El Camino: July 2013 & Making Disciples

It's been 3 months already!?

The summer has been full of surprises and a constant work in progress with so many things happening at Christ Community Church: mission trips, leadership development, discipleships, and ownership.

Discipleship and meetings have been great, but have also been a great work; learning the culture on a daily basis, growing in friendships, and speaking truth into the lives of other men as they follow Jesus and desire to be used by Him.  Jesus has been giving me a heart for Denton and is constantly breaking my heart for our city.

At the bottom of all of this, my desire is to see people come to meet Jesus and be changed by the grace of His gospel.

Missional Communities

Two huge land-marks in the area of our missional communities: community groups and the start of college ministry.

As I type this, I am preparing material for this weekend as I meet with community group leaders and future leaders to talk about the vision and execution of goals and phases set in place for C3-Denton this coming fall and over-all year.  Leaders are stepping up by owning the mission of sharing the beauty of Jesus to the city by starting with their neighborhoods.

Denton houses two major universities: University of North Texas (UNT) and Texas Women's University (TWU).  Collectively, that's about 50,000 students on campus.  Much like El Valle, most of these students commute from near-by cities and unfortunately involvement is low.  Rather than trying to reach the mass with a small group of students, I'm taking a small group of students to disciple and equip so they can start a community group on/near campus, build relationships, and invest in the lives of other students.  In short, being faithful and intentional with little so that we may be faithful and intentional with much.

I have scheduled our first college-student meeting for the end of this month!

Prayer

• The weeks can be long and exhausting, prayer for strength to continue to move forward and invest.
• The fall will be exciting and as we move forward in our missional communities, that we constantly look towards Jesus to guide us and provide wisdom for the future.
• Discernment as we move forward with new opportunities within missional communities.

Wrap Up

God has been providing much this summer and I am extremely thankful.  I am enjoying my time in Denton as Jesus has been teaching me much about myself and my need for Him daily.  Right now, I am in the process of moving into a new apartment this month which I'm very excited for! I can't wait to get my furniture out of storage and have a stable home.  And finally, as many of you can imagine, I deeply miss botanas.

Financial Update: Thank You for your continued support and generosity! It has been a great encouragement of God's provision!  As  I continue to raise financial support, many needs have been met while I am still praying and working diligently towards others. Would you prayerfully consider financially supporting me as God has placed me on mission in Denton?

• Two Gifts of: $1000
• One Year Commitment of $100/mo.
• One Year Commitment of $75/mo.
• Special Gift of_______________

All gifts are tax-deductible and you have two ways to give:

1. Write a check payable to: Christ Community Church.  On the memo line, write: Marco A. De Leon.  Mail to: PO Box 2402 | Denton, TX 76202
2. You can give online: https://c3denton.onthecity.org/give/start. On the drop down menu, select: Staff Member Support- Marco De Leon.

Amigos, Thank You!

Follow The Series: Valluco en Denton

Follow Me on Instagram (@Beardeleon) for more of what's happening in Denton!

El Camino: June 2013

And it happened! The Lord called me out of my beloved Valle del Rio Grande and placed me in the city of Denton, Texas.  Yes, Denton.  A city known for it's thriving independently owned businesses, hipster culture, and ever-growing music scene.  The call began in the fall of 2012 as I felt the Lord was preparing my heart to be sent out.  I didn't know that Denton was going to be the destination, but as God's sovereignty prevails, I ever-so coincidently met the Lead Pastor of C3-Denton (Christ Community Church) during the Valley United Men's Conference this past January.  Pastor Ross Appleton and I shared similar passions regarding discipleship and reaching our cities by being a city from within. It seemed like I was on my knees for weeks in prayer and seeking Godly council and it was then that I knew God was giving me the "green light."  I left my family and close friends behind in light of this call, but am forging new relationships and coming into a new extension of family in Denton.

Why Denton? Denton is one of the least churched cities in north Texas; secure in individualism and creativity, Jesus Christ our Savior is faintly seen.  Denton has a large student population and families are growing- the city is starving for the Gospel and Jesus-centered community.  I will be working to equip and disciple others here to share the Gospel through missional communities.  That's the goal: make disciples that make disciples.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2 (ESV)

Missional Communities

Parish groups (community groups) are the life-blood of the church; community and faith lived out; a time for bible study, prayer, and repentance; a time for fellowship and hospitality.  The Holy Spirit made it clear that my time was going to be fully devoted to our parish leaders: equipping and discipling them to be on mission with Jesus.

As the summer progresses, my job is to help leaders rest and recover, disciple their hearts, and see Jesus do a work in them so the joy of their salvation may be restored!

