The Work is Just Started!

Below is an insightful newsletter from pastor J.P.F., of Tangancícuaro/Purépero, Mich., México, to the church members of the Highland Baptist Church in Vicksburg, MS. Please consider praying for the needs listed at the end of this letter.

We would consider it a blessing to speak with you about the many opportunities available in our region. Pease contact us at the address listed on the blog and you can be part of the great work that God is doing among the people of Middle America and the Caribbean.

Scroll past the letter to see the photos of God's workers and the beautiful scenery of Purépero.

And now the letter from the pastor to the saints of Highland Baptist Church:

"About the work in Purépero let me tell you that our church (a team of approximately 16 people) has been there each Thursday since the Operation Go project last October. We have started several (15 more or less) Bible studies in different houses. The church has now named a missionary couple and rented a house in Purépero where they can live and meet with new believers.

Many of the people that first accepted a visit changed their minds. We understand that this happens, but why. The reasons are many. Some families pushed their relatives away from us, some neighbors caused intimidation that resulted in a change of mind, and others took the Gospel packet to the priest and asked for permission to receive us. Of course, he said, "No." Others thought that it was something else, and when they understood the purpose, they refused to receive us. However, we believe that those who did accept our visit will be the seeds for a new church. In fact, a lot of people that we did not see have made a joyful decision for Christ in these Bible studies.

Please, keep praying for us, because here in Mexico it is not so easy to plant a church out of nothing, but we know that it is not our work, it is God's work.

The steps we have to follow are these:

• Keep praying. We have started in our church a 40-day-fasting and praying for the work in Purépero and for other things.
• Open more Bible studies at homes.
• Visit the mayor to share the Gospel and to give him a Bible.
• We want to affirm and involve the local believers, and to offer medical services, counseling services and evangelism. I have two physicians, and some others to confirm.
• Pray for the missionary couple. It is about a 35-minute drive to Purépero where the couple lives. Ask God to keep them safe and healthy as they serve Him. Ask Him to increase their stamina and to give them urgency in their work as they share the Word.
• In Michoacán State there are 113 counties, 87 of them are without a Baptist church. Purépero is one of them. There is a huge need for prayer that God will work in a mighty way and send workers to help spread the Gospel in this area of His world so others will hear the Truth and the presence of Baptist churches will increase.
• Once this mission is consolidated, involve the youths of our region to organize holiday Bible schools, and evangelistic activities to support them on specific dates.

As you can see, the work is just starting. Your support for the "foundation" was very valuable and your reward will be waiting for you. Please, don't stop praying for us that God will supply all the needs to reach this goal.

God bless you more and more."

Sharing Christ,

José P.F.
Pastor PIB
Tangancícuaro

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Fuente de Agua Viva is a wonderful Mexican Baptist Church led by a special pastor, who is also a professor at the seminary on Lomas Verdes in Mexico City. Pastor A. invited his seminary students to join other workers to pass out Gospels and to share Jesus, with some, for the very first time.

While four teams of future pastors and Christian leaders of Mexico evangelized an area near the city, the church set up a "Free Hair Cut" tent in a neighborhood park. Many young mothers and children took advantage of this service.

The people will fondly remember the Fuente Mexican Baptist Church for offering free haircuts, but also for sharing the precious name of Christ. To God be the glory for the work that went forth in His name through the combined efforts of God's workers.

To learn more about volunteering on short-term mission trips, please contact us at the address above.

Mission Trip to Guatemala is a Success!

A Guatemalan Baptist Church, Operation GO leaders, and two American churches, partnered to distrubute over 400 Gospels of Luke to people anxious to hear the Good News. It was a wonderful week of fellowship with 40 decisions made for Christ and several re-dedications reported.

The volunteers began their trip by worshiping with Pastor Benedicto Xata and his congregation. Singing, testimonies, and a Gospel message by Pastor Paul Murphy (team leader and pastor of First Baptist Church Arab, Alabama) helped mold the group together for a positive relationship between the volunteers and church workers.

Door-to-door witnessing, evangelizing, distribution of the Gospel of Luke, and praying with the people, was all part of God's plan. Many people in Pueblo shared with the team, "We are Catholic but we know why you are here…you have a message from God for us, and we want to listen to what you have to say."

