October/November 2024 - No Turning Back ~Ezekiel 46:9

October/November 2024

When the people of the land come before the Lord… he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead. ~Ezekiel 46:9

Transformed Paths. Transformed Lives. No turning back. We’re teaching the children of IBBM-Tepic about the Old Testament prophets. In Ezekiel’s vision, worshipers entered the presence of God by one gate, and they left by an opposing gate, resolute with renewed purpose, direction, and hope marked by His love, grace, and power. The past two months in Tepic have been filled with astonishing stories of God’s provision for what was once barren but now is filled with spiritual life and corresponding physical structures that are sanctuaries of hope and testimony to the powerful truth that has shaped and transformed futures marked by His love, purpose, and provision. 

Huichol pastor José López is not the young guy he was when he became a believer 45 years ago. His story of entering the gate and never turning back is nothing short of a miracle intricately planned in the portals of heaven in the ages prior to his birth and rebirth. You can read about some of that here.  Previously known for their antagonism, hatred for the Gospel message, and persecution of their believing neighbors, the now-transformed believers from the church at Guásima del Caiman celebrated their very first anniversary in October.

José, the Huichol equivalent of the Apostle Paul, who has trekked tirelessly and faithfully throughout the Sierra Madre sharing the Gospel in village after village, was afraid that his 78-year-old legs wouldn’t be able to make that arduous trip “back home” to his natal village for the momentous celebration with the family he led to Christ. The previously hostile believers from the newborn church, met him at the river’s edge with a mule to carry its precious cargo over the treacherous 4-hour climb. The Guásima family, at long last, has walked through the gate, and they’re not turning back. 

The church at Zapote de Picachos celebrated its 20th anniversary with joyful festivities including baptizing nine new believers. Life is difficult in the remote village, but the members of that exemplary church don’t seem to notice much. They have an OANSA children’s ministry with more than 80 kids who, like their devoted leaders, wouldn’t think of missing a meeting. The sun is brutal on their beautiful game court, and the leaders have been praying about the possibility of building a protective overhead structure. There were no tangible resources for such a lofty dream, but in faith, with help from brothers from Tepic, they dug corner footers and cemented in the rebar, waiting for God’s provision. 

A friend of our Father’s, and ours, though we don’t even know him, is dying of cancer. He chose wisely to lay up treasure in his “coming-soon” new residence, purchasing the materials necessary for completing this project. It was surprising, but not exactly unexpected. Our friends from Zapote probably never imagined that one day, after walking straight through that gate to follow their Master, others from the state of Durango, who had also walked in obedience through that gate, would be transporting an enormous Sky Jack cross-country for them to use.

They also offered their hard-working, skillful hands and time to help install a marvelous structure over the treasured OANSA court where the children whose shepherded hearts are weekly learning to hide God's Word and His precepts in their own hearts.  Straight through, and no turning back.

Forty-nine years ago, this month, a young missionary couple arrived in Mexico. After investing 15 years, they faced some very confusing and discouraging trials. They prayed for God’s guidance and began picking up pieces starting all over with the planting and harvest process. That led to the birth of IBBM-Tepic. Now, 33 years later, we’re adding a second story to the Sunday school building where many children and young people will continue to hear the Good News, hide God’s truth in their hearts, and become the next generation of leaders at IBBM-Tepic and beyond. 

The materials and labor for “pouring” the concrete roof portion of Phase 2 of the Classroom Project were offered by that same anonymous friend, along with help from others who love this work. In both, Zapote de Picachos and Tepic, these sanctuaries of hope and testimonies to faithful friends and God’s constant provision were completed precisely on time, on Thanksgiving Day. In the gate, and no turning back!  How appropriate that this year’s theme for the upcoming Spring 2025 Huichol youth camp is, “No Turning Back”. There are lots of logistics to pray about, but the scripts for the teaching sessions are written, and the campers are in for the opportunity of a lifetime! Enter the gate; don’t turn back!  

You won’t regret taking the time to check out these October/November 2024 Tepic activities here. 

