Amazing México City Weekend / Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jesus (Gaultiere)

THE NEWSLETTER OF IBTM
with Douglas Jacoby

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12 November 2025

I’m back (Atlanta) from Mexico City, after a truly encouraging weekend: the National Teaching Seminar, the graduation of the Spanish division of Mountain Theological Seminary (Seminario Theológico de la Montaña)—masters degree—and an electrifying Sunday service. Greater Mexico City is a conurbation of some 22 million souls—nearly the size of São Paulo, though smaller than Tokyo and Shanghai. It was my honor to teach during the seminar, address our new graduates, and preach on Sunday to an attentive and grateful audience of 1300. The driving force behind the entire weekend—and the masters program, part of Proyecto Esdras, that is having a great impact in Latin America—is my friend Arturo Elizarrarás. Arturo is a tireless worker, a faithful brother, an insightful friend, and the paragon of a Christian servant.

Credit also must go to Humberto Vargas, who worked with a team of metropolitan leaders to produce a content-rich and inspiring Sunday service. In the fellowship if which I am part, Mexico City is the largest functioning single congregation globally (about 3600 in Sunday attendance).

On Sunday, in the spirit of Eph 4:11, there were 11 appointments: 3 new evangelists, 3 new women’s leaders, 2 fresh elders, 3 newly minted teachers (and 2 more in another region of the church). I’ve never seen elders, evangelists, and teachers all appointed on the same day! Teamwork was strong indeed, reminding me of the Antioch church (Acts 13:1-3). This is all the more remarkable given the city’s immense size, violence, and persistent problems with the drug cartels. As with the church at Ephesus, Jesus could easily say of Mexico City, "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary" (Rev 2:3.)

“From my perspective, the graduation of the Spanish language cohort was a dream come true. We appreciate very much that Dolores Synovec [MTS] and professors Robert Carrillo and Douglas Jacoby were present and serving in any way possible. We missed you, Glenn [Giles, President, MTS], but your vision and dream were honored this weekend.” — Arturo Elizarrarás, Spanish MA Teaching Assistant and Program Coordinator

    

     

1. In graduation processional with Robert Carrillo, Vice President, Mountain Theological Seminar.  2. My seminar class— Transformation in the Midst of Dark Times (insights from the 4th century).  3. I enjoyed preaching the sermon: “Gloria en la Iglesia."  (Living in the UK, I have few chances to use my Spanish.)  4. Appointment of elders. 5 . Our smiling graduates, from Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and (mainly) Mexico. 6. Appointment of teachers.

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Surprising Lessons on Leadership from Jesus
by Bill Gaultiere

A few years ago I read a Christian leadership book that didn’t mention Jesus once. Yet most leaders I know (even those who aren’t Christians) respect Jesus and are open to learning from him.

Kristi and I just finished leading a Soul Shepherding retreat on Relationally Healthy Leadership with a wonderful group of pastors, missionaries, and organizational leaders. Together we looked to the Lord Jesus Christ as the very best leader who is with us and helps us become more loving and fruitful in our work and ministry. Here are a few surprising lessons on leadership from Jesus that came from our time together.  KEEP READING