November 6, 2023 • 42 mins
Join me as I sit down with Nathan Alpert, the dynamic president of YUGO Ministries, who is making a tangible difference in Ensenada, Mexico. Our heartfelt conversation centers around the ministry's fusion of an outward-focused mission trip with an inward-focused Christian conference. Together, we reflect on the power of collective prayer, the beauty of community support, and the life-changing experience my daughter had on her 7th birthday mission trip to Mexico. Nathan also shares stirring tales from the back alleys of YUGO Ministries, offering a window into the impactful work they do on the ground.
Have you ever pondered the intricacies of 'Bringing the Kingdom Down to Earth'? Nathan and I unravel this profound concept, walking through Jesus's mission of establishing a unique, eternal kingdom and our role as conduits of divine love and peace. Let's explore an interesting parallel between a pizza box and our purpose as vessels of God's kingdom. We also examine the importance of spiritual wellness through love and service and the grace that covers us when we falter.
In the latter part of our conversation, Nathan shares enlightening insights on the perceptions of Mexico and conservative Christianity. He emphasizes the significance of leading with love before truth-telling, drawing from Jesus's ministry as a guide. He paints a portrait of the warmth and welcoming spirit of the Mexican people, challenging the media-driven narratives of hostility. As we wrap up, we invite you to join us in a prayer of gratitude for the work of YUGO Ministries and Journey Church. We hope this episode ignites a spark in you to engage, understand, and take action.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
There's a psychological and physical
impact on us when we don't walkin purpose and not in kingdom
purpose Anti-illegal immigrationfrom conservative news sources
becoming anti-Mexico stories isa very real thing.
We're going to love people,we're going to pursue excellence
(00:28):
and we're going to do it withjoy.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Welcome to the Y2 Fitness podcast.
I'm your host, aaron O'Connell,and today I am joined with
Nathan Alpert, the president ofyou Go Ministries down in
Ensenada, mexico.
How are you doing today, nathanDoing?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
great, you make me sound so important.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I would say you are important.
When I was down there justearlier on in this year, you
gave a fire message.
You always were there justencouraging everybody.
That's only in the forefront.
I can only imagine what you doin the back alleys of you Go
Ministries and all theintertwinings that you get to do
.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
You're too kind.
Yeah, it's great to be herewith you this morning.
Yeah, it's cool that we get tobe through the miracle of
technology.
I'm coming to.
You live from Ensenada, mexico,on the west coast of Mexico,
about two hours south of SanDiego.
It's almost like we're in thesame room.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Exactly.
It's amazing.
I wanted to ask how did thefamilies that you help out and
you Go Ministries hold up duringthat little hurricane or
tropical storm that came throughthe other day?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Praise God it came out really great.
The hurricane actuallydissipated when it got over the
mountains and actually trackedjust a little bit to the east of
us, got in the mountains,slowed down and we did have some
significant rain but no realwind and praise God we dodged it
.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Oh yeah, for sure, Because I know at our church was
praying over the family that webuilt the houses for, Because
we're like we just built housesfor them.
Can we imagine just all of asudden they get washed away or
something like?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
that.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
We were thinking horrible.
So I know there was a lot ofprayer going into that.
But just to start off, if youcould just, for our listeners,
talk about you Go Ministries andwhat you guys do down in Mexico
and how you're helping out downthere.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yeah, absolutely.
You Go Ministries came toEnsenada, mexico, in 1990 with
this idea that man God's peopleneed to get outside the four
walls of their church and theyneed to have a way to go serve.
And at the same time, we werebeing invited by these pastors
(02:48):
who are saying, hey, we'rereaching out to our communities
here in Mexico, but they don'thave basic food and water
resources, they don't havehousing resources.
And the idea popped up how dowe marry this great need for
people who want to follow Jesusin the United States and Canada
with this great need thathappens in Mexico and through
that?
You Go Ministries was born withthis idea of the one week
(03:12):
missions experience, wherepeople could leave their homes
for one week, come to Mexico and, in the span of just one week,
meet a huge physical need theneed for housing and at the same
time, reach into the spiritualneed of the family.
And as soon as that happened,what we started seeing was this
(03:33):
spiritual need was being met inthe lives of the people who were
coming and we were like, wow,so we can use this ministry
platform that Jesus has given usto meet these needs in Mexico
and, at the same time, createthis amazing life change in the
hearts and lives of the peoplewho are coming.
And at this point we describeyou Go Ministries like this A
(03:59):
week at you Go Ministries iswhere a missions trip and a
Christian conference collide.
So we've built these weeks towhere they are 100% an outward
focused missions trip butthey're also 100% an inward
focused Christian conferencewhere we're trying to reach into
the lives of the people who arecoming as well.
(04:19):
So that's kind of what you Gois and what we do, and I get the
joy of being able to kind oflead that.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Oh, that's amazing.
You're 100% correct, because Iknow when I went with Journey
Church on the Go and Love Globalmissions trip, I brought my
daughter down there and sheturned seven and had a birthday
there and I thought it was thebest way to give her a birthday.
You know, all in one, and I justremember because we went there
(04:48):
and we built two houses for twodifferent families and our team
split up and just through that,just seeing her grow at seven
years old, like you said, aconference for us Just how much
it instilled me as a father ofjust like seeing her with her
hands raised high, nearing allthe chapel times because you
(05:10):
guys have those defined chapeldays every single day that we
were there and just beingamongst other Christians because
it wasn't just our church there, there was other churches there
as well building other housesand being able to just, you know
, just have fun.
You know so many people in thething look at the Christian
world of like it's not fun, it'slike no, no, no, no, no, no.
(05:30):
God, when Jesus was down here,he had fun.
I'd love to say that he hadjoked around, had a lot of fun,
but he also was on mission,which that's what you guys
provided for us.
You gave us that missions tripto come down, work hard, build a
house in four days for a familyin need, but also, at the same
time, we were getting to knoweach other that much deeper.
(05:52):
We were having fun.
There was jokes, when the kidswe had kids in our time we're
playing, talk, catch with themand just you know, whatever
there was to do, it was alwaysfun and I think you guys are
really encapsulating that, thatmissions of providing that not
only missions trip but also, youknow, a conference as well.
(06:13):
I think you guys are doingreally well on that.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I should hire you as one of our reps.
You sound like you're you're.
You can describe it really well.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, I, you know, I, I.
It changed my life when I wasthere.
It was, it was really thecatalyst, because I I'll be the
first to admit I would probablyfell in the Pharisee land for
quite a while and I realizedeven while I was there.
I started my journaling shortlybefore there, I started asking
(06:42):
a question and I said, lord, Iknow all about you've been
through the Bible, all thesethings but why can't I go and
love the way that I want to love?
Why don't I help people when Iknow I could help them that much
more with my podcast, with mymessage, with all these things?
And it always came back to I'monly volunteering, going on
(07:04):
mission trips, all these things.
Because I get something out ofit.
I get, you know, I make, itmakes me feel good, it gives me
prestige in the church and, andwhich is the first time I've had
any friends that really carefor me, and during that time I
just going through that hardtime of working hard, I took
time away when I was building, Iwalked out into the desert and
(07:26):
just would be talking to God andhe actually, during that time,
met me when I walked away and itwas just silent around me.
I couldn't hear all the bangingof the hammers and stuff, but I
saw this house in the distanceand you just saw the family that
barely had anything, justlaughing and playing together.
You could probably see I didn'tknow if it was grandma or
(07:47):
grandpa, you know with theparents just all together
laughing.
And God just said to me less ismore in that time and that
really started getting me tothink.
There, and from there, I wouldsay just a couple weeks
afterwards, is when God reallymet me and showed me the last
part that I needed to die to tobe able to really understand who
(08:12):
God is.
I knew who, I knew of God, butI didn't really know God and
just being there just helped mejust take that next step and and
really solidify my relationshipwith Christ.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Amen, that's great to hear.
We have a.
We have a saying that we liketo say around here in Spanish,
morir es vivir, and it justmeans to die is to live, and
just like a seed that getsplanted in the ground and has to
, has to really die to trulylive.
We see that happening onmission strips and it sounds
like it happened to you.
(08:47):
There has to be a death and acrushing and a willingness to
kind of die to this own personalidea of that we're number one
in our life, is number one inorder to truly live and be
influenced by Jesus.
Implemented.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Jesus, oh yeah.
And acts.
2035 says, right there, it'smore blessed to give than to
receive and being doing all that, you guys were giving away a
house, were giving away so manydifferent necessities to to a
family in need, and I really didfeel that blessing.
And also, 2540 says, truly, Isay to you, as you did to one of
(09:21):
the least of these, you did itto me.
