Ministry Update Jan 2016

     The past year has been a huge blessing. Upon entering the doors of The Center Church PR, in Dorado, PR, we knew that the Lord had led us there. The Holy Spirit filled us and we knew that CCPR was to be our church home while on the island. As we continued to attend service and serve in multiple areas we were asked to join the leadership team at CCPR. After praying about this and seeking what the Lord would have us do we accepted the invitation. Over the past year we have been blessed to serve in multiple avenues at CCPR. Our family has helped host a 70 person mission team from Tennessee, served at outreach events, served in children’s ministry, served Pastor Efren in facilities duties and we have worked with Pastor Efren and Monica to implement a duplicatable leadership and discipleship process at CCPR.  We are very excited that on Saturday January 23^rd I will be facilitating the leadership team at CCPR through a course called Rooted. This is a program that Jennifer and I have gone through and led at Ridge Point Community Church. Which was our home church for 12 years in Michigan. It had such an impact in our lives we had the desire to see others experience what the Lord does through this course. Rooted PR will be an 8 week course based on leadership and discipleship. The goal is to duplicate this into multiple small groups. There is much more that CCPR will be doing over the next year to focus on discipleship and spreading the gospel message. Rooted is just the beginning of an amazing 2016 year at CCPR. Both Jennifer and myself feel extremely blessed to be entrusted with the leadership of CCPR as we take them through Rooted, and we are excited to see God do amazing things through them.

     With all this being said, the Lord has been speaking to Jennifer and myself and has opened doors for us that we have been praying for over the past year.  Over the past year the Lord has allowed us to build relationships with many people. We knew when we moved here that discipleship was our main focus but we did not know exactly what this looked like.  Do we work exclusively with one church? Do we work with multiple churches? Do we even work with a church? Do we start our own ministry? These are all questions and prayers that we have had over the past year. During the past 5 months or so the vision of what the Lord has called us to do has gotten clearer and clearer almost by the day. It all goes back to what the Lord spoke to me while I was here in Puerto Rico in July of 2014. I was asking God what our ministry was to look like here. His answer was that we were to do ministry just as Jesus did ministry. Jesus did not have a ministry. He WAS the ministry. Jesus walked this earth and taught his disciples that their life was to be their ministry. Not ministry their life. At first this was hard for us to understand. But, as time has gone by we are seeing what that really means. When Jesus is your all, your life is a reflection of Jesus all the time. Not just in “ministry” but in everyday life. But what did this mean for us?  We are still not fully clear as I do not think we ever will be, and that’s not a bad thing. We started to realize that the type of ministry the Lord had called us to did not allow for us to be doing ministry under only one roof or under only one church. We have been called not only to serve our local church body, but to also reach out to those in other churches and those not even going to church. To build relationships and do ministry with people from multiple bodies for the purpose of what Jesus prays in John 17. This was a difficult concept to take in, but we could already see how God was allowing us to do this.  Who are we to help create unity among the Church? But, if God has called us then we will listen knowing He will equip us. So, after much prayer, conversations and counseling we have made the decision to open up a spot on the Leadership team at CCPR for someone who has been called to specifically help CCPR fulfill their mission that the Lord has given them.  By our stepping down this will allow us not only to minister and serve at CCPR, but this will open up new doors for us to minister in ways that CCPR has not been called to do. Doors have already started to open and we are so excited to see God move and change lives. As for who we will be held accountable to, that will be “In His Presence Worship Center”. This is the church and Pastor that I am ordained under and have been counseling with over the past year. When we left Michigan we technically were not under an sort of accountability. We had the Support of Seven Hills church, but that was about all. As we got more involved with CCPR they became our accountability by default. By coming fully under In His Presence Worship, they will become the church we are help accountable to as well as the church we will represent as missionaries. Pastor Georges calling gives us the freedom to do what we have been called to do in fulfilling the Great Commissions. We feel this is a huge step in the right direction as God continues to lead us.

     The girl’s home we have been working with will open back up in February and we will start working there as soon as they open. There has been a lot of work done there over the past couple months and we are praying that the home will gain occupancy very soon. We have recently had conversations with Danica from 4 HEARTS, which is the organization we’re working with at the home, about what a partnership with them may look like concerning having a discipleship training through the 4 HEARTS ministry. We also have been helping them put together their missions, vision and purpose statements.

