Jubilee greetings as we enter Spring and holy days!
We’re in a big anniversary year for Jubilee! Isai Robledo, a gifted artist in the San Cristobal Jubilee Circle, designed this wonderful graphic for JEM’s 25th year. It expresses the great root system your donations have fed and watered. And now look at the tree!
You and all of us are roots wrapped around the brown and light-skinned arms on which the Jubilee tree grows.
Every year more people are responding to the Jubilee economy and creation-focused spiritual path. In 2015, Mexico became part of Jubilee ministries under the leadership of Dan Swanson (see him in the lower right of the graphic). Today, all three México Circles continue to serve people who live at the margins, bringing Jubilee to those who are excluded from most of society’s systems.
Contributions to Jubilee have also grown incrementally, and in 2024 grew by $11,000. Truth is, as the Circles increase their activities so do the funding needs. The seed planted years ago became a sapling, then a sizable tree bearing fruit. Let’s look…..
1. A new Circle in Tapachula—Just three years ago, Jubilee began in a new location, Tapachula, Chiapas, where Edman Lopez and his family moved. God called them out of a secure position in Toluca, Mexico, to engage in ministry with people in southern Chiapas where congregations lacked teaching and pastoral leadership. This area is also a significant crossover for immigrants moving north through Mexico, and Edman and his wife, Rosy, offer support as they are able. JEM has been able to support them with a small stipend to complement their household income. Recently, Edman has joined with a team of leaders to respond to the right-wing fundamentalism that has become very aggressive in southern Mexico. Edman and the team offer, instead, a liberating gospel in thought and discipleship. For 2025, your donations made possible a $50 per month increase to their stipend. Edman responded immediately, “Thank you very much for your support. May the blessings of our God continue.” Just $50 means a lot!
2. More space needed in San Mateo—The San Mateo ministries now exceed their available space. New endeavors to support the struggling local economy look to the San Mateo Circle and their Cultural Center for space as well as direction and community. More space is under construction as funds are available. Once completed, it will serve youth ministry, emergency housing, and a needed residence. For 2025, redistributions to San Mateo have increased $50. Angelica responded, “Thank God! This increase is a great help.” Happy as $50 makes us all, completing the building proceeds with prayer and further funds.
3. More space needed in San Cristobal—Lack of space also hinders the ministries of the San Cristobal Circle. The rents on spaces they’ve been using for years have become prohibitive. They are now pursuing a vision to purchase/construct space that will bring together under one roof the three branches of ministry in the San Cristobal Circle: Alter-Nativas, Na’Xajobal, and the office of the Yobel School. This important plan requires thousands of dollars.
Thus, as you can see, your donations over the years have continued to bear bushels of fruit. We celebrate this and give thanks to God. Just as surely we can all see the challenges this growth has created for greater funding. Please, let’s join our prayers together as part of the roots of the Jubilee tree and give all we can.
The Mighty Presence of the Spirit be with us all,
John Michno
P.S. Please talk with others about this opportunity for high-yield giving. Over 50% of the U.S. population gives nothing to charity. Some would love to give to a ministry that assures them great results.
