April/May 2026 Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you ... and you will be a blessing.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1-2

The stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Saul, Esther, Deborah, and hundreds more have had a profound effect on my entire life and are still affecting the lives of every single person with whom I’m privileged to share them. I couldn’t wait to teach the final lesson of this quarter of the Tepic church OANSA council time last Saturday. The theme of this series was “Choices that Transform,” and the lesson was, “Obey or Sacrifice.” 

 I was transported back to the afternoon when my eight-year-old self sat on the floor of our family room, surrounded by a pile of my school friends, as our mom emphasized that Samuel warned Saul and, more importantly, that God says, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 

AWANA didn’t exist for us back then, but my mom and dad made it possible to invite our friends to come home from school with us every Thursday for the best Bible Club ever. We walked into the house to the smell of home-baked cookies and a refreshing drink, then took our places on the family room floor to hear the well-rehearsed flannel-graph Bible story our mom had prepared for the week’s lesson. When the story was over, she gave each of us a corresponding Bible verse, handwritten on a construction-paper template, for us to memorize for the following week. I have repeated 1 Samuel 15:22 hundreds of times since the day it was first hidden in my heart, and it guides my decision-making to this day. 

From living examples, I learned the importance of caring for and teaching children simple, clear stories from the Bible and relating them to the Gospel message. Many of my school friends, now in their 70’s, will never regret the transformative choices they made in that little Bible Club. Neither will many of my Mexican and Huichol friends, some of whom are now pastors, leaders, and parents of children of their own, who are learning to hide God’s Word in their hearts as well. 

In yet another of those Bible Club stories, just as “the Lord promised Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you… and I will bless you,’” He has blessed and made His name great in Tepic. My parents loved hearing stories from Mexico. They especially loved hearing about the annual Huichol Youth camp; and along with others who love God’s work here, they had a tangible investment in providing scholarships and supplies. 

They dedicated the walls of one of the hallways of their own house for a gallery of framed portraits of the yearly camp group picture, donated by Arturo, the photographer. Seven years ago, I arrived from Mexico just hours before we said our last earthly “good-bye,” the night my daddy passed over the threshold into Heaven and into the open arms of His beloved Savior, and just in time to witness his smile of gratitude as I delivered the 2019 framed addition to his gallery. Seven more portraits have since been added to the collection. His gallery is now hanging on a wall of the Huichol church at Zapote de Picachos as a reminder to all of God’s promise and His delight in obedience more than sacrifice. 

The Zapote de Picachos church is a living testimony to God’s promise to His people: “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Though the enemy has attacked them in ways we never dreamed possible, God has blessed this little church like no other I’ve ever seen. He takes joy in their very first faithful steps as well as in His finished work. 

Just this past week, they hosted the annual Huichol pastors’ conference, attended by pastors and leaders from churches throughout the Sierra Madre. The brothers and sisters from Zapote worked tirelessly, sacrificed generously, and served their guests with joy, along with Pastor Martín and Erén, from Tepic, who prepared messages and counsel for the pastors and their wives. Some arrived on foot, others via rural transport as far as it would go, and still others came by boat up or down river. All came eager to teach, learn, praise, and fellowship. 

Like with Abraham, God doesn't always provide all the details at once. He just says, "Leave, and go to this land; trust me and obey." He gives His orders one chapter at a time, and some of those chapters end with cliff-hangers to be completed at a later date. Like Abraham learned, like Samuel proclaimed, the mission is to obey, taking the step He shows today by faith. 

I will bless you … and you will be a blessing. 

February-March 2026 

Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18:6b. 

Since His ingenious creation of Adam, the Potter has been gathering and molding insignificant lumps of clay into an almost infinite variety of diverse and useful vessels for His glory. What a wise Potter He is, as He patiently selects, purifies, spins, shapes, and transforms His creation for good. The value and beauty of His handiwork are not derived from the worth of the common, rebellious raw material He uses, but rather from the sovereign ability of the Creator who transforms it. 