     We now have had two house gatherings at a family’s home that we met through Blake’s football team. Jacob, a young man I have been mentoring has also been coming with us. We have been studying and learning from Pastor Britton from Moran Park Church in Michigan. It’s a concept for spreading the gospel through house gatherings/house churches. These are not intended to lead people away from their church gathering but actually just the opposite. These are intended to lead people to Jesus and train them how to disciple, so in whatever church body they belong to they will be equipped to go and make disciples. The fruit we have seen over the past couple weeks is astonishing! The Holy Spirit is working in many lives!

     With the coming of this change also comes the necessity to change our support avenue. Currently all tax deductible support is sent to CCPR, as Pastor Efren and his leadership has been gracious in allowing us to use CCPR as our support avenue thus far.

As of March 1^st 2016 all tax deductible support should be sent to:

(PLEASE DO NOT SEND SUPPORT TO THIS ADDRESS PRIOR TO MARCH 1^ST.

YOU CAN CONTIUE TO SEND TO CCPR UP UNTIL MARCH 1^ST)

In His Presence Worship Center

134 Zachary DR.

Carrollton, GA. 30117

Checks should be made out to:

In His Presence Worship Center  

In the memo line write: John Hoogeveen/Puerto Rico

     On a more personal note. The kids are getting involved with so much here. Blake has started his second season of American Football, he is starting on the varsity team at Defensive Back and Tight End.  Dallas is starting her second play at the theater class at the local library and Bridger has joined Boy Scouts and loves it. We have also joined a new homeschool group which the kids really enjoy. They are doing a play through the homeschool group as well as helping out at a farm. Blake and Dallas continue to be involved with the Youth Group at CCPR. All three are making new friends and are being invited over to their homes and vice versa. They all have adjusted very well and are enjoying their island life.

     Jennifer has also been busy. She continues to run and has joined a running group with some friends. This a great time for her just to hang out and be with the girls. She is training for the San Juan Marathon in March. The Lord has given Jennifer a nitch, and that is watching over children. She is a nanny for a family, who believe it or not is from Holland, MI. She also babysits for several other families and continues to clean a couple homes. I graduated from Liberty University this past December with my AA in Religion and have started my BS in Evangelism/Church Planting. We also have the island guiding that we do as a small income. We recently took a family from Canada to the Indian Caves and some waterfalls.  This not only gives us an opportunity to do fun things while making a little money, it gives us the opportunity to share why we are here and about Jesus. People always ask why we are here.

     We thank you for all you support and constant prayers as we could not do this without them. Please follow us on our Facebook page, Matthew 28 Missions. As this is where the most frequent updates are given. You can also follow our blog at, www.matthew28missions.blogspot.com.

In Christ,

John, Jennifer, Blake, Dallas and Bridger Hoogeveen

   

     

To God Be The Glory: Testimony of Gods abundent faithfulness (Through our truck)

