationship with her was something I wanted to pursue. Now, we have the freedom to explore where it is that God is calling us and how we can do that together.  In August, we will be returning to the United States to continue our education and also discern where the Lord is leading us in ministry together.  God has broke my heart for His lost people and I wouldn’t have ever experienced this without your involvement in this ministry.  Officially after the month of August, I will no longer be an active member of United World Mission, however I will still be sending out newsletters every two months to update you all on the progress being made to return to the mission field. Please know that although my ministry here in Mexico is wrapping up for a season, we all are called to live missionally wherever we go.  I am very thankful for my church here in Mexico, Mision DF, which has shared with me values that I want to take with me wherever I go and that’s offering a community that seeks Jesus together and offers up a community to the ones living around them to know Him more.  My experience there has encouraged me to be excited to use all of these tools learned and apply them while I continue to prepare myself for a career in missions at the long-term perspective.  This is a glimpse of my home church in Mexico! A small community of believers who reach out to the surrounding area to inivte those who don't know the Lord or don't feel as if they fit in the Christian culture to partake in an intimate body of Christ! Know that our partnership in reaching the nations does not end here.  As mentioned before that after August I will no longer be an “active” missionary, I want to share with you my experiences while preparing for what calls me to next.  As always, I will be sharing with you updates every two months to help give you an idea as to where the Lord is leading me in the next steps of ministry! On a more administrative note, additional information about your giving and partnership will be sent in the coming weeks, so please be on the look out for that!  I praise God again and again for your participation in the Great Commission and for being such a huge part of my ministry here in Mexico.  There are not enough words to describe how extremely thankful I am for your partnership over the past two years in ministry.  The last 24 months have made up the most challenging season of life that I have ever walked through and I thank you for being present in prayer and encouragement.  From a bad case to terrible culture shock to celebrating with me while taking the steps towards long-term ministry, I thank you for the love that you have shown me. With most sincerity I want to thank you again and may God Bless you. Love, Erik Cole

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."   Ephesians 4:1-3 Find me on Facebook! Check out my Instagram! Follow my Blog!

Thankful for 2014 & Hopeful for 2015 -A Reflection on a Year of Ministry

Merry Christmas!! & Happy New Year From the Ministry of Erik Cole I praise the Lord for His goodness and the eternal promise we have in Christ! It is my prayer that you too can experience the love that our God has for us, found in His eternal promise, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior this Christmas. Also starting a new year, we are drawn to reflect on how the Lord has blessed us so and I have so much to be thankful for from the past year in ministry!  I am especially thankful for those of you who are receiving this letter, as each one of you have been a huge blessing to the ministry and myself through prayer, partnership and also faithfulness in giving, which keeps this ministry moving forward! To celebrate the blessings that I’ve seen in ministry over the past year, I invite you to rejoice with me over the following highlights: Spending a year in Mexico was a challenging experience but through the Lord’s grace, I was able to walk cross-culturally in ministry and make great local Mexican friends along the way.  I praise God for the deep cultural ties and many relationships that I now have to return to once my goals are met for full time support! An unbelievable amount of personal and spiritual growth was gained this past year and I am thankful for the guidance and wisdom of the AvanceStaff.  Paul and Kevin helped discern spiritual gifting that I couldn’t see on my own! Also with their help, I successfully completed my Masters of Arts in International Development & Transformational Leadership, which will be a huge asset once joining the Avance Staff this coming year! The personal ministries that I was involved with during my time as anAvance participant served as stepping-stones to consider mission as a full-time possibility.  I am thankful for the Warm Heart Staff (pictured on the left) who encouraged extending my stay in Mexico, which eventually developed into my full-time decision to serve internationally. The most eye opening experience during the past year of ministry in Mexico was the Summer Program where I had the opportunity to facilitate cross-cultural transformation for the young adults who came down!  This is where the Lord revealed to me where my skills are best utilized and where I have found the most joy while doing ministry work: leading others through a new culture and equipping them for future ministry opportunities!   Once more, thank you for all of the prayer and encouragement this past year as the Lord has been revealing His purpose in this ministry and how he has been preparing me to come along side Avance as a full-time part of the team!  Please continue to pray with me as I prepare for my return to Mexico City in May, as there are large financial goals to be met before then! I encourage you to take this season to reflect upon the highlights of your year and how the Lord has blessed you as well! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, & Many Blessings, -Erik Erik on Facebook Erik on Twitter Erik on Instagram Erik's Blog!