The missionaries who worked with the volunteers stated, "We enjoyed tremendously the fellowship and labor of love this team presented to the people in Guatemala, and to both of these churches. To God be the glory and praise for it all, and may it encourage us to continue in the faith with even greater effort."

Can you visualize yourself traveling to Guatemala to help finish the task? Change the face of lostness…contact us for more informaiton and learn how you can reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

FBC-Charleston Shares Highlights of Trip to Mexico

John Price of FBC-Charleston, Mississippi shares below how the Lord used an enthusiastic team of volunteers from his church.

"Our team of five volunteers traveled to Tula, Hidalgo (about an hour-and-a-half north of Mexico City) to work with IMB missionaries D & P W., and a Mexican church planter. We distributed 3096 copies of the Gospels of Matthew and John.

Some of their highlights of the trip:

• As a pastor, I was thrilled to see the people of our church support the volunteers with their prayers, money, and encouragement. Volunteer mission trips can mobilize the entire church in support of missions and not just the volunteers who make the trip.

• It is exciting to see volunteers from our church grow spiritually over the course of a week as they prepare for the trip.

• One of the highlights of this trip was a Backyard Bible Club we held at a public park on Tuesday evening. As we distributed gospels on Monday and Tuesday, we also distributed invitations to the Backyard Club, which we advertised as an English class with a Bible story. We had no idea what kind of turnout we would have. At the appointed time, almost nobody was there but the volunteers and Mexican Baptists, but soon children and their parents began arriving and God enabled us to share the gospel with children and their parents. The church planter we were working with was thrilled to be able to reach his community in this way.

• Every time I go on a mission trip, I make new friends. What a joy it is to get to know believers like Pastor G. We don't look alike. We come from different cultures. We don't speak the same language, but we share a common faith in Christ and that makes all the difference."

Come to the MAC region and see how the Lord will use your talents as you volunteer your time for His glory. Contact us at the address listed above and we will be thrilled to connect you with our field personnel for a journey of a lifetime!

“JESUS LOVES ME” is a universal truth!

"Volunteering with Operation GO gives me more blessings than any other service I do throughout the year," writes Karen Gudde, a Spanish teacher who went on her second Operation GO trip to Mexico. Several other members from Jefferson Street Baptist Church, Eureka, Kansas, joined Karen on this 2008 journey with God. These faithful workers for the kingdom are already planning a third trip next June.

"One volunteer was 85 years old and another was 75 years old! No one is too old for this "job." They passed out gospels with the best of them," exclaims Karen.

Are you flexible when plans have to change at the last minute? This can often be the case with volunteer teams. Fortunately, the volunteers from J.S.B.C. had a great attitude and did not allow schedule changes to deter their focus or vision to share Christ's love.

David W., and his family, IMB missionaries working in Mexico City, hosted the volunteers and helped work out new plans when the old ones fell through. They knew that the team had former relations with Ramiro Martinez, a local pastor of a Baptist church, and that it would be a blessing for the church members and the team to rekindle their friendship. The missionaries organized new plans with the church and the team surged ahead without delay.

Pastor Ramiro agreed to be the director of Vacation Bible School and he even wore a hula skirt to go along with the Hawaiian theme. Karen shares, "Pastor Ramiro has a dynamic personality and is a real people person. It seems people of all ages warm up to him right away."

When the children sang Jesus Loves Me, even the mothers who stayed for Bible school joined in. "It was absolutely precious to see this as none of these children were "churched" and the mothers also did not attend church," said Karen.

Many Mexican families attended worship services while the team was in town. Pointing to the volunteers, they exclaimed, "I came to church because YOU invited me." Pastor Ramiro Martinez wrote Karen and the team (after they left Mexico) to let them know that some of the mothers and kids are still attending his church. Praise Jesus!

Praying, sharing your faith and planting seeds can result in long-lasting experiences for God's workers and the people they reach. People reaching out to people through the Holy Spirit…can anything be more gratifying?

Do you have a passion to share Christ with others? Contact us at the addresses listed to the left under "Other Volunteer Opportunities" and we will connect you with IMB missionaries who are praying for volunteers to come and assist with their ministries. Will you come to the MAC region and make a difference in the lives of others through the power of God?