Revelation 12:11 says that we defeat the devil by the blood of The Lamb and the word of our testimony.    
     Our God is amazing! He is faithful and his word is truth. Jesus tells us that we may ask him anything and he will give it to us. We must understand that there is a heart condition that we must be aware of when asking. There is much more to study on this subject. In the simplest form, when we ask for the purpose of Gods glory, Jesus will give us what we ask for. Jesus even gives more than we ask for sometimes! John 14:13-14 says this, " And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it." When our faith and our hearts are in the right position watch out!
      As you all know our 1988 Isuzu Trooper has been good to us for the past year. The Lord provided this truck for is in the season we needed it. However, she has past on and is no longer able to help us server the Lord. We have been asking God what he has for us. We knew that he had the perfect car out there for us, we just had to find it. All we knew is that we needed something that sat at least 7 people. This is so we can take people along with us when we go places and do ministry. After many many blessing from our church family at CCPR with rides and loaned cars, other friends of ours felt led to loan us their car until we could get one of our own. This was a huge blessing as we no longer needed to ask for rides. After a few days of using their car, the Lord had put on their heart that they were to start a car fund for us. Mind you we have only know these friends for a couple months. They are the friends that introduced us to the Girls home we work with, Hogar En-Hacor. They then contacted Pastor Efren at CCPR about how they could get involved. Pastor Efren then posted on social media and announced at church that this car fund was going on. Two days after the fundraiser started we received a call from a man in West Michigan that we knew of. This however was prior to the fundraiser being put out on mass social media, and we did not promote it at all. We had only met maybe one time. For sake of humbleness I will not mention his name. The Lord had impressed on his heart to donate $5000 for a new car!!! We were shocked!!! We were hoping for $3000 to buy something. We now had $2000 more than we were hoping for!!! Within a week another nearly $2000 came in, we were then at  nearly $7000! We have a friend who the Lord speaks to very clearly through scripture with specific words. He had used her in our life already this way. I asked her to pray for God to show her what car he had for us. So she began to pray.
      Knowing we had almost $7000 I went out with a friend last Saturday looking at cars. Our intention was to look and see what our options were. We drove about 20 minutes to the West looking for cars. He was shocked that we could only find two cars even worth looking at. As we were driving I got a text from my friend. The Lord had given her something. She was in His Word when she was led to the book of Ester. In Ester 3:7 the month of Nisan (Nissan is a car if you did not catch that) is talked about. Really!!! Nisan!!!! The Lord literally led her to the name of a car! Then he led her to Amos. In her Bible in the footnotes there was a description of a specific distance, which was five miles. She looked and there was a Nissan dealer 5 miles from her house. We were sure this was the Lord speaking to us. We were to look 5 miles from her house for a Nissan.
     So, I informed my friend who was with me looking at cars what the Lord had said. We continued to stop by a few more dealers before he asked where this dealer was. After calling the dealer we found out that they had 1 Nissan Pathfinder that seats 7. So, we turned around and headed 30-40 min in the opposite direction. Upon arriving at this dealership we saw the truck. Took a look at it but did not feel this was the one. There were a few other dealers on the same road so we drove to one more. We asked what they had, but they did not know so the dealer went inside to check. We proceeded to look around. Now at this point I have to tell you this. A friend from church has been telling us for the past few months that the Lord was telling her that he was going to get us a white car. We did not want a white car. But, as God loves humor, as we were walking there sat a WHITE NISSAN PATHFINDER THAT SAT SEVEN! We looked at it and I knew this was the one. Upon looking at the price it was $4000 more than we had at the moment. But I knew this was the truck. The Lord had told me it was. I proceeded to share the story I have shared with you thus far with the dealer, and prayed with him as he went to talk to the manager. He came back and said that he wants to help us as much as he can. So, we test drove it and then went inside to talk details. I was upfront with him. I said I had $7000 and if we could get it to that price it would be great. He was only able to get another $500 off. Which I was very grateful for. Yet I knew this was the truck. He asked if I had any money to put down on it so they could hold it until Tuesday, this was as long as they could hold it. (The fundraiser officially ends tomorrow) I had $40 cash. He said he would see what he could do with $40. While he was gone we noticed a picture of Jesus in the dealers office. Jesus was looking right at us. We then noticed in the office next-door  a statue that read, God Bless You! Both my friend and I were amazed. God was right there with us. We smiled and laughed. To be honest, I still had my doubts. He came back and they were willing to hold it for $40!!!!  Really? Then the dealer said that he needed to give me his personal number as he had no card yet. the first three numbers of his phone number are 777!!!! (Gods Number) I knew right there that God was all over this! So I had them hold the truck, not knowing how we were gonna come up with $3500 in three days. But God is faithful and I know his voice. This was our truck.
     Upon leaving the dealer I called my friend who the Lord had spoken to her previously and shared with her about the truck and asked her to pray for the $3500. Shortly after she talked with the man who gave the $5000. He asked how the truck hunt was going. She told him and he asked how much more was needed. She also told him that. He said ok let me pray and talk to others. I went home happy but still not sure how the Lord was gonna do this. Monday morning came and no more money had come in. I was honestly getting a little doubtful. Maybe I heard God wrong. Maybe all these signs were just by chance. Then God did the unthinkable!! My friend called me at this moment. She said that the man she had talked to about the amount needed has come up with the $3500!!! He told her to tell me to go buy the truck and go make disciples!!! WHAT!!!! GOD JUST PROVIDED $10,500 FOR A NEW CAR!!!!!! So, Tuesday I went and paid almost $7000 and Thursday I paid the remaining balance. We now are using Gods truck, a White 2005 Nissan Pathfinder that seats 7 people. Funny, 7 seats (that is Gods favorite number. White color. (Jesus washes white as snow) Pathfinder (we are showing people the path and walking the narrow path)
     One thing the Lord does is leave no room for man to get the glory. All the glory goes to Him!!
When we give our lives fully to the Lord, and all we do is for His glory, life changes. Material blessing will come yes, but that is not the point. The point is how those blessings come and from whom!! Jesus Christ calls us to a full life in him. A full life means our entire life is lived for Him, good or bad. When times are great we praise the Lord and give Him glory. When times are tough we praise him and give him glory. We can only do this once we understand that we are not here for ourselves. We are not here for our glory, our comfort, our good life, our pleasure, our anything. We are here for the glory of God through his Son Jesus!
I pray this testimony builds your faith in our Father. Trust Him, he will provide.