I mentioned in our last letter to pray for Patty and me as we trained key leaders at venues this summer. First, it was a joy to get to train and send the young missionaries pictured below to East Asia, Turkey and Thailand.
We had also asked you to pray for our final Senior leadership development module (SLI) held in July in San Diego. It was an incredible week as we finished up this two-year program with 30 of our Cru emerging leaders. We were so encouraged to see how they have grown spiritually and in their competency as leaders.
Two of our SLI participants/graduates recently were challenged to and accepted National Director roles for Destino, the Latino and Hispanic ministry of the campus ministry. Dina Martinez will serve as Destino National Director for Community and James Medina as Destino National Director for Campus!
Dina Martinez grew up in an inner-city neighborhood in Los Angeles. She is a cultural guide, having grown up in the intersectionality of Los Angeles, crossing cultures, ethnicities, socioeconomic conditions and generations. Dina graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara and helped launch a Destino movement at UCSB as a student and interned for two years to continue to establish the movement. She then helped pioneer San Diego Destino for four years and is currently giving leadership to two teams in LA.
James Medina and his wife, Elizabeth, have served with Cru for 14 and 13 years respectively, with the past nine in Destino. James graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007, and Elizabeth from the University of Iowa in 2008.
James was drawn to Destino because of the impact the Latino community can have while being used by God to help reach the world for Christ. He has been part of launching movements throughout the U.S. Most recently, James served as a mission director for Destino. He loves working with the national team to care and grow Destino’s familia across the country.
We are thankful to the Lord for the Cru missionaries headed to take the gospel to people in East Asia, Turkey and Thailand, for the 30 recent SLI graduates and of course for Dina and James as they take on National Director roles with Destino. God is at work and we are humbled to be part of what He is doing.
We so appreciate your investments and prayers.
Marc and Patty Rutter