The Ancient of Days was born a baby, defenseless, dependent. He continues to be the Ancient
of Days.

The Bread of Life came to experience hunger. He continues to be the Bread of Life.
The Light of the World was born in darkness. He continues to be the Light of the World.
The Lion of Judah is the Lamb of God.

His Face is Radiant. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his
appearance that we should desire him. He continues to have a Face that shines like the sun.
He is a Strong Tower, and He was crushed for our iniquities. He continues to be a Strong
Tower.

He is our Peace, and He was born into conflict and war. He remains our Peace.
He is the Resurrection and the Life, and he died. He continues to be our Resurrection and Life.
He knew no Sin and He took our sins upon Himself. He continues to be blameless and perfect.
He is the Living Water, and He experienced thirst. He remains the Living Water.
The Preparer of many mansions had no roof over His head. He continues to prepare.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords became a servant. He continues to be the King of Kings
and Lord of Lords.

Colossians 1:15-20

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things
were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or
rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all
things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is
the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the
supremacy.  

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his
blood, shed on the cross.”

 In chapter two of the Gospel of Luke, the physician describes Jesus’s development from an infant to a man as growth in “wisdom and stature” and with the favor of God on him.  Have you ever noticed that he says it twice in the chapter?  Look at vs. 40 and then again at vs. 52.  But right in between those two verses you find the story of Jesus staying behind at the Feast of the Passover, and not joining his family in their return trip home.  What was he doing?  He was in the temple, sitting and listening to the teachers, and asking them questions.

Here in Mexico City, as Covid cases soar, much of ministry is going back to an online presence.  Meeting in person returns to the camera and social media.  Once again to figuring out lighting, sound, and screen backgrounds for “from home” Bible studies.  And in all of that, there is one subset of the population that has been ignored, abandoned, and we might just lose contact with them.

You see, when the pandemic shut down job sites and schools, everyone had to figure out how to do life at home.  Ministers had to figure out how to connect Zoom to Facebook live and where was the best camera angle.  We all spent time, money, energy on  figuring out how to look and sound good online.  Our school aged kids needed help with math, science, reading and writing.  We became their teachers.  But what about those in the family that had just graduated from high school and were about to embark on a new mission- that of starting college and acquiring the skills to develop and work in something that could pay the bills and put food on the table?  Paul and I started asking them questions and listened to their answers.  Up until recently, the campuses have been empty.  So we started meeting with pastors kids who are enrolled in universities across this vast city.  We can’t be in class (part of our original plan).  We can’t meet on campus (part of our original plan).  We can’t get together for coffee and a meal (it requires masks off- that too was part of our original plan).   Do you know what we have learned?

All of them who started college during the pandemic have not yet stepped foot on campus to take a class.
Many have never even seen their campus.
Most do not know who their classmates are.  They have never met them, had a conversation with them, or know where they live.
Those that finished their career studies during the pandemic did not have an in person graduation.  They never got to say good-bye to their fellow classmates, or have a party and celebrate that they finished.  There was no closure.  In Mexican culture, saying goodbye is almost more important than saying hello.  The Kazim kids still keep the uniform shirt, signed by all of their classmates from the end of their senior year.
Hardly any are working in the field in which they studied.  Jobs are not available. 
So now they either get up every day and stare at a screen wondering if any of this is worth it, or they get up every day trying to figure out how they are going to pay the bills, and all the while living in households where everyone else is spending their energy teaching the younger siblings and working out the kinks of how to do church online. 

University students are the forgotten group of the pandemic.  They need, now more than ever, a Holy Spirit conviction of direction and purpose. 

Would you pray with us as we figure out with them how to encourage and disciple them into becoming the leaders of tomorrow?  They need attention and care.  There are signs of life in this pandemic drought.  Pockets of students are starting to show up on campus.  No large group gatherings are allowed, but there is life starting to appear on campus.  We need to “grow in wisdom” and find favor with God.  We are grateful that our supporters allow us to find moments where we can continue to ask questions. We are also very appreciative of the fact that we can help others in practical ways during this pandemic- whether it be making sure they have the right medicines as part of their treatment plan, or seeing to it that they can have oxygen available to them in their home. Thank you to all those who give generously and sacrificially.

