Jon and Laurie Irons

   "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist ..." (Ephesians 6:14) Last week my main belt of my Ford Fusion broke.  In inspecting it, it looked fairly new. But after my mechanic looked at it, he said though it looked fairly new, it had a few cracks in it.  The logical diagnosis to the possible problem was some other issue was causing the belt to break.  But after an hour of sitting idle and a test drive, everything seems to be fine.   The thoughts I got today from this, is Let us be aware of the cracks in our belt of truth.  My belt of truth, the Holy Spirit holds my sword, which is the word of God close to me, so I can pull it out when I need to use it to fight against the attacks that come my way.   There are many distractions in my world today that can keep me from standing firm in what I know is truth. Our own understanding in what we think we want or what we think is best needs to be aligned with what God is...

One of the foundational Values of Youth With A Mission is to:  # 10 - Function In Teams.  YWAM is called to function in teams in all aspects of ministry and leadership. We believe that a combination of complementary gifts, callings, perspectives, ministries and generations working together in unity at all levels of our mission provides wisdom and safety. Seeking God’s will and making decisions in a team context allows accountability and contributes to greater relationship, motivation, responsibility and ownership of the vision.   In leading these five students, who came from different walks of life and countries, I was privileged to be part of their lives during their lecture phase and then, along with two other staff, take them down to the South Texas border for two weeks. These five had grown so close together that I was convinced they were able to do so much more together, as long as they stayed humble and honest. I found myself being more humble to them and to the two...

 I (Laurie) would like to introduce you to Emilia. She is a young lady who has come to our Discipleship Training School. Part of the school is that each student get's what we call a '1 on 1'. Basically a mentor who meets with them at least once a week to process what they are learning, ask any questions and be prayed for. What's so cool is that Emilia is adopted and originally from Russia. She was seven when adopted, and it was difficult for her. God is so good to give her a '1 on 1' that has some understanding of adoption! She has had much to work through, but is really wanting to grow in the Lord! 

Continual Transformation for both me and students I am involved with can be difficult at times when I have not really met them 'face to face' in the same room but chat room such as what Zoom has provided. Technology has been amazing as long as our wifi's can accommodate each other's devices.  Teaching English at the graduate level can be a challenge, but rewarding as they always love to practice their speaking abilities with native English speakers. I am part of a teaching group of committed teachers who have been providing English lessons for International Graduate students of the University of Texas - Dallas for the past four to five years.  Because of many social distancing requirements and preferences of others, we have been teaching and meeting online for the past two years. I personally, hope all this will end very soon. But until that happens, we learn how to use the communication tools that we all have been gifted with.

C hristian Heritage School   Honestly, I love teaching nine and ten year olds grammar and composition. The problem is learning to have a balance between too much fun and not enough learning.  Learning to teach fourth graders is not like teaching International adults how to have a conversation in English. Though there are some days it seems as if I was speaking another language to these young scholars.  We are almost halfway through the school year, and I am still learning how to effectively teach at this level.  I have had the opportunity to sub other classes at the secondary level, as well as still have one on one sessions with Asian students on the other side of the world.   Please be praying for all the students that I am involved with.  

YWAMTYLER Outreaches Our ministry began this Spring going down to our Southern Border with a scouting team to see how we can get involved with bringing some hope to the many people who live along the border whether here in Texas or in Mexico.  Since then we have organized a number of volunteers into teams of people from local churches to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the most practical ways. Basic needs, from just a change of clothes to some food.   Laurie and I joined another Medical outreach this November that consisted of Doctors, Nurses and  two Dentists.  Laurie once again brought her hair styling talent and I volunteered to assist both dentists, Dr. Nichols and Dr. Holland. In realizing that we would have more translation assistance this time, I needed to position myself in such a way to help both assistants as well as dentists, without being in the way.  So I choose to be behind the table of dental equipment....

