Missions

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Our Northern Triad Area Director Role

March 8, 2025 in Ministry, Missions, Thanks by Dave | No comments

We are so grateful for your partnership as we serve the Northern Triad—Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. As we conclude our participation in the Latin America Caribbean (LAC) Area Director (AD) Meetings, we want to share more about our role and how your support empowers us to come alongside our 69-member global worker team, equipping them to thrive in their calling as they share the hope of the living Jesus with a population largely unengaged by an accurate representation of the gospel.

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One of our greatest joys is caring for global workers and their families. Through member care, we encourage them, foster healthy relationships, and provide crisis support when challenges arise. We want to see each one thriving, both in their ministry and in their personal lives.

We also have the privilege of providing strategic direction, helping global workers navigate their calling, strengthening collaboration with the national church, and ensuring clear and effective communication. Strong partnerships are key to advancing the gospel, and we are committed to fostering them.
In addition to guiding the work, we carry the responsibility of administrative oversight, monitoring ongoing operations and making key decisions to ensure the overall ministry remains effective and sustainable. There’s always something to navigate, but we’re thankful for God’s wisdom and grace in leading through each challenge.

Another area close to our hearts is leadership development. From the very start of a global worker’s assignment, we look for ways to help them grow. Through training, mentoring, and ongoing support, we invest in their potential, equipping them for greater impact.

Every step we take is possible because of your prayers, generosity, and heart for missions. Thank you for standing with us as we support those establishing the Church among all peoples in the Northern Triad!

Photo Captions:

  1. The LAC AD Team met last week to make strategic decisions and improve our member care services.

  2. Part of our leadership development role includes competency training. Last month, we led new global workers through online Bible training.

  3. While serving as ADs, we’re also connecting with supporters nationwide—here with Life Stream Church at their missions convention.

Note: this post is just a portion of what we share in our quarterly newsletter. If you’d like more information from the Godzwas or would like to print this update, take a look at the full PDF version of our quarterly newsletter or, better still, sign up to receive our newsletters direct to your inbox!

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A Privileged Position

February 8, 2025 in Ministry, Missions, Prayer by Dave | No comments

One of the greatest aspects of our role is the opportunity to collaborate with the dedicated teams of global workers serving across the Northern Triad. We hold deep respect for our friends in Mexico, appreciate the growing connections with our colleagues in the Dominican Republic, and were truly impressed after meeting the Cuba Team for the first time at their field retreat in Branson, MO (January 27–30).


The Cuba Team: (left to right) Bob and Michelle Perez, Brad and Shelly Foltz, Dick and Cynthia Nicholson, Daniel and Therese* Irizarry, Damien and Mirla* Zinacola, David and Kelly Godzwa, Paul and Lana Duda (*not pictured)

Ministry in Cuba is challenging. Although it is not a closed country, global workers cannot reside there. Instead, they must schedule their travel months in advance and obtain a religious visa, which grants them access and authorization to carry out their work. Once on the ground, shortages of everything from electricity to gas and from construction materials to food require meticulous logistical planning. They must anticipate changes in circumstances, develop alternate courses of action, and stockpile necessary supplies for their projects. Nevertheless, this team, led by Daniel and Therese Irizarry, finds ways to facilitate the establishment of the church in this needy country.

Undoubtedly, their combined decades of service in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, as well as their time in Cuba, contribute to their effectiveness despite the difficult conditions. Their breadth of experience also gives them the versatility needed to navigate the obstacles they face. The group consists of skilled administrators, builders, church planters, community developers, evangelists, and mission strategists. However, their defining characteristic is their commitment to one another and their trust in the Lord.

When a recent series of unfortunate events unfolded, raising questions about the future of the group and its ministry, veteran worker Paul Duda’s words were exemplary. He stated, “I remember several times in the last 15 years when it sounded like Cuba could shut down—but God! Let’s keep praying; His will be done.”

Now, as we step into our role as area directors, coming alongside this remarkable team in support, we recognize there is a steep learning curve. Yet, we feel embraced by this gracious group who has been willing to share their experiences to help increase our effectiveness. And that guidance couldn’t come at a better time, especially as unprecedented opportunities for ministry must be balanced with significant personnel changes.

Will you pray for this team and for us as we reset for this new day in Cuba?

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The Hope of Advent

December 16, 2024 in Devotional, Ministry, Missions by Dave | Permalink

As we prepare this newsletter during Advent, we are reminded of the paradoxes in our world. While Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection ushered in the Kingdom of Heaven, its fullness remains unrealized. As believers, we rejoice in what we’ve experienced in Christ yet long for its complete manifestation in us and others.

