The Johnson's in Mexico City

Paul & Nydia Johnson, direct the Spearhead program, Latin America Mission's short-term mission's program in Mexico City, fostering relations with local Mexican pastors, defining ministry options for young people, developing training courses and materials, providing member care for Spearhead volunteers and serving with a local Mexican church to reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Friday, August 08, 2008



Paul, Nydia, Andres (turned 4 this summer) and baby Johnson (6 months along)
Our Growing Family

Our family is getting ready to grow in just a few months (baby is due November 24th) and Andres will be entering kindergarten (it begins younger here) so we will have a number of new adjustments in the next few months. With these new adjustments we will gain new expenses (Andres' schooling, baby’s arrival and one more mouth to feed). We are asking the Lord to help us to raise $600 more per month in regular support. Would you consider joining our support team or possibly giving a bit more?

We know these are economically challenging times and deeply appreciate each of you who give sacrificially.

Please pray with us for Nydia’s pregnancy and the healthy development of the baby on the way. Pray also that the Lord would provide $600 more per month and for Andres as he transitions to a new school.

Grateful for your prayers and financial support,

Paul, Nydia & Andres Johnson

2007-2008 Spearhead YearOut Participants
Spearhead YearOut Participants Move-on After Year in Mexico

Our 6 YearOut participants served as facilitators in the Spearhead and Ignite programs this summer after a year of ministry in Mexico are now transitioning back home or to other places for ministry; Andrew Gackenbach, from Maryland, will be heading to work in the slums in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Michelle Eaton, from Texas, will be continuing in Mexico with Spearhead to serve a second year with Compassion International, Kevin & Leah Book-Satterlee, from California, will pursue full-time missionary careers with LAM to plant a Spearhead program in Spain, Jim Jordan, also from Maryland, will head to Miami to serve as LAM’s short-term missions coordinator, and Stephanie Biegel, from Chicago, will return to the States for further schooling. Praise God that all of them are continuing in missions and ministry in some form or another!

Please continue to pray for them that God will supply all of their needs and that His purposes will be fulfilled in each of them.
Ignite (Gordon Conwell Compass Group) (www.lam.org/ignite)
This is the second summer that we have had the privilege to work with Gordon Conwell Seminary’s Compass program, a mentoring program for students entering their final year of high school. Each of these students has shown potential for Christian leadership and has received a personal recommendation to participate in this program which includes a week of wilderness survival training, a week of teaching at Gordon and outreach in Mexico City with Spearhead (http://www.gordonconwell.edu/ockenga/mccy/rmi/index.php). The Ignite/Compass team served one intense week in two churches and a preventive ministry for street children.

Please pray with us that the Lord would make His call clear in the lives of these young people and that some may consider longer-term service here in Mexico City.


Spearhead Summer Program 2008
We had an excellent summer with 12 Spearheaders and 6 leaders serving throughout Mexico City with 7 different churches ministering with children, youth, young adults and the elderly.

Thanks for your prayers that the Lord used to build His church here in Mexico!



Ministry Leader & Host Family Breakfast
The last Saturday of April we held a breakfast for ministry leaders and host families who are interested in receiving Spearhead volunteers this summer. We were blessed in that we have a number of new ministries that are interested in partnering with us. As always, the opportunities to serve are many, but the workers few, please pray that we will be able to send volunteers to as many ministries as possible this summer.


Return to San Jose Tenango, Oaxaca, Mexico
Paul returned to the Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca to continue a seminar on Biblical Interpretation. Throughout the seminar, translation was provided from Spanish to Mazateco by different members of the church. Our Mexican church will return again in July with a medical and dental team, as there are no doctors or dentists that practice regularly in this town or many other towns within a 2 ½ hour radius in this mountainous region.

Please pray that the Lord would continue to be active among the Mazateco people and that God would provide as we seek to serve both their physical and spiritual needs.

Visit to the Casa Hogar El Buen Pastor - a Children’s Home in Morelia, Mexico
At the beginning of April we made a visit to a children’s home in Morelia, Mexico. It was a busy weekend spent with 30 children from the ages of 4 – 16. We are excited as a young woman from North Carolina is currently raising support to serve there during the next YearOut program.

Please pray with us that God raises up another volunteer to serve together with her.