June/July 2026 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out… And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out… And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise. Hebrews 11:8, 9 

 If you visit Zapote de Picachos today, you will find a thriving church filled with joyful believers, children laughing and learning under the ramada, pastors gathering from across the Sierra Madre, and a generous congregation sacrificing to share the Good News with multiple communities who have yet to believe. But none of that was inevitable. 

For the church family in the village, the living out of this faithful kind of life is not a story about land or buildings, it’s a story about authentic pilgrims. Years ago, God called them out of blinding darkness to Christ. They accepted His invitation and obeyed His call despite constant persecution. With great personal sacrifice, because their Savior had become the center of their lives, they built a place to congregate in the very center of their secluded village, accessible only on foot or by mule, high in the peaks of the Nayarit Sierra Madre. 

Though they lost it all when they were forced to abandon their village and beautiful church building, they didn't lose their Center. 

During that very same month, our Father chose to call Kirt home. There are far too many details to recount here, but on the very day Kirt had breathed his last earthly breath, I received a phone call from a friend in Phoenix who told me that he and his wife wanted to provide the funds to purchase the bricks and concrete for the believers in Zapote if they wanted to rebuild their little church in the new location; although they didn't yet have huts to live in! 

When we went to share that news with them, they had already leveled a large piece of ground (in the very center of the new village, of course!), dug one-meter-deep footings, and hand-carried the huge rocks they would need from the surrounding hills of their new location. 

Then Pastor Manuel repeated those unforgettable words: “We knew we could never afford to buy the materials, but we could begin by doing what we were perfectly able to do and trust God to provide the rest. Just like Joseph, ‘They meant this for evil, but God meant it for good.’” (How astonishing to remember that they didn't have the Old Testament in Huichol yet.) 

They have since knocked out walls twice to enlarge the building! God has blessed them with a concrete multipurpose OANSA court, an enormous ramada that totally shades it, and enough joyful, hardworking, unified believers to keep everything bustling with life. 

They trusted God instead of becoming overcome by bitterness, and He continues to multiply their commitment in the face of what appeared to be a tragedy. He receives the glory as they are determined to prepare the next generation to continue walking by faith. 

Now that their sister church, IBBM-Tepic, has such a beautiful and practical Sunday school building with ample space for training the next generation of leaders, the church leaders in Zapote de Picachos concluded that, although they are content to meet under their somewhat precarious shelter or a local mango tree, if necessary, perhaps it is time to build a more permanent place for their own precious children, as well. 

Without asking anyone for anything, they have pooled their meager resources, purchased the concrete block for the proposed project, transported it to the village by boat, burro, and on foot, and scheduled workdays when every single member of the church happily hikes to the riverside returning with sacks of sand to contribute toward the concrete they will soon mix by hand. 

You can watch Braulio’s video of a workday a couple of weeks ago here! (Check out 1:23, Pastor Manuel’s grandson has taken his huaraches off to use as padding for the shoulder straps of his loaded sandbag. He prefers to hike bare-footed!) Joy and sacrifice are not opposites in the kingdom of God. Who wouldn't want to have a part in a project like that? Their faith doesn't wait until all the materials arrive. Their faith starts digging the footings. 

Today, many of the children running through the village have never even seen the original mountain church. They know only the stories their parents tell: stories of hardship, God's love and provision, and His unwavering faithfulness to His Word. Those stories have become part of the spiritual inheritance that this generation is determined to pass to the next. The church that once learned to trust God with nothing in sight now teaches its children to do the same. 

They just might be in line to be added to the ranks of those of whom the world is not worthy. 

“By faith he went to live in the land of promise.” Hebrews 11:9  

June/July 2026 Tepic activities here. 

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. 

