A Daughter’s Rebellious Prayer

Heidi Chupp • Nov 18, 2020

“Are you crazy? What’s wrong with you?”

Ten-year-old Imelda had just come home from an evening church service. She’d been growing to love and follow Jesus, and now she was ready to be baptized.

But her mom, Vicenta, would have none of it.

Their family was supposed to be Catholic, and Imelda’s involvement with a Protestant group raised all kinds of red flags for Vicenta.

“She was a minor,” Vicenta says, suspicious that someone was manipulating her daughter.

So when Imelda told her mom she wanted to be baptized, that was the deal breaker. Vicenta not only forbade the baptism, she refused to let Imelda go back to the church at all .

“[She said] I was never going to that church again,” Imelda says, “because they were putting crazy ideas in my head.”

But if her mother was going to push back, so was she. Imelda went behind Vicenta’s back and got baptized anyway. She prayed for her mom, too, hoping that someday they could worship God together.

Seeing God answer that prayer would take far more perseverance than Imelda could have ever imagined.

‘I Touched Hell’

As the years passed, Imelda began to drift away from her faith. She’d lost the spiritual support and encouragement she had received at church — and there was none at home.

By the time she was 14, Imelda’s life had gone perilously downhill .

Imelda moved in with her boyfriend, a drug dealer. On top of that, she discovered she was pregnant. For Imelda, who had only one kidney, it was life-threatening.

“The pregnancy was very difficult,” she remembers. “I spent more time in the hospital than at home.”

“I felt like I touched hell.”

A Chance for Faith — Lost

Two years after Juan, her baby boy, was safely born, Imelda decided she’d had enough. Her family had already relocated to the city of La Paz, Mexico , so she and Juan moved in with them.

Her parents provided a roof over her head, but not much more than that. They were still angry about her poor life choices.

But Imelda also found her faith slowly growing again.

An overview of a neighborhood in La Paz, Mexico

After Imelda joined her family in La Paz, they all started going to church. But their religious revival was short lived.

Her sister-in-law was attending a church, and Imelda joined her. The two women began praying for — and inviting — the rest of their family members.

Everyone agreed to go for a while, but that stopped when the family car broke down. The church was too far away to walk. Besides, Vicenta still had her suspicions and felt forced into going.

Silent Sorrows

After a few years, Imelda met and married her husband. She knew that another pregnancy would endanger her life, but she started longing for another baby.

Then Imelda’s sister got pregnant. It was a joyful time for the whole family, but Imelda felt heartbroken too . It was another dream, crushed.

“I was happy for her,” Imelda says, “but I used to say, ‘Why her and not me?’”

As Imelda navigated her silent sorrow, Vicenta’s world came apart when her own mother died unexpectedly .

Deep grief and depression became Vicenta’s daily companions, and she started questioning her upbringing. She realized that she’d never truly been part of a church community. From childhood, she had assumed that her faith was part of her identity, only to wonder now if it was just a label.

A Second Chance for Faith

As Vicenta suffered through her upheaval, she discovered El Faro Church , a church planted by TEAM missionaries and now led by local believers. She hadn’t realized there was a church so close to their home, and it piqued her interest. She’d pass by regularly and think to herself, I want to come here.

One day, as Vicenta was walking home with groceries, TEAM missionary Lois Dresselhaus was outside the church. Vicenta decided to talk to her. Lois invited Vicenta to come in, but Vicenta needed to get her groceries home and into the fridge.

Believers worship at El Faro, a TEAM church plant

Vicenta had been strongly opposed to church. But when she started attending El Faro, the weight of her depression lifted.

Vicenta showed up that next Sunday and kept returning, both to the weekly service and the women’s Bible study on Tuesdays. The weight of her sorrow began to lift as she experienced God’s love through His people.

Invited Back to Church

TEAM missionary Brenda Matthews, who teaches at the women’s Bible study, remembers Vicenta’s first visit — and the transformation that followed.

“She came [with a] very heavy spirit,” Brenda says. But “from that week on, her whole face changed.”

About a month after Vicenta started attending, she invited Imelda.

Imelda was not interested. Years had passed since her mother had quashed her dreams, but Imelda was still angry.

“It was like a punishment for my mom,” Imelda says, “because she took me away from the other churches.”

Like her daughter had done for her, so many years ago, Vicenta began asking God to work in Imelda’s heart. Slowly, Imelda’s heart changed.

Still reluctant and skeptical, Imelda accepted her mother’s invitation.

‘Why Am I Here?”

Imelda came to El Faro grieving, just as Vicenta had done a few months before. The death of her dream to bear more children weighed heavy on her heart.

Imelda remembers one day when she was ready to give up.

Brenda didn’t know what troubled Imelda, but her message that day was about growth and change — that like trees, sometimes strength takes time. It was just what Imelda needed to hear.

“I said, ‘It’s true, I need to take my time and have a little bit more of patience,’” she says.

TEAM missionary Brenda Matthews stands in front of a class of women at El Faro, a TEAM church plant

The women’s Bible study, taught by TEAM missionary Brenda Matthews, quickly became a place where both mother and daughter could grow.

Surrounded with Support

Shortly after she began attending El Faro, Imelda discovered to her great joy that she was pregnant again. She was immediately put on bed rest.

Imelda reached out to the women at the Bible study and asked them to pray for her and the baby . At a time when she was physically incapable of caring for herself or Juan, her new church family surrounded her with practical support and prayer.

“I am very grateful,” Imelda says. “I kind of see them as my blood sisters, my family.”

Each new day that she and the baby were both alive was a reason to thank God. And when Imelda safely delivered her little daughter, Abi, everyone rejoiced.

Mother and Daughter, United in Christ

Imelda remembers a time, years ago, when her mother dropped her off for a church service, and a church member invited Vicenta to join them. Imelda stood there, full of hope, but Vicenta refused, saying she had to run an errand.

The church member turned toward Imelda.

“One day,” he told her, “your mother will kneel at the feet of Christ.”

If Imelda could go back to that moment, she now knows what she’d tell her younger self.

“I would tell her to have faith, to never give up,” she says. “I would tell her to be strong, to be patient.”

TEAM missionary Brenda Matthews poses with Vicenta, Imelda and Imelda's daughter for a portrait

After years of waiting and prayer, God has brought mother and daughter together as sisters in Christ!

Now Imelda can see how God answered her prayers so many years later, as she and her mother grow together in their love for Jesus.

“It is a big blessing. … Sitting at the feet of Christ is what comes and fills your life,” Imelda says. “All the emptiness is filled by Christ.”

By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
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