April - May 2024 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. Proverbs 24:11 

Archived on his treasured parchment scrolls by means of Solomon’s prolific reed pen, God inspired His commandment for His people to rescue those who are in mortal danger. He holds His people responsible for helping those who are stumbling and staggering at the point of death. His explicit orders are to “Rescue them; do not stand back and let them die.” Not only was His command addressed to the people who lived three millennia ago, but we know that “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,” as well. We can never say that we didn’t know that many people in our world, in our communities at home and beyond, had little to no knowledge of the Truth. We do know this, and we must share it with those who are in peril. 

The past two months have been filled with opportunities to reach out to those in Tepic and in surrounding communities that need rescuing. The following are a few examples of many: 

As soon as the Huichol youth camp was over, the building materials for the completion of the Huichol church at La Quemada were set in transit. Their delivery was challenging as the truck, resembling a WWII relic, broke down five hours into the trip, just an hour short of La Quemada, and the driver wanted to drop off the cargo there. Thankfully, despite no access to parts in the middle of the Sierra Madre, they managed to get the truck operational and deliver the supplies to their contracted destination. Mexican and German volunteers (again!) from Durango, together with Pastor Martín from Tepic, and Huichol brothers from the church at Zapote de Picachos, united their efforts. UIM Aviation assisted by airlifting the Durango volunteers from Tepic to the airstrip at Zoquipan. There was a mysterious explosion at the Tepic airport after the first load left, so the second half of the workers was delayed until the resulting “lockdown” was lifted the following day. 

When they didn’t show up (no communication available), the first batch of volunteers hiked from the Zoquipan airstrip to La Quemada and began the work at hand without half of their team. The La Quemada church now has a completed building with a roof, plastered walls, a cement floor, and a bathroom, all finished before the rains begin, which will make access to the village impossible. The people of the village of La Quemada once did not know Jesus, who He is, what He has done, and how God has made a way for them to be saved from their sins. But now, God’s multiple and diverse team, showcasing the power of faith and community, has accepted His call and joined efforts to rescue those who once were staggering and lifeless in their sin. They now have a completed church building where they congregate faithfully, prepare to share the same, and give Him the glory for His grace, His provision, and their eternal life. 

The job at La Quemada had to be finished before the beginning of the rainy season makes passage to the village impossible. On the other hand, the metal window and door frames for the completion of the village church building at Guásima del Caimán, Pastor José López’s natal village, are being forged in Tepic as I write, and they will await the upcoming rainy season and the swelling of the river to facilitate their transport (a term used with reservation!). This phase is also made possible by sacrificial offerings from friends who love the Huichol ministry. The people and their meeting place are yet another graphic example of maximum unified team effort in the fulfillment of divine orders to rescue those who once were being taken away to death and to hold back those who were stumbling to the slaughter. 

Speaking of José Lopez, the Sierra Madre’s equivalent of the Apostle Paul, he faithfully has trekked from village to village on countless divinely appointed rescue missions, sharing salvation with those stumbling to the slaughter and working to establish these and other churches along the way. José underwent hernia surgery last month, and just this week, his surgeon complimented him on his excellent incision care, healing with no infection, and he removed the last of José’s stitches. Praise God for caring so well for His loyal and devoted agent of rescue. 

Meanwhile, last Saturday was OANSA Awards Day at IBBM-Tepic. My little friend, Luna (highlighted in the previous prayer update), was voted by all the OANSA leaders to receive the “Nobel Prize” this year. The Nobel Prize is the most coveted award of all in our club. Despite great odds against her winning anything, ever, she fulfilled all the attendance, growth, written, and memory requirements, but best of all, even with very little encouragement from home, she consistently showed a Christ-like attitude as she went about hiding God’s Word in her heart! I’m so happy for her! Luna told me last week, that her goal is to finish next year’s “Flames” rank (Eagles), then to graduate to the teenage group called “Torches,” finally working toward her “red shirt,” that of an OANSA leader. I pray that nothing stops her from achieving that God-given goal of joining the ranks of the rescuers! The enemy has positioned many obstacles to dissuade her. Praise God that He is greater! And praise God, little Luna has been rescued from among those who once were being taken away to death, and she has been held back from those who were stumbling to the slaughter. 

