Greetings from Mexico,
In this update, I wanted to talk about an outreach that our church was involved in throughout the month of September. Recently, hundreds of refugee’s have been flooding North to the Tijuana/United States border! These refugees have come from Ghana, Congo, Haiti, and a few other countries seeking politicial asylum because of a range of abuses and dangers in their home countries. Regardless of where we stand on the political spectrum on this hot topic of refugees, these people were hurting and they needed help!
As Mexican news reports began to cover this flood of refugee’s that were huddled just 15 miles northeast of us at the Tijuana border, our church mobilized to help! For two weeks (when the refugee crisis was at it’s worst) our church responded sacrificially and with generosity! Over that time, our members donated food, hygiene items, water, and dinero to make care packages for these refugee’s.
Each Monday, a large group of believers would pile into our church shuttle bound for the Tijhuana border. When we arrived to these refugee’s, we found that they had arrived with literally nothing but the clothes on their backs! We organized them in a long line where we handed out 100’s of pre-prepared bags! (each bag containing a large meal, and much needed hygiene items and toiletries)
Most importantly, we prayed with these refugees and reminded them that God has not forgotten them or abandoned them! As these hurting souls sat in desperation scarfing up their meal, one of our church staffer’s also shared the message of Salvation with them and many refugee’s responded to Jesus for the very first time. We also printed some Gospel tracks that we gave them that presented the love of Jesus to them in their mother tongue!
As we talked with these refugees, (some spoke broken English and other’s broken Spanish) we offered to bring them to one of our Sunday morning church services. We sent our church shuttle over for them on the following Sunday morning to bring them over to our church in Rosarito where we had a hot meal waiting for them!
For me as a Pastor, it was so encouraging to witness our church body coming together to give from the little that they have to help those that are even more unfortunate! I saw one couple that gave towards the cause and went to the border to minister that doesn’t even have their own place to live in right now!
Regardless of the political situation with these refugee’s, God always asks His church to respond to the needy with compassion and mercy! The Bible talks a lot about how our Lord desires that His people be willing to help the traveling pilgrim and the refugee!
The book of Hebrews tells us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers!” (13:2) Jesus also talked about this topic over in Matthew Chapter 25! And in those verses Jesus said 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in!”
I share this story simply to encourage you as our precious co-laborer in the ministry! God is doing an amazing work in transforming not only lives here, but also the hearts and desires of our people! I want to thank you once again for your partnership with us in this life-changing ministry! It is through your prayers that God meets our spiritual needs, and through your financial giving that God meet’s our physical needs! We love you and are thankful for you!
Con mucho amor de Mexico, (with much love from Mexico)
Mike, Sarah, Grace, and Daniel
Prayer Requests:
#1- Pray for that God will continue to provide for these refugees in Tijuana!
#2- Pray that God will continue to provide for the financial needs of our family personally!
