Christmas Greetings 2020

Merry Christmas, with a lot of love from Eric & Dee Duggins

​The present year has not developed as we had visualized during our planning time last December.  So many adjectives have been given to 2020 and we really have no novel description of a year that has been one of the most unusual we have experienced in our 60 plus years.   We have been saddened and grieved for people we have connected with over our years of ministry that lost family to COVID. We prayed for others and rejoiced at healing and we have been thankful that our family has not suffered loss of a loved one to this virus.  I think like most people, we were concerned and took protective precautions but at others times felt that there was over-reaction and paranoia.   We were deeply concerned to see the Church struggle to find a balance between being a center of proclamation, counsel, encouragement and community and still protecting the health of their people and the general populations in their cities and towns. 

​My thoughts several times has gone to marvel at how brothers and sisters in several parts of the world are still "Church" during times of major persecution and crisis.  I can remember reading in a church history class about how the pagans of the ancient world were amazed at the care of the sick by Christians during a major plague, even being the only ones willing to bury those that had lost their lives.  There is power in their testimony!  We pray that the Church continues to struggle to find the roles and message that calls the world to His loving and just Son!  

Though a major purpose of this email is to send our love during this Christmas season we will also take a few lines to update you a bit about the ministry in Mexico.

The La Viña Church has been faithful during COVID.  Early in the pandemic the church did virtual church.  They were very effective and even did the Cell Groups through Zoom.  The government gave permission in August to begin in-person services at very reduced levels which the church did.  Fortunately, up until this month, we did not have COVID cases among the church membership.  We did have loss of jobs and several individuals and even families had to make moves that made their participation in the congregation impossible.  Before COVID the church was reaching 130 on Sundays however, in two services, the attendance was running closer to 70.   Unfortunately, COVID hit the congregation in the last week and about 30 people are with symptoms or are isolating because they were exposed to those with symptoms.   

​The congregation has continue to reach-out and we are ending the year with 26 baptisms.  The goal set at the planning retreat was 30, so we are very excited to see that the members were faithful in sharing with others and proclaimed Christ!

Baptisms at La Viña Church, Queretaro, Mexico

Though a major purpose of this email is to send our love during this Christmas season we will also take a few lines to update you a bit about the ministry in Mexico.

The La Viña Church has been faithful during COVID.  Early in the pandemic the church did virtual church.  They were very effective and even did the Cell Groups through Zoom.  The government gave permission in August to begin in-person services at very reduced levels which the church did.  Fortunately, up until this month, we did not have COVID cases among the church membership.  We did have loss of jobs and several individuals and even families had to make moves that made their participation in the congregation impossible.  Before COVID the church was reaching 130 on Sundays however, in two services, the attendance was running closer to 70.   Unfortunately, COVID hit the congregation in the last week and about 30 people are with symptoms or are isolating because they were exposed to those with symptoms.   

The congregation has continue to reach-out and we are ending the year with 26 baptisms.  The goal set at the planning retreat was 30, so we are very excited to see that the members were faithful in sharing with others and proclaimed Christ!

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The new Anchor Church launched on October 4.   They had been reaching toward the high 40s at Sunday celebrations and also have three cells meeting.  They were also doing in-person meetings but unfortunately also had COVID touch the church members this month.  They are doing virtual church with the hope they will restart in-person meetings after the New Year. 

Sergio and Holly Alvarado, coffee break in Merida, Yucatan during a Survey Trip for possible New Church Plant location

Since our return to Mexico in August we have continue to participate in the IMPACTOLatino's network of training and preparing church leadership in planting new congregations.  We are organizing the Administrative Teams for each new church and will be participating in their evaluation and planning times at the first of January.   

We also continue to minister with New International as the Regional Directors of the Americas and we continue to keep in contact with those affiliated families in North, Central and South America.  We were only able to do one in-person visit this year to Chile and though several trips are in the plans for next year it will depend on the COVID restrictions as the year progresses.

We are also leading in the search of new partners for each of the new church plants.  As you might imagine, that came to a screeching halt in 2020.  We were able to host one church that is working toward partnering with the Anchor church and are hopeful we will get word about that participation soon.  There are a few other contacts we will need to follow-up with after our return to Indiana on January 12, 2021.  

We also want to thank so many of you for your gifts to our ministry and we are thankful for the many congregations that are part of our support family and have been for many years.  We did have some loss in 2020, mostly because of COVID.  Three small congregations ended support at the end of this year and two significant congregation had to cut their support by half.  We ended up loosing close to $20,000 on a year budget.  However, we rejoice that one congregation connected with the Church Planting project got word of this loss and has given $10,000 to make up a portion of that loss.  That was a very kind gift and we were greatly encouraged. 

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Coming Events:
4-5 January: Evaluation and Planning Retreat for the Anchor Church
6 January: Up-line Call Regional Director
7-8 January: Evaluation and Planning Retreat for La Viña Church
11 January: IMPACTOnetwork Day of Celebration with the Church Staffs.
12 January: Eric & Dee return to INDY
21 January: Zoom Call Regional Directors
25-26 January: Virtual Meetings of Regional Directors of New International
3 February: Up-line Call Regional Director
17-22 February: Field Visit to Santiago, Chile (?)
23 February: Return to Mexico from INDY
25 February: Zoom Call Regional Directors
1-5 March: Eric Teaching at Residency Program
15-19 March: Dee Teaching at Residency Program
4 April: Easter Sunday in Mexico
12 April: Return to INDY from Queretaro

Prayer Request:
- We want to thank you for praying for Dee's Mom.  She got COVID but came through it without major issues.  We really feel that was a miracle. 
- Be praying for the two church planning retreats next month.  The groups will need a lot of wisdom as they deal with plans for 2021.
- We would ask that you pray with us that we are lead to congregations that are open to consider partnering with The Anchor Church and also for the next church projected to begin in 2022.