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If you were with us back in 2023, you remember the time our beloved home faced an unimaginable loss. Our main building burned to the ground within a matter of minutes... Within those walls crumbled so many memories of life. This building held our church sanctuary, main offices, school classrooms, music rooms, and nursery, along with countless memories of gathering together, in learning, discipleship, and worship. It was the center and heartbeat of our entire ministry. A temporary home In the aftermath of the fire, we were able to setup a large tent in the center of campus to replace our beloved sanctuary. For the past three years, this tent has become a place of community, serving as our church hub–hosting daily devotions and worship services, as we've begun the journey to rebuild from the ashes. The start of the new dream And finally! After much prayer, fundraising, and many months of makeshift efforts, our new building has reached the first stages of rising from the dust. We've begun the reconstruction of a new foundation! We are so thrilled to see this dream—once only an idea imagined in the midst of challenge and hope—becoming a physical reality right before our eyes. While the journey ahead is still long and much remains to be invested, it is truly happening. We are incredibly thankful for the faithfulness of our Father every step of the way. You can see more details regarding the rebuild in the video here: We are so grateful for your investment in us—both through your prayers and through the practical ways you support us. Your part in our lives and in our story is one of the reasons we’re able to continue the work and impact happening here at The Mission. As we’ve often said, this place and this ministry is home to us. So this is not only a testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness within the organization, but also in our own personal lives as we continue to build history here and look forward to building even more life here in the years to come. And you get to be a part of this testimony with us. Continuing to share in the testimony: Your intentionality and your heart to bless us on this journey have meant more than you know! We have experienced so much of God’s glory in these early years of marriage, and we are still so expectant for all that is yet to come. Your contributions within the past months have allowed us to purchase some key items we needed for our new home: ● A bed (mattress and frame) ● Chairs for our dining room table! Our need continues to grow as we move forward in everyday life and as regular necessitie sarise. Things like home supplies, car maintenance, phone bills, groceries, and other day-to-day expenses all add up. If you haven’t yet, or if you would like to partner with us by committing to a monthly gift or giving a one-time donation, you can do so through the link below: GoMission.Church (Sydney & Juan) Thank you for remembering us in your hearts, we send you so much love from just across the border– Juan & Sydney If you'd prefer to instantly bless us through CashApp or Venmo you can use the bubble icons above, or save them for later: CashApp: $SydneyLorenzana (green bubble) or Venmo: Sydney-Lorenzana (blue bubble)
We have some really amazing and exciting ministry going on right now! #1 God provided for a tractor for our farm! Guys, this will help us feed the 150+ people we feed every day and help us reduce our operating costs! #2 We’re building AGAIN! Our new Suubi Program will soon be getting a teaching kitchen! This will help our students learn even more valuable skills! #3 Our 1st term at the girls skills center is off to a great start! 49 girls are learning life changing skills! #4 We opened our 1st class of primary school THIS week! New Life Primary School is underway! SO much to be thankful for! If you have prayed for or given to our ministry, THANK YOU for helping change lives here in Uganda!