It would seem that:

At some point we could see each other, face to face, hug, reminisce about the good ol’ days.

And yet Covid cases are up everywhere, and now young people who have not had access to a vaccine, or a completed series of two doses, are the ones who are becoming quite ill. Just in the past month five more pastors have died, two of them young, one leaving behind a wife and two very young children.

It would seem that we could jump immediately into all the options we have dreamed about.

     And yet, in light of the surge in Covid infections the UNAM will be selective in who and how many can study on campus. The option to take one class, with the purpose of meeting new people, is on pause in order to make way for others who need to study be able to do so.

The possibility of launching out once again with medical outreaches is on pause so that the medical personnel can continue to fight the disease on the front lines in their own geographical areas. They cannot abandon their posts.

The option of breaking bread together as we brainstorm and dialogue about how to teach and disciple is

on hold as we go back to wearing masks with each other until all of our “social bubbles” have adequate immunity. It is for other’s sake that we continue to mask up.

It would seem that God is silent, and we should throw in the towel.

And yet, He is NOT. Emmanuel is here. God’s people in Mexico continue to show an amazing resiliency. They might fall down, but they get up again. Their focus is on what and Who is eternal. Just last week we were offered an apartment near the UNAM campus to start mid-week activities (English conversation and Bible study). The young pastor let us know it was ours to use at no charge to us. Excuse me while my eyes water up. As soon as it is in the best public health interest of the university age group to be around each other masks off, we are starting up!

Pastors kids from different regions of the country have or will be studying at the UNAM. One young kid wrote me to say “I’m ready to work. Sign me up for whatever you would have me do on campus”. Yup, grabbing some tissues.

The medical team continues to work tirelessly to be a part of seeing this pandemic become endemic. Despite the ability to not come together in person, there are plans in the works for the future. The desire to be a blessing and be a part of a church planting movement through medical outreaches is alive and well.

Paul is receiving invitations to teach. We are grateful for technology that allows this to continue to happen so that those in high risk areas can still continue to be equipped in the pastorate. If you would like to help in the purchase of books for Bible School libraries, the needs are great. Right now, Paul and our regional presbyter are focusing on getting a library equipped for the Mazahua region in the northwest area of the state of Mexico. Paul has also begun to receive invitations to teach. The ad below is for the second annual Latin America summit, and he will also be teaching pastors via Zoom in the month of August.

We wait for God’s timing and plans. Yet we focus on what is happening now. Here in Mexico City there is a collective grieving, and at the same time a collective rubbing of shoulders as we all face this battle together. The war has been won. Yet the battle continues.

We will be returning to California the end of August for a short week as we celebrate the wedding of our son Andrew to Rachael. Upon returning, we hope to have our STL car so that we can visit areas that need encouragement and support. Because of the pandemic, all car agencies are experiencing a back log in getting cars and processing paperwork. We continue to wait.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Paul and Sandy Kazim

Please follow us at Paulandsandykazim.com

Paul.kazim@gmail.com

Use this link to give a donation or pledge to our support https://s1.ag.org/Kazim

     

     

¡Gracias!

Because of your faithfulness and generosity, we have received the green light to return to Mexico City.

We will represent you by:

• Listening to the stories of those who have experienced so much loss. Over 270 Mexican Assemblies of God ministers have died. 
• Speaking words of comfort and hope into our Mexican brothers and sisters     
• Working to see churches planted through medical outreaches.
• Striving for increased university student presence in local churches and on campus.
• Encouraging pastors to participate in hermeneutical study groups and publish their findings

Pray with us:

• That we may quickly readjust to Mexico City’s altitude
• That God would provide protection over the medical team as we offer outreaches in the season of COVID disease that continues in many parts of Mexico.
• That God would call young professional adults in Mexico City and prepare them to become university ministry leaders.
• That Paul would find favor with pastors and national leaders to see their collaborative writing projects be published

With every fiber in our being, we say gracias!

Paul and Sandy Kazim

Missionaries to Central Mexico                                              

Give one time or monthly at http://s1.ag.org/1378

US. Cel 714 510 0613

Paul.kazim@gmail.com          Sandy.kazim@gmail.com

To follow us visit paulandsandykazim.com

–Since we were able to hug our kids. (We miss Rachael. She is at U.W. finishing her studies)

–Since we sat at the same table with friends to eat and/or encourage one another.

