March-April 2008
“And he brought him to Jesus.” John 1:42a -- Andrew invited Simon Peter; Philip invited Nathanael; Jesus invited Zacchaeus; the Samaritan woman invited her neighbors; Cornelius invited his family; Consuelo invited Hector; Fredy invited Lamberto, Xóchitl invited Vicenta; Diana invited Mili; Shadai invited Samantha and Fernanda; Samantha and Fernanda invited their parents, Rosina and José; Hugo and Imelda invited Sergio and Miriam; Sergio and Miriam invited their neighbors…and they brought them to Jesus.
More than five years ago, when Consuelo, a special education teacher, invited Hector, a classmate in the state university master’s degree program, to visit the Tepic church, only God knew that at Kirt’s invitation at the end of his message Hector would place his faith in Jesus’ provision for the payment of his sins. None of us imagined that Hector would consistently and faithfully agree to be discipled, and mature into an OANSA leader and Sunday school co-teacher for the junior high students. Consuelo never imagined that some five years after her invitation, she would be marrying her friend, Hector, in the Tepic church. They are an exemplary couple, excellent teachers, and they have taken advantage of every opportunity to serve in the church.
The believers in the newest Huichol village, La Bendición, also have invited their friends and family members to come to Christ. Pastor José López baptized four of them during the Easter week Huichol reunion in their village.
Fredy, is one of the junior high boys in my OANSA/AWANA group. I invited him and José Luis, my leadership helper, to Burger King to celebrate the completion of his memory work this year. Fredy has invited his 17-year-old brother, Lamberto, to church many times, but Lamberto has rejected the invitation every time. Last month, Lamberto was injured at his job in a cement block-making factory,
and his left leg had to be amputated just below the knee. Several of us from the Tepic church visited
him during his long stay in the hospital, and Lamberto finally accepted Pastor Nacho’s invitation to come to Christ. Please pray for Lamberto as he continues to recuperate that he will accept God’s direction in his life.
Vicenta and Chuyita accepted the invitation to come to Christ at the Friday morning ladies’ Bible study at Xóchitl’s house. Mili, Diana’s friend, accepted the invitation at the Thursday evening ladies’ Bible study at María Ester’s house. Rosina accepted the invitation at the new bi-weekly Friday evening ladies’ Bible study at the church. Please pray for these baby sisters as all of them face great harassment from the enemy for having accepted the invitation.
Hugo and Imelda have been concerned for their relatives, Sergio and Miriam, professing believers who live in Ruiz, a town about 40 minutes from Tepic. Since there is no biblical church for them to attend in Ruiz, they have not matured in their faith. Several members of the Tepic church have formed evangelistic teams to go to their house bi-weekly on Friday evenings to hold Bible studies. Sergio and Miriam have invited their neighbors to “come and hear,” and last Friday, four accepted Christ. We are praying that this little mission will someday become the church at Ruiz.
Our OANSA club continues to be a stimulus for invitations to Jesus, too. Eighty-nine kids came to the “Kid’s Day” celebration last week. And speaking of invitations, the cubbies group invited little Anders Kirt who was visiting me with his dad and mom, Jeremy and Jessica, to have a chance at their piñata. Please pray with me that some day before long, he, too, will invite Jesus into his heart. See a digital slide show of the
OANSA Kid’s Day here.
The past two months in Tepic have been filled with lots of accepted invitations. Like the invitations that transformed Simon Peter’s, and Nathanael’s, and Zacchaeus’ lives forever, please pray that coming to Jesus will produce a parallel effect in the lives of the new believers in Tepic, and pray that together, we will continue to bring more friends and family to Him.
Quick Reference Version of March-April Prayer Requests:
• Huichol NT - MegaVoice Mp3 players continuing distribution to Huichol villages
• Huichol Old Testament translation project – book of Exodus; next workshop May 12-23
• Lamberto, Mili, Vicenta, Chuyita, Rosina, José, Raquel – new believers in the Tepic church
• Sergio and Miriam, 4 new believers – mission at Ruiz
• OANSA/AWANA clubs - Tepic and Zapote de Picachos
• Upcoming auction of property adjacent to Tepic church – still no news
Elianna Joel = asked of God; Jehovah is God
Welcome to our family, little one! My prayer for you, Elianna Joel, is that you will give close attention to the instruction of your Mommy and Daddy so that you will soon grow to understand your need to accept the merciful gift of eternal life and that you will give yourself completely to the God who gave you life and for whom you were lovingly named. I LOVE YOU! ~Grandma Debbie