See a collection of April/May 2024 activities here.

October - November 2023 - exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Ephesians 3:20, 21 

Who on earth ever would have imagined? Two dream-filled, very young, determined, energetic, and expectant followers of their Heavenly Leader, who began praying almost a half-century ago for that exceedingly abundant answer to their petitions, very “naïvely” assumed He really meant that “exceeding” part of His promise, but they had no idea the extent of that magnanimous abundance. Living an “ordinary” life was never an option! Divine power at work in the details saw to that! And His “exceedingly abundant” promise far surpassed their expectation as well as that of those who have cared enough to share and send them to Mexico 48 years ago this month. The past two months in Tepic were filled with God’s excessive abundance, His setting up of divine matchups, and His power to bring glory to Himself throughout all ages positioning people in His kingdom to accomplish that end. Following are a few examples…exceeding abundantly above all that we asked or thought! God is still in the process of calling, equipping, and providing for His recruits and His children.

First, what a shock that He would have chosen to use two 23- and 27-year-old kids who trusted Him completely but were just learning to speak Spanish, who knew no one, who were uninvited, who carried the Message that was also unexpected and unwanted, to make random friends, and share that treasure in Tepic with all who would listen. Second, how astonishing that only through His power, some of those friends began to listen and were convinced of their need to accept payment and forgiveness of their sins offering them the gift of eternal life. And how amazing that over the years, that little band of “friends” became part of the discipled family of believers who love God, love His Word, love sharing it with others, and have committed themselves to fulfill that same Great Commission with which Jesus Himself charged those two kids and all who would believe. 

Who on earth ever would imagine that another couple, from Cuba, of all places, would believe, love God’s Word, love sharing it with others, and through an incredible display of power that works in them, would have committed themselves to participate in the Commission, in Mexico! Hector and Mirelis, that Cuban couple, answered God’s call to come to Tepic as missionaries, work as apprentices alongside the family of believers led by Pastor Martín, who, just a few decades ago was, himself, a newly-believing young boy who has become the pastor of the IBBM-Tepic. Hector and Mirelis are absorbing the culture, learning to speak Mexican Spanish, working in the Tepic and Huichol churches, and asking God for wisdom as to where He, specifically, would have them serve in Mexico…and the cycle repeats itself according to power that worketh in us. 

Meanwhile, He Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think is busy adding Huichol believers to the family of churches in villages all over the Sierra Madre mountains. The latest project is in the village of Guásima del Caimán, Pastor José López’ natal village that for 25 years rejected the Gospel he carried to them just after he believed. At long last, the persecutors of believers from that once fledgling church, have themselves been marvelously transformed by the Gospel, and they have just completed the church building in their village. The following is yet another of the many crazy parts of the Guásima story, but here goes: A missionary friend from a sister church in Durango (Mexico) contacted Pastor Martín to see if there “happened to be a building project” that he and some of the very-skilled and generous brothers from his church could participate in, along with some German-speaking, ex-Mennonite believers whose families have emigrated to Durango. You can’t make this up! There are way too many details to share here, but a dozen of them (Mexicans and Germans) traveled to

Tepic from Durango, drove to the Agua Milpa dam, and “hopped” onto boats that took them up-river an hour to Huaynamota. From the landing, they trekked five hours with their equipment along treacherous trails through the mountains that only very-experienced mountain goats qualify to hike and arrived at the village of Guásima. After three days of working together, the Huichol, Mexican, Cuban, German, and ex-Mennonite believers had the roof on, held the first prayer and praise meeting in the brand-new church building, and the mission was accomplished. Who on earth ever would have imagined? Only the Master Designer. This activity of His, calling, equipping, and providing for His recruits (the least likely!) is certainly not exclusive to Tepic, but it is proof positive that with the most diverse team of rescuers, including an army of friends who are reading this letter, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.