Visiting Those That Are Prisoners

¨Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me,¨ Matthew 25:36.  Walk a mile in someone else´s shoes.  We´ve all heard that wise saying before.  We should take what is says seriously because it really means something rather significant.  We should remember that the men and woman in drug and alcohol treatment centers might have done horrible things to get where they are, they might even deserve all the chastisement they are getting, several times over, but God is still not willing that anyone should go to hell, ¨The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,¨ 2 Peter 3:9. 

Thankfully, the Lord understands the human condition and all its frailty much better than we do.  Plus, He experienced all the temptations we´ve faced, only He didn´t sin.  Not one of us has resisted sin unto death, only Jesus ever did that, ¨In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood,¨ Hebrews 12:4.  So, we should almost always be moved with compassion to reach out to these men and women that for one reason or the other, gave in, gave up and let sin take over their lives.

¨At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!,¨ 2 Timothy 4:16.  We need to let these men and women know that despite all their failures, God still loves them and that Jesus can still save them.

God also asks us to, ¨Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body,¨ Hebrews 13:3.

I wish to thank all of you that help to make this ministry possible.  Each month I try very hard to make sure that we, together, are following the Lord´s words.  Evangelistic ministry and outreaches are important because that´s how we reach other people, getting the Word out there, singing songs, passing out Bibles and Scriptural Tracts is all part of what lets others know about salvation, by grace and mercy, through faith in Jesus Christ.

God Bless All of this missions partners.  Together, we are making a big and eternal difference.  Thank You!

Working As Unto The Lord

The Bible is quite clear about the motivation behind our good works.  Of course, our good works don´t save us, but they do express the presence of Jesus in our hearts, minds and lives.  Good works are crucial in Christian service. This is especially true in the giving of our time and our money.  God´s Word says, ¨Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven,¨ Matthew 5:16. 

Let me tell you that Team: Casa De Dios, lives this verse every time they come to visit Rancho Santa Fe Mexico Mission.  Plus, all that they do glorifies God in the most obvious and generous way possible.  They leave this ministry better off when they leave than when they found it.  ¨And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men,´ Colossians 3:23.

Working together we have the great opportunity to contribute both time and money to do some worthy Christian works of love.  The Apostle Paul said, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver,” 2 Corinthinas. 9:7. 

With all of this I can honestly say, what this and most of the groups that visit the mission base do, “Is for the Lord!”  Amen to that.

Thanks For Sharing In Our Agape Feasts

Biblically, the Love Feast or Agape Feast was a noteworthy aspect of the friendship and love of the young church.  Being that the initial followers of Jesus were Jewish, eating together was thought of as a highly intimate and very important part of friendship and eating together was probably a tangible demonstration of their compliance to the Lord's decree to love one another, ¨A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another,¨ John 13:34.  This special meal served as a useful example of the koinonia or communion that characterized the church´s early years.  The New Testament speaks about the Agape Feast (agapai in Greek) in Jude 1:12.  In the book of Acts 2:46, it mentions that the early Christians ate their food, “with gladness and singleness of heart.”  All of this and other texts like, 1 Corintians 10:6, indicates that this practice was widespread and common among the earliest believers.

I know that Christians like to go out and eat after services.  It used to be part of my weekly activities when I lived in the United States.  And, living in Mexico I´ve found that Mexican Christians are just like American Christians, we all like to eat after services.  I would love to do this after every service where I teach, sing and share the Good News, but I can´t do that.  Because it´s way to costly and very difficult to do that on a regular basis.  But, with your help, we can do it more often.

Here in this photo is a real bounty of rich, delicious and yummy blessings.  These goodies just came to the base through some very special and caring friends.  And, I thank them for thinking of us down here.  Rest assured, these boxes will be turned into Christian fellowship and warm friendship.

Thank You and God Bless You for taking part in our Agape Feast here at Rancho Santa Fe Mexico Mission.

All Sizes Of Groups Are Eaglery Welcomed

Visiting groups come in all sizes, shapes and forms.  Here is a small–sized band of co-laborers made up of some people from Team :  Casa De Dios and Ruth and her children from Nueva Jerusalen, near Tecate, BCN, Mexico.  It´s always a joy to have these both-sides-of-the-border assemblages come to the mission base because they allow me to see how much working together is making an impact in the hearts, lives, minds and souls of brothers and sister on both sides of the Mexican-American boundary.  God Bless Our Unity!

I often tell people about how much talent there is in the body of Christ, and how it all works together for good and of what an impact we are making in this area of Mexico.  And, it´s all true.  Leviticus 26:8, ¨Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.¨ The more we work together the bigger is our victory for the Lord.

It doesn´t matter if your group is small and mighty or huge and powerful, it all works together for good, because we are being called mutually according to His purposes.  ¨And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,¨ Romans 8:28.

Don´t ever think that what you are able to do is too small to make a real difference, because that is not the truth.  Every drop of water that hits the surface of the ocean, makes a splash and leaves its mark.  A lot of little rain drops actually made all the oceans, lakes, streams and rivers.  You are always part of the big picture and a significant measure in the greater good of this mission´s outreaches.  And, that´s for sure.

It is never too early to set a date for your next or first visit to Rancho Santa Fe Mexico Mission.  You are needed and what you have to offer is vital and important.  Just let me know as far in advance as you can when you´d like to come and I´ll leave a light on for you.  Your help, talent, prayers and support is always needed.

Ministry To The Little Ones Counts Big

Not every thing that takes place on the mission field is hard labor and extremely difficult, as you can see in this photo.  Some activities can be quite fun and enjoyable.  Here Ruth and Tracy help a few children to color in coloring books and also to draw on the cement with big pieces of tinted chalk.  Whether just a few or a whole bunch of boys and girls, and regardless of the ages, playing with kids, teaching kids and just being with them, is an important part of any ministry. 

¨But Jesus said, ´Allow little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven´,¨ Matthew 19:14.  Adults, parents, even grandparents and family friends, can prevent or get in the way of the little ones from coming to Jesus.  By making bad comments about the church or displaying aversion about church activities or simply by not getting up and going themselves, children learn to have a bad attitude about church and don´t learn about Jesus.  They learn to dislike church by watching dad and mom´s cold and indifferent attitudes towards God.  Their communication and expressions teach them what to think about seeking God. 

In Mexico, so few children come to the services, simply due to the fact that most men don´t attend church, except for weddings and funerals.  Also, both men and women are often too disconnected from their older children that they really don`t care what they do, nor where they are.  All-too-often, I see children of four to five years of age, walking all over the streets of San Vicente and no one is alarmed or out looking for their young ones. 

So, any time mission visitors want to do special activities with the area´s children, I am all for that.