Equipped Spiritually, Physically and Emotionally Results in Success on the Field

What happens when a volunteer team arrives fully prepared with a strong team leader? God uses them to His full capacity to reach those who have never heard the Truth.

Missionary Verna T. worked with six members of Bear Creek Baptist Church, Cypress, TX, along with about 23 Mexican Baptists from IB Elienai (a large Mexican Baptist Church) to saturate a very rural area in San Miguel. Their objective was to facilitate ongoing efforts of four families in San Miguel who have a small house church. San Miguel is in a more rural area with no evidence of other Baptist churches or missionaries.

The Mexican Baptist volunteers traveled 45 minutes each morning to do Gospel Outreach with the Bear Creek workers. The result was 11 Bible Studies requested 44 visits requested and 87 salvations that the workers from Elienai will follow up and disciple.

Missionary Verna T states:

"Pastor Ezequiel of Elienai trains his deacons well and is committed to planting new churches and working together with small house churches into a greater work to reach the people of San Miguel for the Lord.

The team came well equipped spiritually, physically, and emotionally to serve because of the preparation offered them by team leader, Jeff Hastings. This was a fun group that was spiritually mature with much to offer. They built warm relationships with church members at San Miguel and we pray will return next year.

While the small community was celebrating "San Miguel", with the Catholic square and a portion of the town blocked from traffic, these teams quietly worked the streets, going door-to-door sharing Christ.

In all our humanity, we might have said that a house church of only four families was not ready for an Operation GO Project. How would transportation be provided for all with only one Dodge Ram IMB van? How would we bridge the main highway to work across the railroad tracks to reach the greater San Miguel community? Where would we meet and how would we be fed? God planned it all and the fruit is all His.

When people who love the Lord and love each other enough to travel and reach out to neighbors for Jesus, God does amazing things. Thanks be to God for pastors who step out on faith to encourage missions, encourage the building of house churches, and take their time to train up and teach their own church members how to share the Gospel. I love it when a plan comes together!? To God be the glory and we praise Him for letting us participate in His works."

Pray and ask your church to get involved with Operation GO and help saturate other areas of Mexico that have no presence of the Lord. We are all responsible for spreading the Gospel. Missionaries cannot handle this massive task alone. The Lord will bless you for your willingness to serve. Could there be any better feeling in your heart than to know you went to the ends of the earth to proclaim His Word?

Contact us and we will see that you connect with the on-going work in the Middle America and Caribbean region.

Children Receptive to the Truth after Attending Bible School

Pastor Gabriel and his wife Laura are church planters in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico. They have worked with the Mexican Baptist Convention in the state of Hidalgo for several years, and hold services weekly in their home. They wanted to build relationships with even more of their neighbors, but needed help to accomplish this task.

The Lord answered Pastor Gabriel's need by sending five members of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, MS, to work with him and several Operation GO missionaries. The goal of the trip was to saturate an area with the Gospel and search for people not affiliated with any church yet open to learning about the Bible.

During the week, over 3,000 Gospels were distributed, and FBC Charleston invited the children of Colnia de Los Maestros to a mini Bible school so they could learn about Jesus. Praise God, after the message, 25 children accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. It was a wonderful week of building relationships between the pastor and his neighbors.

Aching backs and sore knees (from walking steep trails and hiking over rugged terrain) did not deter the volunteers from accomplishing their task. Even though their Spanish was limited, they boldly shared the Truth so the people could see the Light.

Join us in praying that the new believers will find the courage to share their faith so others will know God's touch and have the opportunity to receive His love.

Come to the MAC region and help impact lives. Contact information is on the top left of the page.

An Exciting Update from Brother P. – Purepero, Mexico

"Thanks to God for our 21st Anniversary! It was a grand celebration and many of the new believers were present for the first time, praising our God in the church, including a group of brothers from Purepero. We are continuing to work in Purepero. Thanks to God, the new believers continue getting stronger and every day we are surprised by God in the advance of His work. We continue praying for our missionary Benjamin's family, as well as for the work in this city, and that God will provide a meeting place and economic support for the work. Let's keep giving our offerings in Sunday School; it will be 100% mission offering for the work in Purepero. Don't forget each Sunday to give it to your teacher or leader. Put your offering aside during the week. Pray for the town of Purepero and it government leaders, for the missionary from our church in this place. What a Blessing! Some of the brothers from Purepero came to the church for the first time and attended an evangelistic service. The photo above is our missionary Benjamin with his wife Jeaneth and their little girl Ariadna. Recounting these 21 years we can see the following: 1. Three pastors have been called by the Lord from our church to minister in other congregations. 2. A missionary with pastoral work to plant a new church in Purepero, Michoacan has arrived. 3. There are three churches organized in as many other counties, one more planted, and a new work in these days in Purepero, Michoacan. 4. Bible study groups established in the city and in three neighboring counties. The Gospel has been preached in all of our surrounding communities, not without opposition and even persecution. Thanks to God in the celebration of this last anniversary we can see a good group of new brothers from the work we are starting in Purepero, they are people who for the first time attended an evangelistic worship service, also people who have received God's Word in Tangancicuaro, but in the same way had never attended an evangelical church. Therefore, the glory is to the Lord. We are happy!" Blessings, Brother P. – Purepero, Mexico

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!