So our service is really adirect reflection of our service
to God and you guys are doingthat fantastically.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Yeah, proud of you for your involvement in that.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, and I hope that this podcast inspires people to
not only get out and serve intheir in their own community,
but also maybe go to theirchurches and reach and talk to
their pastors and say, hey,there's this excellent ministry,
you go ministries in Mexicothat we can maybe partner with
and be able to experience allthat you guys are providing not
(09:56):
only for your community but,like you said, for the churches
that partner with you as well.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Yeah, another thing that we like to highlight is for
the person who is just like manI don't know where I'm going in
life, I don't know where myChristian walk is going.
I feel like a mission strip or ayou go mission strip is a great
way to do that.
But also for your listeners,who kind of do have it on the
right track and are involved ina local church and are, you know
(10:26):
, serving and walking with Jesus, we would also suggest that a
you go mission strip is actuallya better, cost effective and a
better kind of way to domissions than some other trips.
Although you know there's needeverywhere, there's need all
around the world, a trip to yougo can be an international
mission strip at such a lesscost than other places that you
(10:50):
can go all around the world thatseem to be crazy expensive.
So we feel like we're in agreat position with that too,
because when you come to you goall the way to just go into San
Diego, california, so it's a,it's a, it's a domestic flight,
and then we drive into Mexico.
So it's like, really, we've setup this international mission
strip at a very domestic cost.
So we we love that too.
(11:11):
We think that's a hugeadvantage for you.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Oh yeah, and I love the missions trip in general
because I've I've seen and beenon other missions trip as well,
where they just go to differentcountries, wherever it is, and
they try to preach the gospeland but, like you guys have so
much of it just planned out, youhave all the materials for the
houses there, you have everysingle day mapped out this is
when we're here, this is whenwe're done.
(11:34):
You have all the food takingcare of.
You have everything literallyright there for the people that
want to join in.
That.
It takes all the thinking outof it and you know, because you
got the planning in thebackground and the blessing is
just all around.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Well, we believe that God deserves our best and one
of our core values is excellenceand we take it very, very
seriously and I think you'dagree that in every area of our
lives whether it be our health,whether it be our finances,
whether it be our spiritual lifeor whether it be even the
planning of a mission trip theeffort that we put in on the
front end to plan and have astrategy and go in and really
(12:13):
dedicate that.
I think that's a reflection ofwho we are.
But then also, the more we planon the front end and the more
we prepare, the better productthat we're going to have and
that's you know.
We do that because we believeJesus deserves excellence and
deserves our best.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
And that reminds me of Colossians 317 whatever you
do, whether in word or deed, doit all in the name of Lord Jesus
, giving thanks to God, a father.
Through him, you know, andthat's and that's what you guys
are doing.
And when we were down there yousaid that this year's theme was
bringing the kingdom down toearth.
Because we know Matthew 6, 10teaches pray your kingdom come,
(12:52):
your will be done.
And that's not a passively buta powerful declaration of our
role in manifesting God'skingdom on this earthly plane.
You know, we need to be thoseagents of, in vessels of his
love and instruments and hispeace.
And I really I loved when wewere there.
I forgot who said it, I don'teven know who's you, but they're
(13:13):
during the chapel.
There is the image of the pizzabox.
They're saying this pizza boxworthless, it's five cents at
best, that's.
You know it's, it's worthless,you can just go find it anywhere
, cool.
But when you show up with apizza if I showed up in my hand
just holding it to your door,holding a pizza with no box, you
(13:34):
wouldn't want that pizza.
And that's where the value ofthat pizza box comes in, because
when it comes in that pizza boxit's protected.
It then gives the pizza so muchworth.
But if we just left a littlebit of mold, a little bit of
junk in that box, you know justa little bit, and now you open
up that you're gonna be likewhat's this on my pizza?
(13:55):
I don't want that pizza, and itjust gives it that much more
reason to be an empty vessel forGod to bring his kingdom in.
I loved that.
I learned that.
Well, I use that metaphor somany times.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
But talk a little bit more on that, on that topic of
bringing the kingdom down toearth, and so, like you, like
you mentioned, this year's themeis the kingdom, and we pick a
theme every year that we feellike God's leading us to help
with our mission.
And and you're right, we didtalk about the pizza box and the
(14:29):
way we say it is that it'sactually not the vessel that
gives value to the product, isactually the product that gives
value to the vessel.
And we talk about how you knowGod, god's message in us is what
adds value to us.
So we don't have to look atourselves as worthless.
We can look at ourselves as avery valuable vessel when we're
talking about bringing thekingdom.
But yeah, we, you know, welooked at, we looked a lot and
(14:52):
we continue to teach and look athow Jesus came proclaiming the
kingdom.
He claimed he came talkingabout this idea of a kingdom
that was different than anyother kingdom that had ever come
before or had ever come since,whereas every kingdom of history
has always had a clear king andhas always had a clear
beginning and a clear end.
(15:13):
Jesus came talking about thiskingdom that Isaiah said of this
kingdom there will be no end,and so this baby is born and he
comes and he brings in thiskingdom.
That isn't physical, but it'sspiritual.
It isn't somewhere, but it'skind of everywhere and it's
available to us.
We've been Colossians says thatwe've been rescued from the
(15:36):
dominion or the kingdom ofdarkness and brought into the
kingdom of light, and we're sothankful for that.
And then we're sent out tobring others into the kingdom,
and it's not one of thosekingdoms where there are these
walls around it and you can'tget in.
We're actually as Christambassadors.
We're able to go out and findother people and bring them into
the kingdom and as soon as theycome in, they're able to put
(15:57):
their feet under the king'stable and sit as prince and
princesses, as sons anddaughters of the king.
So yeah, we're talking a lotthis year about about the
kingdom and what it means tojoin that.
But yeah, we believe thatthere's a kingdom to come, but
that God's kingdom is aboutright here, right now, where we
are.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Yep, yep, 100%.
And it just reminds me of allthe times the disciples got it
wrong, thinking that he wasgoing to overthrow Rome and do
all you know and establish hisrule.
And you know, even even whenthe sun's a thunder, are like,
hey, can we have that place onthe right or your left?
And your left, you know,thinking that it was going to be
this kingdom right there.
(16:38):
And so many times they werelike, wait a minute, how?
What do you mean?
You're going to die?
What do you mean you're thengoing to raise again?
Because they were so focused onhaving a worldly kingdom and
what that looked like andthinking that's what it was
going to be.
That's even why all of most ofthe Jews thought, oh, it's not
Jesus, because you know who'sthis weak guy coming on a
(16:58):
donkey's colt.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I knew he was Jesus, but they didn't think he was the
Messiah.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yes, yes exactly and like, because so often we get
things wrong and backwards, like, and that's why I even do this
podcast.
And it's all about, yes, yourhealth and fitness.
Because I believe, asChristians, if we're not
spiritually in order, if we'renot doing what we're called,
we're going to have a level ofstress and that stress, and when
(17:26):
you're all about self, you'reall about selfishness.
If you're copying over onlypatterns of this world, you're,
you're going to be unhealthy,because scientific studies
actually have shown that acts ofkindness and generosity trigger
the release of endorphins andthe body's natural feel good
chemicals.
So when we're helping outpeople, when we're serving, when
(17:47):
we're doing all that, we getthose do it the dose of joy
hormones, and that gives ushappiness, satisfaction, and we
know God designed us to respondpositive for love and service.
So when we align it with thekingdom principles, it's
conducive to having well being.
And that's why I want oh, it'sso good, and that's why I wanted
(18:09):
to get you on this podcast toreally inspire people to go out
and serve.
Because when people think, oh, Ineed to be healthy and for my
kids, for my purpose, for forGod, whatever it is, they
usually turn to diet, theyusually turn to exercise and all
these things that are patternsof this world, things that I can
do on my own power.
But we already know thatProverbs has a peaceful heart
(18:36):
leads to a healthy body.
This is Proverbs 1430, andjealousy is like cancer in the
bones.
So it's that peaceful heartthat leads to a healthy body.
And and I don't know about you,but when I'm serving others I'm
at the most peace.
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
I think that's probably why, over the last 20
or 30 years, that outside theBible, like one of the most
selling books, has been thepurpose driven life by Rick
Warren, because he found thisniche and he found this idea
that there were millions andmillions of Americans, even
Christian Americans, that wereliving our lives day to day and
really didn't know about thepurpose and there was a
(19:16):
psychological and physicalimpact on us when we don't walk
in purpose and not in kingdompurpose.
So, yeah, I mean I'm with you, Iagree that once we can find out
, once we know God and havefound a little bit of freedom,
to be able to discover a littlebit of purpose, to understand
why we're on this earth, on thisplanet, and so that we can go
(19:40):
out and make a real differencein the world around us.
I know that journey is big, onthose phrases as well, but
they're they're important hereat you go as well, because I
think there is an absolutephysical and spiritual and
psychological impact when we'rewalking in our kingdom purpose
and not just kind of living forthe day 100%, and that's that's
(20:02):
why I I created.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Why to fitness?
Because the ultimate why is God.
But so many times.