Thankful for the Art of Steadfastness

 Hello Ministry Partners!

I would like to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving and hope that your days were filled with family, friends, and time to give thanks for what the Lord has provided in your lives!  I am very thankful for what God is doing in my life and with the ministry that He is building up. This has been a season of more than just changing of colors, an abundance of pumpkin flavored, scented, and colored things, but rather a challenging journey that has led me to see Christ pour many blessings down of the ministry.  Challenging yes, but the Lord has equipped me for this season and that is something that I am learning slowly.  Specifically understanding the art of Steadfastness may be one of the most agonizing states that I found for my short patience to endure as returning to Mexico is in the forefront of everything.

For an update on the ministry, I praise God for what He is doing!  Naturally the Lord is arranging things that I had no idea that would happen -including a longer stay in the States to raise the funds needed to be stationed full-time in Mexico City.  October was a month of much prayer, processing, Skype calls, and seeking counsel to understand what to make out of what God has been showing me.  Through much tribulation (or at least that’s what it felt like!) I feel confident that God has invited me to stay in Green Bay until May of 2015 -That is approximately 6 months longer than anticipated but it is for the longevity of the ministry and I am finally coming around to have peace with this decision.

It is said in the first chapter of James that, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” and my friends, this is the art of steadfastness that I am talking about. It was a hard decision to make but the Lord has blessed it and it is something that I am so excited to share with you all.

During this season of processing and understanding what steadfastness means, I had a very personal time with the Lord where I pleaded to Him saying, “Lord, if you are keeping me here in Green Bay, I need you. I need you in all areas of my life and I place this in your hands, Father. God you know my needs, you know I need a place to call my own so that I can get support raising kicked in to high gear. You know God that I need a church to call my anchor place, Lord. Bendito Padre, please provide me with a ministry that I can pour into because I miss that joy that you provide through those experiences.  Father, I give you this, all of this, I’ll stay put in Green Bay but Lord please give me your desire to stay here for such an extended time and show me what you have written for this season.”

Let me tell you, the floodgates opened. What happens next felt exactly what the third chapter of Malachi describes where we bring all we have to God and truly give it to Him, where the Lord almighty says “test me… and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”  Within 48 hours of this conversation with the God, Christ provided abundantly in ways that I couldn't have even imagined.  

//

The place I was praying for immediately opened up moments after I finished my quite time with God.  That place to seek communion and an anchor church to send me out was provided.  The Lord lead me to a Hispanic Church that is a MIRROR IMAGE of my first church in Mexico City. -This was the first time that I truly felt “at home” ever since my return to the states in August!  If that wasn’t enough, the church had been praying for a missionary to give their “diezmo” / first 10% of tithing each month.  After talking to the Pastor, he invited me to do ministry with the church for the next six months and when I am ready to head out they will be there to back me and send me out. PRAISE GOD for He is good and works in ways that we could never fathom happening.

I didn't know what “doing ministry together” was going to look like, but with a few short weeks, the church has invited me to serve as their Youth Pastor for the small group of teenagers that attend the church.  This was definitely something that I wasn’t anticipating but I am very excited for the opportunity! Tomorrow night is our third time together and I am bringing them through a series of Faith Application where we are learning to pray together and for one another, learning ways that we can serve in the church, and also what outreach in our Green Bay community looks like!

//

The Lord continues to be answering my prayers for a desire to be here in this interim of raising support by providing me with a beautiful home to stay in!  My dear friends from all the way back to 5th grade got married this past year and had invited me to stay with them during my six months back in Green Bay while raising support!! -How cool is that?!  I am just getting settled in and it has already been such a blessing as I now have my own place to escape, recharge, and do my work (No more sleeping from couch to couch or floor to floor!!). 

