March/April 2013
In the middle of February we hosted a citywide crusade in one of the city parks. Two of our speakers were Mariano y Micaela Ricache from Guatemala. What they shared with the hundreds of people that attended was a message that impacted my heart, They not only talked of a revival that took place in their town in Guatemala but they also shared that 25 years later the revival continues. Over 90% of their community is Christian. They have seen the bars and jails closed and stay closed. Every time that the enemy has tried to come in and destroy the work of God they have stood in the gap and used the authority that God has given them to overcome.
This is one of the goals that we have had in Mexico, to create a move of God that lasts. It is easy to gather a group together for a while but if that group is still with you 20 years later, the work has stood the test of time. These last month we have had to officiate 4 funeral for members of our church. As you all know these are not easy times for the family nor are they for the pastor. Sister Laura had a prolonged battle with cancer. We would have loved to see her healed but God had other plans. She and her family came into our church in 1989. Her son is now a minister in one of the local churches. It was our honor to preach her home going.
Brother Javier was born again in our fellowship in 1996. We married him in the church. He spent a time as a teacher at our Christian school. All of his family came to know the Lord under our ministry. The Lord saw fit to take him home in his late 50`s. The important part is that he made it to the end of the race.
Sister Amada was over 50 years old when she got saved. As a widow she could spend a lot of time sharing God`s love. She could hardly read or write but how she loved the Word. She graduated from our Bible School, maybe not with the highest grades, but definitely with the highest fervor to testify. God gave her over 20 years to be part of our fellowship and to share God`s love before he took her home. What a joy it was to be with her and talk about the Word of God.
The church is not about an organization nor about a building, it is about people. One young man whom I will call him Fred came to our school because he had been expelled from the public school and not because he was an A student. At his 14 years of age he was at a difficult time of life. He was invited to attend church by some of the youth and accepted. The transformation that has taken place in his life is incredible. In the nine months that he has been attending the church he doesn´t miss any activity and is always around to help. There are some time when he will be in church activities 4 and 5 times a week. He is learning to run the sound equipment at the church and he has become a full time disciple of Simri. As of now he is the only Christian in his family but the problems that he had before getting saved have all disappeared.. Stories like Fred`s help make the load lighter.
This month we are gearing up for our annual camps. Our youth camp we have Easter week and then the next week the children have their camp. Also the first week in February we started a new semester at our Bible School with 13 students in attendance. We continue with our goal to raise up ministers and leaders for the work of the Lord.
Please continue to pray for Elizabeth as she has come to a point in her life where the doctors can do no more for her as the cancer has spread through her body. Only the Doctor of doctors can work in her now. Thank you for your prayers and your offerings that make all of this possible. Your monthly support is much needed. Blessings in Jesus name.
Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman
