December 2025-January 2026

Let us not therefore be weary of well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.   ~Galatians 6:9 

                                                                                                                                       

Seriously, I can hardly believe how God has answered our naïve, but sincere, prayers so spectacularly, and I'll never run out of gratitude for countless friends and co-laborers who have been vital to that well-doing process. December 12th, the Day of the Virgin here in Mexico, marked 48 years since our first day of arrival in Tepic (other than passing through en route to language school). We didn't even know what the Day of the Virgin was back then! Nor did we dream of the lifetime of stories, chapters, and sequels the Author and Finisher was about to write. The last week of December also marked 50 years since we crossed the US/Mexico border heading to Querétaro for language school...but a vapor, for sure! 

Blessings of God’s gracious harvest and “fainting not” — Years ago, more than forty now, during our early times in Tepic, Kirt met Lucio, a middle-aged man with whom he began to share the Gospel. Putting it mildly, the message was not well-received, and eventually, Lucio refused to listen at all. In fact, he was furious that we had come to Tepic for the purpose of spreading God’s Word, which he called, “the opiate for exploiting the masses.” Lucio faithfully read, memorized, and was determined to proclaim to his eight daughters and three sons, as well as everyone else he met, the teachings of his own “bible,” the Spanish version of Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. There were no family portraits hanging in their house, instead, the living room was decorated with posters of Marx, Che Guevara, and Fidel Castro. 

Only our omniscient Father could have orchestrated the divine detours and appointments over the decades that followed, detours that began penetrating the hardened and hurting hearts of the children of that harsh and demanding father. All have professional careers, as he insisted; are divorcees, as he expected; and for years were open but empty targets of the enemy. Seven of those “girls,” now in their late forties, fifties, and sixties, have become believers in Jesus and followed Him in baptism. They are being marvelously transformed into new creatures, healing, growing, being discipled, and learning to use their God-given gifts to share the Truth with others as they begin serving their new-found Savior. 

As I walked one of them, Mirta, an esteemed director in Tepic’s public education system, through the six-month process of the basic steps of True Discipleship, God reinforced the promise that faithfulness and perseverance bear much unexpected fruit. Mirta repeatedly stopped our one-on-one sessions, placed her hand on her new, beautifully bound Bible, and with tears welling up in her eyes said: “If only I had known this before…I could have avoided so many tragedies in my life…my daughters…my ex-husband… the people I have hurt… the pain I have lived with…” 

And who would have imagined that one of hard-hearted Lucio’s grandchildren, Libertad (Her name means “Liberty”!), would be prepared to share the Gospel with him one last time, on his deathbed? We don’t know if Lucio’s last-minute confession was sincere, but we do know that his indoctrinated daughters are now our friends, sisters, Jesus’ disciples, and co-laborers. And we do know that Galatians 6:9 sustains us: Let us not therefore be weary of well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not. 

And speaking of fainting not and reaping, we’re ramping up preparations for this year’s Huichol youth camp, Clay in the Potter’s Hands. We’ll be studying the Potter and the clay and learning to become vessels of purpose. This will be our 13th annual camp, and we’re expecting about 200 campers from across the Sierra Madre. It’s a logistical nightmare, but a dream come true, to watch hard-working, committed student leaders from IBBM–Tepic coordinate, sacrifice, and serve the Huichol community with such enthusiasm, while Huichol leaders also take on the responsibility of learning, teaching, and training their own. 

In our most recent planning meeting, it occurred to me that two kids from the very first youth camp we ever organized (not Huichol), more than four decades ago, were Martín, 15, from Tepic, and Erén, 14, from Culiacán. Who would have imagined that one day, Martín, who would become the pastor of IBBM-Tepic, along with Erén, now his wife, would be working together with the youth from our church to host a camp for young people from the Sierra Madre, who we pray will become the next generation of leaders in the Huichol church? 

No, you can’t make this up. He is faithful to His promise that in due season we will reap, and His vessels will bring ultimate glory to the divine Potter. 

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

October/November 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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