For years, Clint, DSC’s Missions Director, has sent email updates to a subscriber list with summaries, photos, and news related to DSC and missions. These updates are of great encouragement, including letters from DSC members from the field and ministry partners abroad.

Over the last few weeks, Clint has posted dozens of these updates to the blog, going all the way back to 2004. Here are a few examples:

• “Guatemala Survey Trip 2004 – A Partnership is Born,” October 1, 2004
• “Rabinal Achi New Testament Dedication – 2010,” February 1, 2010
• “A Letter from Pastor David in Achi Land,” April 28, 2012

Now, updates like these will be posted to the DSC Missions Blog, and they will be emailed to those who subscribe to receive these blog posts by email. In his most recent post, “Language School in Antigua – Preparing for the Mission,” Clint included a letter from the field written by Marvin Gibson about his work in Guatemala. Posts are also searchable by category, including, Church Planting, Field Updates, Global Missions, Local Missions, Rabinal Achi, Redemption Church, and Trips.

To read the Missions Blog, click here. Subscribe to email updates with posts from the Mission Blog by indicating your interest on the Comment Card attached to your Sunday bulletin, or on the right column of the Missions Blog.

Redemption Church, DSC’s first church plant, is now almost three months old. This month’s Church Planting ENewsletter included an article by Carlos Griego reflecting on this new work that God is doing. The whole update is worth reading, and you can do so here.

Carlos’ update included this short reflection by one of Redemption’s members, Stacey Abdalla:

The first thing that I think of when asked what I see God doing at Redemption over these past nine weeks is how He has been knitting many of our hearts together. There are new friendships and ultimately new partnerships for the Gospel that have been developing in the firmest of foundations – His Word and His precepts! I have been so very blessed and amazed at the camaraderie and devotion to God and His children that I have both seen and experienced with my fellow Redemption peeps! I do miss “home” - DSC - I am so thankful for the time God had our family there, and I am so blessed to be where God has us now – as a part of this new opportunity with Redemption to spread God’s glory broader and deeper! Of course, there are many new additions in the children department as well, with both the recent births and adoptions. What an amazing heart for adoption I see in this church! We’ve also had quite a few visitors and repeat attendees to the church, such as the Herrera family, the Tolliver family, the Scarbro family – just to name a few!

. . .And although it seemed that meeting for Sunday morning services in a funeral home would be a little uncomfortable, in reality it has turned into such a symbolic opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ finished conquering of death, as Los puts it, in a place where death usually has the last word! What a great reinforcement of the reality of what Jesus has conquered! God has shown such gracious provision in orchestrating the availability of French’s Mortuary – it is a beautiful, comfortable, warm and inviting facility, and we absolutely could not have asked for more in a place to meet before our building is ready! I am so excited and thankful to be a part of God’s new work with Redemption as He continues to change hearts and make all things new, both for His glory and our good! What a gracious, amazing God we serve! Thank You, Yahweh!

As Stacey mentioned, Redemption Church has been meeting at French’s Mortuary while waiting for their new space in Rio Rancho to become available. With now only a few weeks away until they will likely move into their new space, Carlos published a blog, “Church In a Mortuary,” reflecting on the irony in the circumstances of their launch. Here are a few excerpts:

Preparing to plant a church requires research. Church planters read lots of books. I have read books about culture, leadership, theology, and church planting. Many books give good suggestions on how to grow as a church, and how to make “your mark.” I am going to be honest, not one of those books mentioned launching a church in a mortuary, without any advertisement. That’s exactly what we have done at Redemption Church.

What has all this shown me? It has shown me that God brings growth, not methods. We are called to trust God, not methods. Methods are not bad, and we should use all of the resources we have to reach those far from God. We are excited to move out of the mortuary, and will advertise once we move into our new spot in Rio Rancho. What God has taught me in all of this, though, is to trust Him. He doesn’t need nice buildings or flyers sent out to bring people to Him. He calls us to plant gospel seeds, water with the Word, and watch what He does. I am excited for the times ahead, and what God will do in our new place. I am, however, brought to a place of worship and overwhelming thankfulness for our time in the mortuary as a somewhat under the radar church.

Visit the Church Planting page for more information about DSC’s church planting strategy, and to learn how you can contribute. To keep track of God’s work through Redemption Church, visit their website for sermons, blog posts, events, etc. To sign up for the Church Planting ENewsletter, email Clint at clint@desertspringschurch.org.