And fitness, I take theparadigm of the ability to
overcome the task at hand or thebarrier standing in front of
your purpose, whatever it may be.
That's your fitness level.
Because we know in, Timothysays hey, physical fitness is of
some value, but spiritualfitness gives you benefits in
(20:25):
this life, life and next.
So that's what the whole why tofitness is about.
But so often we think, at leastin the fitness world, that
fitness is all about self andpurposes over here, and you know
, and I that's why I marry thetwo.
But what you were even sayingbefore just reminded me of a
(20:47):
translation six to that saysbear one another's burdens so
that we can fulfill the law ofChrist.
Because when we willinglyshared those burdens of our
brothers and our sisters, wefind that our own burdens become
lighter and that weight ofstress and worry diminishes, and
it really, and it reallycreates a place, a place for
Christ to dwell in us when we're, when we're burying each
(21:09):
other's burdens.
And that's what a lot of peopledon't get is they're going
through life with these burdensand they don't think that
helping somebody else is goingto help them.
But it says it right there inGalatians when we bear each
other's burdens and I reallybelieve there's that inverse
relationship of when you go helpsomebody, especially those that
(21:30):
are less, have less than you,you also get a transfer.
You know, because it says inRomans 12 to be transformed by
the renewing of your mind.
You get that renewing of themind where it's like wait a
minute, I actually have it sogood.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Half of that verse actually says that that's how
you can find purpose.
Now, when you get transformedby the renewing of your mind,
then you will know what is thatgood and perfect and will be
able to test and approve whatGod's will.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Is this perfect and pleasing will?
Yeah, exactly, and I love thepurpose that you guys have there
.
So back to you just a littlebit.
What would you say?
Some strategies for achievingsuccess in your ministry are
that you guys really hold on to?
For?
Speaker 1 (22:16):
achieving success.
Well, you got to go back to thewhy.
Just like you said, you'relooking for the wider fitness,
we look for the wide emissions,the why, our why, is like we
exist so that, so that JesusChrist will transform lives in
Mexico, in the world.
So we go okay, here's why we'rehere.
We're here so that Jesus Christcan transform lives in Mexico
(22:36):
and the world.
So how are we going to do that?
So we get into more of our how.
How are we going to do it?
So we say all right, how we'regoing to do it is this we're
going to mobilize and equipGod's people to reach the
forgotten.
So what does that mean?
Mobilize is to help someone getprepared to go.
We're going to take everysingle obstacle that's keeping
(22:58):
you and your family from comingto Mexico.
We're going to try to take thatout of the way.
Financial, I don't.
I don't know how I'm going todo it.
Logistical I don't know aboutthese flights, I don't know
about the border, I don't knowabout safety issues.
We want to take all of that outof the way, and so we're going
to mobilize and then equip.
We're going to put a programand a plan in place so that you
can be the best ministrypossible.
(23:20):
So we're going to.
Our strategy is to mobilize andequip God's people to reach the
forgotten.
So then at the end of thatstatement, we need a group of
people that can be our ministryoutlet.
And we found here an insinuitof this forgotten group of
people.
So then we say, all right,here's our, here's our why.
We're here so that Jesus Christcan transform lives.
Here's our how we're going tomobilize and equip God's people
(23:43):
to reach the forgotten.
So what's our behavior going tolook like?
How are we going to behave?
And so we say that we're goingto love God, we're going to love
people, we're going to pursueexcellence and we're going to do
it with joy, and that's what weteach our staff and that's what
we do.
And so we have developed thisthing around here and I know
that you've experienced this inyour own life and your daughter
has experienced it.
(24:05):
We have this thing around herethat we call radical hospitality
.
We try to radicalizehospitality, and that means that
when we have guests here thatare here to do missions, from
the moment they pull up on ourdirt road to our, to our campus,
to the moment that they leave,we want them to feel like our
staff here has done everypossible thing that we can do to
help them have the bestmissions experience possible.
(24:26):
And here's what we believe.
We believe that if people comefrom a church maybe somebody
comes from, let's say, boydenBeach they get on a plane and
they fly all the way across thecountry to San Diego.
They don't know what they'reexpecting.
They come on a mission strip,they drive down to Mexico.
If we can help that person,who's never been on a mission
strip before, have an amazingmissions experience, we believe
(24:49):
that then they could be inspiredto go back home and to begin to
live a missional lifestyle onpurpose, on point, on task, with
purpose back home and not haveto do that only on a mission
strip.
So that's kind of what we do.
But I do want your listener andyou and everybody that we hear
to realize we're not trying toget people to only just come to
(25:13):
Mexico every year.
We're trying to see life changein the hearts and the lives of
the people who come.
So that would inspire them tochange what they do on a day to
day basis.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Oh yeah, the pastor, amanda, actually said it.
Well, and she said this and Ithink they say it after every
mission strip is remembered thatjust because this mission strip
is over doesn't mean that yourmission ends.
Yeah, because your mission isin your local community, it's in
(25:43):
your church, it's even withyour own family, you know,
because we're supposed to bestrengthening one another
constantly and go in and makingout disciples.
And you know so many timespeople think, oh, you know, I'm
only going to serve in church,but we're supposed to be walking
testimonies and showcasing thebrightness and the light shining
(26:05):
in a rain.
For just from like, almost likewhen Moses came off of Mount
Sinai.
And I know everybody that comeshome from a mission strip
usually goes back to church andeveryone's like you're glowing,
everyone's just so happy becauseyou're so fulfilled after
pouring in, so, so, so much,because when we pour out Christ,
christ is going to come in andfill us back up.
(26:25):
You know, and abundantly, andthat's and that's just what I
want people to get is when yougo out and serve, when you go
and just share your testimony.
Because we had I had Matt Tumason the podcast.
He's part of the Timothyinitiative and he gave an
ability.
One of the best ways to shareyour testimony, share God's
(26:47):
story and just workingunderneath him.
I know that it's mission stripsthat fill me up and when I talk
about God and like when I'mjust saying my testimony and you
know, and leading people toChrist, those two things right
there there's nothing comparedto it and I can only imagine the
health that happens in yourbody when you're sitting there
(27:07):
going.
I am doing what I was born todo.
That's great.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
That's so, and speaking of doing, what you were
born to do.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I really believe that you were created for you go and
to be doing what you're doing.
And I have a question for youhow would you describe your
leadership style and how do youthink it aligns with the values
of you go?
Speaker 1 (27:33):
So so I have a.
I have probably the good thingsabout my leadership and the bad
things, definitely, definitely.
You know a very great, a greatcollege football coach that is
real popular here in the whereI'm from in the state of Alabama
, once said that a naturalleader always leads.
(27:54):
A supernatural leader knowswhen to lead and when to follow,
and I really, I really striveto to act as a supernatural
leader, led by the Holy Spirit,and know when to let the guys
that work for us, and theespecially the local Mexicans,
to know when to let them step upand take leadership and
organization.
And the reality is we we'regetting to where we have a lot
(28:17):
of staff.
We've got in the summertime wehave probably 100 people on
staff and through the winterwe're probably 53.
So we've got five or six peoplewho report directly to me and I
try to, I try to lead them well.
I try to be a very, veryinvolved leader without
micromanaging.
I would say I probably tend alittle bit more toward the
(28:38):
micromanagement men side thanthe hands off side, because we
want excellence.
So so, so much.
But I would say what we talkabout around here is look,
everybody's good at what they doand in all, all missions
organizations know what they'redoing and know, know kind of how
to do it.
So we're not as worried aboutgetting better at what we're
(29:00):
doing.
We're more worried about beinghealthy.
We want our organization tofocus more on health and really
getting better.
So when I meet with our people,the way I lead is I'm asking
about family, I'm asking about,I'm asking what we're reading,
what we're where our minds aregoing on something big.
I want to really focus in onthe health the spiritual,
(29:21):
physical, emotional, financialhealth of each one of my main
leaders, because I know that ifwe can focus in on the health,
then they're already good atwhat they do and I can put them
in a position to be the verybest they can possibly be.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Yeah, it sounds like you're doing almost like that
servant leadership style ofleadership, where you're serving
them and saying like hey, whatare you reading and really
caring about their needs andtheir values, more than trying
to impart some hardcore wisdomon them.
This is what it sounds like.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Yeah, we do some wisdom stuff, but we're way more
concerned about the health,both organizationally and
personally.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Yeah, mark 1045 says even the Son of man came to be
not to be served, but to serve,and he's the greatest leader,
the King of Kings.
And that's all about thatserving others.
And when you can pour into thevalue, when you can pour into
that and care about theirfamilies, when you feel that
intrinsic value, that you arevalued, it automatically creates
(30:26):
within people the desire tostep up, and I feel like that's
even what you were doing.
You mentioned that you workwith the local Mexicans as well
to empower them, and becauseit's not just your organization,
you're affecting a community.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Yeah, we have been in the community long enough now.
