A Great Light in Darkness
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I know this is a long update, but please read it in it’s entirety. God has done such great things and I want to share some of them with you for His praise and glory.
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I’ve been back for week a now, from my recent trip to Mexico with the Calvary School of Missions. I’ve tried to take the last few days to just gather my thoughts regarding all the amazing things we saw God do. My great fear today is that I will not be able to put into words the wonderful things that has taken place.
For just a bit of background, Calvary School of Missions takes young adults that are feeling a call, or desiring to explore the call, to long term missions. It’s a six week course taught by Calvary Chapel pastors and missionaries from all over the world.
This year we took 16 students and 11 staff members to Rosarito, Mexico. We held daily classes with the first 2 weeks focused on God’s heart in reaching the world with the Gospel, through His church. Then we moved into the discussion of the unreached. Approximately 3.4 billion people in the world today have never even heard the name of Jesus, much less the gospel.
Along with the teaching in the classroom, the students are assigned readings from the Bible, as well as 6 different books to read during their free time. The students attended the annual Church Planting Conference in Rosarito, and we also connected with many Calvary Chapels throughout Mexico to support them in their work. In the last 18 years some 62 Calvary Chapels have been planted stemming from Calvary Chapel Saving Grace’s first church plant in Rosarito.
The students also took part in an outreach or two each week. One of the highlights of the outreaches for me was the trip to the dump. Outside of Rosarito is a very large city dump, where there are quite a few people living. With all of my missionary experience, I had never encountered anything like it. It’s so sad to see people, created in the image of God, living in such conditions, not knowing that there is a God who loves them and has so much more for them.
The out reach was so fruitful. Pastor Eddie, a really godly man who had a radically encounter with our risen Savior, is the only one reaching out to those living in the dump.
The outreached ended with a man who was the leader of a satanic cult there in the dump, express a desire to receive Christ as his Savior. We prayed for him and made sure he was in contact with Pastor Eddie.
After our outreach Pastor Eddie said that he had never seen such a fruitful outreach. He said, “God truly has His hand on this team.” All glory to God. It’s only our God who can reach those lost in unthinkable darkness.
We also did a number of church take overs. If you don’t know what a church take over is, it’s where we go to the church and give everyone a break. We supply the greeters, the children’s ministry staff, the ushers, the worship team and the teaching. This one, at Calvary Chapel Tecolote, was particularly special to me. I was asked to teach and I taught on “The Importance of Faith.”
The culmination of the trip was going to an area of Mexico called “The Circle of Silence.” It is an area where there are 2.4 million people that are unreached. That means that they have never heard the name of Jesus and they have no access to the gospel.
We flew to Culiacan, in the state of Sinaloa, and then drove 10-11 hours through the night to reach the Cora tribe. When we arrived, Pastor Antonio, a Mexican Calvary Chapel Pastor, along with Pastor Tim and I, immediately went into the elders of the tribe to greet them. Pastor Antonio laid out for the elders and the chief, in Spanish, what our desire and intents were. We wanted to be a blessing to them. We brought gifts, soap and medicine, we set a toilet in one of their pit latrines, we painted some of their buildings, and we connected and played with the kids in the tribe.
On Sunday, we invited the entire tribe to a church service. It was overwhelming! No one expected what would result from our 4 days with the tribe. You need to understand, they had no understanding of “love.” Just imagine the need to explain what love meant so that we could let them know of God’s love for them. Well, after interacting with the tribe and showing them the love of Christ, when an invitation was offered to receive Christ, 28-30 people responded.
This lady was so moved by the experience, she recorded the last worship song so that she would have it.
After the service, we gave them blankets. It gets very cold in the winter and they have limited resources. You’re maybe thinking, “What about the phone this lady recorded the worship with?” Truthfully, I don’t know.
What I do know is that many in this tribe die due to malnutrition and a bacteria laden water supply.
In fact, when inviting families to church, I was called upon to do a field evaluation on a sick little boy. The way he was described to me was consistent with severe dysentery and dehydration. Ultimately his parents would not allow me to see him.
