Our Missions

Jeremiah & Jennifer Dean

Christ Church members Jeremiah and Jennifer Dean are serving with Word Made Flesh ministries working with street children in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here is their latest newsletter...

Our Missionaries - Jeremiah & Jennifer Dean Jeremiah and Jennifer Dean, Dec. 1, 2008
December Prayer Letter

We greet you with the love of Christ!

Our family has just returned from a Word Made Flesh regional staff retreat/work conference in Peru where we had the privilege of gathering with U.S. and international staff from all four WMF South American fields—Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina.  Our time was spent in various meetings, worship/devotional gatherings, and biblical discussions all centered on the theme of Christ in Latin America.  It was beautiful to listen to the various field staff members share of their personal witness of Christ's revelation in their distinct ministries.  Some of the international staff shared, with tears running down their faces, of their own release from lives of horror—forced prostitution, abandonment and injustice.  They spoke fervently of Christ's love and of their desire to see the individuals with whom we work liberated from their degrading existences.

We feel so honored to have spent time with the greater community with whom we partner in this work among the marginalized.  At our worship times, it was moving to hear our adulating voices raised together to God in Spanish, Portuguese and English and to recognize the kingdom of God at hand.  The yeast is spreading.

We have returned to Buenos Aires with mixed emotions—sadness over leaving dear friends and renewed passion for our work among the children of the streets here.  Jeremiah was well-missed and has reassumed his position of human jungle gym among the little boys, and Jen has found that her growing pregnancy belly has become a great bonding asset among the young women and girls who ply her with questions over pregnancy aches and pains, relational issues, and names for the coming baby.   These young mothers, as young as 14 and 15, display an obvious love and affection for their children and an equally obvious desire to be able to care for them adequately.  They encourage us as they work so hard, begging for hours in the train station while holding their babies on their hips or selling discarded newspapers to passersby.  They work diligently for their few coins to be able to offer their children sustenance and clothing.  We are humbled by their continual struggle for survival…how strong they are!

Please join us in prayer as we ask for wisdom and vision for our ministry here in Buenos Aires.  Pray for liberation among the youth and for guidance as to how God would have each of us be engaged in the global struggle against injustice.  We are thankful you fight with us!

We love you,

Jeremiah and Jen Dean