September-October 2023 Newsletter

Sept/Oct 2023

Intense would be the word to describe these last two months of ministry here in Mexico. In August we started classes first in the Bible school and then at the end of the month in our Christian school. We did not have sufficient enrollment to open our middle school, but we had a good enrollment in our primary school. We had been told since last year that the schools in Mexico were going to get new textbooks and a new teaching curriculum. We didn’t know what the changes were going to be. It turns out that the new curriculum is propaganda about sexual inclusion. There are no longer textbooks for Math, Spanish or History. They are teaching sexual education starting at 3rd grade with same-sex marriages, you choose your sexual identity and many other antibiblical teachings.

In our school, we have gone to a complete Christian curriculum, even though we must pay for the textbooks. All the parents of our students, even though they are not Christians are in accord. The second thing that we have done is take our case to court here in Mexico since we have a lot of members who cannot bring their children to our school. We have opened over 35 legal cases in our State this month asking for the new books to be taken out of our schools. This has taken a lot of our time and finances as we try and change the direction that our society is turning. Each person has the right to live whatever lifestyle they choose but they don’t have the right to indoctrinate our children (and grandchildren) to live their choice of lifestyle. Please pray with us as we battle this case in court.

Speaking of differences, we are on the board of the pastor’s alliance in our State. We get together with pastors from different denominations and associations twice a month. We also hold 4 to 5 different activities a year together. One is a leadership seminar, as we had on the 12th of August this year. We had 160 pastors and leaders in attendance, and we were blessed with the teaching and the fellowship. We also hold a women’s conference which will be the last weekend of November this year. Last year they had an attendance of just over 200 women.

Transitions are necessary as life continues forward. We can hold on to positions too long or let them go too soon. Finding the right time has to be a God thing. On August 27th, we installed new pastors in the church we had started in the town of Compostela. Rafa and Karla have been on staff as assistant pastors for the last year and a half. Karla was almost born in the church as her parents were saved when she was 3 years old, and they are still part of the church 35 years later. We will continue to minister in the church 2-3 times a month and will be working alongside them in this time of transition. I look at the young ministers and wonder how they can do it, but then I remember that I was once one of them and by the grace of God I came through.

The church building project that we are doing is coming along fine. This is our fifth church plant in Tepic and as we mentioned in our previous newsletter, the property has been paid for and we have started construction on the first phase of the church. We have also been offered the property next to the one that we purchased, and we are looking into the possibility of acquiring it as well. Our plan was to be using the property for outdoor services by the middle of October, but the rains have put us a little behind schedule. The advantage of living in the subtropics is that outdoor services are feasible as long as you have a roof over your head.

Finally, on the family side, we have been blessed with two new family members this year, and two grandsons. Owen, the older, and Abraham Ashrey are a blessing to our extended family and a joy to their parents. Please keep us in your prayers as the Lord continues to help our faith grow in the area of finances and the monies that we need for the different projects that we are doing. We appreciate your monthly support above all.


Philip & Lucy Tolman