The Big Picture

Like most of us, I am on a journey that is continually filled with life lessons and opportunities to grow. As I have grown spiritually the last few years, there has been one verse that I keep coming back to for stability and comfort. Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” While there is probably no one who can say they do this enough, I feel like this is a particular area of struggle for me. Things of the world such as anxiety, frustration, and discontentment have held me captive for many years. Through a series of events (because I’m too stubborn to get it the first time) I have realized that I need to start the process of letting go of these earthly things. It’s times like these when I hope God does some miraculous work and in one life altering eventful moment, changes me completely. However, although that is possible, I am usually not that fortunate. And so the work begins. It begins with taking a step back from our chaotic lives and understanding the bigger picture of where we are spending eternity. Right away, you take care of most of your worries and frustrations if you can start to grasp the concept of how short our stay is here on earth. I am pretty certain after many years in eternity I will not look back and be glad I worried about one of the mundane things in my life. It’s funny and embarrassing to even think about. I am beginning to understand that God is in control and I have to stop wasting time not accepting that. After I get this concept down I can start doing work here on earth that does matter and that will effect eternity.

I am excited to grow in this area, realizing that no matter what trial I face, I have to cut the ties with this world and continue focusing on Him. You may even hear me humming a verse of that old southern gospel song, “this world is not my home, I’m only passing through” but one that says it even better is the hymn that sings, “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.


Shawn Kliewer

Rescuing Anna


"My dad was an addict who never stayed in the house. When he was there, it was to steal and sell our food to maintain his drug habit. My brothers were involved in selling drugs. In my home, there was also prostitution, alcoholism, and violence. A week before I turned seven there was a party at my home with drugs. My father was murdered by my brother over a drug problem at the party." 


After her dad's murder, Anna describes herself as full of hatred and resentment. At age 9, she started using drugs and ended up on the streets with a crack cocaine addiction. 


"One day, while I was hopeless and in a dirty coffee field, I sought help at Renacer." 


Renacer is a CFCI ministry in San Jose, Costa Rica. It's a residential program for street girls. Renacer means "rebirth." That's what happens there - girls are reborn...emotionally, educationally, spiritually. They are surrounded my loving, caring people who share the love of Christ with these forgotten girls. They learn about God's unconditional love for them.  


"I want to tell you that this process was not easy. I made many mistakes. I had cloudy days while my many wounds healed and I began to make good decisions in my life. Many times I wanted to throw in the towel and give up, but God was with me always and raised me up when I messed up, gave light to my darkness, healed my wounds, gave love to my pain, and joy to my sadness. 


"Thanks to all who have believed without knowing me!"

Over the past six years, CFCI has doubled the number of ministries through which it serves - from 36 to over 70! With more than 350 mission workers serving in 16 countries along with hundreds of short-term mission workers and countless financial partners...we're transforming thousands of lives for Christ each year! Together, we are bringing the love of Christ to the world. Here's an example.


Every Saturday morning in Tuxpan, Mexico, our CFCI mission worker, Diana, and her friend and fellow mission worker, Mirna, drive a bright yellow pick-up truck they named, "Tuki," to a bakery in town. In a very loving act of service, the baker fills up their truck with breads and other baked goods. Diana and Mirna then drive the truck down the beach of Tuxpan giving out the bread to the impoverished families that live there. Oh, the children love to see Tuki...and, of course, Diana and Mirna.  It's truly the bread of life - food for the hungry offered through the love of Christ. 

The Nations have come to our Door Step and this Changes Everything!

They're every where!  They're every where!  Don't you see them?

The world has come to our cities, communities & neighborhoods.  They are "red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves...."  - And so should we. 

CFCI is working in places like Storm Lake, IA., where 2 out of 3 people are immigrants.  27 nationalities are represented in the public schools with 37 languages spoken.  The whole community culture has shifted dramatically over the last tens years. 

What is God up to?  What can we do to help them?  What can they do to help us?

I believe we have a responsibility to reach out to these newcomers and help them integrate into our culture.  They need to learn English, understand our laws and customs and what they need to do to succeed for themselves and their children.

At the same time, what can we learn from them?  Many come with a passion for Jesus, prayer and worship.  An African brother recently shared with me that he attended a 4 hour funeral service that included worship and preaching.  I know what you may be thinking, "4 hours!"  But to them, it was an opportunity to to spend time together worshiping the Lord and honoring one of their own.

So, who has come to your city?   How many nationalities has God brought to your door step and will you make the effort to open the door for them?

This just in from Pastors Jim and Cheri Garrett, leaders of our Panama Open Team, 8/4 - 8/12, 2012.

For more information email Amanda at amandaj@cfci.org or call 888-526-7551.

Please welcome some of our newest long term missionaries going to El Salvador, the Humphreys!  Read all about their passion and vision for the people and youth of El Salvador in their May Newsletter.

May Newsletter

Transformation in Colombia

From Jair, CFCI Mission Worker in Colombia:

There is a town here in Colombia named Yondo, and more than 15,000 people live there. This town was affected by violence. Many people had been killed by the rebels or by the drugs cartels. In the midst of the chaos, God gave a vision to one of my friends there, Damaris, who is now the director of the 40 days of prayer ministry. God asked her to mobilize the churches in the town and organize 40 days of prayer and fasting for the town. She thought, oh, I have good pastor friends here in town and the churches know me, so it will be an easy job.

But God challenged her to something bigger. He asked her to go to the mayor's office and ask the mayor to decree the 40 days in the town so that everybody would pray and fast for the peace of their pueblo. She thought God was crazy for asking that! But she was obedient to God and miraculously the mayor of the city decreed the 40 days of prayer and fasting!

 So every school and public office, and Christians from evangelical and catholic backgrounds had to gather and pray together, asking God forgiveness for their sins. They organized and scheduled forums for each sector of the city to come and pray. During these 40 days people had the chance to ask forgiveness and to be forgiven.

As a result of this movement, the violent groups left town, the drug dealers disappeared, the killing stopped, and the legal business started growing, etc. Since 2009, when this vision started, until today there hasn't been even one violent death in town! 

God challenged this ministry to take this vision nationwide. I had the honor to be part of the national team that organized the 40 days of prayer.At the same time, we, the CFCI - Our Peace ministry, is partnering with the 40 days of prayer and fasting ministry since they complement each other so well. They prepare the spiritual environment for Our Peace to reach out to non-Christians. 

We believe that God is uniting His body to work for the real peace that Colombia needs.