These contrasts were evident during our recent travels to Mexico and Cuba. In Mexico (Nov. 9–15), we attended the biennial council of our national church partners. We celebrated progress, including new opportunities for church planting in the Laguna District and testimonies of students being discipled on campuses in Guanajuato and Mexico City. Yet, alongside these victories, we supported colleagues navigating complex challenges, praying for redemption in difficult situations.

Our first trip to Cuba (Dec. 3–5) to meet the national church leadership revealed both remarkable growth and significant struggle. The church is thriving, with small groups and baptisms multiplying rapidly. Yet, this growth is overshadowed by hardships—hurricanes, an earthquake, and an energy crisis—that leave families and ministries struggling to meet basic needs. Witnessing these extremes left us deeply moved, grappling with the tension of joy and suffering.

In such contradictions, we find hope in the words of the Apostle Paul. In 2 Corinthians 6:9–10, he describes being “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” His hope was rooted in the promise of Christ’s return, when his work to reconcile a lost world with its Creator would be vindicated. This is the hope of Advent—a hope that shapes our actions and sustains us as we labor for God’s Kingdom.

This Advent season, we thank you for your prayers and contributions that enable us to partner with missionaries and national churches in the Northern Triad. Please pray for the continued advancement of God’s Kingdom in our area and that, despite present challenges, we remain steadfast in hope and faithful to His mission.

Photo Captions:

  1. Mexico Global Workers gathered during the national church council in Guadalajara, Mexico
  2. In Cuba with education leaders Ariel Sánchez and his wife, Mayker (left), and Yban Cordovi (by Dave). Daniel Irizarry (center) was our guide.
  3. Short on resources, the Cuban church is resourceful, refurbishing outdated presses to print evangelism and discipleship materials. 

Note: this post is just a portion of what we share in our quarterly newsletter. If you’d like more information from the Godzwas or would like to print this update, take a look at the full PDF version of our quarterly newsletter or, better still, sign up to receive our newsletters direct to your inbox!

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Increasing Our Capacity

November 9, 2024 in Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Progress by Dave | Permalink

In our advocacy work, we’ve been sharing about the state of the mission. While we thank God for our movement’s tremendous growth, we’re humbled by the unfinished task and the more than 3 billion who have little to no access to the gospel. We realize that we cannot be content with the status quo. To rise to the challenge, we must increase our capacity.

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We’re glad to say this past month has given us reason to believe we’re progressing on multiple fronts. Welcoming new Global Workers (GWs), we’re increasing in number. Strategizing with fellow leaders, we’re retooling for greater effectiveness, and emphasizing prayer, we’re increasing our sensitivity.

Many hands make light work, so it was with pleasure that we joined the team that welcomed 27 new associate and several candidate GWs participating in Pre-Field Orientation (PFO) week in Springfield, MO (Oct. 13-18). We introduced the Bible In Ministry Competency to the group and confirmed a new worker for the Northern Triad who’s headed to central Mexico.

An old boss used to say, “Work smarter, not harder.” However, working smarter requires an arduous process called evaluation. So as Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) strives to increase our effectiveness, we’re learning to embrace it. Following PFO, we met with the Global Resource Training Team (GRTT) to advance the restructuring of initial GW training to increase relevance and reduce redundancy, while at the Global Leadership Summit (Oct. 22-27) we learned how AGWM as a whole is reinventing itself as a dynamically developing organization, providing GWs opportunities for growth at all levels.

Of course, without the Lord’s direction, even our best efforts would be in vain. Therefore, we’re taking more time for prayer, personally and corporately, to listen to Him and discern His will.

Yes, the need is great, but we’re increasing our capacity to meet it. Thanks for supporting us in our efforts!

Photo captions:

  1. During PFO Week in Springfield, MO, we welcomed new candidate GW, Liz Dyvig, to the Northern Triad. She’s preparing for ministry in central Mexico.
  2. Following our time at PFO, we gathered with the GRTT to evaluate and improve GW training.
  3. Prayer is a key part of all our events, including the Global Leadership Summit.

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Introducing the Northern Triad Area

September 14, 2024 in Mexico, Ministry, Missions, Progress by Dave | Permalink

After the release of our June newsletter, titled “Unfinished Business in Mexico City,” several people asked if our role in missions was changing. At the time, we reassured them that we were only leaving the field to start itineration. Little did we know how accurate their suspicions were—our role is indeed changing, dramatically.