The past year due to the pandemic has prevented us from hosting a Communication Culture Course . This three month school has attracted many foreigners to come and improve their English and continue their training experience to eventually serve in some capacity with Youth With A Mission.     Yet, teaching adults conversational English is a bit different then teaching 9-10 year olds. Making a difference in the lives of these fourth graders has its challenges as well as its benefits . Teaching Grammar along with English composition has reminded me: 1) how youth of today learn, 2) how much I appreciate the patience other educators who do teach at the primary level must have, and 3) how to engage the hearts of these future leaders. Remember to pray for these students as well as for me!

Our ministry began this Spring going down to our Southern Border with a scouting team to see how we,  YWAMTYLER, can get involved with bringing some hope to the many people who live along the border; whether here in Texas or in Mexico.  Since then we have organized a number of volunteers into teams of people from local churches, to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the most practical ways. Providing basic needs, from just a change of clothes to some food. 
Around the end of June, Laurie and I joined a Medical outreach that consisted of Doctors, Nurses and a Dentist.  Laurie brought her hair styling talent and I volunteered to assist the dentist, Dr. Nichols. He tried to have me extract a tooth of one patient we saw, which I passed onto the other assistant, Sandra, a YWAM staffer with YWAM South Texas.  I enjoyed providing the sterilized dental tools, which Dr. Nichols  needed  for each new patient he ...

  Despite what your political views may be at this current situation, the CRISIS at the Southern Borders of Texas, Arizona and California needs the help of many volunteers at this point.  The Mission agency I am affiliated with Youth With A Mission-Tyler, TX. is working along side churches and ministries already working on both sides of the USA/Mexican border. We are coordinating needed supplies and volunteers who are willing to go for 4 day outreaches to the border for the next three to six months.  If you or your church are available to help please email Goborder@ywamtyler.org for more information. To get more information on how you be involved directly with  Hope at the Border you can click on this link.

What does Freshman English look like half way around the world? We will miss these wonderful students,  as this was our last group class for the semester. We hope that some of them will take the offer for possible summer sessions on a smaller class setting or possible one on one sessions. Pray for these future International leaders.  Pray also for them as they take their final exams next week.

  In preparing our young staff who have joined us for a commitment of long term service, we are blessed with the gifts and talents of these whom the Lord has brought to our campus. Leadership is our main theme, with areas of growth to prepare them for a life of bringing the Gospel to others. Whether they are here helping to lead a department on our campus, discipling future students or across the ocean living among the lost, our goal is to help them be prepared to love the Lord, and those He leads them to reach and serve.  After our students have attended a year of training at our campus here in East Texas, we want to help transition them from being students to learning to become effective staff and prepared  missionaries.  Laurie and I along with a team of other like-minded staff have been meeting once a week to impart useful tools to assist them on their journey  and develop a lifestyle of mission mindedness.

 Online discipleship halfway around the world looks more like this these days than actually going to the nation God has called one to. And the current pandemic has given us great opportunities to explore new ways of encouraging young believers. We are half way through our second semester of Bible study together, and I see growth in these three future International leaders. I also look forward the day I visit these three and their families. 

 Communicating with three International Students from half way around the world on a Monday Morning has changed my perspective in the way to build relationships.  Let us be people of God's reflection as we share the truth of God's word to all peoples and nations of the world.  We can let Pandemics control us or we can take steps to overcome the obstacles that seem to be in our way. We also need to be willing to get out our usual comfort zones and step into the next thing God has for us. I appreciate these three young women and their commitment to be light in a country where little light shines yet is enough to draw all men to Him.  I am forever grateful for the relationships that God places before me. Please remember these three sweet daughters of God.