We've built our organization onthe principle that we want to
create jobs here in the localeconomy.
We want to be part of the local.
We want to be part of thepicture here locally.
We don't want to just be awhite American missions
(31:05):
organization business in a brownworld.
We want our face to be brownand thankfully we're about 85%
Mexican right now.
So we do have some people inthe ministry that are American
and Canadian, but we have a hugemajority of people in our
ministry working that are fromright here in Mexico.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
That's amazing.
Yeah, what would you say thatthe biggest challenge is
currently facing Ugo are, andhow do you plan to address them?
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Yeah, the biggest challenge we have is this sort
of perception that Mexico isviolent, and I believe what
happens is if you don't mind mespending a few moments just kind
of explaining I'd like toexplain what I think causes that
.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
What do you think we can get a little bit more into?
What I think we can do about it.
I would say that in Christiancircles, in circles of people
who maybe have just met Jesus orhave been following Jesus for a
while, especially in whitemajority white Christian circles
(32:12):
, there tends to be a little bitmore conservative thought.
There tends to be evenpolitically, probably more
conservative thought than someof the more liberal thought, and
that's not always the case, butwe do find that to be a
majority rule.
And so I think what happens isis that, since most conservative
(32:37):
thinking people tend to gettheir news or watch their news
from more conservative sources,what happens is is that, because
we would all agree that illegalimmigration is wrong, doesn't
honor God breaking any kind oflaw is always wrong, doesn't
(33:00):
honor God and we would all haveconservative views toward
illegal immigration.
I think what happens is is thatthe more conservative news
outlets tend to take thatanti-illegal immigration thought
, which is healthy, and itbecomes lathered into
(33:20):
anti-Mexico thought, and what'sinteresting is is that the
country of Mexico is not illegal.
The Mexico is a beautifulcountry with a rich history and
beautiful people who need Jesusin the same way that Americans
need Jesus and the idea ofanti-illegal immigration from
(33:40):
conservative news sourcesbecoming anti-Mexico stories is
a very real thing.
Of course, there are statisticsthat we can show that.
But what happens is is whenconservative news outlets and
newspapers and TVs run theseanti-Mexico stories, a lot of
times we as believers see thatand we develop this Mexican
(34:03):
Mexico is dangerous mentalityand that's what we're being told
and that's what we're beingsold.
And the reality is Mexico is ahuge country and the crime rates
are what the crime rates are.
The crime rates can be comparedto US cities and they're all
available on our website atugoorg slash safety concerns and
when you look at the realnumbers, you see that Mexico and
(34:25):
the Baja Peninsula of Mexicoare very, very safe destinations
.
But we're fighting against thisperception that Mexico is more
dangerous than it is.
I think it happens because we'regenerally a conservative people
.
Christians, especially southernChristians, are so conservative
.
But yeah, what can we do aboutit?
I think it's a lot of come andsee.
(34:46):
I would ask you, when you andyour daughter were here on our
campus, from the time you leftSan Diego to the time you got
back, what did you see aboutcartel activity or what were
your thoughts about the war, ortanks or guns?
Speaker 2 (35:01):
If anything, I would say that it seemed even safer
than California.
But no, there was nothing likethat of the sort.
It seemed protected, it's.
Everyone seemed nice.
The people there were amazing.
Everywhere that we went it wasjust like we were welcomed with
(35:22):
open arms and it really seemedlike Sometimes we wonder.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, I would say sometimes we wonder, ok, lord,
why this perception, when it'sso safe and we're even safer
than in so many US cities, andthe Lord just keeps whispering
back?
Our wrestle is not againstflesh and blood, but it's
against powers andprincipalities and wickedness in
high places.
And the reality is that we'renot in a war against guns and
(35:47):
tanks, we're not in a waragainst drug lords.
We're not in a war against gangviolence.
We're in a war against theprince and power of the air, who
would like nothing more than toparalyze the US and Canadian
church into just staying intheir own seats and in their own
jobs and not let them go.
And it's literally a spiritualwar that's happening, that's
(36:08):
keeping people coming and thatcreates a challenge for us,
because the only way that ourministry can keep going is by
people being willing to step out, get on that plane and come
down.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Yeah, and it kind of goes in like you were saying the
conservative, and kind ofpinning that.
You know, mexico, people arebad.
It really reminded me of 2ndTimothy 3-2, where it says in
those days people will be loversof themselves and all the other
things that it says, and Ireally think it's like the
Mexican people are coming totake what is ours.
(36:39):
And everyone knows that life ishard.
Sin entered the world and lifeis hard.
We have to work the ground bythe sweat of our brow.
We know that is to be true andwith inflation, with all these
things happening here in America, we look at it as like, well,
anyone that's coming into our USis gonna make us weaker, it's
(37:00):
gonna take away from theopportunity that we have.
But I think that goes directlyagainst of loving everybody.
Not considering yourself betterthan anyone and considering
others better than you is whatthe Bible says, and I think you
hit that spot on that.
The media loves to glorifyconflict and almost conflict.
(37:22):
Only that's what sells.
So they're painting thatpicture of hey, Mexico is
invading America, period.
Speaker 1 (37:32):
Yeah because they're killing each other as well.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Yeah, and, granted, through the illegal immigration,
there are bad things happeningand that is real bad and why we
need to get a control on that.
But in totality, I woulddefinitely echo what you said,
that Mexico is a great placewith a rich heritage, with
amazing people that work hard,that are receptive even of the
(37:59):
word, because a lot of themhaven't heard this good news,
and that's why I'm so happy thatyou guys are there, that you
guys are spreading the gospel,and not only just spreading the
gospel, but you're starting outwith love and then meeting with
truth.
You're not just beatingeverybody on the head with truth
.
You're starting out with loveand then meeting into truth.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
That's so good, and we know that Jesus is the only
one.
From John chapter one, we knowthat he was the only one that
was full of grace but was alsofull of truth, and that's what
we seek to be.
Look first, john 3.16 teachesus that this is how we know what
love is.
Jesus Christ laid down his lifefor us, and we ought to lay our
(38:42):
lives down for our brothers andsisters who have a need, and
that's the love that we wanna do.
We know that we won't alwaysfeel a sense of love like that.
We wanna hang out with or gobowling with or go work out with
every single person, but weknow that we can control the
actions of love and that we canlay our lives down in the same
way Jesus did.
So that's what we wannacontinue to do.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Well, for sure, for sure and I just wanna encourage
all the believers and peoplethat are listening right now as
well is that we should reallyview our lives as canvases where
God's love and kingdomprinciples are painted through
our actions, and the more wealign ourselves with God's
purpose, the more we are gonnaexperience that abundant life
(39:25):
that he promises, and that's notjust spiritually, but in our
physical and our emotionalwellbeing as well.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
That's John 1010.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Good job.
That's John 1010,.
Yep, exactly so I love what youguys are doing.
Is there any last bit of wordsthat you would like to encourage
any of our listeners, oranything that God lays onto your
heart right now?
Just to depart everyone with.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, I would just encourage every one of our
listeners In 2024, what if wemade that the year that we got
serious about getting away fromthe grind and going out and
seriously considering mission,and whether that's with the go
and love ministry throughJourney Church who comes to Ugo
Ministries, or whether that isin your local community, or
(40:11):
whether that is to the ends ofthe earth, to Africa?
What would it look like if wemade 2024 the year that we got
serious?
Speaker 2 (40:18):
Oh, it'd be.
It'd look amazing, wouldn't it?
Well, thank you so much forjoining with me, nathan.
I just love, like I said, Ilove what Ugo's doing, what
you're doing with Ugo, and Ilook forward to next year
because I'm most likely gonna becoming back down again.
And also my buddy, rudyHernandez, actually loved it so
much.
He just sent in his email thathe's interested in being an
(40:41):
intern there as well.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Oh great, I saw our intern leader sent me that
application and said hey, thislooks like a strong candidate.
I saw that literally yesterday,yeah our Roo Dolfo I think is
his real name.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, that's a common nicknamein Spanish for Rolfo.
Yeah, he loved it so much.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
He's such a great guy .
His dad is like the headmaintenance guy for Journey
Church and yeah, and he loveskids.
He's in the kids ministry.
He's actually on staff a littlebit right now on Journey and he
just my daughter loves him.
She's like I told him I waslike yo, he might be gone for
(41:20):
like three months.
She's like no, I don't want tobelieve, but that just goes to
show how much you know you guysare doing that people want to be
joining you guys and just bepart of all the good that you
guys are doing for the kingdomand I just want to say thank you
for all of that.
Awesome.
Well, can I?
Speaker 1 (41:37):
close this out of your word of prayer.
Oh yes, please, lord Jesus, wethank you so much for Aaron and
we thank you for his ministry,lord, we thank you for Wada
Fitness Podcast, where theywould fall upon fertile soil.
I pray that even the listenersthat hear us today, god would be
inspired to action.
Thank you for the ministry ofJourney Church.