God Causes the Growth “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 Our Part and God’s Part Often, I find myself thinking about the interplay between God’s sovereign work and my participation. On the one hand, it can be easy to believe that all the results of my life and ministry depend solely on me and what I do. On the other hand, it can feel like nothing I do matters at all, and it ultimately is just up to God. What’s so beautiful about this passage in 1 Corinthians is that it strikes right to the heart of this tension. Paul tells us here that each one is given an assignment by God, that God invites us to participate in the growth that only he can cause. Like little kids helping a parent, we bring nothing to the table, but God, our Father, still invites us to co-labor with him. The way this passage describes our partnership with God in the work of ministry gives me such excitement and freedom to passionately work with all of my heart in the assignment God has given me, but never too try and carry the crushing weight of what is only God’s responsibility. As John Piper once put it: “My job is faithfulness. God’s is fruitfulness.” Here in Mendoza, our little church community has been experiencing the reality of this passage as we launched our first public English-speaking services! Public English Service On February 22nd, we started our service in the upstairs of the Vina Rock Cafe (where the Spanish church meets), and all three weekends so far, we have had new people visiting! There are already so many kids coming that we had to start a children's ministry! Each week we worship, take communion together, have a short teaching, and pray. After service, the whole group gathers for lunch at someone’s house, and usually, we all stay for hours before anyone heads home. Here are some photos from those first few gatherings: The week of the launch, every one of the families on the team had so much going on. A lot of unexpected things popped up at the last minute. In many ways, our launch of the first service was not “Ideal”, but God is faithful, and as each one in our group said yes to the small assignment that God gave, he started to do what he promised: build his church. I think this analogy of plant growth that Paul used can also be applied to our own personal growth in Jesus. We don’t have the power to cause growth in our lives. We can’t make ourselves more like Jesus, but we can make sure to bring the water and nutrients that we need (The word of God, a life lived in the community of his Church, time spent with our Father in prayer) and pull the weeds (sin and distraction) but the only other thing we can do is wait for God to cause the growth. My prayer for each of us is that we would be fervent in our weeding and watering, while resting in the goodness of our Father, the good gardener, to cause the growth. Here are a few of the ways you can be praying right now! Pray that the leadership team for the English service would be solidified and that each person would find their role. Specifically pray for Ted and Michelle, and Mark and Leah, and their families as they take on these responsibilities and the weight that comes with them. Pray for some of the people coming to the service who still haven’t made a commitment to follow Jesus And please pray for my transition back home for this next season of getting married and preparing to relaunch out to Argentina for a longer commitment!
The beginning of spring is often seen as a time to reset, prepare, and foster an environment for new growth. As things have slowed down a bit for GoMission.Church, we are taking advantage of the opportunity to do some of our own “spring cleaning” in preparation for some exciting things coming this summer: Welcoming a new team member. In May we will be welcoming Jared Duran to the team! He will help lead our second summer internship, develop resources for churches and mission partnerships, and help us onboard additional team members. Preparing for this summer’s internship. The summer internship was a huge highlight for us last year, and we have been enjoying dreaming with God about what He wants to do through the internship this summer. Strengthening how we serve. As we prepare for what’s ahead, we are also taking time to evaluate how we can grow in supporting our ministry partners and better serve churches in their missional endeavors. We are thankful for the grace God has given us in this season to slow down and prepare well for whatever He will do next. Here are a few ways you can be praying with us during this time: That God would help us further develop the platform and internal structures to better serve our partners. For vision and clarity for what the internship should look like this year. For grace and provision as we step into the transition of adding a new team member. Thank you for your prayers and for partnering with us! We are excited to see how God will continue to use GoMission.Church in our local community and through our global partnerships.
This month has been filled with celebration and gratitude as May and Angie both earned their driver’s licenses! What an exciting and meaningful accomplishment. After weeks of studying, practicing, and preparing, they each stepped forward in confidence and passed their tests — a moment made even sweeter by the faith and perseverance that carried them there. Learning to drive is about more than understanding traffic laws and mastering three-point turns. It’s about growth. It’s about responsibility. It’s about stepping into a new season of independence. Through every practice session, every correction, and every nervous deep breath before the exam, Jesus was present — steady, faithful, and guiding their paths. Just as Scripture reminds us that He directs our steps, this milestone feels like a beautiful reflection of that promise in motion. There is something truly beautiful about obtaining a driver’s license. It symbolizes freedom — the ability to go, to serve, to explore, and to answer when called. Within the spirit of GFL, this achievement shines brightly. It reflects gratitude for the journey, faith in the process, and love for the growth that comes through perseverance. Freedom is a gift, and when it’s rooted in faith, it becomes even more powerful. May and Angie’s accomplishment isn’t just about driving; it’s about trust — trust from their instructors, trust in themselves, and trust in Jesus as they move forward into new opportunities. With keys in hand and hearts full of joy, they are ready for the roads ahead. This is a month to celebrate boldly and gratefully. Congratulations to May and Angie! May every mile ahead be filled with purpose, protection, and the peace that comes from knowing Jesus is always in the driver’s seat.