October - November 2025 True Heroes Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. Proverbs 24:11

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

The children of IBBM–Tepic are learning about heroic and faithful men and women of the Bible, “of whom the world was not worthy.” We’ve learned that God’s definition of a true hero is someone who believes, loves, and acts with courage and sacrifice. Last week’s hero was Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, a Jew, a Roman citizen, well-educated, professionally accomplished, a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin, yet severely blind to the Truth. While Saul relentlessly hated, chased, and persecuted followers of the Messiah, God, in His sovereignty, took away Saul’s physical eyesight and transformed him with daring spiritual vision for chasing the call of the Savior. These valiant heroes we’re studying remind me of quite a few right in our own backyard, and some who are learning from their example! 

This past week prompted a Thanksgiving pop-up memory, from 16 years ago, of a bountiful table full of heroes just getting started on the process of translating the Old Testament into the Huichol language. The entire team had not even been assembled yet, but there were plenty of them who believed, loved, and were eager to act valiantly and very sacrificially for the cause. Joe, the original New Testament translation consultant (he’ll be 97 years old this next week and is still working with his son, Chuck, polishing the Huichol dictionary!), and his wife, Barbara (now in Heaven), John, the programmer of Our Word, the software the translators mastered for the task, and José, Hilario, Manuel, Román, Emilia, and Joaquín…all heroes! 

The Old Testament job, as well as the revision of the original New Testament, is done, but that was only the beginning. Now that they have the printed treasure in hand, they’re systematically going about sharing its truth and discipling new believers throughout the Sierra Madre. We are so grateful that during the entire Bible translation project, UIM bush pilots have been heroic co-workers, and until recently, mountain airlifts to remote landing strips have saved countless hours and spared them from real dangers on mountain paths. As usual, the enemy thrives on persecution. This past month, local tribal authorities issued orders that Christian pilots and passengers can no longer land on most of the remote mountain airstrips. The bottom line is that discipleship trips now require much more time, effort, and expense. But that’s not enough to stop the heroes from fulfilling Jesus’ mandate. 

Two teams of determined volunteers from the Zapote de Picachos and La Bendición churches made plans to head to the mountain villages, regardless of hardship, to be faithful to their call to share the Truth with “the whole world” and to train new believers. They prepared to go a week without work, temporarily leave their families back home, travel by boat as far as they could, then continue on foot for hours, sleep wherever they landed, and share their prepared lessons from the Good News with those who are in undeniable need of spiritual nourishment. Afterward, they hiked back to the river to await the boat that carried them in return toward their own village homes…days of travel instead of the previous half-hour flights. 

When they got back home, the church at Zapote celebrated its 21st anniversary at their “new” location after having been wickedly kicked out of the village where they had valiantly sacrificed to build their former beautiful church building in its very center. This year, the Zapote team sent WhatsApp invitations throughout the mountains inviting friends and family to join in the 3-day celebration/conference on the Battles of the Christian Life. As hard as the persecution was that forced them to relocate, Pastor Manuel was right: “They meant it for harm; God has used it for good!” 

Not all of God’s chosen heroes are ancients; some of them sit at our own tables, pray with us, and serve beside us. Watching them in action makes me think of spontaneous combustion—no one has to remind them to do this job. They read their Bibles, believe, and obey. They’re heroes on fire! Despite constant obstacles, these brothers and sisters remain unstoppable. And the next generation of heroes is watching. Little Nora (a UIM bush pilot’s daughter) and Giana (the IBBM worship team leader’s daughter) made the wise choice to follow the example of the greatest Hero ever, who believed, loved, and acted valiantly and sacrificially that they might have their sins forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life. 

God provides for all this without us ever having to ask. Thank you for your heroic part that makes this possible. Real heroism isn’t found in applause or recognition, but in steady obedience, wholehearted offering, and a willingness to see what God sees…as He rescues our stumbling world. 

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/debbiemellberg/collections/72157724445259344/

August/September 2025. He who goes forth and weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6

He who goes forth and weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6 

I don’t have much time for gardening, but living in the Tropics it’s phenomenal! Everything grows! Kirt used to say that with my “green thumb” I could plant a cement post in the ground one day, and the next day it would be flowering! That’s slightly exaggerated, but along with sufficient light, nutrients, and lots of water, plants do flourish. 

