Piedras Negras Mexico Day 1
By William Shaw:
For any who may have missed out on some of the activities of Freedom for the Nations this fall (2007) here is a brief update.
For its very first time Freedom for the Nations launched out on a discipleship and evangelism training class called AMMO. With over twenty people in attendance, a six week class was held where topics such as evangelism, Father heart of God, and hearing the voice of God, etc. were all presented and talked about. For each topic a different speaker was held, thereby, helping foster both diversity of thought and excitement over what was being taught. AMMO turned out to be a success with its dynamic teaching, great fellowship, and the favor of God clearly resting upon it. Moreover, for the end of the class a mission trip was the only proper form of graduation. Off we went to Piedras Negras Mexico.
The trip was a fruitful time with the whole team (of seven people) equally involved in the work of the ministry. Not only did it provide the opportunity for us to grow in the Lord but it was an excellent tool for pushing everybody out of their comfort zones and to do or experience things that perhaps had not been encountered before. We arrived in Piedras Negras at the church La Puerta Hermosa on Thursday night, which was where we were to stay for the next several days. The church building was itself a very nice and well kept place in the midst of community filled with poverty. The building in which we stayed though (which is an attachment to the church), did not partake of an equal elegance, for its insulation made us feel like we were staying in a refrigerator. No matter what one did to try and stay warm it felt like the building had a way of counteracting all such attempts.
Day ONE
The first entire day that we had in Mexico began on Friday morning. We started out with some toast and cereal plus coffee, and then moved on to planning and praying for the rest of the day. At about 11:00 A.M. Pastor Samuel Mancha scheduled for us to visit two drug & alcohol rehabilitation centers that have been founded through his ministry (he has planted six total). At the first rehabilitation center there were about 8 men living in a very small and humble little house. The man in charge was one whose life testified of the power of God to set one free of the chains of chemical addictions. As he, in times past, was set free and redeemed by Christ from the power of drugs. He later attended pastor Mancha’s Bible School were he graduated with a passion to help other men living in the same situation from which Christ had set him free. It was evident that he has really given his life to helping other people in bondage. Most of the men living there have lost all they owned or had to the slavery of their addictions, and so for them to have the opportunity to stay at the rehabilitation center, to have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a message of hope was just an awesome thing to see. Most have even lost their families, but in Christ have been given a bigger family and a bigger concept of what a family really is. During our time with them all of us had the opportunity to speak into their lives. Whitney and Shannon led the group in a worship song, Alva and Andrea shared their testimonies, Jim shared some great encouragement, Bob preached an awesome message, and William did all the translating which made him feel like he was really the one doing all the sharing. Afterwards, the men shared with us their fears and needs and all of us got to pray with and for them.
The second rehabilitation center that we visited, which was only about 10-15 minutes away from the first had a different situation occurring. Unlike the first that had men living there in consistency and really working to change their lives, the second had not had any success since its opening (about a year ago). The director (whose name is Boris) has faithfully been evangelizing, praying, and feeding those who are living on the streets without much of a response. His area is a tough one since it is a prime gathering area for prostitution, drugs, fights, and so much more. The center, which is also his house, is literally just a stone through away from the Rio Grande. Thus it makes for a high traffic area in terms of sin and all its depravity. It was a real privilege to be able to encourage Boris by praying for him and just speaking into his life. The remainder of the donated clothes we had brought with us we gave to him to distribute as necessary. We truly believe that God is going to honor his faithfulness and do amazing things in the time to come. Men like Boris who have given all they have to serve the Lord will not remain barren forever. The harvest is plentiful and it is God’s will that men/women be saved in every part of the earth.
Last, but certainly not least for Friday night we had a children’s program. Pastor Mancha’s daughter Reyna (who studied at Christ For The Nations) is the children’s Pastor at their church. And on Friday nights she has children services that primarily reach out to children of unchurched/non-christian families. With over eighty kids in attendance we had a blast worshiping Jesus with them and then doing some clown acting, dramas, and giving of gifts. It was awesome to see children raise their hands to give their lives to Christ.