Dave joined LAC Regional Director, David Ellis (right), to discuss the Northern Triad Area with Mexican Superintendent, Enrique Gonzalez, during a special trip to Mexico last month.

On Friday, June 19th, our Regional Director, David Ellis, pulled us into the storage closet of the Latin America Caribbean (LAC) Satellite Office (for lack of a better meeting room) to ask us if we would be willing to serve as directors of a newly formed area that would join Mexico with Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Of course, the question caught us completely off guard. At the time, we were preparing to teach the Bible to the nearly 200 global workers (GWs) who had gathered in Springfield, MO for Pre-Field Training. We certainly hadn’t contemplated a regional restructure of this nature!

However, as the reasons for the change were explained, our reaction shifted from speechlessness to agreement. Throughout his tenure, David Ellis aimed to restructure the LAC to eliminate one-country areas like Mexico in the interest of fostering cross-country collaboration and fellowship among GWs. However, the right configuration eluded him until this summer when Caribbean Area Directors, David and Kristen Speer, proposed merging Cuba and the Dominican Republic with Mexico. This would enable them to focus on opportunities in the 29 non-Spanish-speaking nations of their area without neglecting the important work in those Spanish-speaking islands. With our yes, the Northern Triad Area was conceived.

We say conceived because we’re still in the birthing process. While we’ve spent 18 years in Mexico, we’re still students of the people and their culture. Now, extending our leadership to these additional countries, virtually unknown to us, we feel a tremendous responsibility to learn and grow for the sake of the GWs we’ll be leading and the national churches with whom we’ll be collaborating. There are still many meetings to attend, teams to integrate, and relationships to form. The new structure will be formalized on October 1st, but the work will have only just begun.

Although we feel the burden of this new role, we’re not overwhelmed because we sense God’s direction and the backing of colleagues and friends like you. We’re confident that as our responsibility increases your prayers and support will rise to meet our needs in this critical season.

Note: this post is just a portion of what we share in our quarterly newsletter. If you’d like more information from the Godzwas or would like to print this update, take a look at the full PDF version of our quarterly newsletter or, better still, sign up to receive our newsletters direct to your inbox!

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Facilitating International Connections

August 10, 2024 in Mexico, Ministry, Missions by Dave | Permalink

Our role as Area Directors can be understood as “middle management,” a responsibility to which few aspire. And, to tell the truth, we wade through our fair share of emails and meetings. But please don’t think of our position as one of endless tedium. That’s certainly not the case, especially as we review our activities over the last several weeks. In fact, our vital “in-between” position is facilitating international connections.

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The first connection, the Mexican National Youth Conference, was months in the making. Last November, we reached out to Friedhelm Holthuis, the Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (A/G) of Germany on behalf of the leadership of the Mexican A/G, inviting him to be one of the principal speakers. When the event was celebrated this past week in Mérida, Yucatán, we had the privilege of hosting Friedhelm and his wife, Elke, as well as their Argentinian interpreters, Ivan and Emi Masalyka. These combined to bless more than 12,000 youth from all across Mexico with three evenings of challenging messages and anointed ministry. It was our pleasure to be in the middle of this tremendous event.

The second connection was a homecoming for us as our time in Mérida allowed us the opportunity to speak at our former home church, Centro Cristiano (CC) Gólgota. There, we mediated greetings from our family and fellow missionaries and encouragement from the Word of God.

The final, but certainly not the least of our connections involves our work of advocacy during our itineration year in the US. As we visit churches like Erie First Assembly, Orchard Beach Assembly, Smithville Family Worship Center, and Marshfield Assembly, we’re able to not only share the need, but also strategically direct prayers, support, and personnel to help fulfill the Great Commission in Mexico.

Thanks for your support as we facilitate international connections through this vital middle management position!

Photo Captions:

  1. Our Mexican National Youth Conference Team: speakers, Friedhelm and Elke Holthuis (middle) translators, Ivan and Emi Masalyka, and us!
  2. Being in Merida, we had the opportunity to minister in our former home church, CC Gólgota.
  3. We’re backed by local churches, as evidenced by this selfie with Marshfield Assembly.

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Report from the Road: MT/MR and Itineration

July 13, 2024 in Ministry, Missions, Support, Thanks by Dave | Permalink

Greetings from I-90 in Pennsylvania. We wanted to safely update you (no typing and driving!) on our last month’s activity in the US. Our main responsibility centered around Missionary Training (MT) in Springfield, MO. 191 global workers, preparing to serve in over 80 countries, gathered to begin their formation process in 6 key areas: Culture and Language, Life and Work, Spiritual Formation, Theology of Mission, Ministry in Context, and the area we facilitate, Bible in Ministry (BiM).