It is often difficult for that humble lump of clay to accept His plan, but as He communicated to Jeremiah, it is clearly His prerogative as the Potter to do as He pleases in the process. Over the past two months in Tepic, we have seen remarkable evidence of His power to design and produce vessels that reflect His glory. 

February started off with a round of cartel craziness and extreme violence with the assassination of the CJNG drug lord, El Mencho. The cartel retaliated with narco-blockades, carjackings, torching, firebombing of businesses, and all-around violence in our state and neighboring states. We were forced to cancel Sunday services at IBBM; schools and businesses were closed; all forms of public transport, including airport traffic, were halted; and flights were cancelled. Friends from the US who had planned a short-term mission trip to Tepic wisely postponed their visit. There is already a replacement for El Mencho, and “sleeper cells” are back at work carrying out more of their evil deeds. Regardless, we rest in the knowledge that the Potter is ultimately in control of the wheel. 

Intense preparations for the 13th annual Huichol youth camp, Clay in Your Hands, didn’t miss a beat. We never know for sure what the final count will be until everyone arrives from villages all throughout the Sierra Madre. We estimated about 200; 224 showed up. The theme this year was perfect as we studied the Potter, the clay, and what it means to become vessels of purpose through the examples of Mary Magdalene, Moses, and Peter. It’s nothing short of a miracle to watch the hard-working, committed student leaders from IBBM–Tepic coordinate, sacrifice, and serve the Huichol community with such love and enthusiasm, while Huichol leaders also take on the responsibility of learning, teaching, and training their own. The campground supplies nothing; we must store, transport, and set up everything (stoves, gas tanks, tables, chairs, even the electrical connections). As soon as everyone was registered and had received their camp T-shirts, blankets, and team assignments, we met under the enormous canopy for Pastor Refugio’s well-prepared introduction. 

No sooner had he finished praying and spoken a sentence or two of his opening remarks about our camp theme, Clay in Your Hands, than thunder clapped, lightning flashed all around us, and a super-intense tropical rainstorm, complete with one-inch hailstones, poured down. Our rainy season usually starts in mid-June. I’ve been in Tepic since 1977 and never have seen a rainstorm like this in March, the middle of the dry season. 

Everyone huddled together in the center of the auditorium under the giant canopy. Instruments were quickly stuffed into jumbo garbage bags. The IBBM volunteer staff went around with broomsticks, releasing gallons of water that kept accumulating in the canopy to keep it from collapsing. Tents were soaked, and the ground was completely saturated. Here’s a short video clip of the fun. Within minutes, what had been a grassy, dry campground turned into one giant vat of clay…in the Potter’s hands. 

After the rain had stopped, I walked to my truck to take some campers whose tents were soaked back into town to stay at my house for the night. We trudged through mud up to our ankles, and there was no high ground anywhere. 

It has been incredible to watch the response of the Tepic church leaders and youth staff as they poured out their last ounce of strength to serve the Huichol campers, all the while insisting that this is confirmation that God is doing something important that we must not ignore. By morning, blankets, clothes, and tents were spread out and hanging everywhere, soaking up the sun and drying out for the night. No one seemed to notice the disorder. Nathan (UIM pilot) and Kayla took piles of sopping wet, muddy blankets home to launder and dry by bedtime the next day. I am so very proud of them all. 

Last year’s camp theme was No Turning Back. This was a test, and they passed 100%. By the end of this camp, we could not praise the Potter enough for adding eleven new lumps of clay to His family, and many campers made the wise choice to give their lives to be vessels of purpose in His Kingdom. 

*Pictures and videos from this year’s Huichol youth camp, Clay in Your Hands, 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.

August-September 2023 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations…from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Ps. 90:1-2

August-September 2023 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations…from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Ps. 90:1-2 

Moses, the “Man of God” continues in verse 10 of his Psalm 90 prayer to say that we may live to be 70 or even 80, but even the best years will be filled with pain and difficulty; then, like a vapor, they will be gone. This fallen world groans with corruption, but more importantly, our God abides from everlasting to everlasting. 

