During Hispanic Heritage Month, the IMB is highlighting the contribution of Hispanics to global missions and celebrating the growing number of Hispanic churches committed to reaching the nations. Resources about Hispanic church missions efforts are available through the IMB.
The first seven months of Yemile Flores’ Journeyman term have been busy — jam-packed, actually. This summer, she oversaw university students who served in Guadalajara, Mexico, as part of the International Mission Board’s Summer Sojourners program for college students. Flores is a product of Summer Sojourners, having served as a university student.
Yemile Flores, center left, smiles for a photo with Mexican Christians and leaders after a Bible study. Part of Flores’ role includes developing local leaders. IMB Photo
Before the beginning of the summer, Flores and her teammates adopted a university, scoped out the campus and developed a plan for the student team.
Flores is familiar with collegiate ministry, having served on two campuses for Baptist Student Ministries in Texas. However, this was her first time starting ministry on a campus with no visible Christian presence. After visiting her adopted campus, she didn’t see a way to start ministry due to restricted access and limited locations to minister.
University campuses in Mexico have high security and use facial recognition, so even physically accessing the campus proved challenging. Proselytizing is grounds for getting kicked off campus.
She called her team leader discouraged, not knowing what to do or where to start.
Her team leader encouraged her not to give up, though the challenge of entering and beginning a new work seemed overwhelming.
Flores learned to trust the Lord and the training she received from the IMB. So she set off to start a ministry from zero.
Opening doors
Flores said their team’s goal was to utilize short-term volunteers and empower and equip local leaders.
Their IMB team and national partners develop local leaders who are a part of a student ministry team. Because of her experience with student ministry in the U.S., she knows how to look for and invest in leaders with a heart for reaching their campuses.
Norah, a Summer Sojourner, engages in a gospel conversation with a student in Guadalajara, Mexico. Norah was one of many students who Flores worked with this summer in Mexico. IMB Photo
Five groups of Summer Sojourners came to serve for five consecutive weeks. Flores delegated roles to national leaders and partners who had a vested interest in growing and learning more about their role on campus.
Christian university students were hesitant to work alongside the Sojourners, because they could get kicked out of school. One of the leaders first had reservations, but over the summer, the Lord softened his heart and created a desire and hunger to share. He showed willingness to get out of his comfort zone. The Lord gave Flores the words to propel him forward during times of discipleship and when there were times of trepidation.
The Summer Sojourners, first group of volunteers and Mexican leaders set to work, building relationships on campuses.
Coffee and campus access
Kate, a volunteer from a BSM in Texas, opened the door for ministry on the campus.
Flores needed to make a split-second decision about how and where to engage students. After a quick stop at a printing shop, Kate, Flores and friends went to a coffee shop to cut and prepare flyers advertising an English club. Kate struck up a conversation with the barista, named Valeria. Kate and Flores asked Valeria if they could post a flyer in the coffee shop.
Valeria passed on the request to the owner. The owner texted and asked Flores if they would host the English club in the coffee shop. Flores took time to talk to him before sharing they are missionaries and wanted to host a Bible study after the English club for anyone interested in staying.
“The Lord gave me a lot of peace and understanding in that conversation to be very slow in my answers,” Flores said.
The owner told Flores she was different — she didn’t “shove Jesus down his throat.” He said they were welcome to have the Bible study.
Flores was surprised he said yes, because the coffee shop is known for being progressive, and she didn’t think they’d be receptive to Christians. The relationship-building she did made all the difference.
In Mexico, Flores explained, building relationships is key. She said this may seem counterintuitive because she was taught to introduce Jesus quickly in conversations. That might be the route to go, but it’s important to discern whether a person is receptive to the gospel before hurrying to share and check off the proverbial box. Flores said sometimes that requires establishing a common ground of a relationship to help increase the receptivity of that person.
Kate and Flores built a relationship with Valeria first and were later able to share the gospel with her.
Hindsight is 20/20
Flores and the Mexican student leaders are now looking back over the summer to determine what is sustainable and reproducible throughout the school year.
In hindsight, Flores said, while it’s tough to start a ministry from scratch, there are pros.
Yemile Flores, far left, prays with Mexican student leaders and Summer Sojourners. Over the summer, the group spent time building relationships on university campuses. IMB Photo
“Starting new things is hard, but there is a purity to it because the vision is crisp and simple,” Flores said. “Ministries that have been going for a while have a history that can shape the current ministry for better or for worse, so it’s pure in that you are starting out afresh.”
The summer pushed Flores to a greater dependence on God.
“The Lord has shattered my understanding of my strength and rebuilt it around Him, and I’m very grateful,” Flores said. “Something that I have learned throughout this process is the unswerving, undying love that God has for us,” Flores said.
The daily grind of starting at the entry phase of ministry is tiring. She’s had to try four or five times to find something that works.
“The reliance that I have come to have on the Lord has formed and fed into my understanding of His love for me, for Guadalajara and for lost people,” Flores said.