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Our BiM session, titled “The Key to the Story of the Scriptures,” taught together with fellow team member, Daryl Jump, featured interactive elements designed to help the new global worker understand not only what the Scriptures say but also how they work together around the person of Jesus to relate God’s big story of salvation. This understanding is foundational as they seek to cooperate with and carry forward that story in their countries of service.

A highlight of these two weeks of MT was receiving several new workers for Mexico. Danny and Kayla De Los Reyes (Mexico City), Micah and Laura Reed (Aguascalientes), Lizette Salazar (Mexico City), and Giuliana Acevedo (Guadalajara) were commissioned as Missionary Associates, while Aldo and Jennifer Wajajay (Oaxaca) were commissioned as fully-appointed missionaries one week later during Missionary Renewal (MR). We’re excited for them as they advocate for Mexico now and prepare for their ministry there in the near future.

Veteran Mexico Global Workers returning for MR were Noah and Melanie Lane and Ernie and Sandra Peacock. We’re thankful for the opportunity we had to encourage each other during that event.

Speaking of advocacy, our itineration was appropriately kicked off on July 7th in Independence, MO. We’re thankful for the tremendous hospitality of pastors Jerry and Tracy Hildebrand and the opportunities to connect with adults and children alike during Sunday services at Central Assembly.

As you read this message, we should be safely at our destination.  Nevertheless, we deeply appreciate your prayers and support as we continue our journey to raise workers and resources to complete the unfinished task of Mexico’s redemption. 

Photo captions:

  1. Dave displays Caravaggio’s depiction of the Supper at Emaus during our BiM Training, emphasizing the need to look at the Scriptures through the lens of Jesus.
  2. Kelly takes new Global Workers through the letter of James, tracing how the Sermon on the Mount profoundly influenced apostolic thought.
  3. We celebrated our first itineration service in Independence, MO with the Hildebrands.

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Unfinished Business in Mexico City

June 8, 2024 in Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Thanks by Dave | Permalink

Last month, we said goodbye to Mexico City (CDMX), our home and base of operations since September of 2021. As we planned and packed, said our farewells, and boarded the plane for Springfield, MO, we felt a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities we’d been given and the contributions we’d made. Nevertheless, we depart with a sober understanding of the unfinished business we leave behind.

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As we ministered in our last service at Casa de Dios, the storefront congregation pastored by Enoc Galván, we recognized our affection for our home church. This was where we regularly led worship, shared God’s Word, and prayed fervently for God’s move in Santa Úrsula, the neighborhood where the church is located. This was also a people from whom we’d received such tremendous hospitality and among whom we’d witnessed miracles.    

Similarly, as the ministers of Section 6 extended their hands to pray for us during our last meeting together, we reflected on the opportunities we’ve had to partner with them, preach in their churches, and encourage their congregations. These men and women have labored for the Lord and persevered in extreme circumstances. We’re honored to be considered their colleagues and receive their blessing.

Still, we can’t help but recognize how few are working to reach this city. Section 6 consists of only 6 churches in the Tlahuac and Itztapalapa municipalities with 2.2 million people. That’s over 366,000 people for each church to reach! City-wide, the Assemblies of God has only 52 churches among 9.2 million inhabitants*. Clearly, there is work to be done to increase the influence of the gospel message and the power of Pentecost in this megalopolis.

That’s why, as Dave prayed during the Spiritual Retreat, he asked the Lord to unite the congregations of CDMX in their work to reach the city.  We ask as well that He speed our return so we can rejoin our friends and resolve our unfinished business in Mexico City!

Note: this post is just a portion of what we share in our quarterly newsletter. If you’d like more information from the Godzwas or would like to print this update, take a look at the full PDF version of our quarterly newsletter or, better still, sign up to receive our newsletters direct to your inbox!

Photo captions:

  1. Saying goodbye to the congregation of Casa de Dios, our home church in Mexico City 
  2. Fellow ministers of Section 6 pray for us during our last meeting together.
  3. Dave was invited to pray for the ministers of Distrito Sur during the Spiritual Retreat.

*As a comparison, New Jersey has a population of 9.3 million and 228 Assemblies of God churches.

