Raising Leaders

We are in an exciting place in church planting here in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan. Each Sunday Celebration time is a wonderful experience. We have new faces every week. Sometimes we wonder where they all come from!! We do know that God is blessing the work here as we bathe our efforts in prayer. Bernard and I have been spoiled to join a work that has had four years of foundation already laid. Those first few years can be slow as the language is learned and roots are being put down. Now, almost five years into the work, La Comunidad de Cristo is being known throughout the city as a group of God's people who are REAL-who dedicate themselves to the work of God-who live and preach the pure Word of God!!! No doubt we continue to have those who are curious as to what we are doing here in Lazaro; but what excites us most are those who are rising in leadership. As church planters we always have our eyes open to those who have a heart for God. It's not always the most talented, most articulate, or most knowledgeable of God's Word who rise to leadership. As we study the life of David, we become aware that God doesn't demand perfection but progression. The first step in raising leaders is identifying those who are being molded by the Spirit-those who hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God with humble hearts.
Bernard and I are privileged to work shoulder-to-shoulder with such servants. Knowing that our time out of Mexico was coming up, we have been praying and seeking for rising leaders who could be trained to take over the leadership of our Life Groups. We hand-picked three couples, of which two took on the challenge of meeting together weekly to learn principles and study techniques of leading a small group. We have been guiding the two couples through the book of Luke to follow up the seed-line study with, "Who is this seed of woman, Jesus, who crushes Satan's power?"
Monday nights have become one of my favourite times of the week. Francisco and Rosi, along with Blanca come to our group excited about the things God has taught them throughout the week. They dedicate themselves to a short passage in Luke which they study through the use of homiletics and three to four pages of questions that guide them into truths of that passage. They literally buzz as they chat about the many things they have gleaned from the passage. Their humble servant hearts are evident as we spend the first 45 minutes or more in prayer. We are always wanting for more when we end, knowing that we have much material to cover before our evening is depleted.
Bernard and I have no doubt these two couples will continue to grow and learn as they shepherd and teach those in their groups. We feel honoured and blessed to be a part of their growth. It's so fun watching them bloom and grow!!! Please keep the baby church in your prayers as many grow in their faith and leadership. We will miss our dear family and friends while we are away from Mexico this next month and a half, but what a joy we feel to know that others have stepped up to the task of continuing in our stead!!! We will be missed, but we are not irreplaceable!!! What a joy to know and understand that truth!! God has been good to us and we feel His blessings all around us.
Until next blog,
Bernard, Alicia and Logan Krogsgaard

Rosi, Francisco, y Blanca join us each Monday evening








Our first forty-five
minutes are dedicated
to fervent prayer.








Rosi and Blanca are both prayer warriors!!









A testimony to God's
power!!!








Blanca has overcome many
obstacles in her life. Her faith
is strong because of it!!










Mati lives his testimony as he
teaches many people in his place
of work. He is a living testimony
of how God transforms lives...from
drunk to servant!!