Thank you for Pastor AmandaMartell and the way that she
(41:58):
loves to serve and the influencethat she has.
We do bring before you everymember of UGOP ministries and
pray for every single staffmember.
We pray for life transformationout in the communities of Mani,
adaro, where we're serving, andalso all the way back to where
the purview of Journey Church.
So we just ask that you wouldfill us up and, as we get filled
(42:20):
up, that we would pourourselves out in ministry.
And we just love you and thankyou and it's in Jesus' name that
we've been hanging out heretoday and it's in Jesus' name we
pray Amen.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Amen.
Thank you so much again, Nathan.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
All right, brother.
God bless you.
Man, Thank you for having me.
You're welcome, Thank you.
There's a psychological and physical
impact on us when we don't walkin purpose and not in kingdom
purpose Anti-illegal immigrationfrom conservative news sources
becoming anti-Mexico stories isa very real thing.
We're going to love people,we're going to pursue excellence
(00:28):
and we're going to do it withjoy.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Welcome to the Y2 Fitness podcast.
I'm your host, aaron O'Connell,and today I am joined with
Nathan Alpert, the president ofyou Go Ministries down in
Ensenada, mexico.
How are you doing today, nathanDoing?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
great, you make me sound so important.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I would say you are important.
When I was down there justearlier on in this year, you
gave a fire message.
You always were there justencouraging everybody.
That's only in the forefront.
I can only imagine what you doin the back alleys of you Go
Ministries and all theintertwinings that you get to do
.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
You're too kind.
Yeah, it's great to be herewith you this morning.
Yeah, it's cool that we get tobe through the miracle of
technology.
I'm coming to.
You live from Ensenada, mexico,on the west coast of Mexico,
about two hours south of SanDiego.
It's almost like we're in thesame room.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Exactly.
It's amazing.
I wanted to ask how did thefamilies that you help out and
you Go Ministries hold up duringthat little hurricane or
tropical storm that came throughthe other day?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Praise God it came out really great.
The hurricane actuallydissipated when it got over the
mountains and actually trackedjust a little bit to the east of
us, got in the mountains,slowed down and we did have some
significant rain but no realwind and praise God we dodged it
.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Oh yeah, for sure, Because I know at our church was
praying over the family that webuilt the houses for, Because
we're like we just built housesfor them.
Can we imagine just all of asudden they get washed away or
something like?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
that.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
We were thinking horrible.
So I know there was a lot ofprayer going into that.
But just to start off, if youcould just, for our listeners,
talk about you Go Ministries andwhat you guys do down in Mexico
and how you're helping out downthere.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yeah, absolutely.
You Go Ministries came toEnsenada, mexico, in 1990 with
this idea that man God's peopleneed to get outside the four
walls of their church and theyneed to have a way to go serve.
And at the same time, we werebeing invited by these pastors
(02:48):
who are saying, hey, we'rereaching out to our communities
here in Mexico, but they don'thave basic food and water
resources, they don't havehousing resources.
And the idea popped up how dowe marry this great need for
people who want to follow Jesusin the United States and Canada
with this great need thathappens in Mexico and through
that?
You Go Ministries was born withthis idea of the one week
(03:12):
missions experience, wherepeople could leave their homes
for one week, come to Mexico and, in the span of just one week,
meet a huge physical need theneed for housing and at the same
time, reach into the spiritualneed of the family.
And as soon as that happened,what we started seeing was this
(03:33):
spiritual need was being met inthe lives of the people who were
coming and we were like, wow,so we can use this ministry
platform that Jesus has given usto meet these needs in Mexico
and, at the same time, createthis amazing life change in the
hearts and lives of the peoplewho are coming.
And at this point we describeyou Go Ministries like this A
(03:59):
week at you Go Ministries iswhere a missions trip and a
Christian conference collide.
So we've built these weeks towhere they are 100% an outward
focused missions trip butthey're also 100% an inward
focused Christian conferencewhere we're trying to reach into
the lives of the people who arecoming as well.
(04:19):
So that's kind of what you Gois and what we do, and I get the
joy of being able to kind oflead that.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Oh, that's amazing.
You're 100% correct, because Iknow when I went with Journey
Church on the Go and Love Globalmissions trip, I brought my
daughter down there and sheturned seven and had a birthday
there and I thought it was thebest way to give her a birthday.
You know, all in one, and I justremember because we went there
(04:48):
and we built two houses for twodifferent families and our team
split up and just through that,just seeing her grow at seven
years old, like you said, aconference for us Just how much
it instilled me as a father ofjust like seeing her with her
hands raised high, nearing allthe chapel times because you
(05:10):
guys have those defined chapeldays every single day that we
were there and just beingamongst other Christians because
it wasn't just our church there, there was other churches there
as well building other housesand being able to just, you know
, just have fun.
You know so many people in thething look at the Christian
world of like it's not fun, it'slike no, no, no, no, no, no.
(05:30):
God, when Jesus was down here,he had fun.
I'd love to say that he hadjoked around, had a lot of fun,
but he also was on mission,which that's what you guys
provided for us.
You gave us that missions tripto come down, work hard, build a
house in four days for a familyin need, but also, at the same
time, we were getting to knoweach other that much deeper.
(05:52):
We were having fun.
There was jokes, when the kidswe had kids in our time we're
playing, talk, catch with themand just you know, whatever
there was to do, it was alwaysfun and I think you guys are
really encapsulating that, thatmissions of providing that not
only missions trip but also, youknow, a conference as well.
(06:13):
I think you guys are doingreally well on that.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I should hire you as one of our reps.
You sound like you're you're.
You can describe it really well.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, I, you know, I, I.
It changed my life when I wasthere.
It was, it was really thecatalyst, because I I'll be the
first to admit I would probablyfell in the Pharisee land for
quite a while and I realizedeven while I was there.
I started my journaling shortlybefore there, I started asking
(06:42):
a question and I said, lord, Iknow all about you've been
through the Bible, all thesethings but why can't I go and
love the way that I want to love?
Why don't I help people when Iknow I could help them that much
more with my podcast, with mymessage, with all these things?
And it always came back to I'monly volunteering, going on
(07:04):
mission trips, all these things.
Because I get something out ofit.
I get, you know, I make, itmakes me feel good, it gives me
prestige in the church and, andwhich is the first time I've had
any friends that really carefor me, and during that time I
just going through that hardtime of working hard, I took
time away when I was building, Iwalked out into the desert and
(07:26):
just would be talking to God andhe actually, during that time,
met me when I walked away and itwas just silent around me.
I couldn't hear all the bangingof the hammers and stuff, but I
saw this house in the distanceand you just saw the family that
barely had anything, justlaughing and playing together.
You could probably see I didn'tknow if it was grandma or
(07:47):
grandpa, you know with theparents just all together
laughing.
And God just said to me less ismore in that time and that
really started getting me tothink.
There, and from there, I wouldsay just a couple weeks
afterwards, is when God reallymet me and showed me the last
part that I needed to die to tobe able to really understand who
(08:12):
God is.
I knew who, I knew of God, butI didn't really know God and
just being there just helped mejust take that next step and and
really solidify my relationshipwith Christ.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Amen, that's great to hear.
We have a.
We have a saying that we liketo say around here in Spanish,
morir es vivir, and it justmeans to die is to live, and
just like a seed that getsplanted in the ground and has to
, has to really die to trulylive.
We see that happening onmission strips and it sounds
like it happened to you.
(08:47):
There has to be a death and acrushing and a willingness to
kind of die to this own personalidea of that we're number one
in our life, is number one inorder to truly live and be
influenced by Jesus.
Implemented.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Jesus, oh yeah.
And acts.
2035 says, right there, it'smore blessed to give than to
receive and being doing all that, you guys were giving away a
house, were giving away so manydifferent necessities to to a
family in need, and I really didfeel that blessing.
And also, 2540 says, truly, Isay to you, as you did to one of
(09:21):
the least of these, you did itto me.
So our service is really adirect reflection of our service
to God and you guys are doingthat fantastically.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Yeah, proud of you for your involvement in that.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, and I hope that this podcast inspires people to
not only get out and serve intheir in their own community,
but also maybe go to theirchurches and reach and talk to
their pastors and say, hey,there's this excellent ministry,
you go ministries in Mexicothat we can maybe partner with
and be able to experience allthat you guys are providing not
(09:56):
only for your community but,like you said, for the churches
that partner with you as well.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Yeah, another thing that we like to highlight is for
the person who is just like manI don't know where I'm going in
life, I don't know where myChristian walk is going.
I feel like a mission strip or ayou go mission strip is a great
way to do that.
But also for your listeners,who kind of do have it on the
right track and are involved ina local church and are, you know
(10:26):
, serving and walking with Jesus, we would also suggest that a
you go mission strip is actuallya better, cost effective and a
better kind of way to domissions than some other trips.
