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Mexican Vacation Bible Schools

Meet Our Co-Laborers - Espinosa and Hoyos

Pastors Prayer Day

Old Fable With Hidden Message

Alive Unto God

Dear Friends,

Some years back, I had a boss that would ask me to do tasks that were many times both difficult and dirty. Being a person of experience, he would notice the wince in my eyes that said, “OK, I’m willing, but I don’t want to do this.” At that point, he would say, “I’ll never ask you to do something I wouldn’t do.”

Our Lord Jesus is that kind of a boss. In fact, He’s already gone so far as to do even more than we will ever have to do. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

This being the Easter Season (better-termed Resurrection season) we are reminded of what our Lord suffered. His suffering was so much more than physical crucification, for many were crucified in those days. The greater suffering He bore was the unbearable weight of the sins of the world that killed Him. That’s why I can say, He has already done much more that can ever be required of us.

An interesting thought along this line is that He died for our sins, so that we can die to our sins. The result of both is also food for thought. His death for us benefited all mankind and our dying to sin benefits everyone too. These deaths satisfy the Judge of the universe, in that, now resurrection can take place. Jesus was the firstfruits and we will follow in our time.

As we reflect during this season on Jesus’ death and resurrection, let’s also consider His plan for us in all this.  For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:10-11

Alive unto God,

Calvin and Barbara

Mexican Vacation Bible Schools

We have already ordered materials for this year's VBS programs. Last year with your help, Faith Ministries provided material for 5,500 children in many small towns throughout Sonora and Chihuahua. In the last newsletter, we said we needed material for 6,000 children, but praise God we actually ordered material for 7,000 children.

The increase has come in the Navojoa area. They have 23 teams going out to 57 pueblos. Most of these are small, remote areas in need of God’s love. Felipe and Carmen Vasquez (pictured below) oversee the VBS and Christmas programs in that area.

Jesus told us in Matthew 19:14 … Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.

Meet Our Co-Laborers

Highlighting Pastors and Their Ministries in Mexico

Faith Ministries supports other ministries through some of the following ways: VBS materials, Christmas gift bags, offerings, mission teams, and encouragement. In the coming months, we will introduce them to you in the order in which we met.

	In Cumpas, Sonora, México: Jesús and Adelina Espinosa
Today we review our history with Jesús and Adelina Espinosa de Mada of Cumpas, Sonora, Pastoring Iglesia Cristiana Dios es Amor. In 1988, we lived in an old house on 4th Street here in Douglas. One crack in our bedroom wall was wide enough to watch our neighbors do their drug trades. But that’s another story. One afternoon a knock on our front door introduced us to two strangers, Pastor Jesus Espinosa and his faithful disciple Pastor Oscar Hoyos of Divisideros. They had heard of us through mutual friends and just wanted to say hi. Hi turned into coffee and a sweet time of fellowship. We shared study books with them that our son Bobby had sent from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, OK. A few weeks later, we were helping Jose Luis do Christmas programs in the Cumpas area and had opportunity to return their visit. Having similar and compatible visions, our fellowship grew rapidly after that. The Espinosa’s have two daughters; Sarai and Luz Esther and one grandchild Joel. We have watched the girls grow up to become amazing women. Sarai is now a medical doctor and Luz Esther is a teacher and administrator in the Cumpas public school system. Esther is very active in their church and responsible for most of the children activities, and most of the outreach missionary trips. Sarai recently moved to Houston, Texas. Pastor Jesus keeps a strong prayer based ministry active in evangelism both locally and in surrounding pueblos that are in need of new churches. Our contact with the Espinosa’s is frequent as our Faith Ministries mission house is directly across the street from their church. It is an honor to know and work with them.
	Espinosa’s with Sarai and Esther
Iglesia Cristiana Dios es Amor

	In Divisaderos, Sonora, México: Oscar and Griselda Hoyos
Oscar and Griselda Hoyos pastor El Buen Pastor in Divisaderos, Sonora with help from their 15-year-old son, Moises. We mentioned Oscar in our last writing as one of the strangers who came to our door in 1988.  Divisaderos is 35 miles southeast of Cumpas. Until the new road was built it was dirt and sharp volcanic rock for the last 20 miles. Soon after Oscar and Griselda started the church in their small humble home, we joined Pastor Jesus in opening a small Bible school in Cumpas. They were in the first class of a two-year program. They lived with us at the mission house 4 nights a week and returned to Divisederos on the weekends to cover their new church. Barbarita and I taught in Cumpas every other week in those days, so we became very close to this young couple. Early on, they applied for a city permit to build a church and for 10 years or so they were refused because of the other religious faction that was in control of the city board. With faith and persistence, they grew in grace and favor. Finally, enough repentance found its way into the lives of the city fathers, that several of the “no voters” actually came and helped build the new approved church building. Divisaderos is a small farm and ranch community of about 500 residents and Oscar’s church has about 40 to 50 members. Oscar supplements their income by running a few cows on lease land and has a small welding shop adjacent to the church. They are presently building a new house on the lot next to them and are about 80% finished. Their small original house was donated to the church for Sunday school rooms. Over the years, Oscar and Griselda have faced violent blasphemous threats and even dodged bullets to build the ministry. It would take a book to relate their entire faith story. Today they stand as strong faithful examples of what it can take to establish a pioneer work in territory previously held by demonic forces for thousands of years.
	Iglesia El Buen Pastor
Service at El Buen Pastor

Pastors Prayer Day

From left to right: Juan de La Parra from Nacozari, Arturo and Teri Noriega from Granados, Marco and Maritza Terán from Moctezuma, María De la Parra from Nacozari, Octavio and Blanca Peralta from Jecori, Calvin and Barbara Scott from Douglas, Belen Terán from Moctezuma, Jesús Espinosa from Cumpas, Ruben and María Serrato from Douglas, Irma and Manuel Martínez from Villa Hidalgo, Alberto Ruelas from Cumpas, Mario Rivera from Teonadepa, Olga and Rodrigo Suja from Tepache, and Patricio Perez from Aribabi.

On February 25th we gathered at our mission house in Cumpas for a day of prayer. We had a powerful time in prayer. The presence of the Lord was strong and a lot of prophetic words came forth. We enjoyed a big meal together and a time of fellowship.

How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!

Psalms 133:1 The Message

Old Fable With Hidden Message

Once a powerful Nobleman had a great forest. He had planted every variety of trees, all which grew into a lovely green forest. One tree was His favorite because it reminded everyone of Him, great, stately, and noble, perfect in every way.

Time passed and it became obvious that the Nobleman had an archenemy and the enemy was always looking for ways to hurt the Nobleman. Scheming, conniving, and using every conceivable means, he tried to make the forest look bad.

One day the enemy said, “I know I’ll cut down the Nobleman’s favorite tree; thereby I’ll be able to hurt Him, by destroying what is most precious to Him.” So one dark and dreary night the enemy cut down the Nobleman’s favorite tree.

The next morning the Nobleman, accompanied by a man with an axe, came into the forest and when He came upon the fallen tree, He found His enemy pinned under it, unable to conceal his hideous deed.

The Nobleman raised His eyes and said, “Oh enemy; it seems you’ve been used to accomplish My will and purpose. For you see, this is the tree I personally planted, cultivated, pruned and cherished so dearly, so it is with this very tree that I will build my house.”

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You will find information about Missions Trips, Christmas Outreaches and Vacation Bible Schools by clicking on the Evangelism link to the right under the Main Menu.