This beautiful flower from my yard (they’re called maracas) reminds me of God’s important promise to provide the harvest in His perfect time, if we will sow the seed. I brought a little cutting back with me ten years ago from the opposite side of Mexico, when a group of IBBM-Tepic OANSA graduates—leaders in training preparing to become full-fledged leaders—traveled more than 1,000 km from Tepic to Veracruz on a mission trip. Our purpose was to “plant seeds” and provide training by example through an OANSA-style week-long VBS for another church group that was eager to join the ranks of seed-sowers and harvesters of children learning to hide God’s Word in their hearts and live out its truth for the Kingdom. Not only did our young leaders-in-training teach others by their example, but they also learned from the experience themselves. 

Today, those same young leaders form an active part of the very heart of IBBM-Tepic—as teachers, OANSA commanders, elders, musicians, and more—a rich return from seeds planted years ago. It’s been a long wait (ten years!), but even the maracas plant has finally produced a stunning flower of its own, just in time for Mexico’s Independence Day celebration! 

 

The IBBM-Tepic OANSA is back in action after a two-month summer break! The kids could hardly wait to return, and the leaders were eager to start planting again. Most of the red and white-shirted-leaders once sat in the OANSA kids’ seats themselves, so they know firsthand what it means to be passionately loved, nurtured, watered by the Word, and harvested for the Kingdom. 

OANSA in Tepic is not the only team around for raising strong disciples of Jesus and leaders in His family. Gregorio and Braulio shared activities from their club in the village of Zapote de Picachos. With buckets full of water carried from their precious community tank, the ladies scrubbed their amazing OANSA court sheltered by its treasured massive overhead structure. That court, its sturdy covering, the water tank, and the colorful OANSA uniforms and handbooks have all been donated by friends of this divine plantation to a hard-working, much-deserving body of believers who can’t seem to thank God enough for His overflowing provision. Most of the Zapote church OANSA leaders are men who take seriously their God-ordained responsibility to teach their children.  They are diligent sowers and waterers, and we can expect an excellent harvest from their labor.

In the village of La Bendición, believers recently celebrated 13 years since God provided for the completion of their beautiful church building. They see it as a “storehouse” for teaching, training, and preparing sowers to head into the fields. Over the years, church members have made countless mission treks through the rugged Sierra Madre, faithfully carrying the seeds of Truth to their Huichol brothers and sisters, some hearing for the first time, and others who have believed and now need fresh water and nourishment. To say they take orders from the Lord of the Harvest seriously, would be an understatement. 

Most recently, the congregation completed a multipurpose room that now serves as classrooms for the children (including their own OANSA club) as well as a temporary shelter for mountain travelers eager to learn more about the one true Kakaɨyari and His plan of salvation. Its thick cement roof doubles as an extended surface for frequent outdoor gatherings at the church. It was quite an engineering feat and a laborious challenge, but very practical. They joyfully dedicated their new space to their Master and His service. Let us not become weary. God dependably promises a harvest if we don’t give up just before the garden is about to bloom. 

Check out some August/September 2025 Tepic activities here. 

April/May 2025 Not despising small beginnings and rejoicing in our great God: Before. After. And all that is yet to come. Zechariah 4:10

For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. Zechariah 4:10 

Zechariah, the prophet, saw a vision of the future when God’s temple, and later, His people, would be filled with God himself, even though the present crushing task of rebuilding that temple from utter ruins made that prophecy seem impossible. His inspired proclamation reminds us that God takes joy in the very first faithful steps as well as in His finished work. Along with those friends from two and a half millennia ago, what once seemed small, fragile, and even uncertain has now become a monumental testimony to His provision and power. We rejoice in His faithfulness as we look back on empty plots, adverse circumstances, and whispered prayers - BEFORE; and we look forward to raised walls, transformed hearts, and Spirit-filled leaders - AFTER. 