Although you know there's needeverywhere, there's need all
around the world, a trip to yougo can be an international
mission strip at such a lesscost than other places that you
(10:50):
can go all around the world thatseem to be crazy expensive.
So we feel like we're in agreat position with that too,
because when you come to you goall the way to just go into San
Diego, california, so it's a,it's a, it's a domestic flight,
and then we drive into Mexico.
So it's like, really, we've setup this international mission
strip at a very domestic cost.
So we we love that too.
(11:11):
We think that's a hugeadvantage for you.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Oh yeah, and I love the missions trip in general
because I've I've seen and beenon other missions trip as well,
where they just go to differentcountries, wherever it is, and
they try to preach the gospeland but, like you guys have so
much of it just planned out, youhave all the materials for the
houses there, you have everysingle day mapped out this is
when we're here, this is whenwe're done.
(11:34):
You have all the food takingcare of.
You have everything literallyright there for the people that
want to join in.
That.
It takes all the thinking outof it and you know, because you
got the planning in thebackground and the blessing is
just all around.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Well, we believe that God deserves our best and one
of our core values is excellenceand we take it very, very
seriously and I think you'dagree that in every area of our
lives whether it be our health,whether it be our finances,
whether it be our spiritual lifeor whether it be even the
planning of a mission trip theeffort that we put in on the
front end to plan and have astrategy and go in and really
(12:13):
dedicate that.
I think that's a reflection ofwho we are.
But then also, the more we planon the front end and the more
we prepare, the better productthat we're going to have and
that's you know.
We do that because we believeJesus deserves excellence and
deserves our best.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
And that reminds me of Colossians 317 whatever you
do, whether in word or deed, doit all in the name of Lord Jesus
, giving thanks to God, a father.
Through him, you know, andthat's and that's what you guys
are doing.
And when we were down there yousaid that this year's theme was
bringing the kingdom down toearth.
Because we know Matthew 6, 10teaches pray your kingdom come,
(12:52):
your will be done.
And that's not a passively buta powerful declaration of our
role in manifesting God'skingdom on this earthly plane.
You know, we need to be thoseagents of, in vessels of his
love and instruments and hispeace.
And I really I loved when wewere there.
I forgot who said it, I don'teven know who's you, but they're
(13:13):
during the chapel.
There is the image of the pizzabox.
They're saying this pizza boxworthless, it's five cents at
best, that's.
You know it's, it's worthless,you can just go find it anywhere
, cool.
But when you show up with apizza if I showed up in my hand
just holding it to your door,holding a pizza with no box, you
(13:34):
wouldn't want that pizza.
And that's where the value ofthat pizza box comes in, because
when it comes in that pizza boxit's protected.
It then gives the pizza so muchworth.
But if we just left a littlebit of mold, a little bit of
junk in that box, you know justa little bit, and now you open
up that you're gonna be likewhat's this on my pizza?
(13:55):
I don't want that pizza, and itjust gives it that much more
reason to be an empty vessel forGod to bring his kingdom in.
I loved that.
I learned that.
Well, I use that metaphor somany times.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
But talk a little bit more on that, on that topic of
bringing the kingdom down toearth, and so, like you, like
you mentioned, this year's themeis the kingdom, and we pick a
theme every year that we feellike God's leading us to help
with our mission.
And and you're right, we didtalk about the pizza box and the
(14:29):
way we say it is that it'sactually not the vessel that
gives value to the product, isactually the product that gives
value to the vessel.
And we talk about how you knowGod, god's message in us is what
adds value to us.
So we don't have to look atourselves as worthless.
We can look at ourselves as avery valuable vessel when we're
talking about bringing thekingdom.
But yeah, we, you know, welooked at, we looked a lot and
(14:52):
we continue to teach and look athow Jesus came proclaiming the
kingdom.
He claimed he came talkingabout this idea of a kingdom
that was different than anyother kingdom that had ever come
before or had ever come since,whereas every kingdom of history
has always had a clear king andhas always had a clear
beginning and a clear end.
(15:13):
Jesus came talking about thiskingdom that Isaiah said of this
kingdom there will be no end,and so this baby is born and he
comes and he brings in thiskingdom.
That isn't physical, but it'sspiritual.
It isn't somewhere, but it'skind of everywhere and it's
available to us.
We've been Colossians says thatwe've been rescued from the
(15:36):
dominion or the kingdom ofdarkness and brought into the
kingdom of light, and we're sothankful for that.
And then we're sent out tobring others into the kingdom,
and it's not one of thosekingdoms where there are these
walls around it and you can'tget in.
We're actually as Christambassadors.
We're able to go out and findother people and bring them into
the kingdom and as soon as theycome in, they're able to put
(15:57):
their feet under the king'stable and sit as prince and
princesses, as sons anddaughters of the king.
So yeah, we're talking a lotthis year about about the
kingdom and what it means tojoin that.
But yeah, we believe thatthere's a kingdom to come, but
that God's kingdom is aboutright here, right now, where we
are.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Yep, yep, 100%.
And it just reminds me of allthe times the disciples got it
wrong, thinking that he wasgoing to overthrow Rome and do
all you know and establish hisrule.
And you know, even even whenthe sun's a thunder, are like,
hey, can we have that place onthe right or your left?
And your left, you know,thinking that it was going to be
this kingdom right there.
(16:38):
And so many times they werelike, wait a minute, how?
What do you mean?
You're going to die?
What do you mean you're thengoing to raise again?
Because they were so focused onhaving a worldly kingdom and
what that looked like andthinking that's what it was
going to be.
That's even why all of most ofthe Jews thought, oh, it's not
Jesus, because you know who'sthis weak guy coming on a
(16:58):
donkey's colt.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I knew he was Jesus, but they didn't think he was the
Messiah.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yes, yes exactly and like, because so often we get
things wrong and backwards, like, and that's why I even do this
podcast.
And it's all about, yes, yourhealth and fitness.
Because I believe, asChristians, if we're not
spiritually in order, if we'renot doing what we're called,
we're going to have a level ofstress and that stress, and when
(17:26):
you're all about self, you'reall about selfishness.
If you're copying over onlypatterns of this world, you're,
you're going to be unhealthy,because scientific studies
actually have shown that acts ofkindness and generosity trigger
the release of endorphins andthe body's natural feel good
chemicals.
So when we're helping outpeople, when we're serving, when
(17:47):
we're doing all that, we getthose do it the dose of joy
hormones, and that gives ushappiness, satisfaction, and we
know God designed us to respondpositive for love and service.
So when we align it with thekingdom principles, it's
conducive to having well being.
And that's why I want oh, it'sso good, and that's why I wanted
(18:09):
to get you on this podcast toreally inspire people to go out
and serve.
Because when people think, oh, Ineed to be healthy and for my
kids, for my purpose, for forGod, whatever it is, they
usually turn to diet, theyusually turn to exercise and all
these things that are patternsof this world, things that I can
do on my own power.
But we already know thatProverbs has a peaceful heart
(18:36):
leads to a healthy body.
This is Proverbs 1430, andjealousy is like cancer in the
bones.
So it's that peaceful heartthat leads to a healthy body.
And and I don't know about you,but when I'm serving others I'm
at the most peace.
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
I think that's probably why, over the last 20
or 30 years, that outside theBible, like one of the most
selling books, has been thepurpose driven life by Rick
Warren, because he found thisniche and he found this idea
that there were millions andmillions of Americans, even
Christian Americans, that wereliving our lives day to day and
really didn't know about thepurpose and there was a
(19:16):
psychological and physicalimpact on us when we don't walk
in purpose and not in kingdompurpose.
So, yeah, I mean I'm with you, Iagree that once we can find out
, once we know God and havefound a little bit of freedom,
to be able to discover a littlebit of purpose, to understand
why we're on this earth, on thisplanet, and so that we can go
(19:40):
out and make a real differencein the world around us.
I know that journey is big, onthose phrases as well, but
they're they're important hereat you go as well, because I
think there is an absolutephysical and spiritual and
psychological impact when we'rewalking in our kingdom purpose
and not just kind of living forthe day 100%, and that's that's
(20:02):
why I I created.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Why to fitness?
Because the ultimate why is God.
But so many times.
And fitness, I take theparadigm of the ability to
overcome the task at hand or thebarrier standing in front of
your purpose, whatever it may be.
That's your fitness level.
Because we know in, Timothysays hey, physical fitness is of
some value, but spiritualfitness gives you benefits in
(20:25):
this life, life and next.
So that's what the whole why tofitness is about.
But so often we think, at leastin the fitness world, that
fitness is all about self andpurposes over here, and you know
, and I that's why I marry thetwo.
But what you were even sayingbefore just reminded me of a
(20:47):
translation six to that saysbear one another's burdens so
that we can fulfill the law ofChrist.
Because when we willinglyshared those burdens of our
brothers and our sisters, wefind that our own burdens become
lighter and that weight ofstress and worry diminishes, and
it really, and it reallycreates a place, a place for
Christ to dwell in us when we're, when we're burying each
(21:09):
other's burdens.