They think that illnesses are caused by spirits which have been angered. They believe that if they seek any treatment for their children, it will cause the spirits to be angered even more and they will then turn on them. So they let their kids die. Later that afternoon we went back with some electrolytes, some anti-diarrheal tablets, and instructions regarding the need to boil their drinking water. We told the mother that the child had to see a doctor, if he didn’t improve in the next few days, because he was going to die. The mother, very reluctantly, received the tablets. We then prayed for the little boy and then we left.
Miraculously, the next day the entire family came to the center of the village where we were, and the little boy joined us in playing soccer. A couple of anti-diarrheal tablets and electrolytes have no power over severe dysentery and dehydration, but prayer does. How good is our God?
To close out, I’d like to tell you about one of the elders. After we were there a few days, he came up and sat with me. He greeted me in English and told me, through a translator, that he was interested in learning english, and asked how I would suggest he go about it. I told him we could get him a Spanish/English parallel Bible. He was very excited with that suggestion, saying, “I would really like to read the Bible and learn more about God.” We were then able to talk together for an hour after that about the Lord.
It’s typical for this tribe to carry a bag, something like a purse. They take a month to make and they’re usually decorated with a geometric design or with flowers. If you look closely, the elder that I was talking to, his bag has Jesus on it. He said he lived in the states for a bit, but came back to the tribe because no on was able to care for his house. He heard of Jesus in the states but never knew how to have a relationship with Him, which is what he was desiring. Thank you Lord for allowing me to speak to him about Your saving grace. The picture is of the elder, myself and Pastor Antonio. Pastor Antonio is returning next month with Bibles.
Again, what God did was so unexpected. We prayed that we would be able to lead one person to the Lord, but God had other plans.
I would ask you to pray for the opportunities ahead.
- Bryan, our oldest son, is headed to Japan early September on a vision tour. He has been praying about Japan for nearly 20 years. Japan is less than 2% Christian putting it in the category of “unreached.” Please pray that God would open doors for their team and that He would meet Bryan and the team in a radical way.
- I’m going to be going to Thailand mid September. We are going to be flying our lead workers from the 10/40 window to Thailand to attend a conference there. Afterwards we will be having our own SGWM conference with our workers. We’re meeting in Thailand since we are not able to meet many of them in the countries that they work in. Please pray for a fruitful time of fellowship as we focus on strengthening and encouraging our workers who are serving the Lord in difficult and dangerous areas.
- After the Thailand conference, I’ll be headed to South Asia for an extended visit. I will be there visiting new and established works in the region. It’s very important to stand with our workers and see what they have been doing. It’s a time of discipleship and pastoral care. Please pray for God’s blessing upon the trip from start to finish.
- Please pray for Tina and Austin while Bryan and I are away. It’s always difficult when one member of our family is gone, but now that two of us will be gone it will doubly difficult for Tina and Austin.
- And pray for more opportunities to share in churches about “The Great Commission” and what God is doing among the unreached through Saving Grace World Missions.
As always, we’re so very thankful for your partnership in the work that God has entrusted to us. It’s such a wonderful privilege to work among the unreached of the world. In a very real sense, we would not be able to do what we do without your prayer and financial support. The fruit that comes out of these trips is added to your account also. So thank you again for your friendship, prayers, love and support.
God bless,
Gary and Tina
PLEASE CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW TO WATCH A SHORT VIDEO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNREACHED IN THE WORLD.
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Past events, as well as future ones
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It’s been a bit since I have returned from my last trip. God has opened many wonderful opportunities for us to serve Him.
We continue leading a weekly Bible study every Sunday morning in King’s Beach CA. It’s a small home fellowship, but the group is so loving and desires to go deeper in the Word. It’s been such a blessing to meet with them. We recently finished teaching verse by verse through the Book of Acts and have started the Book of Romans. One of the great blessings to me has been when God has called me away, either to teach and share in other churches the ministry that the Lord has given us, reaching out to the unreached, Bryan, our son, has stepped in to lead the group. It’s such a blessing to be able to trust the Bible study to him, knowing that he cares for the people and is able to teach them the Word faithfully, without error. What a blessing!