Max's Story Hey everyone! This update is going to be a little bit different! I just wanted to share with you a testimony from someone who is a part of the church here! Max recently had a really beautiful encounter with Jesus that has completely changed his life. His parents say he is like a totally different kid. Max and I have been spending lots of time together lately, and our discipleship meet-ups consist mostly of reading the bible and playing chess while we talk about following Jesus. The thing that makes Max's story here extra powerful and encouraging is the fact that Max is one of the people that our church has been praying for by name for the last few months. It's so exciting to see how powerfully God moves when we ask, even though we may see nothing at first. I'm reminded of how Jesus ends the parable of the widow and the unjust judge: And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” I love that Jesus tells us that when we ask, God won't be slow in answering the fervent prayers of His people. Just a few days ago, I asked Max if he wanted to share with the people in the United States who are praying for us and our church. So we sat down together at a coffee shop and wrote it out. Everything in the story below is Max's words and what he wanted to share. I hope it's as encouraging for you as it is to me! “Hi, my name is Max, I’m 15 and I’m from Austin Texas and now live in Mendoza Argentina. When I was younger I knew about God, but I didn’t have a real relationship with Him, or know that I could really talk to Him and know Him. About a year ago I started hanging out with the wrong crowd and felt pressured into smoking and using drugs. I started struggling with school and skipping classes. At the same time I began struggling with pornography. During all this I felt like I was a disappointment to my family because of my grades, I felt empty and I stopped caring about my future. Then one night when I was planning to go buy some weed, my mom forced me to go to a prayer/ministry night with the Vineyard church and a pastor from out of town. After the pastor started praying I felt guilt and conviction for all the things I was doing. I started crying and then everyone started praying over me. When they were praying I started feeling the mercy of Jesus and how patient he had been with me. My guilt that I had felt suddenly turned into joy. I felt really loved by God for the first time The next day all of my desire for the bad things that I was doing before was almost gone, and for the first time in a long time I felt happy! I started wanting to read the Bible more than ever before and I started learning that God is always talking to me if I stop and listen. That same week when I was praying I felt like God said that one of my friends was having a hard time and that I should talk to him about it. I asked him and he told me that he was having a hard time with his church (his family is Jehovah's witness). I told him it isn’t about just going to church but really getting to know God and asked if I could pray for him and he said yes. Later that day I asked if he wanted to pray and then he prayed for us too even though I had never heard him pray before that! Now I’m excited for the future and what God is teaching me. I’m praying and reading the Bible almost everyday now and I feel like I’m a little baby again and that I just get to hold God’s hand and grow up with Him.” Please keep praying with us for more people to experience Jesus like this! This is the beautiful fruit of your prayers and the prayers of our small community here! Thank you!! A few more quick updates and things to pray with us for: Our English service "soft launched" (basically just our most committed people) two weeks ago. Our first public service where we invite everyone is set to start Febuary 22nd Max and his parents are becoming more and more our core team here at the church. Please take some time to bless what God is already doing in their family! This week the whole Vineyard Argentina Partnership (4 churches from the States will be represented, along with the pastors of 3 churches and 1 other ministry here in Argentina) is gathering in Buenos Aires for prayer fellowship and dreaming about the future of what God is doing here. Please be praying for God to bless this time and that he would continue to lead us. Thank you all so much again for being a part of this with us. I'm so excited to share how it all goes in the next update!