A pharmacist seeks the face of Jesus after receiving the Gospel of John!

International Mission Board Operation GO missionary, Jim R., needed to find a pharmacy to purchase medicine for a volunteer who had an aching neck. Locating a pharmacy nearby, Jim went in to make the purchase. When the druggist saw Jim, he immediately opened his copy of the Gospel of John, which he had received the previous day at his house, and began to ask questions.

Jim shares, "I noticed that he had answered most of the questions in all five lessons. We used the references and found the answers. One question in lesson five was "What does Jesus ask of you?" We found the answer to be "Follow Me." He asked what that means and we talked about it. Then he said, "I guess that means 'Obey Him." Then he turned to the page with the "sinner's prayer" and showed me that he had already filled in the information and signed it indicating that he had accepted Jesus as his Savior. I found the pastor and sent him back to talk with the druggist. The pastor spent about 15 minutes with him and then told me that the druggist said he would come to church Sunday, even though he lives in Puruarán, 45 minutes from Tacámbaro."

Volunteers working with Mexican Baptists and Operation GO are changing the face of lostness. Their faithful planting and discipling for the Lord is reaching the Mexican people who desperately need prayer and salvation.

What does Jesus ask of YOU? Is God challenging you to follow Him into the harvest fields of Middle America and the Caribbean to share the Good News with those who have never heard?

God's IMB missionaries cannot do it alone. They need your help. How will you respond to His call?

We thank the Lord for the Mexican Baptists from the Primera Iglesia Bautista (First Baptist Church) Bethania, Tacambaro, Michoacán, who joined volunteers from Southside Baptist Church and Center Ridge Baptist Church, Yazoo City, Mississippi, to saturate four neighboring towns of Tacambaro with the Gospel of John. One of the nationals they visited was the pharmacist who is now their brother in Christ. We are grateful to these faithful followers who put God first and said, "Yes," when he called.

The team delivered 2,265 Operation GO packets and the project resulted in 156 requested Bible studies. The pastor hopes to plant churches in at least three of these towns.

Christ has a plan for the Mexican people and you can be part of this work. Come and share God's plan of salvation as you engage with missionaries, Mexican Baptists and other volunteers. Your impact will make an eternal difference!

We invite you to contact us at the addresses listed above to the left side under "For Other Volunteer Opportunities". It will change your life forever!

Pray that the peoples of Middle America and the Caribbean will be hungry for spiritual answers and the gospel.

Laborers plant long-lasting seeds

Jack and Sheri T., missionaries with the International Mission Board, followed up on a past mission project by Midway Baptist Church in Wichita, Kansas. Midway sent a team of volunteers to work with Operation GO Mexico a few years ago to distribute the gospel door-to-door in an area of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Have the seeds that OP GO and the team planted taken root? Read on to see the fruits of their efforts:

• Over 901 visits made to national homes since the project took place
  
• 4 Bible studies with approximately 18 attend
  
• 50 baptisms held
  
• 1 church to be admitted into the convention – 120 adults regularly attend
  
• 142 new believers
  
• 3 additional churches are in formation
  
• 1 new church plant
  
• countless people have been discipled to be church leaders
  
• 4 deacons ordained
  
• 1 discipled to be a missionary at a new church
  
• FBC of Brownsville and I.B. Casa Blanca are now the Strategy Churches for Northern Tamaulipas

Jack and Sheri heard a sweet story during their investigation. A woman came to a Mexican Baptist pastor and asked for forgiveness. She apologized for not seeking assistance before she started a house church that now has 15 attending. When asked what material she was using to disciple the people, she commented, "The same material you used to disciple us." Our missionaries praise God for this rapid church reproduction!

Praise Jesus for the way He uses short and long-term volunteers to help spread His kingdom in the Middle America and Caribbean Region.

We appreciate our volunteers beyond measure!

• Thank you for coming to our region to give of your time and to share your faith to those who have never heard about the true gift of salvation through Christ Jesus.
  
• Thank you for your faithful prayers.
  
• Thank you for supporting our missionaries through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Do you have a passion for Christ and want to share it with others? For volunteer opportunities, use the contact information to the left of the column under "For Other Volunteer Opportunities."