The story of the Huichol church in Zapote de Picachos, Mexico, is a living testimony to this powerful verse from Zechariah. What began as a modest effort to share the Gospel with a remote indigenous community has blossomed into a thriving center of faith, transformation, and outreach. In January 2005, Kirt and I shared sad news about the Huichol village church of Zapote de Picachos. More than 20 years earlier, Fernando had founded the village nestled in the Sierra Madre mountains. José López carried the Gospel to the village, and before long, the thriving church had more than 60 believers. In 2001, we all pooled our resources, yours and ours, to help build a small church building there. The congregation became a model of growth, faith, and Gospel-sharing with their “neighbors.” 

In November 2004, government officials demanded that they leave their homes and their beautiful little church, relocating to a barren site nine kilometers down the mountain. We were devastated. 

Despite hardship and disappointment, the church remained strong. In meetings that Kirt had with Pastor Manuel and church leaders, they assured Kirt that they were “OK” with the change. They would dismantle the removable parts of the church building, carry them piece-by-piece down the mountain, and wait for God to provide a new building. Pastor Manuel echoed Joseph's words, “They meant it for evil, but God will use it for good.” By the first week of March 2005, that dream still felt out of reach. None of us knew that meeting would be the last time Kirt would be in the village, and that two activity-filled weeks later, our “construction contractor” and spiritual leader would be promoted to Heaven. 

Zapote de Picachos 5/05.    Before

Even in grief, the church pressed on. God generously provided materials, labor, and unity. By November 2005, we congregated in their brand new, larger church building. Pastor Manuel emphasized that this service was a dedication of the people, not the building, to continue reaching those still waiting to hear the Good News. 

Just last week, they hosted the annual pastors’ conference, attended by 54 pastors and leaders from Huichol churches throughout the Sierra Madre. The brothers and sisters from Zapote worked tirelessly, sacrificed generously, and served their guests with joy. Some arrived on foot, others via rural transport as far as it would go, a dozen received a UIMA airlift to Tepic from their “nearby” landing strips, and still others came by boat up or down river. All came eager to teach, learn, praise, and fellowship. This year’s theme was The Pastor and His Family. Eighty-year-old José López was one of the week’s featured speakers. The village pastors hung on the words he shared from his Huichol Bible as if they were his last. 

Though the enemy has attacked them in ways we never dreamed possible, too many to recount, God has blessed this little church like no other I’ve ever seen. They have torn down their original church walls twice to make room for growth. God has provided them with a concrete OANSA multipurpose court and a magnificent new covering. He’s blessed them with over 80 OANSA kids who never miss a meeting, leaders with “plumb lines” in hand who wouldn’t dream of missing either, and some 40 teens who attended youth camp last month. They are determined that their next generation will know and believe the Truth. Braulio's uploaded 15-minute video of their prep work and the conference is here. 

As we rejoice in God’s faithfulness to this little church, we are reminded of His continuing provision of pastors and leaders across the Sierra. The Huichol leaders do not take this process lightly. A powerful moment during the conference was the ordination of three new pastors, each having passed the tests of time, discipline, and faithfulness to God’s Word. José Lopez and José Carrillo (now in Heaven) were ordained by Román and Kirt in 1979. Pastors Manuel and Joaquín (Zapote) were ordained by José López and Martín in 2022. Refugio (La Bendición), Moisés (Codorniz), and Raul (El Chalate) were ordained by José, Martín, Manuel, and Joaquín on May 22, 2025. We were surprised to remember that Martín and Nacho, Mexican pastors from IBBM-Tepic, were ordained on May 22, 1994—exactly 31 years earlier, to the day! 

This is not about our great faith. It is about not despising small beginnings and rejoicing in our great God: Before. After. And all that is yet to come. 

April/May 2025 Tepic activities, including youth camp pictures, here and here.