May’s birthday was nothing short of a blessing. As a survivor, her life is a testimony of strength, healing, and God’s faithfulness. This celebration was a beautiful reminder of how Jesus has carried her, surrounded her with love, and walked with her every step of the way. Through Him—and through the incredible people He placed in her life—May truly received the birthday party of her dreams. We gathered with grateful hearts to celebrate God’s goodness over her life, sharing Mediterranean food, cinnamon rolls instead of cake, and so much laughter. May was wrapped in love, surrounded by family and friends, all brought together by Jesus and united in joy and thanksgiving. We are especially overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of one of our amazing supporters, whom Jesus used in a powerful way. Because of their obedience and kindness, May’s entire EMT course was paid for in full. What an incredible reminder that God provides—often exceeding what we could ever imagine. We are so incredibly proud of May—of her resilience, her courage, and the way she continues to step forward with faith and determination. We are deeply thankful that she is a part of the GFL family, and it is an honor to walk alongside her on this journey. We cannot wait to see what God has in store for her future and how He will continue to use her story, her strength, and her heart to impact others. This birthday was more than a celebration of another year—it was a celebration of survival, restoration, and the goodness of Jesus. We are so thankful for a Savior who redeems, restores, and blesses through community, generosity, and love. All glory to Him for making this day so special.
New Year and Life/Ministry Update! Hey everyone! Happy New Year! I’m just getting ready to head back to Argentina after a very sweet time with friends and family over Christmas break, filled with good food, stories, and encouragement. I’m excited to share with you all some life and ministry updates that are very relevant for this next year! Meghan and I got engaged! We are looking forward to getting to do the things God has called us both to do, but as a team! This means we will be moving to Argentina to continue to participate in what God is doing in the Vineyard churches there. In this transition, through prayer and discernment with friends and mentors, we’ve decided to take a year in Fresno after getting married at the end of April, to prepare for the move to Argentina in the summer of 2027. We don’t know what everything will look like yet, but we would love if you could pray with us about both our year of preparation in Fresno and our move to Argentina. Here are some specific things you could join us in praying for in this season: This season of engagement… preparing for marriage, Jared’s last 3 months in Mendoza, and all that comes with planning a wedding. Our first year of marriage… direction from the Lord about priorities for that year, provision for a place to live, and preparation for the transition to Argentina. In summary, I will be returning to Mendoza for the next 3 months before coming back for our wedding in April, and spend a year preparing to return to Argentina for a long-term commitment with Meghan. One of the things that God has been using to help me think about this transition over the past few weeks is the old phrase, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I’m excited to take this time to prepare for a longer-term assignment in Argentina together. The remaining time in Mendoza will be focused on supporting some of our new leaders and helping them step into all that God is calling them to! My prayer is that by the time I leave back to Fresno for the wedding, Mark and Karina will feel they have a strong team of leaders that they can rely upon for each area of ministry in the church! We are also currently looking at shifting the way that the Vineyard Argentina partnership’s state-side churches support our in-country leaders. Please be praying for wisdom as we restructure our support system to better serve and help our leaders. Thank you all so much for your prayers and your support! I’m excited to keep sharing with you everything God is doing in Mendoza! Over the next few months, I plan to reach out to each of you individually and share in more detail about the transition!