–Since we could sit together, sing together and do church together.

–And it certainly has been way too long since we were able to work with our friends in Mexico.

–COVID has kept us in the US. Now something else delays our return to Mexico

We need $1000 more in monthly pledges and $5000 more in cash in order to return.

So why support us financially?

–Because we represent you in church planting. We want to see new churches established—whether the churches are started by bi-vocational Mexican health care providers (who are also ministers along with a pastor who commits to staying), or whether the new church is established by Mexican university grad who catch a vision and reach out to the main university in Mexico City.

Your monthly pledge allows us to work with those medical professionals in coordinated efforts to target areas with little or no gospel ministry. Beyond the medical care, the purpose is establishing new churches.

Sandy is also interested in taking a class at the UNAM and beginning to link new found friends to a network where a student led congregation begins to grow.

–Because Mexico needs theological reflection that is Mexican. Paul has already started working with local pastors to develop training materials that are 100% Mexican. The end goal will be books whose emphases reflect his 20 years of teaching in Mexico. This will serve as a resource for future students and ministers.

–Because our Mexican friends and co-workers have experienced great loss due to the pandemic. It has been very difficult being so far away. Over 150 Assemblies of God pastors have succumbed to COVID. 

You can commit to a monthly offering, just by clicking the link below. After an extra year in the U.S. we are anxious to leave. Our hope is to be firmly established in Mexico City by July of this year. 

Unable to pledge monthly? You can give a one/time offering. Cash gifts will allow us to purchase portable oxygen concentrators for the medical outreaches for treating people facing COVID issue for a long time to come. Each concentrator costs $1500. To contribute to the medical outreach, click on the link below and ear mark you gift for class 50. All funds sent to class 50 are used solely for the purchase of medical equipment and transportation of supplies for each medical outreach. The medical personnel all raise their own funds for medicine and travel to each clinic.

We are only able to do this because of your faithful support.  Thank you.

Paul and Sandy Kazim

Please follow us at Paulandsandykazim.com

Paul.kazim@gmail.com

Use this link to give a donation or pledge to our support http://s1.ag.org/kazim

Use this link to access our latest video

vimeo link:   https://vimeo.com/538213584
password for viewing:  Kazims

A nickname is a familiar or sometimes humorous name given to someone instead of their real name.  So, what’s your nick- name?  My husband calls me The Queen of the Universe.  I have been known to let everybody else know that they are welcome to call me that too.  One of the last names my wonderful Albanian father in law gave me was “Queenie”. 

Mexicans are famous for bestowing nicknames to their families, their friends, and even to their favorite politician, soccer player or other famous people.  It is their way of welcoming you into their inner circle.  For me it’s one of the most delightful elements of Mexican culture.

Jesus was known by several other names.  The Angel let the Virgin Mary know He would also be called Emmanuel.
God with us. 

Jesus gave nicknames to other people that he encountered. On more than one occasion, he called a woman hija, that is daughter.  Paul says that through Jesus we become sons and daughters of God (Gal. 3:26). 

That identity is what APV ministries teaches every year during camps that they host for young women in July, and young men in October, in Baja California, Mexico.  The camps are three days long. There are times of worship, games, concerts, parties, but most significantly, speakers and counselors teach kids that God gives them a name and wants to welcome them into His family. They learn that God the Father values them, and as a result they are worthy of respect from others.  Nobody should treat them, nor should they treat others as objects.  Instead, they learn that their identity and their value is found in Emmanuel. 

I have learned that the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to give kids the opportunity to learn about His amazing love as expressed by the people of APV.  Would you join me in sponsoring a kid or making sure that these camps continue?  I’d love to see a camp started once a year in every region of Mexico.  Why not incorporate that element of Mexican culture into Kingdom values. 

I’m not just Sandy.   With my kids and husband, I’m the queen.  But I’m actually His mi’ja, His daughter. I’m a part of a Kingdom where my crown doesn’t really matter because I’ll want to cast it away when I see Christ on the Throne. 

Thank you for supporting us. To give an offering towards these camps or sponsor a child to attend one, please click on the link below.   You can also follow APV on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/apvcampamento

Paul and Sandy Kazim

AGWM Central México
Acct. #243357

http://s1.ag.org/136e

Zoom meetings are not the same as meeting in person.

