SUNDAY SCHOOL!

Three little girls sing the latest song they learned from Miriam in Sunday School.

There’s a growing number of children at the church in Nuevo Progreso. They are there not only for Sunday School, but for evening services as well. Miriam takes great pleasure in teaching the children stories from the Bible, giving them illustrations to help them remember. During a recent Sunday evening service three little girls joined Miriam on the platform to sing a song they had learned that morning. The song was a happy song full of actions and motions.

These two boys walk to Sunday School each week on their own.

Some of the children walk to the church on their own because they enjoy taking part in the activities. And they take home the pictures they’ve drawn and the scriptures they’ve learned and repeat them to their families.

A child is holding up his drawing of an angel speaking to a man.  He heard the story in Sunday School.

Recently so many children have shown up at night for church that Miriam has started a class just for them during the pastor’s sermon. Sometimes they hear a story and sometimes they watch a Bible video either in the parsonage or in a secluded corner of the auditorium.

This is a class of small children singing before the congregation. 

There’s an excitement and a lot of interest about God among these children. And their presence adds a lot of new life to the church.

"Tell every nation on earth, The Lord is wonderful and does marvelous things!"

Esly is holding up her Sunday School paper.  She wrote her memory verse that says:  "But I and my house will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:15.  At the bottom Esly drew each member of her family.

THE FAMILY OF GOD

Families group together at the altar to recommit themselves to the Lord and to each other.

Recent events at the church in Nuevo Progreso are evidence of a strong focus on the family. During a Mothers’ Day service where mothers were honored and proclaimed "heroines," families were urged to step forward and gather together at the altar for a family blessing. Mothers, fathers and children held hands and prayed together for divine protection.

People were urged to be on guard against the enemy who seeks to infiltrate the family and attack it’s weakest members. The response was inspiring, almost everyone in attendance was at the altar.

These six people were given certificates of baptism.

Six new members of the church stood at the altar to be congratulated and given beautiful baptismal certificates as remembrances of their experience. The family of God is growing!

Monday evening our church joined with another to present a special Mothers Day party in a large event center in Nuevo Progreso. A large crowd attended and other pastors and churches were invited, so there were several hundred people there. Mothers were honored in many special ways - they were serenaded by colorful mariachi musicians, gifts were given out through a series of drawings and a small meal was served.

Mariachi musicians serenaded the mothers.  The group included Gloria Ramirez, a well known singer.

It was an evening of fun and games for everyone, a very special time for families. For many, it was probably their first time participating in such a fun filled evening.

Family life seems to be at the center of every project at the church in one way or another. And those who don’t have much family are urged to become part of the family of God.

BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER

Left to right: Lloyd, Joyce, Gerardo, Miriam, DiAnna and Guadalupe (Lupita).

It was hot and humid Friday, May 9th in Nuevo Progreso but it was cool inside the church where dinner was served. DiAnna Olsen came to visit again from Minnesota and a meal was served in her honor. We all had time to visit and to make plans for the future when DiAnna plans to enter more into mission work and make her home in the Rio Grande Valley.

We were served chicken molé, sauted chicken in a rich dark sauce, flavorful rice and a salad of lettuce, tomatoes and green onions. Two long tables were placed so everyone could sit together.

Bob Drasner from Mabel's Clinic accompanied DiAnna and they picked up Pepé, a boy who lives near the church. Lupita who did most of the cooking, was there for the occasion. DiAnna has been helping Lupita and José with their prescription medicines for the past year. It was an interesting time with people from so many different backgrounds breaking bread together at the church.

The church gained another great resource through this meeting. Pastor Gerardo and Miriam were given the key to a storage room full of clothing, shoes and household items at the clinic, items meant to be distributed to those most in need. They are in charge of seeing that distribution of these items is fair and that clothing isn't just taken to be sold. Also, people in and around the church who have need for a doctor, for eye exams, glasses or dental work will be helped, with transportation provided!

God is doing many new things for the people of Nuevo Progreso, and He is using the churches as channels for his blessings.  

DiAnna Olsen and Miriam Estrada, "God's girls!"

Our day with DiAnna and other friends at the church seemed short, but one day in the future we'll have more time to spend with each other, and we'll break bread together again.

"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." Acts 2:46

"ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY..."

Pastor Gerardo reads scripture before praying for the city and all those in authority.

Through much prayer, the ministerial alliance in Nuevo Progreso was given permission to read from the Bible and pray for the city at the beginning of each week. The Delegado (mayor), his assistants and city workers gather at 8:00 am Monday mornings in front of their office to attend this prayer. Because of this humbleness and obedience to the Lord, Nuevo Progreso remains a quiet and peaceful haven in a troubled land.