To update you on the recent past, I have been invited to share at a number of different churches. A few months ago, Tina and I were in Columbia TN, sharing at Calvary Chapel Columbia. Last month, Tina and I were at the West Coast Pastors’ Conference in Diamond Bar CA. It was a great opportunity to meet with other pastors and give them a taste of what we and Saving Grace World Missions have been doing around the world. A few weeks ago, I was invited to teach at Calvary Chapel Reno Sparks. That church is pastored by a good friend of mine, pastor Phil McKay. It’s the largest Calvary Chapel in Northern Nevada. I was able to teach on the Great Commission given to the disciples and followers of Christ. I was invited to share the Word at Calvary Chapel June Lake in June Lake CA, June 23rd. It’s a small church full of dear saints who welcomed the teaching on the purpose of the church.
Immediately after Calvary Chapel June Lake, Tina and I will be flying to Knoxville TN, to meet and share with the pastor there, the ministry God has called us to and the open doors that are set before us in the 10/40 window. We’re really looking forward to meeting Pastor Mark Kirk, we’ve heard such good things about him and Calvary Chapel Knoxville.
A day or 2 after we return home, I’ll be headed off to Mexico to co-lead the Calvary School of Missions with my good friend pastor Tim Pappas. It’s a 6 week school put on by our sending church, Calvary Chapel Saving Grace in Yorba Linda CA. The school is designed to help direct, inform and equip young men and women who are filling a call to full time missions. It’s taught by Calvary Chapel pastors and missionaries who are serving all over the word. The students are instructed in various topics concerning reaching the lost. Topics like cross cultural ministry, God’s heart for the nations, the current state of the unreached in the world, cultural immersion, evangelism and discipleship, church planting and much more. This will be the 6th year for the school, but the 1st year that I have been able to be part of it. The dates are July 6 through August 18. It’s something that I am really looking forward to it.
Shortly after the Calvary School of Missions wraps up, I will be headed out for Thailand to attend a conference there. We will be flying in our key leaders from the 10/40 window. It will be a great time of fellowship and encouragement for our leaders who a laboring tirelessly in the 10/40 window. After the conference, we’re planning on having our own little conference in order to reconnect with all our leaders in one place. It gives us the opportunity to pour into them, encourage, strengthen, support and hold their hands up. When the conference is finished, our team will be headed in different directions. One of the pastors I’m working with will lead a team to the Middle East. Another to Japan, and I will head back to the 10/40 window to continue to meet with our guys and disciple them. I will be in country for about 2 months before I return home in November.
I would ask you to please be praying.
- Please pray for the teaching opportunities that are ahead of me. That the Lord would be glorified and magnified in the hearts of those listening.
- Pray for the travels ahead of us. That there would be no delays and that we would experience the mercy and favor of God.
- Please pray for the school and the conference. That ears would be open to clearly hear God’s voice, and that hearts would be ready to receive, and that lives would be impacted for the glory of God.
- Please pray for our family while Tina and I are away, in Tennessee. Then, while I am away for an extended period, please pray for Tina and the boys. God has blessed us with a close family and it’s always difficult when any member of our family is gone for any length of time. It always creates a void.
- Pray for more opportunities to share in churches what God is doing among the unreached through Saving Grace World Missions.
- And please be praying for our little home fellowship in King’s Beach. That God would bless the teaching of HIs wWord and that He would reveal HIs heart for this little fellowship.
And most importantly, if there is a prayer request that is on your heart, would you please share it with us? We would count it a privilege to do battle in the spiritual realm on your behalf.
Thank you for all your prayers, love, friendship and support. It’s a tremendous privilege for us to partner with you in equipping the saints to take the Gospel where it has literally never gone before. Praise the Lord.
God bless,
Gary and Tina
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Momentary Light Afflictions
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My recent trip to the 10/40 window was met with the loss of hearing in my left ear, which continued for 3 weeks. Then, upon its resolution, I promptly broke a tooth. The trip was topped off with a 22 hour delay of my final flight on my way home. It made for a return trip that consisted of 25 hours of flight time and a total 34 hours of layovers. But it was all worth it!
There were a number of administrative things that needed to be accomplished on this trip, which God took care of for me, and then the joy began.