November/December 2018 "...a new heart and a new spirit..." Ezekiel 36:26, 27

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 

Nothing is ever the same after the very Spirit of God performs a divine transplant of the heart of one who in humble repentance accepts the Gift He offers. Life is never again the same, possessions are not the same, goals are not the same, and momentary affliction is certainly not as significant as preparation is made for an unseen, but very real, eternal weight of glory. Following is a small sample of multiplied dozens of transplants of once rock-hard, cold hearts that recently in Tepic have been converted miraculously to vibrant ones of flesh, now-inhabited by God’s Spirit, discipled by His obedient followers, and prepared to seek out and share the life-giving Gospel with other broken hearts of stone.

Julio was the shaman of the Huichol village of Guásima del Caimán a dozen years ago when José López and his team of five missionaries first made contact there with the Gospel, and 36 rebellious hearts were replaced with hearts of flesh. Instigated by Julio, the determined and relentless persecution of the new believers began, never once letting up, especially when Mauricio, Julio’s son and next in line to become the shaman, believed. Eventually, the persecuted believers relocated to La Bendición. Mauricio’s siblings, all but one (who is in the state penitentiary), and Julio’s wife, their mother, gave their hearts to the Savior, as well; but Julio refused to listen to the Gospel…until this past September. At long last, he was persuaded, repented, and invited the Spirit to inhabit his obstinate, hardened heart. Just two short months later, Julio died. Pastor Martín, Erén, and I traveled to La Bendición for Julio’s funeral. The same brothers and sisters whom Julio had so stubbornly persecuted made the arrangements, bought the burial plot, paid his medical and funeral costs, dug the 9-foot hole for the casket with picks and shovels, and sang songs of praise as his body was being lowered into the ground. And I will put My Spirit in you.

The children from the OANSA club in Zapote de Picachos have reason to celebrate! They have learned that God Himself sent His only Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin, live a perfect life, and give Himself as a ransom so that their disobedient, little hearts of stone, now hiding God’s Word, may be transformed to the dwelling place of His Spirit. Their lives, and those of their leaders, are fresh and meaningful.

The children from the OANSA club in Tepic also have reason to celebrate--lots of reasons to celebrate! Yeimi, a 9-year-old girl in my little group called “Flames,” came from a complex, dysfunctional, amalgamated family, with little hope. But Yeimi has been faithfully hiding God’s Word in the heart of stone with which she was born, and not long ago, she made the choice to invite the Savior to be her Lord. She has consistently asked her father to help her review her memory verses, and in time, Juan Antonio, along with the rest of her family, believed.

Yeimi told Pastor Martín that she wanted to prove her commitment to Jesus and be baptized like He was, even though the water is quite cold right now. Her father, as well as four other OANSA students, Rigo, Christian, Antonio, and Teresa, followed Yeimi’s example.

This year’s Christmas Celebration at IBBM-Tepic was the best ever. Every single actor was one whose heart of stone has been wondrously transformed into a Spirit-filled heart of flesh. See their 9-minute dramatic presentation here.

The little band of mother-tongue-translators, dedicated, persevering, and faithful servants, has been at work for 11 years on the laborious task of translating the Old Testament of the very Word of God into Huichol. That precise Word of God has penetrated their once stone-hard hearts with life-giving Truth to such a degree that they, along with some others from their villages, enthusiastically gave up their Christmastime at home this year to travel to various remote mountain villages to share the Good News with Huichols who are just now hearing and learning its Truth and experiencing the miracle of new birth, a saving relationship with its Author, and hearts of flesh inhabited by His Spirit.

May we not lose sight that it is only the living Word of God, Whose birth we have celebrated just this month, and the written Word He has left us that replaces hearts of stone with hearts of flesh and accomplishes His miraculous work by means of His very own Spirit within. This is grounds for celebration today, and every day of this new year.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 

See more November/December Tepic activity pictures here.

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