My Unforgettable Mission Trip to Mexico With Ps Josh Campbell

My Unforgettable Mission Trip to Mexico With Josh Campbell

In April of 2024 Ps Josh Campbell visited our Missions Churches in Mexico to provide support to the teams and see first-hand the incredible work happening through City Impact Church Mexico, read on to hear from Ps Josh about his experience.

When I first arrived in Mexico, I was immediately struck by how different the scenery was from New Zealand. The landscape was brown and dry, with cacti dotting the horizon and deep blue oceans providing a stark contrast. There was so little green! The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with busy people, energy and the fast-paced rhythm of the Spanish language. It was both thrilling and overwhelming. Where our churches are located on the coast, I noticed a striking contrast between the touristy areas with big beachside resorts and the more impoverished regions just a street or two away, where dirt roads and shanty houses dominate. The heat, dust and dryness were pervasive, adding to the sense of a place far removed from the lush, green landscapes of home.

What were some of the most memorable experiences or moments from your trip?
One of the highlights for me was always meeting the people and hearing about their lives. It was incredible to see how God and the local church had made a tangible impact on them. And of course, I have to mention the food—Mexican cuisine is no joke; it’s absolutely amazing!

What specific activities or projects did you engage in to support the local church in Mexico?
Our time was spent filming various locations and testimonies, checking in on the progress of ongoing projects at the three campuses we support and preaching at church services and leadership meetings. We also participated in community outreaches and spent time connecting with the pastors, listening to their vision for reaching their towns and cities for Christ.

How did the local community and church members react to the support and assistance you provided?
They seemed to genuinely love having us there, connecting with us on a personal level. It felt like deepening those relationships made a real difference.

What did you learn about the Mexican culture and community life during your time there?
The Mexican people are incredibly passionate—about their culture, their food and their faith. However, there are significant issues with poverty, corruption and gang violence that many of the church members are connected to in some way. Their heart is to make a difference in their communities and on a fundamental level, the struggles they face are similar to ours. People are searching for purpose, love and acceptance and looking for God if He’s real. It’s a universal need and Jesus is the answer, no matter the culture or environment.

How did the mission trip impact you personally?
This trip made me realize how blessed we are to live in a beautiful, green nation with clean streets, fresh drinkable water and relative safety. It also opened my eyes to the fact that God is at work across the nations in ways we may not always see. Despite the differences in culture and environment, all humans are searching for the same thing and Jesus is the answer.

What do you wish that City Impact Church members in NZ knew/understood about the Missions work in Mexico?
I want our church members in New Zealand to understand that the money we give isn’t just going into a void. The seed we sow is making a real difference in the lives of down-to-earth, sold-out-for-Christ people in Mexico who are passionate about reaching their communities. There are countless lost and broken people who need to hear about a Savior. The need is infinite and with more financial support, the churches there can do even more. We are so blessed to live where we live and we have a responsibility to use that privilege to help those we can in Mexico. Even if we can’t journey there ourselves, we can send a seed that will result in real people meeting Jesus, finding freedom and being rescued from truly tragic backgrounds.

As we continue exploring this topic, we’re unpacking a key tension in the Christian life: why we still struggle with sin even though Jesus has already defeated it. Read the notes below to understand what Christ has done at the cross, what we experience today, and how God is shaping us through the ongoing journey of sanctification.

The Power of Sin

Overview
The Defeat of Sin’s Power
The Struggle with Sin’s Influence
Why We Still Struggle With Sin
The Victory We Can Have Over Sin
Conclusion

Overview

Many of us understand that when Jesus gave His life on the cross, He defeated the power and authority of sin. He became sin in our place so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Yet, it’s clear that sin is still present in the world, and many Christians still struggle with temptation and sinful habits. This can feel confusing. If sin has been defeated in Christ, why do we still struggle with it?

In this blog, we’ll explore:

The defeat of sin’s power at the cross
The ongoing influence of sin
Why believers still struggle today
How we can walk in victory over sin

The Defeat of Sin’s Power

At the cross, Jesus didn’t just deal with sin emotionally or symbolically. He broke its authority and dominion over believers completely.

We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:6–11 explains this clearly:

Our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

This is a decisive spiritual reality for everyone in Christ:

Sin no longer rules over us
We are no longer under its authority
We are now alive to God in Christ Jesus

Before salvation, sin wasn’t just something we did. It was something that ruled us. Paul uses the image of slavery to explain this:

“You were once slaves of sin…” (Romans 6:17–18)

A slave does not have full autonomy. In the same way, sin shaped our desires, decisions, and direction before Christ.

Freedom through Christ’s exchange.

Jesus broke that system through His death and resurrection:

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Through Christ’s sacrifice:

We are freed from sin’s power
We are transferred into righteousness
Sin is no longer our master

But this leads to an important question: If sin is defeated, why do we still struggle?

The Struggle with Sin’s Influence

Although sin’s power has been broken, its presence and influence remain in the world.

Sin is no longer our master, but it still tries to tempt, lure, and influence us. We still live in a fallen world where spiritual battle is real.

Even Jesus experienced temptation, yet He never sinned.

Scripture is clear that believers must still actively resist sin:

Ephesians 6:10–12 – We wrestle against spiritual forces
1 Peter 5:8 – The devil seeks to devour
James 1:13–14 – Temptation comes through desire

We are still in a spiritual battle

While sin no longer rules us, it still:

Appeals to our flesh
Uses external influences
Seeks to draw us away from God

However, sin will not always remain. Scripture promises a future where it will be completely removed:

“He will wipe away every tear… death shall be no more…” (Revelation 21:4)

Why We Still Struggle With Sin

To understand the tension we live in, we need to understand the three stages of salvation (Ordo Salutis):

Justification

We are saved instantly

Freed from sin’s power
Declared righteous in Christ

2. Sanctification

We are being saved progressively

Freed from sin’s influence over time
Becoming more like Christ

3. Glorification

We will be saved fully in the future

Completely free from sin’s presence

Where we live now

We currently live in sanctification:

Sin’s power is broken
Sin’s influence is still present
Sin’s presence will one day be removed

State of sin vs acts of sin

A helpful distinction:

State of sin: We are no longer separated from God
Acts of sin: We still sometimes fall and miss the mark

Being saved does not mean we never sin again. It means sin no longer defines our identity or separates us from God.

We are:

Fully forgiven in Christ
Still being transformed in daily life

The Victory We Can Have Over Sin

We are not powerless against temptation. Scripture gives us practical ways to walk in victory.

1. Identify the sin

You cannot overcome what you refuse to acknowledge.

2. Understand there is no condemnation

“There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Conviction leads us to God. Condemnation pushes us away from Him.

3. Recognise triggers

Identify patterns and remove environments that fuel temptation.

4. Repent quickly

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just…” (1 John 1:9)

Don’t delay restoration.

5. Bring sin into the light

Confession breaks secrecy. Sin grows in darkness and weakens in the light.

6. Remember your identity

You fight sin from freedom, not for freedom.

“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

7. Rely on the Holy Spirit

Change is a process empowered by God, not human willpower alone.

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…” (Philippians 1:6)

Conclusion

Jesus has defeated sin, but sin has not yet been fully destroyed.

That is why:

We are free from sin’s power
We still face its influence
We still experience the process of sanctification

One day, at glorification, sin will be gone completely. Until then, we live in the tension of already free, but still being transformed.

The good news is this:

Sin does not define you
Sin does not separate you from God
Sin does not have authority over your life

You are justified, being sanctified, and one day will be glorified.

And in the meantime, the Holy Spirit is faithfully shaping you into the image of Christ.

Flourish

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