Rolling into 2026 in Quietness and Confidence "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength." (Isaiah 30:15, emphasis added) This past weekend, I (Jeff) drove my 1978 Chevy truck (aka "The Bee Truck") out to check up on our bee hives. As I approached along the dirt path, I noticed a good size puddle ahead from the recent rains. There was no way around the puddle, so I had to drive through it. My first thought was one of hesitation, wondering if the puddle might be too deep to pass through. But I figured the dually tires could probably handle it, and I proceeded ahead. To my delight, I was able to pass through the water with ease, allowing me to check the bee hives. This brief off-roading experience reminded me of God's faithfulness over the past year. We recently sent out an "End of the Year Recap" (see images below) to those supporting Gathering Table, specifically through our hive sponsorships. One of our answered prayers last year was being able to purchase new tires for The Bee Truck. Gathering Table uses the Bee Truck for a variety of needs, including transporting chairs, table sections and supplies for the Pop-Up Dinners, and moving and checking the bee hives that help support the ministry. A couple of the tires on the truck were getting pretty bare, and about halfway through the year, I was starting to limit how far I drove the truck. It was becoming an urgent need. We decided to make the need known to our supporters as a Campaign on the GoMission.Church platform. God answered our prayers for new tires when someone generously told us they would like to donate $700 toward purchasing new tires. They also had a person at a local tire shop that could give a good deal. We knew this amount was likely enough to replace 4 of the 6 tires. We wondered if it might be worth spending a little more to go ahead and replace all 6 tires, but at the time the ministry did not have the extra funds for this purpose. So we prayed. From the time of the donation and when the appointment with the tire shop was set about a week later, God miraculously provided $240 leaving only a difference of $140 to replace all 6 tires! We had that amount available in the budget for Gathering Table and we were able to get all 6 tires replaced. This is one of the testimonies of God's faithfulness that we have seen in being a part of the Gathering Table ministry over the past year. It is a reminder as we move through the "puddles" ahead in 2026, that God will make a way. For in quietness and confidence is our strength when we place our trust in Him.
It's finally here! 2025 GoMission.Church - Year in Review 2025 flew by, and we ended the year in awe of the many ways God spoke, guided, and surprised us. It was a joy to spend time in conversation with ministry leaders, volunteers, and partners, reflecting on what they have seen God do throughout the year. In this end-of-year review, we share what God has taught us as we continue to follow His lead, testimonies from ministries you partner with, and what we are looking forward to seeing God do in 2026. Again and again, we were reminded that we are part of the wider Body of Christ—the Church. The way Jesus transforms the life of a young person in Huntington Beach, California can be celebrated by a missionary in Argentina, and that same testimony can be shared with a small village church in Uganda, encouraging someone else that Jesus can change their life too. This is why GoMission.Church exists. We want to engage the people of God in the mission of God, for the glory of God. Thank you for being part of this Kingdom work with us. We pray that you are encouraged by the stories shared in this end-of-year review, and that the Lord would use them to stir a deeper desire for His glory to be revealed in your own life. - The GoMission.Church Team
We are overjoyed to share a beautiful update from our Grace Family Love community. This season has been especially meaningful as we celebrate Ash, one of our Grace Family Love graduates, and her recent wedding to her husband, Jessie, in San Diego. It is hard to put into words the gratitude we feel as we reflect on her journey and all that God has done. Before coming to Grace Family Love, Ash did not know Jesus. She came as a skeptic, not believing that life or Jesus had anything good to offer her. She carried doubt, disappointment, and guarded hope, unsure if real love or lasting change was even possible. Through consistent love, patience, prayer, and genuine support from this community, Ash slowly began to encounter Jesus in a real and personal way. What started in skepticism was met with unwavering compassion, and over time her heart was softened by grace. Step by step, she experienced His healing, His faithfulness, and His unconditional love. A life once marked by doubt began to be transformed by hope and truth. One of the most incredible parts of this story is that this transformation did not stop with Ash. As her faith grew, it overflowed into her relationship with Jessie. Through Ash’s testimony, her changed life, and the steady presence of Christ in her daily walk, Jessie also came to know Jesus. Watching God work in both of their hearts has been a powerful reminder that love lived out consistently can open doors that words alone never could. Their wedding in San Diego was not just a celebration of marriage, but a celebration of redemption, restoration, and new life. It stood as a beautiful testimony to how far they have come and to their shared decision to build a marriage rooted in faith, love, and Christ at the center. We are deeply grateful for the privilege of walking alongside Ash on her journey and witnessing the goodness of God through her story. Thank you to everyone who prayed, showed up, loved faithfully, and invested in her life along the way. This is the heart of Grace Family Love, lives transformed through consistent love and the power of Jesus. We celebrate Ash and Jessie with full hearts and look forward to all that God has in store for their future together.