\\

Being part of Green Bay First, my new church here in Green Bay has been such a welcoming experience for me as it feels like I am part of the family already!  I have a close friend who leads worship there and the Pastor seems to be readily available to meet up, have a chat or two, and he has been a great encouragement in this season.  About two weeks after attending regularly, the Lord’s timing worked itself out where I now am part of a “Connect Class” in steps towards becoming a member and its just incredible to the Lord answer the prayer of finding an Anchor Church and a place where I can call home!

//

This was a rather long update, however much needed because the past 30 days have been filled with a decent amount of ups and downs, but most importantly the clear image of the Lord’s hand at work.  Just as I opened up this update, I am learning what steadfastness and this is what I give thanks for today.  We will come across seasons that are hard, challenging, and exhausting, but if we continue to trust in the Lord’s promises, we will slowly start to develop a much stronger sense of perseverance.  Lastly, I give thanks for supporters like you, who have faithfully walked with me through the last year and a half in ministry!  Thank you for your prayers, financial support, and every miscellaneous need that has been met by your generosity!!

Happy Thanksgiving & God bless,

Erik Cole :)

Discovering That There Will Always Be a Learning Curve in Ministry

As of my last update to you all, my bags were packed and was waiting with many mixed emotions for my plane to depart from Mexico City.  {Ahead of me was a familiar adventure –I wouldn’t consider it one of my easiest or most favorite of adventures- but know it has to be done for this ministry}  I left Mexico with many hard things to say goodbye to and was greeted with comforts of home when landing in Chicago.  Today marks just over a month of being back State-Side and it has been a learning experience to say the least {A curve ball that many people in international ministry know so well}. 

Although being home sounds like a treat, a second to catch my breath and relax, this experience has also be complimented with a little something called “reverse culture shock”.  Being the great ministry that it is, Avance had prepared us for this moment… the three day debrief that we had seemed to be a little lengthy for me and I said to myself, “Eh, I don’t need this because I am NOT going to be experiencing a reverse shock coming back into my home culture –I can keep my cool” {However, the reality of things showed that indeed, NO, Erik couldn’t rough it out as he had thought}.  Although it was an exhausting process to walk through, I am now thankful to have that experience because I learned the realities of re-entry and how this soon will become just a normal factor in my life as a missionary.  Physically {Sick for two straight weeks}, emotionally {I became a mild wreck when no one was looking}, and spiritually {even found moments where it was hard to rely on the Lord to get me through such a particular season} I suffered for two to three weeks until finally I started to feel like myself again.  So those stories about culture shock: they are real.

Despite the interesting experience of re-entry shock, I am finally exiting this season and am now face-to-face to a significant support trip that is serving as my “kick-off” lengthy journey of raising full-time support {It still excites me to think that the Lord has blessed me with what could be considered a “dream job” before the age of 24}.  With that, I have been scrambling the last 12 days {Approximately right after telling myself its time to get over the slump that I was in} to string together a trip that I am praying to provide a good part of the $2,200 monthly support that I am looking for.  Regardless of how many financial partners are discovered during this trip, I am looking for the endless opportunities to share the vision of how God is moving through United World Mission and the Avance ministry.  The Lord is a billion {number not accurate} times bigger than me and I know what is ahead of me is written by Him and that is something to rejoice in.  It was an emergency support trip that I took last May that revealed to me how powerful God is when you put all hope in His promise { It was also the same trip that showed me that He had been preparing me for something bigger – a position in full-time ministry }.  With that said, despite the minor panic attacks that I receive between the hours of 7pm and 10pm, I know that He has divinely appointed this upcoming trip.

This is where I need all of you reading this blogpost to join me in this upcoming adventure { Prayer, prayer, prayer }.  So in just TWO HOURS { crap… so much to do in 120 minutes}, I will be embarking on a journey through the Midwest for 12 days.  Please join me in prayer especially during this time {Sept. 13^th -25^th} for the following:

1.     That the vision of Avance and what the Lord looks like in Mexico City can be clearly articulated, regurgitated, understood, and received when talking to all of the complete strangers {well, not compleeeetly strangers –just other brothers and sisters in Christ that I am yet to meet}

2.     That the car the God has graciously dropped in my lap will work well {without problems, accidents, etc.} and keep us safe while cruzing through a very large majority of the Midwest.