Please be in prayer for his seven year old daughter, Kaitlyn, who has contracted what doctors believe to be Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a potentially fatal infectious tick-borne disease.

Visit Dr. Stetzer’s blog to read more about Kaitlyn’s illness and to follow her progress.

Here’s the video from Sunday:

[RSS and email readers, click here to view this video]

Please take a baby bottle home and fill it with change through the weeks between Mother’s Day, May 13 and Father’s Day, June 17. Bottles are due back by Sunday, June 17. For more information, please contact Carolyn Rush at carolyn@desertspringschurch.org or call the church office at 505.797.8700.

To learn more about CareNet, visit the CareNet website.

That’s why, as Ryan said, the Christian life is a pilgrimage. We are on our way to the perfect presence of God.

On this pilgrimage, the author of Hebrews encourages us with the example of Old Testament saints who looked forward to their heavenly home in Hebrews 11:13-16:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Following in the example of the faithful from the Old Testament means following them, ultimately, in the direction of their hope. This better and heavenly country, of course, is nothing less than the New Heavens and New Earth. And what’s so much better about it? There, we will hear the words, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3).

Another help for the pilgrimage comes to us from the English Puritan, John Bunyan. His classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, unfolds the nature of the Christian life by means of a powerful and imaginative story, making sense of the various struggles and temptations faced by every Christian. You can purchase a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress at Amazon here.

For children nine years old and up, Oliver Hunkin’s adaptation, Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress, is an excellent resource.

Below is a two hour version of Hunkin’s adaptation being read with illustrations.

[RSS and email readers, click here to view this video]

HT: Justin Taylor

Fred G. Zaspel, “B. B. Warfield on the Doctrine of Sanctification”

D.A. Carson, “Living in a Difficult Time,” 2 Thessalonians 1

Fred G. Zaspel, “Serving as He Served,” John 13:1-17

D.A. Carson, “The Saving Word,” James 1:12-25

Fred G. Zaspel, “Forgiving as Forgiven,” Matthew 18:15-35

Q&A with D.A. Carson and Fred G. Zaspel

D.A. Carson, “Christians Living in the Last Days,” 2 Timothy 3:1-4:8

Click here for links to audio from previous Clarus conferences. And for a recap of this year’s conference, including links to blogs, audio, and photos, click here.

Here are some resources for helping you help your children set their hope in God:

Resources on Parenting

• The Word on Parenting, Seminar Weekend by Fred G. Zaspel
• Three messages specifically on parenting by Ryan Kelly in the series, Proverbs: Wisdom for the Home, (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
• Messages on parenting preached at DSC
• The Duties of Parents, J.C. Ryle
• Your Child’s Profession of Faith, Dennis Gundersen
• Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting, William Farley
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp
• Instructing a Child’s Heart, Tedd and Margy Tripp
• Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Paul Tripp

Resources About Family Worship

• “Family Worship: In the Bible, in History & in Your Home,” Don Whitney
• “Rediscovering Family Worship,” Jerry Marcellino
• “Leading Family Worship,” a message by Joel Beeke at the Desiring God 2011 Conference for Pastors
• “Do Not Forget: The Message of Deuteronomy,” (Part 1, Part 2), sermons by Ryan Kelly

Tools for Family Worship

• The Big Picture Story Bible, David Helm
• The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, Sally Lloyd-Jones
• The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments, Marty Machowski
• The Child’s Story Bible, Catherine Vos
• “And for Older Children…Respect Their Desire to Read and Learn,” an article by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. about The Child’s Story Bible with tips for reading Bible stories to school-age children
• Bible audio from Bible Gateway or of the ESV from Crossway
• ESV Children’s Bible, Crossway
• A Catechism by Ryan Kelly (This is not yet complete, but is more than enough for a few years of memorization. This pdf is intended to be printed and folded as a booklet. Here’s an alternative layout).
• The Heidelberg Catechism
• My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God’s Word in Little Hearts, Susan Hunt
• Mighty Acts of God: A Family Bible Story Book, Starr Meade
• The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan
• Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress, Oliver Hunkin
• Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God, Marty Machowski
• Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God, Bruce Ware
• Grandpa’s Box: Retelling the Biblical Story of Redemption, Starr Meade

Resources About The Church’s Ministry to Families

• “The Family Together in Corporate Worship,” sermon by Ryan Kelly
• A Vision for Ministry to Children and Their Parents, Bethlehem Baptist Church
• “The Family: Together in God’s Presence,” article by John Piper
• Worship: Together for the Glory of God, Saturday Seminar by Ryan Kelly