And that's what a lot of peopledon't get is they're going
through life with these burdensand they don't think that
helping somebody else is goingto help them.
But it says it right there inGalatians when we bear each
other's burdens and I reallybelieve there's that inverse
relationship of when you go helpsomebody, especially those that
(21:30):
are less, have less than you,you also get a transfer.
You know, because it says inRomans 12 to be transformed by
the renewing of your mind.
You get that renewing of themind where it's like wait a
minute, I actually have it sogood.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Half of that verse actually says that that's how
you can find purpose.
Now, when you get transformedby the renewing of your mind,
then you will know what is thatgood and perfect and will be
able to test and approve whatGod's will.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Is this perfect and pleasing will?
Yeah, exactly, and I love thepurpose that you guys have there
.
So back to you just a littlebit.
What would you say?
Some strategies for achievingsuccess in your ministry are
that you guys really hold on to?
For?
Speaker 1 (22:16):
achieving success.
Well, you got to go back to thewhy.
Just like you said, you'relooking for the wider fitness,
we look for the wide emissions,the why, our why, is like we
exist so that, so that JesusChrist will transform lives in
Mexico, in the world.
So we go okay, here's why we'rehere.
We're here so that Jesus Christcan transform lives in Mexico
(22:36):
and the world.
So how are we going to do that?
So we get into more of our how.
How are we going to do it?
So we say all right, how we'regoing to do it is this we're
going to mobilize and equipGod's people to reach the
forgotten.
So what does that mean?
Mobilize is to help someone getprepared to go.
We're going to take everysingle obstacle that's keeping
(22:58):
you and your family from comingto Mexico.
We're going to try to take thatout of the way.
Financial, I don't.
I don't know how I'm going todo it.
Logistical I don't know aboutthese flights, I don't know
about the border, I don't knowabout safety issues.
We want to take all of that outof the way, and so we're going
to mobilize and then equip.
We're going to put a programand a plan in place so that you
can be the best ministrypossible.
(23:20):
So we're going to.
Our strategy is to mobilize andequip God's people to reach the
forgotten.
So then at the end of thatstatement, we need a group of
people that can be our ministryoutlet.
And we found here an insinuitof this forgotten group of
people.
So then we say, all right,here's our, here's our why.
We're here so that Jesus Christcan transform lives.
Here's our how we're going tomobilize and equip God's people
(23:43):
to reach the forgotten.
So what's our behavior going tolook like?
How are we going to behave?
And so we say that we're goingto love God, we're going to love
people, we're going to pursueexcellence and we're going to do
it with joy, and that's what weteach our staff and that's what
we do.
And so we have developed thisthing around here and I know
that you've experienced this inyour own life and your daughter
has experienced it.
(24:05):
We have this thing around herethat we call radical hospitality
.
We try to radicalizehospitality, and that means that
when we have guests here thatare here to do missions, from
the moment they pull up on ourdirt road to our, to our campus,
to the moment that they leave,we want them to feel like our
staff here has done everypossible thing that we can do to
help them have the bestmissions experience possible.
(24:26):
And here's what we believe.
We believe that if people comefrom a church maybe somebody
comes from, let's say, boydenBeach they get on a plane and
they fly all the way across thecountry to San Diego.
They don't know what they'reexpecting.
They come on a mission strip,they drive down to Mexico.
If we can help that person,who's never been on a mission
strip before, have an amazingmissions experience, we believe
(24:49):
that then they could be inspiredto go back home and to begin to
live a missional lifestyle onpurpose, on point, on task, with
purpose back home and not haveto do that only on a mission
strip.
So that's kind of what we do.
But I do want your listener andyou and everybody that we hear
to realize we're not trying toget people to only just come to
(25:13):
Mexico every year.
We're trying to see life changein the hearts and the lives of
the people who come.
So that would inspire them tochange what they do on a day to
day basis.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Oh yeah, the pastor, amanda, actually said it.
Well, and she said this and Ithink they say it after every
mission strip is remembered thatjust because this mission strip
is over doesn't mean that yourmission ends.
Yeah, because your mission isin your local community, it's in
(25:43):
your church, it's even withyour own family, you know,
because we're supposed to bestrengthening one another
constantly and go in and makingout disciples.
And you know so many timespeople think, oh, you know, I'm
only going to serve in church,but we're supposed to be walking
testimonies and showcasing thebrightness and the light shining
(26:05):
in a rain.
For just from like, almost likewhen Moses came off of Mount
Sinai.
And I know everybody that comeshome from a mission strip
usually goes back to church andeveryone's like you're glowing,
everyone's just so happy becauseyou're so fulfilled after
pouring in, so, so, so much,because when we pour out Christ,
christ is going to come in andfill us back up.
(26:25):
You know, and abundantly, andthat's and that's just what I
want people to get is when yougo out and serve, when you go
and just share your testimony.
Because we had I had Matt Tumason the podcast.
He's part of the Timothyinitiative and he gave an
ability.
One of the best ways to shareyour testimony, share God's
(26:47):
story and just workingunderneath him.
I know that it's mission stripsthat fill me up and when I talk
about God and like when I'mjust saying my testimony and you
know, and leading people toChrist, those two things right
there there's nothing comparedto it and I can only imagine the
health that happens in yourbody when you're sitting there
(27:07):
going.
I am doing what I was born todo.
That's great.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
That's so, and speaking of doing, what you were
born to do.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I really believe that you were created for you go and
to be doing what you're doing.
And I have a question for youhow would you describe your
leadership style and how do youthink it aligns with the values
of you go?
Speaker 1 (27:33):
So so I have a.
I have probably the good thingsabout my leadership and the bad
things, definitely, definitely.
You know a very great, a greatcollege football coach that is
real popular here in the whereI'm from in the state of Alabama
, once said that a naturalleader always leads.
(27:54):
A supernatural leader knowswhen to lead and when to follow,
and I really, I really striveto to act as a supernatural
leader, led by the Holy Spirit,and know when to let the guys
that work for us, and theespecially the local Mexicans,
to know when to let them step upand take leadership and
organization.
And the reality is we we'regetting to where we have a lot
(28:17):
of staff.
We've got in the summertime wehave probably 100 people on
staff and through the winterwe're probably 53.
So we've got five or six peoplewho report directly to me and I
try to, I try to lead them well.
I try to be a very, veryinvolved leader without
micromanaging.
I would say I probably tend alittle bit more toward the
(28:38):
micromanagement men side thanthe hands off side, because we
want excellence.
So so, so much.
But I would say what we talkabout around here is look,
everybody's good at what they doand in all, all missions
organizations know what they'redoing and know, know kind of how
to do it.
So we're not as worried aboutgetting better at what we're
(29:00):
doing.
We're more worried about beinghealthy.
We want our organization tofocus more on health and really
getting better.
So when I meet with our people,the way I lead is I'm asking
about family, I'm asking about,I'm asking what we're reading,
what we're where our minds aregoing on something big.
I want to really focus in onthe health the spiritual,
(29:21):
physical, emotional, financialhealth of each one of my main
leaders, because I know that ifwe can focus in on the health,
then they're already good atwhat they do and I can put them
in a position to be the verybest they can possibly be.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Yeah, it sounds like you're doing almost like that
servant leadership style ofleadership, where you're serving
them and saying like hey, whatare you reading and really
caring about their needs andtheir values, more than trying
to impart some hardcore wisdomon them.
This is what it sounds like.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Yeah, we do some wisdom stuff, but we're way more
concerned about the health,both organizationally and
personally.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Yeah, mark 1045 says even the Son of man came to be
not to be served, but to serve,and he's the greatest leader,
the King of Kings.
And that's all about thatserving others.
And when you can pour into thevalue, when you can pour into
that and care about theirfamilies, when you feel that
intrinsic value, that you arevalued, it automatically creates
(30:26):
within people the desire tostep up, and I feel like that's
even what you were doing.
You mentioned that you workwith the local Mexicans as well
to empower them, and becauseit's not just your organization,
you're affecting a community.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Yeah, we have been in the community long enough now.
We've built our organization onthe principle that we want to
create jobs here in the localeconomy.
We want to be part of the local.
We want to be part of thepicture here locally.
We don't want to just be awhite American missions
(31:05):
organization business in a brownworld.
We want our face to be brownand thankfully we're about 85%
Mexican right now.
So we do have some people inthe ministry that are American
and Canadian, but we have a hugemajority of people in our
ministry working that are fromright here in Mexico.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
That's amazing.
Yeah, what would you say thatthe biggest challenge is
currently facing Ugo are, andhow do you plan to address them?
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Yeah, the biggest challenge we have is this sort
of perception that Mexico isviolent, and I believe what
happens is if you don't mind mespending a few moments just kind
of explaining I'd like toexplain what I think causes that
.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
What do you think we can get a little bit more into?