Looking Back and Ahead “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You have by Your power redeemed Your people…” Psalm 77:11–15 Looking Back As we arrive at the end of another year, I am continually reminded of the many exhortations in scripture to “remember”. It’s so easy to be on “autopilot” constantly moving from one thing to the next (especially during the holiday season), and often we can miss an opportunity to look back, remember, and celebrate what God has done. Here are some things I am looking back on and celebrating over the last 5 months that I have been here in Argentina! Prayer in the Church Since the time I arrived at the church here in Mendoza, there has been a huge shift in the culture of prayer. Twice a week, there are devoted times of prayer, but the change is so much deeper than just a change in scheduled meetings. Each of our Sunday services now ends with prayer ministry, and people are stopping to pray for each other and offering prayer way more regularly. A few weeks back, one of our midweek groups had a very small turnout, and the few people present decided to devote the entire time of the group to prayer! Clearly, God is drawing the hearts of his people here more and more towards prayer. Ministry on the Streets It was so exciting that as we prayed and asked God for ways to be a blessing to the city of Mendoza, He was so quick to answer! We have continued to go out to the streets either once or twice a week to offer food, prayer, and company to those living there. A few more people from the church have gotten involved, and the church has decided to start financially supporting the work as well! Trip to Cordoba and John’s Visit At the end of November, Pastor John Aureli from the Mission Vineyard in San Antonio, Texas, came to visit and encourage the church here and also in Cordoba! I was given the opportunity to travel to Cordoba and spend time with the leaders of another church there. The time was incredibly sweet and encouraging. We got to celebrate with the church as they baptised a whole family from one of the neighborhoods they minister in! Afterwards, John and I traveled together back to Mendoza, where John led our community in a powerful time of waiting on the Holy Spirit and listening for how God may want to minister. The whole church walked away from the time excited and encouraged to continue in the work God has given us. Looking Ahead What’s especially beautiful about the psalmist's example of remembering in Psalm 77 is that he is using this remembering of what God has already done and what He has proven of His character to look ahead. The Psalm starts in a place of despair, but through remembrance of what God has already done (even long before the author was born), the psalmist arrives at a confidence that God will continue to display his faithfulness and love despite circumstances that would contradict this idea. So, in light of all God has already done this year, here are some of the things I am really excited for next year. Please join me in praying for: The official start of a public Sunday morning church service for our English-speaking community! We have pulled together a team of a few leaders who are already praying and planning through what it’s going to look like to start this service in the new year. Our meetings have been really encouraging, and I am so excited to see what God does! Expansion of the Street Ministry. We have been dreaming together about what it could look like to expand the work we are doing in our ministry to the poor. We have been reaching out to some of the shelters in our area and looking into appointing a few leaders to lead more groups going out. I’m so excited to watch this move from a small group going each week to the whole church getting involved in different ways. From cooking and cleaning to prayer and giving rides to church, there are so many ways for our entire community to start being involved in what God is doing! Partnership Meeting in February. This coming February, all three of the Argentine churches that are part of the partnership we be getting together with the American churches in Buenos Aires for a time of encouragement, prayer, and fellowship! These gatherings always encourage a deeper sense of belonging and help to fight off the threat of isolation and loneliness that so often accompanies leadership in the church My hope and prayer for each of you is that even right now, you could take one moment to remember something good God has done in the last year, give thanks, and then think of how He may be wanting to move this next year. I hope your holidays are filled with excitement and hope for things to come! Thank you all so much for all your encouragement and prayer through this first part of my time here in Argentina! During my time at home in Fresno over the holidays, I will be meeting with mentors and praying for direction and wisdom as I make decisions about the future. Please join me in prayer, and feel free to reach out! I hope to see many of you when I am home this month!
Empowering communities through impactful programs, our nonprofit is dedicated to creating lasting positive change for those in need.