A group of city workers and pedestrians stop to listen while the pastor prays.

We are urged in 2 Timothy to pray for those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives. Nearby cities of Reynosa, Rio Bravo and Matamoros constantly report gun battles and fights between rival gangs and the military. It’s no longer safe to travel into these large places. The people are so anxious and tense that even the sound of a car backfiring can cause everyone to scatter and hide. But prayer changes things and the Monday morning prayer times are powerful and effective.

Two months ago a family business of selling bottled water in Nuevo Progreso was confiscated by a gang. The family had a pickup truck in which they drove with 5 gallon bottles of water throughout the colonias around our church. One of the family came to the church asking for prayer. Their livelihood was gone, they were devastated and afraid for their lives. Last week without any explanation the family was given back their business! Excited and happy, they came to Pastor Gerardo to thank him and to thank God for answering prayer!

Pastor Gerardo speaks at the prep school about making God the center of our lives.


Recently the superintendent of the local prep school heard about a program designed to create "happy families," and he invited Pastor Gerardo to come to school and give a presentation. In an unusual gathering of students and parents, scripture was given along with prayer and the names and numbers of at least a dozen pastors who would be available to help 24 hours a day!

In a time of distress, fear and uncertainty God is opening doors for his servants to share the knowledge of the truth with those in authority. And that will continue to bring peace and quiet to the city of Nuevo Progreso.

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. For kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV

FOLLOWING THE LORD



Guadalupe (Lupita) Peña was baptized in water at the church in Nuevo Progreso.

 "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan." Mark 1:9

Water baptism is very symbolic and it is one of the sacraments of the church. Romans 6:4 tells us that "we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Five people were baptized in water May 1, 2014 at the church in Nuevo Progreso. It was a time of rejoicing for everyone. Pastor Gerardo first spent time explaining the meaning of water baptism as a symbol of the death and resurrection of Christ. He also said that to be baptized in water is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who was baptized by John in the Jordan River.  

Nahum prepares to be baptized.

Lupita Peña had an unusual testimony after she was baptized and had changed into dry garments. She said that when she first stepped down into the deep pool of water, it was icy cold and uncomfortable. But in just moments she felt a heat coming up from her feet until the water all around her was soothingly warm. She didn’t understand it, but felt a great feeling of peace as she was submerged into the water. Two other participants said they had experienced the same sensation of heat in the water and they were no longer cold.

Gerson followed the Lord in baptism.

Gerson and Nahum, Pastor Gerardo’s sons, also followed the Lord in water baptism along with two others. It was the first baptismal ceremony in the church, and hopefully there will soon be many more people who want to be obedient to Christ’s command. This experience is one more step in the life and growth of a Christian.

Rubi, a thirteen year old member of the congregation was also baptized.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19

THE ANGEL OF PROGRESO

Mabel Proudley is sitting with Elizabeth Davis behind her.

She dedicated her life to helping the less fortunate and she lived to be about 100 years old. Her age didn't stop her dream of a free medical clinic in Nuevo Progreso. And although she became very fragile and could no longer walk, her age didn't stop her activities among the poor. Mabel Proudley was known as The Angel of Progreso.

Mabel and her sister Elizabeth Davis didn't give up when they couldn't get the United States government to help them during a disaster in Mexico. She became the voice of the people, bringing attention to the extreme needs and conditions. Her hard work and perserverence paid off and in 1998 construction began on a new clinic in Nuevo Progreso. Mabel's Free Clinic now treats hundreds of people each week and Mabel's work continues with free medical exams at the schools, a dental and eye clinic and much more.

Mabel passed away several years ago, but everyone in Nuevo Progreso knows her name and now there is even a colonia named in her honor.

We met Mabel in the late 1990's when she visited a small outreach clinic in Colonia Jardin near our church. Children were being given free polio vaccines and the people in the colonia presented her with a beautiful certificate of appreciation. Mabel had been bitten on the leg by a brown recluse spider and her leg had become infected. She was unable to walk.

DiAnna Olsen from Minnesota arranged for volunteers from Mabel's Clinic to meet us at the church Tuesday May 29th in Nuevo Progreso. She envisions the church and Mabel's Clinic working together in ways to better help the people. We are honored to work alongside Mabel's Clinic in projects as they treat the physical needs of the people. And the Spirit of the Lord will use our church to add spiritual healing as well.

Dick Turner and Bob Drasner from Mabel's Clinic visited the church Tuesday.  The young woman between them is a new volunteer from McAllen, Texas.