I started my trip in the southern portion of the country where we have our newest school. Prior to leaving the states, I had been teaching through the Book of Acts with these students via Zoom. It was such a blessing to interact with these students face to face. I can honestly say, this group of students has been the best class I’ve taught in the 8 years I’ve been involved in teaching in the different schools there.
Then I was able to travel to a state that none of us at SGWM has been able to visit before. I went there to scout out the possibility of beginning a new school in that area. There are so many hungry youths there that want to learn the Word of God and to be equipped to take the Gospel to their countrymen who haven’t yet heard of Jesus.
After spending a month in the south, I flew to our school in the central portion of the country. When planning the trip, I had asked the director of that school what he’d like me to teach while I was there. He said, “Ezekiel.” My response was, “You want me to teach the ENTIRE Book of Ezekiel?” He simply said, “Yes, that’s right.”
So I taught the entire Book of Ezekiel in 5 days. And God really blessed. We were able to go into surprising depth and detail. I couldn’t have imagined how blessed that time of teaching would be, explaining the Book to a group of 13-15 hungry students. And that’s not to mention the fellowship time we enjoyed, where we just spoke about the Bible, had Q & A sessions, and just getting to know the students. Just a wonderful time!
After leaving there, I traveled to another region where I was the first foreigner to set foot in. I was able to share Christ in villages that literally are the most radical and hostile to the Gospel in the entire country. Much of our time there was “cloak and dagger” in nature, due to the persecution directed towards Christians. I’m never concerned about my safety on these trips, I trust that God’s got me in His hands, but I’m always concerned for the safety of those I’m with and the safety of the work. My presence can actually put them in danger
One of the ladies that I met, who traveled with us and introduced us to many of the villagers, had her house destroyed in the village. And the meeting place she built, to serve as a church, had been torn down twice. She had been attacked and threatened with physical harm, yet none of those things moved her to even consider stopping to sharing the Gospel with others in the area who don’t know Jesus as their Savior.
During the week that I was in this area, I had the chance to teach more that 40 times. It was such a blessing to be with people who want to drink in every word and promise of the Bible. I also was able to pray with, literally, 100’s of people, and to encourage them to believe that the God who asks us to pray, is the God who hears and answers prayers.
I left this area and traveled north. I ultimately found myself within 40 miles of the boarder of China, in the foothills of the Himalayas. We went there in order to met and encourage one widow women.
Seven years ago, when her husband was on his death bed, he told her to continue to follow Christ, not to forsake Him. She heeded his advice and has been a witness in an area where there are no other Christians. She’s the only one. Her witness for Christ has caused every one in the area to shun her. No one will speak to her, no one will help her in her need, and no one speaks a kind word about her. But she is staying true to the Lord.
We drove a day and a half on rough mountain roads just to get to her village. While I was there, I was overwhelmed by her story, not to mention that she worked all day in her fields and then came to serve us. The whole time I was there, I prayed, “Lord, what would You have me share with this woman in order to encourage her?” And He placed on my heart Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
These verses were so heavy on my heart, I knew this was the Word of the Lord to this saint. I can’t tell you what a privilege it was just to meet her. Thank you Jesus.
There were so many highlights from my trip, I couldn’t begin to share them all. God had divine appointments for me. I met many pastors who wanted to be instructed in basic doctrines of the Bible, they wanted to learn more about verse by verse teaching through the Bible, and even asked if I would teach them via zoom 1-2 times a month.
In total, I was away for 2 months. Time just seemed to just fly by. The fruit from this trip was so great, God showed Himself so strong on my behalf. I had never experienced anything like it on any of my many mission trips in the past.
Lord willing, I will be returning in the October/November time frame. Please begin to pray for my time in country.
- Pray for even greater fruit
- Divine appointments
- For my time spent discipling our leaders and students there
- And pray for more opportunities to preach Christ in remote villages where the Gospel hasn’t yet gone
I also invite you to pray that God would provide the funds for the trip. It’s just a something we can’t get away from, missions cost money.
If you’re feeling led to contribute to the work and partner with us in the ministry, you can do so by going to https://sgwm.com/barrow/give/ or by clicking the “Become a Financial Partner” button below.
If you’d like to send me your prayer requests and updates to us, we always enjoy hearing from you.
God bless,
Gary and Tina
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