How many times have we heard this phrase this year?

And online learning is not the same as seated learning.

And church is just not the same if we can’t be together singing worship songs to God.

And a virtual hug is just not the same as a real hug.

Christmas is just not the same this year.

We certainly our lamenting that the Mexican Assemblies of God is not the same. In this past year, just in the Mexico City area we have lost 13 lead pastors. The loss of life in other states is also great. To say that there is grief looming in the air is an understatement. And to those in the U.S. who have lost loved ones, you understand well this grief.

And yet…

God came to earth in humble form. A Spirit God became incarnate.

That certainly was different for Him.

Learning how to crawl, walk, talk, obey his parents is just not the same as creating the Universe.

Teaching, serving and dying is just not the same as what earthly kings have been known to do.

So in this season of loss of health, loss of income, loss of in person relationships, isn’t it wonderful to know that God chose to act in ways that were surprising and unknown?

How about we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with this “just not the same” God.

We wish you and your family a merry Christmas.

Paul and Sandy

Psalm 103:12-Romans 8:1

Is it possible that God forgets? In some sense, the plain meaning of the texts above states that God has forgotten our rebellion, our transgressing His law, or even our indifference to Him and His ways.

His command to us is that we never forget that He has forgotten.

He commands us to remember His faithfulness toward us, even when we feel the pain of our losses. His word to us is that we keep good records of what He has done for us.

Deuteronomy 6:1-12 encourages God’s people to do all sorts of things to remember. Some of them might even seem silly. Place remembrances on door posts? On my wrist? In between my eyes?

What is it that God is after? 6:12 says, be careful that you do not forget the Lord.

So how about as we sit around the table we remember the things that the God who forgets has done for us.

Kingdom math

When Jesus fed five thousand plus people, the disciples picked up 12 baskets of left overs. What if he had fed ten thousand plus people? Yup, there very well could have been 24 baskets of surplus.

When God loves, His love doesn’t divide. It multiplies.

He doesn’t divvy up His generosity either. He multiplies it. There is more than sufficient.

So when our God demonstrates His math nature, it becomes an example we can copy. The addition of a child to the family does not divide the hearts of loving parents. Their love grows with each new member of the family.

When we generously give, we generously receive. It might not always be in the same way, but it is more than sufficient, and often is unexpected.

During this election season we are reminded that our hearts are bigger than when we started out in missions 32 years ago. We have grown to love other countries and other people groups as much as we love our passport country. We aren’t torn or divided in our love. On the contrary—that love grows. Our love for Mexico City and the whole central region of Mexico is growing more every day.

To all of you who nourish that love, thank you. May you experience a hundred fold the generosity you have shown to us.

When Paul wrote about the diversity that exists in the body of Christ, he used several illustrations of physical body parts to make his point. Is the foot not a part of the body because it is not a hand? The ear because it is not an eye? What if the whole body were an eye or an ear? God has placed the various parts of the body, just as He wanted. No part can say to another I don’t need you.

Here is where it gets interesting. Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we think are less honorable we treat with special honor…and God has put the body together, giving greater honor to those who lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other (1Co. 12:22-25).

This is a beautiful picture of the various members of the body working in harmony. But the question remains, who among us reading this passage considers him or herself the weaker, as the less honorable member? It is easy to interpret this passage to mean that I, as the more honorable, more presentable member of the body need to care for the weaker, less presentable. But what if I am the weaker member?

In every place where I have lived, the majority culture has by default defined what is the honorable, more presentable part of society and the church has been tainted by this secular reasoning. Certainly, we need to care for those who are in need. And I affirm that the body of Christ must care for the weaker members. What I am struggling with is how to identify, who are the weak? It cannot be a self-designation, nor an imposed one. However, in general, the “presentables” set the standard, which in reality is not a biblical standard at all. Less melanin, more testosterone, fewer physical challenges do not make one more presentable.

Recent events and the mono-cultural status of most churches require that those of us in majority settings must be careful. When we think about expanding our circle of friends to include people of other ethnic and racial groups, remember your new friends are NOT the less honorable.

“When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.” 1Co. 11:20, 21

There is only one loaf (1Co. 10:17). We divide the body at our own peril.