Five Questions for John Gilbert
Interviewed by Justin Nash
John Gilbert serves as the Latin American Area Director for Advent Christian General Conference and the director of 99+1 Ministries. In 1995, John retired from the U.S. Navy after 27 years of service and almost immediately started volunteering part time with a medical ministry that served Mexico, which led to John and his wife, Bonnie, being sent out by the North Park Advent Christian Church as missionaries in December 1995.
In 1997, John and Bonnie took a field assignment in San Felipe on the Baja Peninsula. In the year 2000, they started 99 + 1 Ministries, which is primarily a support ministry for other churches and ministries in Mexico. 99 + 1 helps churches reach the lost and those that have wandered from the faith. Most of their ministry right now is social ministry. They have an assisted living center for elderly men and an adult daycare/social center for the seniors in San Felipe.
In 2008 John was appointed as the Latin American Area Director and has served in that capacity up until today.
The biggest thing we've gotten right is our ability to develop the relationships and maintain a solid testimony to the people, which has opened so many doors into other areas.
What's the one big thing you got right?
JG: Probably the biggest thing we’ve gotten right is our ability to develop the relationships and maintain a solid testimony to the people, which has opened so many doors into other areas. Well, those that know me know I’m very social to begin with. But I have looked for opportunities to enter into each church as well through the people, through the pastors to the ministerial alliances. But also just by meeting people on the street and starting conversations with them, which will lead to some developments later on.
What's the one big thing you got wrong?
JG: Probably a lot of them, but the biggest thing is I think that we lacked not only some of the language skills and the cultural details of going into a different culture. Fortunately, the people I was working with were very gracious and they had permission to straighten me out. I think the thing that would have prepared us better was to be able to spend time in country under a seasoned missionary or seasoned pastor. That could have helped point out things that would have prevented some of the original errors that we made.
What brings you the most joy in ministry?
JG: That’s an easy one. The thing that brings me the most joy is watching other people succeed. When you’ve been working with someone, mentoring someone, and you see them get to that point where they’re on their own and they don’t need you anymore. Even in the military, my philosophy was always “work yourself out of a job,” and it is just so much fun. I’ll use little Dany.* He’s been with us since he was born, and on our last trip to Honduras he was translating, preaching, teaching and doing his devotionals, and so it’s just been fun to watch him in particular. But the rest of the staff as well was watch them grow and succeed.
What advice would you give someone in a situation similar to yours?
Number one, find a good, good mentor. Find someone whose heart is really with the people. Spend time with them. Be in situations where you can learn.
JG: I think, number one, find a good, good mentor. Find someone whose heart is really with the people. Spend time with them. Be in situations where you can learn. Don’t hide yourself within your ministerial limits. Venture out to be with the people, with the community. To be visible means to be accessible, to be accessible means to be successful in reaching out to the people that you want to minister. And I think that will better prepare you to then launch out on your own, whatever the Lord has called you to do.
What is the one thing you wish you were better at as a pastor?
JG: That’s a tough one. One of the hardest things for me is to maintain priorities as priorities. It’s really easy for me to let something that may not be a higher priority, but touches the heart, take me out of my priority setting. I’ve gotten better at that over the years and at readjusting that priority list. But sometimes in that same vent, I’ve got my priorities for the day and some crisis occurs. Then all of a sudden my priority list is out the window and then I have to get those priorities back in check.
A beautiful example is that one day I was asked to come down to the police station to translate for a Canadian kid. I had my entire day planned out for a group coming in. So to me it was, okay, yeah, I’ll go do this. But the whole time I’m thinking about my priorities that I need to get done before this group comes in. So, trying to keep focus between reality, crises and priorities probably would be the hardest area for me to make sure I stay on track with.
*Dany is the son of Daniel and Carla, two foundational team members at 99 + 1. John and Bonnie consider Dany, his older sister and younger brother their grandchildren.
Justin Nash, “Five Questions for John Gilbert” The Witness, Fall 2019