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1.) Describe the Vision of your calling. Tell us about the direction of your planned activities such as they relate the Evangelism, Service, Mercy Ministries, Discipleship, Education. * * Through prayerfully seeking God and the experience of several short-term trips God called us to minister full time to the impoverished in Juarez, Mexico. We work both independently and collectively with local ministries. The ultimate purpose of this mission is to evangelize and disciple through Bible studies, counseling and mentoring while also showing Christ's love through meeting physical needs of food, housing, education, medical, and other assistance. We also have of a vision for building community among the believers in the area through organized fellowship with local churches. Another main aspect of our ministry is to involve the U.S. churches by organizing short-term work projects in which they may participate. A two-fold blessing occurs with these kinds of projects. First, the people in Mexico are blessed by having a need met. Second, the people who come to work are blessed by having their hearts broken for God's people in need. Our lives cannot be the same once we have an encounter with God like this. All that being said, we firmly believe the call to serve cannot be totally defined in the tasks we have before us today. We are called to serve God wherever He may lead us tomorrow. For example, when hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast in August of 2005, we served for six months in New Orleans helping organize thousands of relief workers. 2.) Describe the accountability that you will have to an organization, board or independent group in which you do not participate and over which you have no influence. In other words, who will have independent oversight to your ministry from a spiritual, financial, goals, measurements, planning? * In order to become a tax-exempt organization, we have been chartered through Kingsway Fellowship International of Des Moines, Iowa. Before they will approve a charter they require a detailed explanation of the scope of our ministry. They consider the spiritual focus as well as financial planning and accountability and require annual reports from their charters to maintain accountability. Broken Hearts Ministries is required to have a board of directors on which we can serve, but my wife and I are only two of five positions on that board. 3.) What is the method of communication you will use to report on your activities? It is common to use a variety of means and we do not want to impose on you one method or another so that communication becomes a hardship. We encourage physical visits to our congregation when not a burden physically and financially either to your ministry or personal lives. * We use e-mail extensively for very current communications and printed newsletters for updates on the progress of our ministry. We always love to be invited to come to mission conferences or just a visit to the church in order or share in person about our work. Also, as I stated above, we want to have those who are so led, come and work with us from time to time. 4.) Tell us about the Geographic area and people to which you are being called to minister. How will you coordinate your activities with the local congregations, state and local governments? * Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas are sister cities. They are separated only by the political border and the Rio Grande. The population of Juarez, including the fringes of the city, is nearly two million. Our work will mainly focus on the impoverished areas of the city. There is very little social welfare available to the needy. The mission work being done here is a great asset to the community. There are some churches established in these communities that work with missions organizations. We desire to build relations with them to work toward the common goal of glorifying Christ in the lives of the people here. Also in 2006 we became incorporated in Mexico in order to have legal rights to purchase property and work in various social services such as schools, clinics, etc. 5.) Describe the structure of your support that will be used to finance your ministry. What type of help will you have available to you in the event of illness and other adverse conditions that may confront you? * Broken Hearts Ministries is a faith-supported ministry, which relies solely on donations from God's people for it's financial provision. We, Jim and Peggy, are the only full-time salaried staff members at this time. Vaughn and Angie Krause joined Broken Hearts in 2008. They are working with us part time as they develop their personal financial support team. It is necessary for us to purchase health care coverage of our own. We believe that God has called us to this work and trust that no matter what our financial or physical circumstance may be, He will provide. 6.) What is the term of your mission that you are planning on? * We have no plans for a term limit nor do we know what the future holds for us in that regard. We don't see an end to the work of reaching out to the lost in Juarez or to helping meet the physical needs of God's people there. We need to trust God for His direction in this. 7.) Describe to us the accountability you expect from us and what your expectations are of our congregation. * We would expect that all those who support us would only do so believing that the whole purpose of this ministry is to glorify God and God alone, as well as that the board and staff of Broken Hearts Ministries would use all of the support provided to this end. We understand that communication is the key to your congregation being assured of these things. We need faithful on-going support, both spiritually and financially, from you. We will need your encouragement through continued contact using e-mail, U.S. mail, and maybe even visits. 8.) Point out the strongest attributes of yourself and Broken Hearts Ministries. * Both Peggy and I became Christians as adults almost thirty years ago. We understand first-hand, the need for each individual to turn away from the world and toward Christ. Our secular work backgrounds and experience in our church have prepared us for the kinds of things we do in ministry here. Jim will graduate from seminary, (Trinity College and Seminary on-line studies) in the summer of 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies with and emphasis on Pastoral Ministry. Peggy became certified by Stephen Ministry in January of 2011. While our original home church is in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, (Faith Evangelical Free) which helps support us, Broken Hearts Ministries is interdenominational. We have found networking with numerous other Christian missions organizations has been a great blessing in serving God in Juarez. Thank you for your consideration of this ministry. We welcome any feedback you may have for us and we pray that God will guide any decisions made as to your support of Broken Hearts Ministries. |