3.     That I can stay obedient in the Word as it will be a VERY busy schedule.

4.     I am also praying that this trip could generate at least $700 in monthly gifts from new and existing partners.

5.     That my co-pilot and I can find “Dinosaur World”  on our way down to Nashville { If you’re interested... http://dinosaurworld.com/kentucky/ }

6.     That our health keeps up and that my co-pilot, Jordan, and I are still friends after such a long trip in a car together.

7.     Lastly, a chance to enjoy ourselves while exalting what the Lord is doing in this ministry in Mexico City!

Thank you all for your prayers and support in this season of seeking new partners for the ministry.  Please be checking my blog throughout the next two weeks to see how the Lord is moving to share a greater vision of His work in Mexico City.

Many Blessings,

Erik

“You did not choose me, but I chose you" -A Long-term Commitment to Mission

Year Out Program Coming to an End  A Long-term Opportunity Just Ahead!! The past few months here in Mexico have truly been a whirlwind of emotions, experiences, and a realization that may forever change my life in ministry.  With that said, I would love for you to continue reading this letter as I am very pleased to announce that I have decided to stay here in Mexico City as part of Staff with the Avance program for the next three years.  Through much prayer, time spent with the Lord, and countless numbers of conversation with my ministry and mission, the Lord has given me peace about what He has written before me in full-time ministry.

The summer program has been a great opportunity to serve the young adults that have come down to learn what it means to serve cross-culturally.  I’ve used the last two months to apply everything that I have learned in my MA program this past year to equip these summer participants with the tools to identify with the local people and effectively minister to a culture different from their own. This role as a Facilitator to the participants wears many caps where I am coaching these participants through their experiences, whether its visioning goals, fighting back against culture shock or cross-cultural confusion, and walking hand in hand to help defeat sin together.  Also amongst these “caps” of a facilitator I have been visiting families, churches, youth, etc. to build relationships and create a bridge between the local people and those who have come to serve.  This is a small glimpse of what our directors do for us as Year Out participants during the year and I had finally came to the realization that the Lord has been carefully and divinely preparing me for this opportunity over past five years. Christ says in the scriptures that, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit- fruit that will last- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you”(John 15:16).   Reflecting on my year here in Mexico, I’ve seen how divine the Lord’s work is and how he has specifically called me to this ministry, not to just come and experience it, but to come and become part of it.  HE has chosen me to come here, to a world very different from my own, so that I can share the gifts He has given me with my team and the local people here.  Just writing these words becomes a very surreal experience for myself and I am thankful to share this moment with you all.  I am humbled by the Lord’s invitation to continue serving in this place that I genuinely call home. As it is a full-time commitment, I need to make a longer visit home to raise the remainder of the resources and monthly support needed to be ministering at this capacity.  I praise God because with the partners in ministry that I have walking with me today, 35% of my funds are raised.  I pray that you too, would accept the Lord’s invitation to walk with me through my journey with full time ministry as well.  I have about three weeks left of my Year Out program where I will return for 4-6 months raising the support needed to come back as a full time missionary.  My first intentions are meeting up with supporters like you to discuss our partnership and what that may look like coming into a longer scope of ministry. I will soon be in contact with all of you individually, to prepare time for us to sit down in the month of August to catch up and explore the opportunities that the Lord has before this ministry. The support goal for full-time ministry almost doubles where I now need to maintain $3,140 in monthly gifts.  Although the number may seem a bit overwhelming for us, yet it so small in comparison to the Lord and He has this ministry in His hands where He will indeed provide.  I am praying for more supporters to join the ministry in prayer and financial support at $500, $200, and $100 a month. If you feel led to give an additional financial gift or join me in monthly support, please visit the following link to give:     http://www.uwm.org/give/ To give by check, please make your check payable to United World Mission and be sure to include a separate note indicating that you are giving to the missionary, Erik Cole.  You then can send the check to the following address: United World Mission PO Box 602002 Charlotte, NC 28260-2002 Lastly, you also can give by phone by calling the following number: 704-357-3355 I praise God for the beautiful team of ministry partners that He has called together to support this ministry.  I praise Him for you kindness, prayer, support, and the encouragement that you have all showed me through this year of growth.  Although this experience hasn’t always been full of sunshine and roses, God has shown me His goodness through learning obedience, perseverance, and understanding that He has called us and has come so that we may have life, and have it to the full(John 10:10). Thank you for your time and prayerful commitment to this ministry. Many Blessings, Erik Cole

