August-September 2026 

The good hand of his God was upon Ezra. He had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach it.”                                        Ezra 7:9–10 

What is it about this place that it has become a training camp for servants who are answering their call to prepare, study, obey, and teach God’s Word? What was it about Ezra’s place that enabled him to set the example?

The IBBM-Tepic OANSA kids learned this past Saturday that it certainly wasn’t about the place. Only the fittest Jewish hostages had survived Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion, the roughly 900-kilometer desert journey to their new location in idolatrous Babylon, and the ensuing 70-year, well-deserved exile. It was a banishment prophesied by God through Isaiah more than a century prior and reiterated through Jeremiah in the Lord’s sacred scrolls. 

    

Ezra was born in Babylon, decades after Persian King Cyrus conquered Babylon and authorized the first wave of Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem. He was a scribe and a priest, a descendant of Aaron, and Ezra says of himself that he purposed, like Daniel had before him, to prepare his heart to study the law of the Lord, to obey it, and to teach God’s decrees to his fellow Israelites. That was the task, and Ezra accomplished it only because “the good hand of God was upon him.” He was diligent, and God used him mightily. That’s what God does. 

OANSA-Tepic resumed with the great anticipation of eighty kids chomping at the bit to return! The leaders are an army of diligent servants who have prepared their hearts, studied, obeyed, and are now teaching the next generation of IBBM leaders by both word and example. The theme of our first five-week series is “What Are We Talking About?” We’re talking about where and how we got the Bible in our language; why it is our authority, why it is understandable and a light for our path, why it is necessary, and why it is sufficient. 

And now, like Ezra, we can simply “do what it says,” knowing that the good hand of the Lord our God is upon us, too, to teach it where He leads. 

Three years ago, Mirelis and Hector came from their home in Cuba to IBBM-Tepic for a year-long internship before heading to Encarnación de Díaz, “La Chona,” as church planters. Missionaries from Cuba to Mexico! Praise God that IBBM-Tepic has become known for being like the church at Paul’s Antioch where the Spirit of God could say, “I have a special task for sending all kinds of chosen people beyond your own doors to carry the Gospel.” Pastor Martín and Erén and the church family have the vision to roll up their sleeves, learning and taking part in the process alongside those whom God has set apart to take His Word where it is not known, to carry the Gospel where it is not, and to plant a church where there is none. Mirelis and Hector traveled back to Tepic last week for the first time since they left here two years ago. They have spent the week joyfully reporting on what God has done in a very dark and difficult place. They have prepared, studied, gone, and taught His Word. God’s hand is upon them, and the children and leaders of IBBM-Tepic OANSA generously joined the team, giving them a special offering.

Last Saturday, Pastor Manuel from Zapote de Picachos called to ask us to pray for his brother, Martín, from his natal village of Playa de Golondrinas. Martín has contracted hemorrhagic dengue fever. His family managed to get him down the mountain, to the river, and to Tepic, where surprisingly, he was admitted immediately for surgery because of an intracranial hemorrhage. Though the prognosis is not favorable, his family clearly knows that God has a plan that often does not meet our expectations. 

Pastor Manuel and a team of teachers from his church at Zapote had already prepared to leave for the village of Guásima del Caimán to celebrate the anniversary of the baby church there and to teach the new believers the next lessons in the series of Biblical Discipleship. 

The trek to Guásima is long and requires emulating mountain goats for hours; it certainly is not for novice hikers. Manuel told me that he had determined that there is nothing he can do for his brother while he is hopefully recuperating in the hospital, so the trip will continue as planned. They have prepared their hearts, studied, chosen to obey, and they’ll go, and teach. Manuel said he will see his much-loved brother when he returns, or in Heaven. They have learned, for sure, that this life is not about this life…and the hand of God is upon them. 

And speaking of life, this past week marked three score and ten, plus four, for me. They have truly seemed “but a vapor.” Apparently, some of my sweet friends have learned to use AI; this must have been quite a party! I can only bow my head in thanks that the good hand of our God has surrounded me with an army of self-sacrificing, stuff-sharing, Jesus-loving friends and family. May we all continue together to prepare, seek, do, and teach His Truth where He leads. 

See albums of the past two months' 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.

January/February 2011

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. --  Psalm 37:5

OANSA manual time

Thank you so much for your continued interest and prayers regarding this amazing ministry. It is immensely motivating to have special friends back “home” who are praying and who also work and sacrifice to be an encouragement to us on the field.

If you’ve been keeping up with the information on the auction of the property adjacent to the Tepic church, you know there has been no end to the drama and insecurity involved. Not only was the property assessed with an exorbitant minimum bid value, but also it was riveted with illegal schemes devised by ambassadors of “the enemy.” The bottom line is that the IBBM-Tepic church leaders opted to be grateful for what God has already provided us and use it to the max.  Just after that unanimous decision was made, we were confronted with a very big surprise we never imagined.

