Erik Nilsen Apprenticeship Update: July 2024

This last month has been a busy one with lots of stories I could potentially share in this update, each worthy of a detailed report in its own right. Alas, there is space only for one, and I have been wracking my brain over which to choose. So, I’m going with this one.

At the time of writing, I have just returned from a vacation with my family to Rosarito Beach, Mexico, to celebrate my grandmother’s 81st birthday. Eight of her nine grandchildren were present, as well as both of my mother’s siblings: my aunt, Holly (with her husband Allyn), and my uncle, Jason. It was a refreshing time for us all, but I felt especially refreshed from many of the trials and anxieties I have experienced this year, only some of which I selectively share in these letters.

 In no small part have Holly, Allyn, and Jason directly inspired me to pursue a life in international ministry, each having travelled extensively as young adults and returning with trinkets and stories of their journeys when I was a child. Under World Vision International, Holly and Allyn served on peacekeeping teams in Jerusalem. Jason, with smaller organizations, taught English at schools in Costa Rica and South Korea. Most importantly, my mother consistently and unapologetically labored that her children would come to know Jesus as their Savior and their friend. While my missiology was developed more concretely at Rose Drive Friends Church and Barclay College, a love for travel and building cross-cultural relationships was imparted to me first by my family, who are among the strongest supporters of my work with EFM.

One day, when my family had walked down to the swimming pool that overlooked the vast crystal Pacific, Jason joined me in the jacuzzi and asked me about my apprenticeship with EFM and where I would be going. I shared that there is a good possibility that EFM would send me to central Mexico next year to serve with the Friends churches there, who are mobilizing to evangelize and plant churches in all 32 states of Mexico by 2032.

“Mexico is already a Catholic country, isn’t it? They already have Jesus and the Bible,” he replied. “What specifically do the Friends churches hope to accomplish by expanding their own influence?”

A fair question. Am I peddling a subjectively better version of Christianity to a saturated market, with 33% less genuflections than “Brand X”?

I firmly believe and can attest that many Catholics have authentic, personal relationships with Jesus Christ, including Joshua and George from our DMC. (George, in particular, is actively sharing the gospel with two of his coworkers, and they have already read through the first three chapters of Mark together.)

However, I have also personally observed nominal religious affiliation displacing genuine discipleship and allegiance to Jesus, serving instead as a rusty gilding over spiritual darkness and depravity. As I recorded during the EFM Luke 10 trip to Jalisco last year, this is especially the case in Mexico. I shared this with Jason, as well as my personal witness to the work of the Holy Spirit through Mexican Friends in reaching their neighbors for Jesus and the total transformation of lives it has wrought.

I further remarked that this merely nominal Christianity exists in America, too, especially within the political realm. (He concurred.) On this point, I elaborated.

“Many Christians, including my mom, understood ‘not taking the Lord’s name in vain’ to mean not to use God’s name as a cuss word. Indeed, we shouldn’t. But I suspect that the commandment really refers to appealing to religion as a rubber stamp for one’s own selfish ends. (‘God told me to do such-and-such!’, ‘God is on our side because he hates the Yanks, too!’, etc.)”

My uncle paused thoughtfully and said, “I see what you mean.”

Frequently, I need to take inventory of my own motivations for doing this, that I am not taking God’s name in vain myself. Am I following my master who bids me come and die, or am I content merely to be a career tourist?

May it always be the former, to the very end.

Please continue to pray for the DMC group and the other people I am currently discipling. Pray for Garry as he returns to Kansas to start work as a history teacher this week.

Faithfully yours,

Erik