For any who may have missed out on some of the activities of Freedom for the Nations this fall (2007) here is a brief update.
For its very first time Freedom for the Nations launched out on a discipleship and evangelism training class called AMMO. With over twenty people in attendance, a six week class was held where topics such as evangelism, Father heart of God, and hearing the voice of God, etc. were all presented and talked about. For each topic a different speaker was held, thereby, helping foster both diversity of thought and excitement over what was being taught. AMMO turned out to be a success with its dynamic teaching, great fellowship, and the favor of God clearly resting upon it. Moreover, for the end of the class a mission trip was the only proper form of graduation. Off we went to Piedras Negras Mexico.
The trip was a fruitful time with the whole team (of seven people) equally involved in the work of the ministry. Not only did it provide the opportunity for us to grow in the Lord but it was an excellent tool for pushing everybody out of their comfort zones and to do or experience things that perhaps had not been encountered before. We arrived in Piedras Negras at the church La Puerta Hermosa on Thursday night, which was where we were to stay for the next several days. The church building was itself a very nice and well kept place in the midst of community filled with poverty. The building in which we stayed though (which is an attachment to the church), did not partake of an equal elegance, for its insulation made us feel like we were staying in a refrigerator. No matter what one did to try and stay warm it felt like the building had a way of counteracting all such attempts.
Day ONE
The first entire day that we had in Mexico began on Friday morning. We started out with some toast and cereal plus coffee, and then moved on to planning and praying for the rest of the day. At about 11:00 A.M. Pastor Samuel Mancha scheduled for us to visit two drug & alcohol rehabilitation centers that have been founded through his ministry (he has planted six total). At the first rehabilitation center there were about 8 men living in a very small and humble little house. The man in charge was one whose life testified of the power of God to set one free of the chains of chemical addictions. As he, in times past, was set free and redeemed by Christ from the power of drugs. He later attended pastor Mancha’s Bible School were he graduated with a passion to help other men living in the same situation from which Christ had set him free. It was evident that he has really given his life to helping other people in bondage. Most of the men living there have lost all they owned or had to the slavery of their addictions, and so for them to have the opportunity to stay at the rehabilitation center, to have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a message of hope was just an awesome thing to see. Most have even lost their families, but in Christ have been given a bigger family and a bigger concept of what a family really is. During our time with them all of us had the opportunity to speak into their lives. Whitney and Shannon led the group in a worship song, Alva and Andrea shared their testimonies, Jim shared some great encouragement, Bob preached an awesome message, and William did all the translating which made him feel like he was really the one doing all the sharing. Afterwards, the men shared with us their fears and needs and all of us got to pray with and for them.
The second rehabilitation center that we visited, which was only about 10-15 minutes away from the first had a different situation occurring. Unlike the first that had men living there in consistency and really working to change their lives, the second had not had any success since its opening (about a year ago). The director (whose name is Boris) has faithfully been evangelizing, praying, and feeding those who are living on the streets without much of a response. His area is a tough one since it is a prime gathering area for prostitution, drugs, fights, and so much more. The center, which is also his house, is literally just a stone through away from the Rio Grande. Thus it makes for a high traffic area in terms of sin and all its depravity. It was a real privilege to be able to encourage Boris by praying for him and just speaking into his life. The remainder of the donated clothes we had brought with us we gave to him to distribute as necessary. We truly believe that God is going to honor his faithfulness and do amazing things in the time to come. Men like Boris who have given all they have to serve the Lord will not remain barren forever. The harvest is plentiful and it is God’s will that men/women be saved in every part of the earth.
Last, but certainly not least for Friday night we had a children’s program. Pastor Mancha’s daughter Reyna (who studied at Christ For The Nations) is the children’s Pastor at their church. And on Friday nights she has children services that primarily reach out to children of unchurched/non-christian families. With over eighty kids in attendance we had a blast worshiping Jesus with them and then doing some clown acting, dramas, and giving of gifts. It was awesome to see children raise their hands to give their lives to Christ.
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