Praise God that the past couple of months in Tepic attest to the truth that from before the foundation of the world, from everlasting to everlasting, there is hope.

In my unlikeliest dreams, I never would have imagined myself celebrating my 71st revolution around the sun last week by kicking off an 8-week OANSA series based on the Insect World, comparing the Everlasting’s marvelous creation with His faithful promises in His Word. We learned that there are an estimated 10 quintillion bugs in the world and that if placed on a scale together, they would weigh 70 times more than all living humans if they were positioned on the contrasting pan. Ten quintillion is a VERY big number (10 with 18 zeros following it). We also learned that God called Abram to leave his home, his family, and his comfortable life in the idolatrous city of Ur to go to some mysterious place. He told Abram that He would make of him a mega family (like more than all the stars in the universe, kind of like all the bugs in the world), that He would provide them with mega lands, and that he and his descendants would receive and be a mega blessing to the whole world...especially through his everlasting, saving, hope-offering Descendant, Jesus, the Messiah. Lots of bugs, lots of descendants, lots of blessings. 

Nor would I have imagined making my own “birthday cake” (90 cups of dirt with gummy worm “candles”) to share with the OANSA kids and leaders. Leaving country, kindred, and father’s house, metaphorically or literally, is unsettling for sure, but the Everlasting’s resulting legacy is unfathomable. And being a part of His special family is a big deal for all generations. 

 In the Sierra Madre village of San A (actual village names redacted for security), the Huichol family is suffering persecution from a sin-cursed world in bondage to corruption, rejection, and hatred. Placing their faith in the true and everlasting Kakaɨyari and His provision for their forgiveness is not without cost in their slice of this fallen world. The emancipation of seven San A families from their former slavery to the enemy is a miraculous story of the Everlasting’s election, sacrificial and faithful evangelism, and their personal acceptance and obedience. 

 *(Spoiler Alert: You’re going to need paper and pen to diagram and make sense of the participants and geographical villages of the next paragraph of this story, the details of which only the Everlasting could have authored.) 

Pablo from the village of C, first heard the liberating Truth from the faithful missionary heart and mouth of José. Pablo believed and shared his faith with Raul, also from C. Raul, a friend of Nicolasa from San A, shared the Gospel with her. Sometime after Nicolasa from San A believed, she was visiting the distant mountain village of San MH when José “just happened” to be there on a missionary follow-up trip, and she chose to be baptized, publicly declaring her faith in the Everlasting Savior (The “publicly” part is very easy to say!). Together, Raul and Nicolasa carried the Good News back to Nicolasa’s village of San A. Now, there are seven believing families in her village. Raul, along with Marcelino (Pablo’s son), both from C, alternate every Sunday, trekking four hours through the mountains to preach to the little body of believers who were known and loved by the Everlasting in eternity past. This glorious story doesn’t end here. The unbelievers who are worshipers of the traditional Huichol gods and the prince of this world, are enraged. There are far too many details to share here, but the essential part is that they have fiercely persecuted the little body of San A believers, threatened them with confiscating their fields and crops, and banished them from their homes, church, and the village. 

José Guadalupe and Francisco came this week from San A to ask for prayer and counsel from José and Huichol pastors from La Bendición, Vizcarra, and Picachos. They ask prayer from you, my friends, as well, as in the next couple of weeks, they will be having an audience with the tribal judge and council, who are not known for justice. This is certainly not the first case of intense persecution of Huichol believers, and there’s no doubt, it won’t be the last, but it’s the most current and urgent. From everlasting to everlasting, there is hope. 