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The Effectiveness of Prayer

April 12, 2024 in Missions, Prayer by Dave | Permalink

Elijah was as human as we are and yet when he prayed fervently… —James 5:17

Phil caught Dave’s attention in the hallway. He was one of the new candidate missionaries seeking approval from the World Missions Board during the Spring Pre-field and Candidate Orientation (PFO/CO) Event, which took place March 9th-15th in Springfield, MO.

He said, “You prayed for me during General Council in August, and now I’m here to become a missionary to Paraguay!”

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Phil reminded Dave of how they met in the World Missions exhibit while his family was attending the Fine Arts Festival in another part of the convention center. He knew he was called to be a missionary, but his family wasn’t ready to take the next step. Praying together, Dave and Phil asked God to confirm His calling on the entire family, and there they were, just months later, committed to making disciples in Paraguay!

Prayer can be difficult. With our busy schedules, there seems to be so little time to intercede for our own needs, much less to pray for the nations and for workers to reach them, but we’re encouraged by the Scriptures, God answers the prayers of ordinary humans, even ours!

In addition to Phil and his wife Yariana’s calling, we’re seeing our 10.2 prayers (read Luke 10:2) being answered. During this PFO/CO, we welcomed 4 new global workers destined for Mexico—Crystal Lodico, working with youth, Jennifer and Aldo Wajajay, planting churches among the indigenous, and Melissa Sederwall reaching children. In all, 125 new missionaries participated in the week’s training. Keep pausing each day at 10:02 AM or PM and ask God to continue to send workers to Mexico and around the world.

We’re happy to say that God answers those personal requests as well. We’ve always sought more opportunities for ministry as a couple. When travel issues kept another team member from teaching during the main Bible in Ministry sessions. Kelly filled in and did a wonderful job!

Photo Captions:

  1. Dave prayed with Phil in the LAC General Council Exhibit in August of 2023. In March, he and his wife, Yariana, were approved as candidate missionaries to Paraguay.
  2. 10.2 prayers answered! The Wajajays (right), Melissa Sederwall (center), and Crystal Lodico (left) are new workers for Mexico.
  3. A suitable helper: Kelly stepped up to help facilitate the Bible in Ministry Competency.

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Working in the Hard Places

March 8, 2024 in Ministry, Missions, Progress by Dave | Permalink

Growing up in the nineties, we remember the famous CT Studd quote as presented by singer Steve Camp:

“Some people want to live within the sound of chapel bells, but I want to run a mission a yard from the gates of hell.”

As Mexico Area Directors, we’re honored to serve those who work in the hard places. Take places like Guadalajara, where Centro de Adoración a Jesus, the first Assemblies of God church in the city center was dedicated last month. Julio Cesar Andrade, the District Superintendent and event speaker, called it a difficult place. That was evident as both panhandling and prostitution could be observed from the building’s front windows. However, Rich DeMartino, the missionary church planter who founded the work, called it a lighthouse, a beacon to those facing disaster without its presence. We’re glad to have had a hand in establishing this new center of hope in Guadalajara, and we rejoice for its ministry.

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Mexico City is another, where colleagues, Paul and Sandy Kazim, have partnered with Projecto Vida Integral, a church ministering to the students of the local Teen Challenge Center and their families. They’re intervening in the lives of desperate people seeking liberation from life-controlling addictions. The Kazims hosted a meal to recognize the installation of its new pastor, Mariano Ramirez, for whom we had the honor to pray.

Whether in bustling urban centers or remote jungle villages, LAC global workers are planting new works and seeing lives changed in the hard places as last month’s Church Planters’ Dialogue in Managua, Nicaragua highlighted. Still, there are many more hard places yet to reach like Distrito Laguna, where the Mexican National Church asks for workers to catalyze outreach efforts, or the major cities of Mexico, languishing for the lack of church planting movements. We’re thankful for your support of us and others working in the hard places. Please keep praying, giving, and going with us until they are reached.

Note: this post is just a portion of what we share in our quarterly newsletter. If you’d like more information from the Godzwas or would like to print this update, take a look at the full PDF version of our quarterly newsletter or, better still, sign up to receive our newsletters direct to your inbox!

Photo captions:

  1. Dave and pastor Alfredo Trejo of Centro de Adoración a Jesus with fellow global workers, Joel Viera, Rich DeMartino, and Chris Abiuso
  2. Praying with the Kazims for Mariano Ramirez, pastor of Proyecto Vida Integral
  3. LAC Missionaries present for the Church Planters’ Dialogue in Managua, Nicaragua

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