Prayer

• That I may lead by serving through humility.
• That the Lord would raise future leaders to be parish leaders and coaches.
• For wisdom and clarity as I prepare for the fall.

Wrap Up

By God's grace as I move forward through the summer, I want to Thank You for all of your support- through finances, hospitality, and prayer! I would not be able to be in Denton doing what I love if it wasn't for your generosity and support.

Financial Update: Financial support is coming in- Thank You! Currently, I am still working and praying towards raising my full salary. The goal is to raise $25,000 for the year and am in need of the last $15,000.  Would you be willing to become a supporter for the mission God has called me to?

• Gift of: $5,000
• Two gifts of: $1,000
• One Year commitment of: $100/mo.
• One Year commitment of: $50/mo.
• Special Gift:________

All gifts are tax-deductible and you have two ways to give:

1. Write a check payable to: Christ Community Church.  On the memo line, write: Marco A. De Leon.  Mail to: PO Box 2402 | Denton, TX 76202
2. You can give online: https://c3denton.onthecity.org/give/start. On the drop down menu, select: Staff Member Support- Marco De Leon.

Thank You Again!

¡Hasta luego, amigos!

Follow The Series: Valluco en Denton

Valluco En Denton: The Mission

¡Buenas! It's been too long since I have written anything for the beloved Puro Valluco.  The past several months have encompassed everything from business traveling and being in a different city every week to making the official move to Denton, Texas and finally settling in my new home for however long my Jesus calls me here.

In any event, writing and things written are coming your way in a new series.

Oh, watcha, todo fancy "making a series."

Yes, a series.  Titles are in process and stories are in the works.  Blogs for other topics will still be written and categorized accordingly.

The series/missional campaign is titled Valluco En Denton.  I'll be writing and keeping you posted on the diversity that is Denton, updates will follow as Jesus' name is proclaimed throughout the city, and celebrations will be, for lack of a better word, celebrated as Jesus builds His church.

Why Denton? Denton is a city rich in diversity- culturally, musically, artistically, and most importantly, individually.  While the city of Denton is founded within the "Bible Belt" of Texas, it is one of the least churched cities in north Texas.  While many know the name of Jesus, few have a relationship with Him.  Denton is filled with creativity and community; two powerful means of communicating the Gospel of Jesus to a people longing for identity.

The mission: Making disciples of Jesus and sharing His gospel with those who do not know Him.

Blogs will be posted on the 1^st and 5^th of each month with the exception of June’s blog; tomorrow it will be live.

If you would like to support the mission (blog coming soon!) Valluco En Denton, give here.

Gracias for the visits, reads, support, and prayer.  It means so much and is greatly appreciated.  Orale, simon?

En Cristo,

Oso.

EL Valle y Los Sunday's

It's 5:30 a.m. and the morning's night is cold and the further distance outside of the city limits the more quiet it is. As the coffee brews and my mind begins to realize that I'm awake, I smell the familiar scent that travels through every Valluco's nose, one that is strange to the outsider, but an embrace of home to the natives: tortillas.  While coffee has an aroma that allows most to start their day, the smell of freshly hand-made tortillas puts it to shame. It's Sunday.  A day where masses will gather to celebrate Diosito and praise Him for the cross.  It's a time of mariachi.  It's a time for the mariachi to shine their boots and tune their instruments before driving to the church.  It's a time for fathers to be at HEB, Junior's, Jesse's, or Dorita's shopping for the best meat and seasoning at 6:00 a.m.  It's a time for hijos y hijas to wake up and make sure their siblings are getting ready for church while moms, abuelitas (who we called "bueli"), and cousins are getting the food in order so when they get back from church, they can begin cooking.

It's Sunday.  A day where families will worship the tradition of religion through the church.  It's a time where families will become one despite the events that passed during the week.  It's a day where children are made much of at church and during the BBQ.  It's a time where the party begins at 12:00 p.m. and we don't believe in invitations.

It's Sunday.  A day where families from los barrios go over to everyone else's home to celebrate the arrival of Sunday.  It's a time where fathers begin their weekly routine of lighting the fire: some with charcoal over a cast-iron BBQ pit, some with mesquite logs over a caja de muerto, and others with kindle, twigs, and large branches in between three cinder blocks on the ground with a grill set on top.  It's a time where rituals mean nothing more than bringing the family together.

It's Sunday.  A time where the poor are rich.  It's a time where jokes are made and the laughing is so hard that one needs to be fanned down because they may choke on the very air they're trying to breathe.  It's a time where soccer games are played- "Football es para los americanos."  It's a time for service and the communion of family.

It's Sunday.

Hasta, 

El Oso