June-July 2023 …Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord

June-July 2023 …Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today… ~ Exodus 14:13a 

The young students of the IBBM-Tepic children’s church memorized this verse last week as we finished a six-week segment of a series called Paths of Faith. For the past 26 weeks, we’ve been studying the panorama of the entire Bible which will take over 3 ½ years to complete. The children learned that Moses bravely spoke these words on the brink of crossing the Red Sea. God had divinely designated, preserved, and prepared Moses during the course of 80 difficult years as he was crowned prince, turned patriot and fled for his life to Midian as a refugee. Every student in the class has learned the keywords from the sequence of events in Genesis and Exodus – creation, corruption, catastrophe, confusion, covenant, chosen people, cruelty, and crossing. But of greater importance is that the children are learning to apply these true Bible stories that were designed by the divine Author to be examples for His followers today. God called Moses to be their liberator, and under his leadership, two million chosen people escaped from Egypt after God’s mighty, saving hand repeatedly and conclusively defied their useless gods. He gave His people three important things to do in the face of their urgent, humanly impossible obstacles: the Red Sea, the hostile desert terrain that flanked them on both sides and the approaching murderous Egyptian army. He orders: 1. Don’t be afraid, 2. Be still, and 3. Prepare to watch the Lord’s miraculous salvation. 

This course of action is exactly what God expects from all His followers as He performs the task of rescuing and saving. It applied to the chosen people fleeing Egypt, and it applies to His chosen ones today. 

The past two months in Tepic have held some seemingly unbearable situations that are purposely designed opportunities to obey this biblical mandate.

After the long-anticipated OANSA fair in which the children enjoyed the fruits of their year of labor, IBBM-Tepic hosted our annual ladies’ retreat. The theme this year was “Transformed.” We marveled at the power and handiwork of the Creator as He alone works His metamorphosis and transformation in the lives of His children, and we contemplated the fact that sometimes that process is long and painful. 

No sooner was the retreat over than a couple of our sisters experienced graphic examples of that process in their own lives. 

After years of begging God for his salvation, Romy’s unbelieving husband died, rejecting the Savior until the end of his life. Noemí, the mother of two young daughters, was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. Both are clinging to the truth that the very dark transforming moment for the caterpillar which seems to be the end of its world, is actually the light-filled moment that, for the butterfly, is the beginning of true transformation. Both sisters are gripping Moses’ admonition: Don’t be afraid. Be still. And see the Lord’s salvation. 

Thirteen years ago, Isidro, a much-loved, dedicated, and faithful worker and leader in the Huichol church in the village of Zapote de Picachos, died unexpectedly leaving fatherless his little family with four young children. Fourteen-year-old Secundino, the oldest, went to work to support his mother, Hortensia, his sisters, Elvira and Alma Luz, and his younger brother, Isidro, Jr.   

Praise God that Isidro’s son, Secundino, heard the Gospel as a child and responded to it. As one of God’s chosen people, his Heavenly Father saw to it that, though overwhelming and seemingly impossible circumstances surrounded Secundino, he had nothing to fear. He stood firmly as God sent leaders, teachers, and mentors his way. He finished the OANSA program, hiding texts from God’s Word in his heart, and now he’s one of the OANSA leaders. He worked alongside the men at the Zapote church in every project they pursued. The year after his daddy died, a team from NVBC, my sending church in Phoenix, planned a project to place a cement OANSA game court in Secundino’s village. What a project!

Kenny, the concrete foreman from Phoenix, took Secundino under his wing, and they worked together dumping heavy wheelbarrow loads of cement, filling in the forms until the job was complete. Secundino learned to play the violin and formed a singing group they call, “The Gospel Four.” They provided some of the music at the Huichol youth camp in April. This past month, the group traveled to Tepic one weekend to lead us at IBBM in singing praises, Huichol-style. That harmonious, joyful noise was music to our Father’s ears and ours. Who knew that a little Huichol kid named Secundino would be rescued so spectacularly from the enemy’s devious clutches as he is vying for control of the kingdom? His Father knew, for sure.

Secundino learned to obey Moses’ God-given exhortation to Fear not, Stand firm, and he has Seen with eyes of faith, the Lord’s rescuing salvation.

November/December 2014 ...they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered

November/December 2014                     

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.        ~Luke 2:16-18

That Baby in the stable, God with us, didn’t come to eliminate our earthly problems, pain, diseases, or death. He came to conquer death and offer us new life. We, who have seen Him, like the shepherds, have the privilege of sharing abroad so that all who hear it may join us in utter amazement and give the glory to Him. Lots of that “making known abroad” has been going on in Tepic during the past two months, and many have played a vital role in making that possible.

