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.
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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 a
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.
Labels: ordination Raul Moisés Refugio pastors' conference, Zapote de Picachos