WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR GOD IF YOU KNEW YOU COULDN'T FAIL?

Sign in someone's back yard.

We saw the above sign in someone’s yard one year and it really caught our attention.  We’ve had many opportunities and open doors during our times in Mexico, some of which seemed impossible at the time.  But what if we were guaranteed we couldn’t fail?

One open door was making periodic visits to the drug and alcohol rehab center in Rio Bravo, Mexico. We’d often take large containers of food or Spanish Bibles and gospel tracts.  One evening we showed the Jesus Film to approximately 100 young people.  This was a great opportunity, but at first it was intimidating, especially at night.

One wet and windy day when we delivered powdered milk, pinto beans and canned vegetables to the center, we met a man named Javier who had recently been deported to Mexico from the United States. Javier told us that they had been extremely low on food and supplies, but he know that God would not fail them.  He knew there was a special blessing on the way.

Later Javier told us he had been a member of the Mexican mafia who didn’t want to hear anything about God. His brother had also been in the mafia, but he had come to know Jesus personally and wanted Javier to know Him too. He had called Javier in prison but Javier had cursed him and hung up. Later that very night Javier’s brother was executed by the mafia.

Javier received a letter from his brother that had been written before his death and suddenly it all made sense to him. With a broken heart he prayed, knowing he’d never see his brother again. “Please let me see my brother one more time!” Later while standing in a crowded room he had a vision of an open door and he heard his brother’s voice speaking to him. “I’m so glad!” his brother cried.  And Javier has remained faithful to the Lord.

Later Javier was asked to speak to the children in the nearby elementary school about his experience. He said, “We need to reach the children while they are very young.”

A few years after this, the rehab center was closed permanently because of threats from the mafia. We’re glad we had the opportunity to meet Javier and the others in Rio Bravo when there was still an open door.

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9

IN MEMORY OF RAMON ESTRADA ROMERO

Ramon Estrada Romero

Pastor Gerardo's father - Ramon Estrada Romero - passed away June 29, 2017 in Nayarit, Mexico.  Ramon Romero was a pastor and an evangelist in Mexico and leaves behind his wife and a large family of children and grandchildren.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

3 

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-3  NKJV