Property donated

"Take that Mountain" Sunday

The property on which the existing buildings are built was “perpetually loaned” years ago to the church for as long as it is used for the church. Due to some very unexpected hardships in the extended family of the person to whom the church property actually belongs, she felt she had no other option but to sell the land. The church members agreed to buy it from her for “fair-market value.” That officially-assessed value for the property alone, turned out to be over $300,000 dollars! That’s crazy! The owner agreed to sell it to us for $75,000 if we could make an immediate down-payment of $20,000, the amount she needed without delay, then pay off the rest as God provides. What a coincidence that $20,000 is the exact amount we had accumulated in the fund over the past 15 years while asking God for the “property.” Working toward paying off the balance due has brought about great unity, accountability and team spirit among the brothers and sisters of the church.

1st anniversary after property donation

Some have offered to work extra hours; others have begun making tacos, enchiladas and pozole to sell; others have agreed to do without certain “luxuries”; others are selling possessions they can do without; the children’s classes are taking up special offerings every week; even our Huichol brothers and sisters are working above and beyond in order to be able to contribute to the project. Absolutely everyone in the church is participating at some level to take responsibility and make this church “ours,” and we are more grateful than ever for our Father’s omniscient wisdom and provision. It’s not the “property” we thought we needed, but it’s the property God knew all along we definitely needed!  …and He shall bring it to pass…

Again, I am eternally grateful to our Father for such loving and caring friends.  Thank you for praying and sharing in this work.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. --  Psalm 37:5

March/April 2009

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Yesterday, May 1, was Labor Day in Mexico, and it was a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past 2 months that have fulfilled every biblical aspect of the term: labor was designed by the Creator; we are co-workers with Him by His grace through faith; the jobs He gives are distinguished by love and sacrifice, done with much prayer, and often disrupted by the enemy. And finally, rewards are plentiful for jobs well done.

On March 23, we commemorated 4 years since Kirt’s physical labor on earth came to an end, and he was promoted to Heaven. We remembered the contagion of his curiosity, energy, resourcefulness and excitement as he labored to help unfold the limitless possibilities that lay before us. He proved with his life that no dream was beyond reach if we were willing to trust God and work for it. He taught us the value of determination and hard work by his unforgettable example; and he has now, personally, experienced the truth that our labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Pastor Gregg Cantelmo and 6 members of his church came on a short-term “labor of love and sacrifice” trip to Tepic. Pastor Gregg did an excellent job teaching a series on The Beatitudes, and Tim did an excellent job serving as interpreter for him. See pictures here.

That our Father has a task for every member of His church is clear in the jobs He has given Emilia. At last, the all-male team of Huichol Old Testament translators agreed at the 7th translation workshop last month that “just maybe” God could use a “girl” to help out with the translation job. Emilia, a well-prepared, single young lady from the village of Zapote, has taken her God-given ministerial opportunities very seriously. She translates materials from Spanish to Huichol as she teaches 3 ladies' classes, the young people, and 2 children's classes a week in the village; and she loves it, but it comes with a measure of difficulty. She is a Huichol woman, and in the unspoken but obvious opinion of the men of the village, "she is working way out of character for her category." Emilia is a first for them. The Huichol pastors in charge of selecting the translation team have come to realize that the Bible is full of all kinds of women who served in support capacities, and Emilia is just like that. She's a willing and valuable co-laborer.

Easter week was filled with rewards for the well-done labor of evangelism and discipleship in baptismal services held in 2 Huichol villages, Loma Alta and La Bendición. The Tepic church will be baptizing several new believers on May 17. Please pray for continued growth and perseverance.

After praying and assessing details of the H1N1 (Swine) Flu issue, we came to a consensus that holding the 8th Huichol Old Testament translation workshop, due to begin in 2 weeks, involved, as Dr. Grimes said, “higher than normal risks in bringing people into a crowded city, partly on public transportation, to spend two weeks in face to face contact... So better to wait.” The next 2-week workshop is now scheduled for after the rainy season and after the corn harvest, in late November. Please pray that key people in the project, with little resistance to any of the bugs of civilization, will be kept safe and that this labor will not be disrupted by the enemy as the translators continue their work in their respective villages.

The day before the H1N1 (Swine) Flu propaganda hit the press, we held the annual OANSA/AWANA Kid’s Day celebration at the Tepic church with 100 kids who played organized games, hit piñatas, ate delicious goodies, took home a bagful of surprises, and best of all, heard the story of Every Kid’s Very BEST Friend. See digital pictures here. Please pray for wisdom regarding the holding of further public church meetings during the next few weeks.