What I think we can do about it.
I would say that in Christiancircles, in circles of people
who maybe have just met Jesus orhave been following Jesus for a
while, especially in whitemajority white Christian circles
(32:12):
, there tends to be a little bitmore conservative thought.
There tends to be evenpolitically, probably more
conservative thought than someof the more liberal thought, and
that's not always the case, butwe do find that to be a
majority rule.
And so I think what happens isis that, since most conservative
(32:37):
thinking people tend to gettheir news or watch their news
from more conservative sources,what happens is is that, because
we would all agree that illegalimmigration is wrong, doesn't
honor God breaking any kind oflaw is always wrong, doesn't
(33:00):
honor God and we would all haveconservative views toward
illegal immigration.
I think what happens is is thatthe more conservative news
outlets tend to take thatanti-illegal immigration thought
, which is healthy, and itbecomes lathered into
(33:20):
anti-Mexico thought, and what'sinteresting is is that the
country of Mexico is not illegal.
The Mexico is a beautifulcountry with a rich history and
beautiful people who need Jesusin the same way that Americans
need Jesus and the idea ofanti-illegal immigration from
(33:40):
conservative news sourcesbecoming anti-Mexico stories is
a very real thing.
Of course, there are statisticsthat we can show that.
But what happens is is whenconservative news outlets and
newspapers and TVs run theseanti-Mexico stories, a lot of
times we as believers see thatand we develop this Mexican
(34:03):
Mexico is dangerous mentalityand that's what we're being told
and that's what we're beingsold.
And the reality is Mexico is ahuge country and the crime rates
are what the crime rates are.
The crime rates can be comparedto US cities and they're all
available on our website atugoorg slash safety concerns and
when you look at the realnumbers, you see that Mexico and
(34:25):
the Baja Peninsula of Mexicoare very, very safe destinations
.
But we're fighting against thisperception that Mexico is more
dangerous than it is.
I think it happens because we'regenerally a conservative people
.
Christians, especially southernChristians, are so conservative
.
But yeah, what can we do aboutit?
I think it's a lot of come andsee.
(34:46):
I would ask you, when you andyour daughter were here on our
campus, from the time you leftSan Diego to the time you got
back, what did you see aboutcartel activity or what were
your thoughts about the war, ortanks or guns?
Speaker 2 (35:01):
If anything, I would say that it seemed even safer
than California.
But no, there was nothing likethat of the sort.
It seemed protected, it's.
Everyone seemed nice.
The people there were amazing.
Everywhere that we went it wasjust like we were welcomed with
(35:22):
open arms and it really seemedlike Sometimes we wonder.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, I would say sometimes we wonder, ok, lord,
why this perception, when it'sso safe and we're even safer
than in so many US cities, andthe Lord just keeps whispering
back?
Our wrestle is not againstflesh and blood, but it's
against powers andprincipalities and wickedness in
high places.
And the reality is that we'renot in a war against guns and
(35:47):
tanks, we're not in a waragainst drug lords.
We're not in a war against gangviolence.
We're in a war against theprince and power of the air, who
would like nothing more than toparalyze the US and Canadian
church into just staying intheir own seats and in their own
jobs and not let them go.
And it's literally a spiritualwar that's happening, that's
(36:08):
keeping people coming and thatcreates a challenge for us,
because the only way that ourministry can keep going is by
people being willing to step out, get on that plane and come
down.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Yeah, and it kind of goes in like you were saying the
conservative, and kind ofpinning that.
You know, mexico, people arebad.
It really reminded me of 2ndTimothy 3-2, where it says in
those days people will be loversof themselves and all the other
things that it says, and Ireally think it's like the
Mexican people are coming totake what is ours.
(36:39):
And everyone knows that life ishard.
Sin entered the world and lifeis hard.
We have to work the ground bythe sweat of our brow.
We know that is to be true andwith inflation, with all these
things happening here in America, we look at it as like, well,
anyone that's coming into our USis gonna make us weaker, it's
(37:00):
gonna take away from theopportunity that we have.
But I think that goes directlyagainst of loving everybody.
Not considering yourself betterthan anyone and considering
others better than you is whatthe Bible says, and I think you
hit that spot on that.
The media loves to glorifyconflict and almost conflict.
(37:22):
Only that's what sells.
So they're painting thatpicture of hey, Mexico is
invading America, period.
Speaker 1 (37:32):
Yeah because they're killing each other as well.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Yeah, and, granted, through the illegal immigration,
there are bad things happeningand that is real bad and why we
need to get a control on that.
But in totality, I woulddefinitely echo what you said,
that Mexico is a great placewith a rich heritage, with
amazing people that work hard,that are receptive even of the
(37:59):
word, because a lot of themhaven't heard this good news,
and that's why I'm so happy thatyou guys are there, that you
guys are spreading the gospel,and not only just spreading the
gospel, but you're starting outwith love and then meeting with
truth.
You're not just beatingeverybody on the head with truth
.
You're starting out with loveand then meeting into truth.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
That's so good, and we know that Jesus is the only
one.
From John chapter one, we knowthat he was the only one that
was full of grace but was alsofull of truth, and that's what
we seek to be.
Look first, john 3.16 teachesus that this is how we know what
love is.
Jesus Christ laid down his lifefor us, and we ought to lay our
(38:42):
lives down for our brothers andsisters who have a need, and
that's the love that we wanna do.
We know that we won't alwaysfeel a sense of love like that.
We wanna hang out with or gobowling with or go work out with
every single person, but weknow that we can control the
actions of love and that we canlay our lives down in the same
way Jesus did.
So that's what we wannacontinue to do.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Well, for sure, for sure and I just wanna encourage
all the believers and peoplethat are listening right now as
well is that we should reallyview our lives as canvases where
God's love and kingdomprinciples are painted through
our actions, and the more wealign ourselves with God's
purpose, the more we are gonnaexperience that abundant life
(39:25):
that he promises, and that's notjust spiritually, but in our
physical and our emotionalwellbeing as well.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
That's John 1010.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Good job.
That's John 1010,.
Yep, exactly so I love what youguys are doing.
Is there any last bit of wordsthat you would like to encourage
any of our listeners, oranything that God lays onto your
heart right now?
Just to depart everyone with.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, I would just encourage every one of our
listeners In 2024, what if wemade that the year that we got
serious about getting away fromthe grind and going out and
seriously considering mission,and whether that's with the go
and love ministry throughJourney Church who comes to Ugo
Ministries, or whether that isin your local community, or
(40:11):
whether that is to the ends ofthe earth, to Africa?
What would it look like if wemade 2024 the year that we got
serious?
Speaker 2 (40:18):
Oh, it'd be.
It'd look amazing, wouldn't it?
Well, thank you so much forjoining with me, nathan.
I just love, like I said, Ilove what Ugo's doing, what
you're doing with Ugo, and Ilook forward to next year
because I'm most likely gonna becoming back down again.
And also my buddy, rudyHernandez, actually loved it so
much.
He just sent in his email thathe's interested in being an
(40:41):
intern there as well.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Oh great, I saw our intern leader sent me that
application and said hey, thislooks like a strong candidate.
I saw that literally yesterday,yeah our Roo Dolfo I think is
his real name.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, that's a common nicknamein Spanish for Rolfo.
Yeah, he loved it so much.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
He's such a great guy .
His dad is like the headmaintenance guy for Journey
Church and yeah, and he loveskids.
He's in the kids ministry.
He's actually on staff a littlebit right now on Journey and he
just my daughter loves him.
She's like I told him I waslike yo, he might be gone for
(41:20):
like three months.
She's like no, I don't want tobelieve, but that just goes to
show how much you know you guysare doing that people want to be
joining you guys and just bepart of all the good that you
guys are doing for the kingdomand I just want to say thank you
for all of that.
Awesome.
Well, can I?
Speaker 1 (41:37):
close this out of your word of prayer.
Oh yes, please, lord Jesus, wethank you so much for Aaron and
we thank you for his ministry,lord, we thank you for Wada
Fitness Podcast, where theywould fall upon fertile soil.
I pray that even the listenersthat hear us today, god would be
inspired to action.
Thank you for the ministry ofJourney Church.
Thank you for Pastor AmandaMartell and the way that she
(41:58):
loves to serve and the influencethat she has.
We do bring before you everymember of UGOP ministries and
pray for every single staffmember.
We pray for life transformationout in the communities of Mani,
adaro, where we're serving, andalso all the way back to where
the purview of Journey Church.
So we just ask that you wouldfill us up and, as we get filled
(42:20):
up, that we would pourourselves out in ministry.
And we just love you and thankyou and it's in Jesus' name that
we've been hanging out heretoday and it's in Jesus' name we
pray Amen.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Amen.
Thank you so much again, Nathan.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
All right, brother.
God bless you.
Man, Thank you for having me.
You're welcome, Thank you.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.