This past month marked 39 years since Kirt and I left for Mexico for the purpose of making known abroad our Father’s provision for all who would accept His Truth. Our good friends, Leonard and Susie Smith, missionaries in Culiacán, Mexico, joined us during that first year in Querétaro, for language training. It was a real joy to have them bring the Good News and an encouraging word this past month at IBBM-Tepic: Leonard presented a 3-day evangelistic conference; and Susie, a well-prepared workshop for teacher training that was attended by all of us OANSA leaders. All that heard them were amazed and encouraged to give God the glory.

A few friends and sister churches contacted me again this year with the encouraging news that they have been praying for us and wanted to collaborate in a tangible project for Christmas. Again this year, the evangelistic effort, Festiniños (meaning “children’s party”), was a “by faith” operation. We completely trusted God to provide the funds for 350 shoeboxes for one Festiniños program in Tepic and programs in churches in three distinct Huichol villages; Zoquipan, Loma Alta and Puente de Carrizal (the newest baby Huichol church). Due to work schedules, the Huichol church leaders opted to celebrate their Festiniños on New Year’s Day rather than Christmas, so pictures of those outreaches will be included in the next update.  

At the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista Misericordia in Tepic, 168 children and many of their parents heard the story of the King who came to offer Himself as the greatest gift ever. Each child received a copy of the booklet to take home, Conoce al Rey (Meet the King) as OANSA leaders acted out the true story of the birth of the King and His plan for salvation for all who would accept His perfect gift. Only time will tell how many of those little children who heard and wondered will accept His invitation.   

One of the little children who received a shoebox gift at Festiniños has just recently begun attending the IBBM-Tepic OANSA along with her three brothers. Her name is Reina Isabel (Queen Elizabeth). Her story reminds me of the reason that the “saying concerning this Child must be made known abroad.” When Reina’s mother, Érika, who is now 23 years old, was born, her own mother didn’t want anything to do with her. She eventually gave her to an adoptive mother who died when Érika was a young girl. Érika was left to fend for herself, and as a teenager, she met a man who fathered her two oldest sons who are now 5 and 6 years old. Their father abused them and Érika mercilessly and eventually abandoned them completely. Then Érika met another man who offered to take care of her. He left her soon after with little baby Reina. The story repeated itself, and we met Érika when she was in desperate need, expecting her 4^th baby, and abandoned by his father. Érika has been hearing all about THE Father who loves her and will never mistreat nor abandon His children. 

She is learning to trust Him, and she faithfully brings her small children to Sunday school and OANSA. Little Queen Elizabeth (Reina Isabel), along with her brothers, loves coming and hearing about baby Jesus, about God’s love and about the gift He offers, the greatest Gift of all. The three older children participated in the IBBM-Tepic community Christmas Celebration singing their little hearts out with the words to the songs they memorized: We will celebrate with joy; May the whole earth hear; Jesus is born; The Light is here…

 

Pastor Martín’s son, David, orchestrated and directed a potpourri for all of the IBBM instrumentalists, including 1^st-time flautists, Rebeca and María, and the teenaged girls’ choir presented a choral cantata. This year’s celebration was motive to join in with the returning shepherds glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20

September/October2012 “For we are laborers together with God…”

September/October2012

 

“For we are laborers together with God…” I Corinthians 3:9

We who belong to God’s family work together as partners.  Collectively, we are His field in which He brings about growth, His building of which Jesus Christ is the foundation, and His body where His Spirit dwells. Aristotle philosophized this biblical concept: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” These past two months have been a graphic example of the synergism of that class of teamwork in action in which the combined effort of many brothers and sisters has effectively produced a product for the cause of the Kingdom far greater than the sum of individual efforts.

The month of September started off with a quick trip to the States where I was invited to share the work in Tepic with people in two churches. Ladies from both churches lovingly used their time and energy to make toys and beautifully knitted gifts for Huichol children and babies in the villages of La Bendición and Zapote de Picachos. Pictures here:

             

Then “Grandma from Mexico” got to welcome Ben and Karley’s beautiful baby, Brynley Diane, into the Mellberg family on September 10. She’s grandkid #8, an exquisite gift from our Father, and we share our middle name!