Marisol Rojo, this year’s recipient of the 3rd annual Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship, was home for Easter. She is studying elementary education and music at a Bible college in Monterey, Mexico. Her attitude is uplifting, and the knowledge and wisdom she has gained thus far as a result of this opportunity that was made possible by the scholarship has been a very worthwhile investment. When she returned to classes, she sent me a letter with the following encouraging words, “During this past semester, in addition to violin and orchestra, I especially enjoyed my class on Corinthians. It made me think a lot about Martín, and you and Kirt…and God’s purpose for me in this life. …I have had many opportunities for evangelism and teaching,…and God has provided for my needs in ways I never expected.”

The scholarship fund, donated by interested sponsors, is a living investment awarded in Kirt’s memory for the purpose of recognizing and encouraging students who have distinguished themselves as leaders, who exemplify the servant qualities of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who are actively preparing themselves for ministry in missions or in a local church. A big “THANK YOU” to all who have had a part in this labor of love and sacrifice. Any student interested in applying can find the criteria and application materials here.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4

Quick Reference – May-June Prayer Requests:

· H1N1 (Swine) Flu – potential pandemic
· Huichol OT translation project – 8th workshop after harvest in November
· Huichol NT - MegaVoice Mp3 player distribution to Huichol villages
· Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Tepic – baptisms on May 17
· OANSA children’s Bible clubs

November/December 2008

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens... What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?...
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Psalm 8

Management consultants call it MBO—Management By Objective; God would call it POHG—the Praise Of His Glory (Eph. 1:12). This prayer update is all about celebrating the many ways that God’s plan has run by that single objective of bringing glory to Himself in the works in Tepic and the surrounding villages during these past two months.

The village church in Zapote de Picachos celebrated its 5th anniversary the first week in November. The little chapel, built in love and with great sacrifice, is to the very center of their village as our Savior is to their hearts. A true relationship with Jesus IS the center of their lives. Ten new believers were baptized during the 3-day celebration.

At the end of the festivities the brothers of the village along with some from the village of La Bendición who came to join in the commemoration decided to combine efforts to clear a large plot of land to plant a community corn crop so that next year they will have plenty for feeding their families and enough to share. During the arduous task, one of the men up the hill felled a tree which tumbled down on top of another brother, Vicente, breaking his back and right foot. For two months the brothers, and a few of their American brothers, have given sacrificially of their time, labor and resources to get Vicente the very expensive medical care necessary to begin the healing process, and as Vicente is beginning therapy and learning to walk again our Father’s objective of bringing glory to Himself (POHG) is functioning perfectly. You may read more details about Vicente and the Huichol “good Samaritans” here.

The month of December was filled with motives for the POHG, as well. There were nearly 100 children at this year’s OANSA (Awana) Christmas party at the Tepic church. Every child received lots of love, a chance to play organized games and break piñatas, a plateful of delicious food, a bagful of fruit and candy, and best of all, the opportunity to listen to the true story of Christmas and receive the greatest gift of all, forgiveness of sins and a permanent place in God’s family.

Caleb surprised us all when he announced that he had transposed the Christmas song he had learned on his flutophone/recorder to his new sax, and he was selected by his teacher to play along with his singing classmates in their performance in the grade school Christmas program! Caleb loves his saxophone; he is thankful that God provided it for him; and he did a fine job of playing his instrument for the POHG.




Luis Armando has taken on the task of teaching six junior high boys from the Tepic church to play the guitar. They meet every Tuesday evening at his house and every Sunday after church to study. They played their first ensemble arrangement in church for the POHG.


Thirty-three years ago this December, as Kirt and I entered Mexico for the first time as missionaries, neither of us realized what all God had in store for us. We knew no one in Tepic, we weren’t invited, and we soon found out that the message we came to share was not really wanted by most. Nevertheless, we prayed that God would make it possible for us, together with those vital partners who sacrificed to help send us, to help lead those whom He placed in our path to Him and plant and establish one biblical, autonomous Mexican church for His glory. Neither of us imagined the course along which God would lead us in order to make that prayer a reality. As Pastor Martín, gave the final invitation to over 200 people in attendance at the annual community Christmas celebration the Sunday evening before Christmas in the Tepic church, it occurred to me that he was wearing a dress suit that had been Kirt’s, he is fruit of the seed that was sown, and he is concrete evidence of many answers to those prayers, many more than we expected, as we all celebrate God’s single objective of bringing glory to Himself – the Praise Of His Glory (POHG).

Quick Reference – January-February Prayer Requests:

• Huichol OT translation project – 6th workshop January 23 through February 7
• Huichol NT - MegaVoice Mp3 player continued distribution to Huichol villages
• Tepic Church – OANSA children’s Bible Club