September 12, 2009

Sembradores de Cristo September 12, 2009

“Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem , and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15) A great multitude was coming against Judah and King Jehosophat had set himself and the people of Judah to fasting and seeking the Lord. God responded to King Jehosophat and the people’s cries. He caused the Ammonites and the Moabites to destroy the inhabitants of Mount Seir and then caused the Ammonites and the Moabites to destroy one another. Over and over again God showed himself powerful to his people. The generations of Israelites learned the same lesson over and over, to trust God no matter how outnumbered they were in the battle, no matter how big the giant was. Even when the situation seemed impossible God would respond. The battle is the Lord’s my brothers! “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
The week before we left Zacatecas in August the people had began to take out their idols to walk up the mountain roads crying out for rain. They have been doing these idol pilgrimage processions for centuries now. It had not rained for a week-remember that these folks are dependent on rain from heaven for the crops since there is no irrigation available (rivers or required technology). Pastor Luis told the people to stop crying out to the idols that have eyes but don’t see, ears but don’t hear, and mouths that don’t speak but to cry out to God in the name of Jesus for rain. The men, women, and children present in Parral de las Huertas cried out to God with a loud voice. BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM! The thunder sounded as lightning begin to penetrate the skies. It rained so hard that they had to go into a next door house for the rest of the service. That next week, one of the same woman who had refused to come to service before and was one of the leaders of the idol pilgrimage procession was there waiting for Luis and Delfa under the Huizachito tree. It begin to rain again and when Luis suggested for them to move the service to Sister Francisca’s house again this lady and others said, “No, we asked Him for this rain so here we must stay.” Therefore, they did the rest of the service in the open air with only the small Huizachito tree as cover. It didn’t only rain in Parral de las Huertas, but also in Guadalupe Victoria, Monte de los Garcia, and Palmas Altas where it was also greatly needed.
Parral de las Huertas
As already mentioned, Luis and Delfa are witnesses of God’s response to the people’s prayers and willingness to put away their idols and cry out to Him in His name. Many people only believed in Jesus because of the signs and miracles He performed. We are seeing this happen in Parral. We have preached the gospel to them, we have shown love to them, and we have taught them. Some came to Christ when we preached the gospel to them, the Holy Spirit prompting them to believe in Him and in Him alone. Others are receiving Christ now that they have seen the rain. We praise the Lord my brothers! He is doing the work. He is drawing all men unto Himself in Parral de las Huertas. Luis and Delfa continue to give uplifting reports of God’s work in Parral. We are still having Sunday night services at the Huizachito tree and going to Sister Francisca’s house when it rains. One particular man named Alejandro has a son that had a lip problem. Sister Paula and Ken Hall and team prayed for him when they came in July. The lip was not healed in that moment but all of the team felt that the Lord was giving Alejandro assurance that his scheduled operation would go smoothly. Praise the Lord! The operation went great. Since then, Alejandro has been more faithful than ever even bringing his girlfriend to service. He told Luis that he will be moving to Jerez (the nearby city where Luis lives) and that he didn’t want to lose contact with him, recognizing his need for discipleship. Luis is going to begin discipling Alejandro and another young man from Guadalupe in his home.
Guadalupe Victoria
Most of you who have been following our work this summer in Guadalupe Victoria were aware of the intense spiritual battles we endured there. By the way, Miguel the catechist has yet to bother Luis this whole month. Nor was Luis was ever there during any of Miguel’s rude interruptions this summer. Only a woman named Horalia and her daughter have remained faithful now. Therefore, Luis and Delfa have moved the services to Horalia’s home. Two particular women who we have attempted to disciple over the years gave Luis and Delfa a little trouble recently. Some may remember that we held a Bible study in a home summer 2008. It did not work out because the sister would not pay attention to the Word of God. Unfortunately, she is very distracted by many things one of them being the material. Sister Paula gave the women a word on the story of Mary and Martha in July during the sewing classes emphasizing the need to put the spiritual things first over the multitude of physical things that women have to daily attend to. Even during that word, this women and her mother struggled to pay any attention whatsoever. They basically accused Luis and Delfa of being able to snatch one of our vehicles away from us. We left them “La Paloma” for ministry use. We had explained this to the people but you know how the enemy works using anything such as a van to cause people not to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith. Please pray for these two women, that they will repent of their materialistic spirit and begin to humble themselves before the Lord. As mentioned earlier, Luis will also be discipling a young man named Mario who gave his life to Christ this summer. He is studying high school in Jerez and will need a place to fellowship/be discipled.
Monte de los Garcia
We continue to hold services at the volleyball court. Brother Luis Ramirez has been busy lately with political activities. Remember that he is the village sheriff. Pastor Luis will begin to disciple Luis in his home. We are really believing that his wife will give her life to Christ soon. The same children continue to be faithful as well as one couple, praise the Lord!
Urgent need/monthly support
I have not given up on my belief/faith in God’s calling of my family into full-time ministry in Zacatecas. I really felt that God was telling me He would open doors for me to go speak at churches this school year to raise full-time support. Until now, that has not happened. Please invite us to your church if you believe in what our ministry is doing. We are 100% committed to planting churches in these far-off, idolatrous, lost and forgotten areas of Zacatecas. We are still in much need of support right now for Luis and for our upcoming trips in December and March. We praise the Lord again for Luis and Delfa, what an answer to prayer! The Lord may call them somewhere else in the future. For now, they are committed to discipling these folks in the villages.
Website
We are finally going to have a website for our ministry. One of the sisters from New York that came this summer will be flying out here to help us make this website. Please pray for the Lord’s blessing on this endeavor. I will send out a newsletter once we have this website up and running.
Christmas & Summer mission teams
We will once again desperately need mission teams for our Christmas and summer missionary efforts. The mission teams not only help us spread the gospel in our Zacatecas area but also help finance our summer ministry/personal needs. Due to our past low monthly support we have never been at the point where we can financially do summer ministry without the teams. I again praise the Lord for the summer 2009 teams. What marvelous things they were able to accomplish for the kingdom! I invite you to see with your own eyes what God is doing in these villages this Christmas and summer. If you are considering this, the time is now to begin working on this. I am flexible with dates as subject to my full-time teaching job.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support, Sembradores de Cristo family

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