As we close out 2020, we thank God for what He's done through church planting in Mexico.  Thanks to your faithful prayers and financial support:

• El Ancla Iglesia Cristiana was planted in the unchurched El Mirador neighborhood
• Eight Life Groups are meeting around Querétaro
• TWENTY FOUR people were baptized at Iglesia Cristiana El Ancla
• Almost 40 people are being trained online in church planting
• Churches were provided with training about digital resources

There's still time to make a year end gift to train church planters who are reaching Mexico's cities.  Your gift is ALWAYS tax deductible and will be used to plant churches and transform lives with the hope of the Gospel. 

2020 has been a year full of challenges and opportunities.  We are grateful for God's grace that has gotten us through such an unprecedented year.  Your financial partnership and prayers have also allowed us to plant churches and support church planters during a pandemic!  Let's look back over what God has done in 2020. 

AVANZA, IMPACTOnetwork's church planter assessment took place at the beginning of February 2020.  This year there were five couples participating.  Some were candidates for IMPACTOnetwork church plants while the others were invited by other ministries.  AVANZA is meeting a large need in Mexico and Latin America as we know of no other organizations doing church planter assessments here.  

In April, the whole IMPACTOnetwork church planting team started creating resources to help churches and pastors during the pandemic.  Videos and training were produced on different topics such as technology resources, social networking sites, government regulations, working from home, and others.   We continue to make resources to help churches navigate the transition to a more digital time.

Iglesia Cristiana La Viña had a non traditional anniversary celebration in May.  Since we continued to meet digitally, the church encouraged people to celebrate at home.  Many church members shared photos of their family watching the online Sunday service with balloons and cupcakes.  Though it was a different way to observe the two year anniversary, we took time to praise God for what He has done at La Viña. 

Iglesia Cristiana La Viña didn't want to leave its children without Biblical instruction while they are unable to meet together.  In June, IMPACTOnetwork's media department taught the children's ministry team how to film and edit videos. Over the summer El Ancla's children's ministry team was also participating in the weekly filming.  The class which includes songs, a Bible story and a craft is made available on Facebook on Sunday mornings.  Friends on Facebook have shared these high quality children's classes in many different places in Mexico. 

The federal government implemented a reopening scale which allowed Iglesia Cristiana La Viña to begin meeting in person in July.  Life Groups started gathering at La Viña's building rather than in homes following social distancing and cleaning protocols.  The church was encouraged to see one another in person after many months of only seeing each other thru screens! 

​Life Group facilitators did a great job during the spring and early summer continuing to meet with their Life Groups, conduct discipleship studies and check on members.  We credit the Life Groups for helping the church remain stable during this time.

The Moreno family was getting settled back into life in Queretaro in the month of August.  They are IMPACTOnetwork's Church Planting Residents for 2020-2021 preparing to plant a church in Mérida, Yucatán.  They are participating in the online church planting residency courses and serving on staff at El Ancla Iglesia Cristiana. 

In September, IMPACTOnetwork started offering two different church planting residency programs.  One is the traditional church planting residency program that we teach to our Residents and senior year students at Mexico Christian University.  The first semester was conducted all online and our IMPACTOnetwork staff and church planters modified the curriculum to be able to hold the classes over Zoom.  

The online church planting training, másIMPACTO, saw a new group of 27  participants begin in September.  They are from different states around Mexico and work independently on modules during the week and then meet digitally on Saturdays to review.  We are excited to see how God uses this new digital platform to train more church planters. 

El Ancla Iglesia Cristiana held its first Sunday services on October 4th. This new congregation launched during a pandemic has consistently been having over 40 people on Sunday mornings.  Their Life Groups multiplied from two to three and continue to meet during the week. They have had new families from the community start attending with them because of the signage. 

Throughout the craziest year any of us have ever experienced, God has still moved!  He has touched hearts and transformed lives though church plants and Life Groups.  Your prayers and financial giving help make it possible.  We are so grateful for your partnership in training and sending church planters.

Iglesia Cristiana La Viña is rejoicing once again with new believers!  On December 6th, six more people were baptized!  Even in the midst of a global pandemic, God is moving.  Evangelism has not stopped as people have been studying with friends and family members and introducing them to God's saving grace.  At the beginning of the year the leadership team set a goal of 30 baptisms and we will finish 2020 with 24!  During this crazy year where the church couldn't meet in person for twenty Sundays, there have still been twenty four people who have surrendered their lives to Christ in baptism.  Praise God for how He has been working!

El Ancla Iglesia Cristiana has continued to meet in the midst of the pandemic.  They have dealt with various Covid related challenges during the past month.  A few members on the team have the virus which has caused them to modify their plans for Sunday celebrations.  There was also a Sunday where due to an event taking place at their building, they had an online service.  Please pray for the leadership team as they continue to make important decisions for the safety of the congregation.  Pray that all those who have the virus will recover quickly without transmitting it to their family members.  

The IMPACTOnetwork church planting team planned a day long retreat for La Viña and El Ancla's staff teams at the beginning of December.  Unfortunately due to possible COVID-19 exposure, the in person gathering had to be changed.  We all met on Zoom for a time of instruction and encouragement.  In January, Lord willing, the teams will be able to enjoy the event, this time focusing more on fellowship and refreshment.  

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of IMPACTOLatino's church planting ministry in Mexico.  We are so grateful to have you as partners in training and sending church planters.  

 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13