NUEVO PROGRESO UPDATE

The international bridge was full of traffic going through customs on our return into the United States.

November 29, 2014 marked our return to Nuevo Progreso for another season of working with our church and Pastor Gerardo and his family.  Unseasonably cold wet weather has provided challenges and many people have colds or the flu.  There is standing flood water in outlying areas from heavy tropical rain in the month of September.  But the church, the body of Christ, continues to grow stronger and continues to impact the city and surrounding area.

Nuevo Progreso has a new Delegado (mayor) who is very sympathetic to evangelistic churches.  The new Delegado met recently with the city's ministerial alliance where he shared his thoughts about his country's problems and how churches play a major part in solutions.  Nineteen pastors including Pastor Gerardo in attendance at that meeting gathered around the new Delegado to pray for him and his co-workers.

In August there was a huge march of evangelical Christians down the main street of Nuevo Progreso. Everyone was dressed in a red shirt and there were many colorful banners and lots of music.  Crowds of people lined the streets showing their approval.  The city has remained relatively peaceful all summer.  The general opinion is that this peaceful atmosphere is because of prayer and unity among believers.

Pastor Gerardo and his wife Miriam recently attended the Church of God assembly meeting in Monterrey, Mexico.  While there along with many other Church of God leaders, they heard statistics about how evangelical churches are growing rapidly and making a difference in Mexico.  November 28th, Church of God pastors from the state of Tamaulipis met at the church in Nuevo Progreso.  After the meeting, a meal was served by ladies of the church.

On our drive to the church we met our friend Pancho who lives near the church in Colonia Jardin.  He told us that he and Reyna lost another family member to the Rio Grande River.  Their daughter-in-law drowned while crossing the murky brown flooded river three months ago.  Their son Benjamin drowned in June.

Pastor Gerardo and Miriam travel to the nearby city of Rio Bravo each Wednesday where they have a church service in the home of Jose Luis, a member of the congregation.  The elderly mother of the family has been ill and since she isn't able to come to church, they take the church to her!  Several neighbors have joined the group and there were recently two who accepted the Lord as Savior.

There are many needs and there are constantly new challenges to the faith. Please pray with us for the city of Nuevo Progreso.

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:9&10 NKJV