  English Corner - Fall Semester 2020 Learning English online Last week was the beginning of another semester with these awesome graduate students with UT - Dallas as we discuss the latest American English idioms and cultural topics such as Business practices, meeting new people, or learning how to understand how to watch American Football. These are just some of the many topics discussed while online as well as get to know each other better and find out how everyone's week has been. A few YWAM staff and other friends have been meeting on Fridays for several years now and have enjoyed getting to know these International students (mainly from China and Taiwan) who have come to America to study. Social distancing did not keep us from meeting and we continued to gather online, yet miss the opportunity to have an enjoyable Korean home-made meal together. Please pray with us this Fall Semester as more students join May, Isabell, Gary, Yummi, Lena, Char...

or the Day after Yesterday The day is today and how one looks at it. With all the news that is being reported lately, it is the latter, but if it were up to me, I would want change my  way of thinking. Many songs have been written about the past, such as ‘Yesterday’ by Paul McCartney, who wrote a simple song of the choices made in the past and how we wish we could change those events that happened.   Maybe it is something we did, that we regret or something we wish we had said, but didn’t. I think many of us dwell in the past and want to continue to judge ourselves as to choices we wish we had to make better ones so we could have a better outcome in life.   We can’t change our past, but we can do our best to determine our future, as long as it is up to us. With all the events that are currently happening around the world and what the news media is talking about, it seems that most people are focusing on the ‘wrongs’ that people have done or to blame others for the ‘bad’ t...

In preparing the next generation of International Leaders, we continue to utilize the campus the Lord has blessed us with. The Globe, as this building is now referred to as,  is the beginning of Global Mission Center which will consist of several other buildings. The center will have a guest house, classrooms, and a resource library where students can come and learn more about how to impact their world for Jesus Christ. We have already made use of this building for classroom teachings as well as several meetings and social gatherings. 

Keeping relationships going as well with UT Dallas graduate students, as well as starting new ones, takes commitment. Each week, we get together and discuss a topic that the students suggest the week before. As you can see in this screen shot, one student had just woken up, but knew he did not want to miss what was going on.  He later took his cell phone with him to the bathroom; just to brush his teeth, thank goodness. And then proceed to leave his dorm to go get something to eat. That is truly a compliment for us that he would stay that committed.  How have your relationships been these past two months?

In the 1966 Italian epic Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, there is the climatic twenty minute scene where all three men are in a triangular stand off in a cemetery. In this particular scene, with all the changing camera angles and the compelling sound track, we see the determination on each man’s face as each is waiting to see who will finally get the gold. Having the faith and perseverance to endure through all this social distancing and change of focus is what God has been showing me. As an International Ministry that has a focus on reaching the world, several key leaders of Youth With a Mission (YWAM) have been using the current video chat tool (zoom) to communicate to us during this time, and to seek God's word for direction. Many of our 1,100 ministry locations world wide depend upon students,staff and volunteers locally and Worldwide to come be trained and then go out into the mission field to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. An...

Curious Lilly I have always thought about getting another dog, and most of our past dogs have usually come to us as strays.  And like this little puppy, she has come to our neighborhood the same way.  Lilly has kept us busy, during the current 'social distancing' now enforced in our county. Because of her mix breeds, she is full of energy and speed that is impossible to keep up with and the constant curiosity of a child who wants to chew everything in sight. She also is learning to do her business outside and not in the house. When we first come to the revelation about the things of God, we usually come to Him full of energy, similar to this little puppy and we go at things at break neck speed. When we see things that God is doing, we have a constant curiosity much like a child, wanting to understand all that God is doing and showing us. And unfortunately we tend to "poop" on the places, people and things God has given us until he teaches us where and whom to do ...

What a great time we had together this winter getting to know some of the students who came from South Korea for our Korean Leadership Training school.  Fellowship over a meal is one way of 'breaking the ice' and allowing the students as well as us to relax and be ourselves.  Bringing cultures together is fairly easy when it is over a meal.  Sadly due to Covid -19, we were not able to see this school go on outreach, which was planned to go to Europe and tour the East Coast. With the currently the current situation, the students decided to return home early. Please be praying for these and the sixteen others as they return home to be with their families and loved ones. They will be truly missed.