If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing...(1 Cor. 13:2b)

Current Action

Mountain Movers missionaries Wayne and Shelly Campbell look at themselves as servants on a mission. They currently train and assist pastors to build protestant churches and ministries in the Yucatan area. Because of lack of funds, pastors work for free, and many of the churches have no buildings. They are also currently evaluating feasible business opportunities for the indigenous people in order to alleviate the extreme poverty that is prevalent.

Mountain Movers Three-Year Prospective
- A letter from Wayne Cambell -

Dear friends,
Three years ago, on July 4th we spent our first night in Mexico as missionaries. We know that this number is significant in our work, but we are not sure how as of yet. It almost seems surreal sitting here looking out over the town of Cancun. While this is a beautiful place, it is also full of needs. Shelly and I have put together a few thoughts of our lessons learned.

Most importantly, we need to give credit where credit is due. First of all, and of course the most important, we’re thankful to the Lord and His abounding grace and mercy. If it were not for that, none of our work would have a chance.

Second, we must thank our home church, Harbor Point Community Church, and its pastor Dane Yarbrough. Their support through relationship and prayer has been substantial in all we have done.

Third, we cannot go on without thanking Mountain Movers International. When we first heard the Lord and His call, we were introduced to Wayne Hamit and in that moment we were tied to his heart. Wayne encouraged us and prayed for us through the hardest time of any missionary—before they really leave. This would have been enough for praise, but every time we have had a problem or questions, Wayne drops everything and helps us. Case in point, we recently had our transmission go out on our van that we use for everything we do. Within 30 minutes of an email going out, Mountain Movers sent us the money we needed for repairs. Misty Edwards sings a song ‘Jesus, Here I Am, Your Favorite One,’ which is about our relationship with God—and in a similar way, even though I know that Mountain Movers helps thousands of people, I feel like we are their favorite one!

What we have learned in three years is what NOT to do …
You cannot have an effective long-term mission without building relationships. If you are paying people to do the work, then you are nothing but an employer. If you are trying to delegate without establishing relationships and without partnership, the people will have no loyalty. Neither one can work from what we have seen.

You cannot live above the people you are working with. It is necessary to live the same way your partners live. Partners are equal. We have realized how significant that some of the little things we do are making us a part of people’s lives in this area. For example, you wouldn’t believe the respect I’ve gained when people heard I rode the bus to work each day like they do. Over a year ago, people were also shocked when we stayed through hurricane Wilma and through the rebuilding period. Although it has been tough at times, it has been invaluable to be able to identify with their struggles and their world.

An indigenous family and their home.

You have to care about the long-term and big-picture effect of what you are doing. You can evangelize every day, but without pastors that have churches with true discipleship, leadership, and relationship with the missionary, it does little good. What I have seen with the poor in Mexico is similar to Pavlov’s theory of the salivating dog. If you go to reach out to the poorer parts of the city, people will start to gather to see what you are going to give them. If you go to their door, the kids will ask you what you are going to give them to go to church. We have to train pastors and help them establish benevolence in their church—not take it on as our mission. The real problem is that ‘missions’ has been a money-making deal in Mexico. Short-term missions have boomed in this country, and people are willing to pay a lot of money so they can help the poor and do something outside of themselves. Even though done with good intentions, at times it is an exploitation of the poor—with not much lasting effect. We have learned the importance of being part of, and residing in, the community to bring about changes in people’s lives. While there is always some value in short-term missions, the commitment of long-term missions opens more doors for service with opportunities to witness.

We have also learned that humility is the greatest virtue that you can walk in. With it, you can teach, partner, help, and receive help from others.
I pray you can hear our hearts.

In Christ’s service,

Wayne Campbell