June Ministry Update 2014

Saludos from Mexico!! Hello Ministry Partners and greetings from me and my new Avance Summer team! I am very pleased to be writing to you all after the storm of training, orientation, and all other transitions have been made here in Mexico City.  It feels great to have such a big team in full swing here and it is great to see the new participants' confidence/language/etc. growing in this culture that is so new to them! Thank you for praying for the preparation process, which took almost the entire month of May to get completely ready for the participants.  We had many church visits, meetings with pastors, and great meals with the families who are now hosting these participants.  After all that hard work is done it was great to see the new participants transition into the culture and start their own journeys, like I had done way back in September. The summer ahead of our team as leadership will be challenging as we will be serving as facilitators through this cross-culturally learning process as well as coaches/mentors for the new Avancistas to help process the experience that they have been dropped into.  Please pray that all of us can be great ambassadors for Christ in this season for all of the local Mexican churches and ministries!

Preparing a warm "Bienvenidos" to our Summer Participants. New friends to the ministry that I am excited to mentor these two months!! Summer Leaders taking a "siesta" from the week long training in Kikoten.

As my last email had mentioned, the past season really allowed  me to trust in Christ and learn that He truly is in complete control not only of my ministry but of my life as well.  Just as the new participants of Avance have seen God be so faithful in their needs while preparing to get here, I too have experienced how God proved himself to me the past couple months.  This has given me the confidence to consider this ministry of mine as a full-time career and is a very exciting opportunity.  I ask that you please keep this in your prayers as I walk through the tail end of the year out here in Mexico City! Since we are walking into a season that requires myself and the other YearOutters a lot of energy, wisdom, and patience, I ask for you to pray with me for the following: -That we feel energized & filled by the Spirit while guiding us while pouring into others. -That the students who have just arrived can be passionate for this country & city. -That the Lord's will can be shown to me more clearly as I wrap up my first year. -Wisdom and guidance from the Lord as we are mentoring these young adults. -That a few individuals that are here now may be called to experience  the year out. I often send my own prayer requests and I am so incredibly blessed by that.  I want to be able to bless you the same, so please, if you have any prayer request please send them to me via email at erikhamiltoncole@gmail.com I praise God for you all who are reading this email and rejoice in the ministry partners that the Lord has led to this ministry.  Thank you for you prayers and constant support while I am serving on ground here in Mexico City. Many Blessings, Erik Cole!

May Ministry Update 2014

Hello Ministry Partners! Thank you all so much for your prayer during my time back in the United States for my support trip!   It has been a very blessed time where I had the opportunity to meet with partners like you, numerous small groups, and new brothers and sisters in Christ to share the vision of our ministry.  I am very excited to give you all a more in depth idea of how the Lord was working in the past few weeks in a blog to come in the next couple of days!

As stated in the last email sent out, I had the goal of $3,200 to raise and I am very pleased to share with you all that our faithful God has provided 80% of what was needed!! I am confident that the remaining $700 of the needed support will come in before the end of May as many connections have been made.  I also ask that you all prayerfully consider helping with this remainder with a special gift this month!  To give directly online, you can visit the following link: http://www.uwm.org/give/ I definitely have learned a significant amount from the Lord in this season back in the United States and I am more confident than ever before that He is in complete control of this ministry!  I am very excited to share this with you all as I publish my next blog so please stay posted for that to come soon!  I will be stepping on a plane heading straight to Mexico City in just about 12 hours! So please pray with me for a safe flight and smooth transition back into the Mexican culture. Once again, I praise the Lord for an awesome team of loving partners that want to advance God’s Kingdom and I am thankful that I get to share this experience with you all.  As an encouragement this week, I will end on this note and pray that this scripture can speak volumes to you as it did to me these past few weeks:   Who is among you that fears the Lord, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. Isaiah 50:10     Celebrating in our Father’s Eternal Love,   Erik