The same week, the Mellberg kids and their spouses organized a big surprise FIESTA at my parents’ house to celebrate my birthday. An enormous thank you to friends and family close to home and around the world for your much appreciated birthday greetings! I thank God for the life He has given me and for the army of people who have surrounded and loved me during these 6 decades that have seemed “but a vapor.” May we continue to labor together this year to share His love, truth and joy with all we meet.

The Iglesia Biblica Bautista Misericordia-Tepic celebrated her 21 anniversary the first Sunday of October. Pastor Luis Medrano from New Life-Scottsdale, sponsored by friends who love him and love this ministry, shared his personal testimony and a timely, unforgettable message entitled “Kaleo-The Call,” encouraging us to continue the task of reaching out together, not only in Tepic, but in all the world.

Pastor Phil McKeown and 3 men from North Village Baptist celebrated with IBBM as well. Then on Monday, they headed to the remote village of Zapote de Picachos to labor together with Huichol brothers and sisters to install a cement OANSA game court. It was a titanic task that started a year ago with NVBC working together to raise funds to cover the cost of materials and transportation and with the Huichols hauling 1000, 5-gallon buckets of sand and 775 of gravel from the river a half-hour hike away from the village. The 150, 110-lb. bags of cement, rebar, lumber, and a cement mixer had to be transported to the Agua Milpa dam, then up-river by boat, then carried on backs and by burro uphill to the village. After the cement work was completed, David Wolf of UIM, who was here to fly selected Huichol teachers to their respective isolated mountain destinations for teaching the next installments of Theological Education by Extension (TEE), airlifted the Phoenix workers from Tepic to Guadalajara for their flight back home. The following week  a team from Lifehouse Church in Rocklin, CA, led by UIM missionary friends, Don and Janie Nellis, came to labor together in the village of La Bendición building wood-saving stoves that emit reduced smoke and installing 10 much-needed latrines at strategic homes in the village. They set apart one workday to travel to Zapote de Picachos to trace and help paint the lines on the new court. Praise God, even for the abundant obstacles we knew we could expect because the enemy really didn't want the jobs done.  He never does. Praise God for the final product that in terms of relationships and lasting outcome was far greater than the sum of individual factors.  

For nearly a year, the Sunday school children from IBBM-Tepic have been saving their money and contributing to a special fund to help pay off the church property. Last week they chose four representatives to hand over their $1000-peso offering. The children are learning the importance of taking responsibility and laboring together for the cause of the Kingdom. Please help me pray that the IBBM family members who are making unbelievable sacrifices to pay off the property will continue to be faithful and will see God’s hand of blessing for their faithfulness. We are a little past the half-way mark on reaching this enormous goal.

Eleven Huichol brothers from La Bendición took it upon themselves to give up a week of work in the fields to travel back to their home village of Guásima del Caimán. Remember, the Bendición villagers left Guásima 5 years ago because of severe persecution from their neighbors brought about by the wise decision of the believers to accept forgiveness of their sin and the gift of salvation that Kakaɨyari, the one, true God offers. Since then, their amazing testimony of God’s love and provision for them has made its way throughout the Sierra Madre Mountains, and many have come to Christ following their example; including many of the ex-persecutors back home in Guásima. So significant has been their witness, that all of the village shaman’s adult children, except for one who is in prison, are now believers. The guys from La Bendición went back to Guásima del Caimán to help the new followers of Christ there erect their new church building! 

At every level, these past two months have abounded with examples of synergism; the effort of believers from every imaginable social strata, from distinct countries, villages and homes, speaking a variety of languages, all having in common hearts changed by God’s Word and His enabling power and a willingness to labor together to achieve what individually we could not, bringing about a product far greater than the sum of its parts.  Thank you for your vital share as team participants.

“For we are laborers together with God…” I Corinthians 3:9