Lately, we have been spending time with the leaders of Iglesia La Puerta in Nogales, Mexico as we continue in our efforts to help Pastor Rito coordinate the different ministries and maximize the outreach/evangelism being done by the church. On Saturday, we will be helping Fernando and Damaris as they do an outreach crusade in the Nuevo Nogales neighborhood of Nogales, Mexico. Fernando and Damaris are planting a mission/future church in that area similar to the mission that exists in the Las Torres neighborhood. Currently, the church has 4 mission plants in Nogales, Mexico. They are in the Las Torres, Nuevo Nogales, Avenida Cananea and Colosio neighborhoods and they have either started their work or are in the beginning stages. We are excited for the opportunities to meet and serve new people in these different areas. In addition to mission plants, La Puerta recently had 13 cell leaders graduate from the 3 month leadership class for cell leaders. They have already begun meetings in their homes and neighborhoods as we know this will be a huge key in advancing the Kingdom of God in Nogales.
What really impresses us is the vision, training and practical application of the Great Commission that we are witnessing. The members of Iglesia La Puerta are eager to go out into the community and find ways to bring the word of God to their neighbors and friends. As we go into the streets on some of the outreach crusades we are awestruck by the boldness of the people we work with as they talk to and evangelize anyone they see. What is even more impressive is the fact that we have all ages from youth group age to people in the "golden years" who go with us on these outreaches. Last week, the youth group rode the buses in downtown Nogales and, if the bus driver gave them permission, they stood up and began to testify about Jesus! How awesome!!!!
We are very, very blessed by the experiences we are having here and truly believe God is moving in this city. The willing and eager attitude of the people in the church to evangelize is inspirational and they force us to move physically and spiritually at a much higher level than we ever have. God is showing us that He desires a people who desire to advance His Kingdom and we know that He will be glorified in a great revival that is coming.
If anyone would like to bring a group down to minister in Mexico and witness the power of God as His Kingdom advances, please contact us. We would love to have the "fire" of the Holy Spirit rub off on people from the United States and that they would "carry the fire" back to their cities and churches.
"Let His Kingdom come, let His Will be done!!!"
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Jesus is Returning!
As we have been driving through Nogales, Mexico over the last several weeks, we have seen new billboard ads proclaiming that "JESUS IS RETURNING ON MAY 21, 2011". Further investigation finds that Harold Camping of Family Radio located in California has made this prediction and is spreading the news through all sorts of media. At the time I am writing this, you have 8 days and 15 hours (according to Camping's website) to get ready for His return. Included in Campings website are bible verses on the return of Christ (like a thief in the night) and verses on ensuring we (Christians) are saved.
Many may ask what's the problem with Mr. Camping's prediction? Many feel he is doing evangelism by spreading the Gospel and trying to get people prepared for Christ's return. The problem is that the bible refutes Mr. Camping's attempt to discern the end in Matthew 24:36 when Jesus talks about the signs of the end of the age (the return of Christ). Jesus declares that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father". When Mr. Camping announces he has figured out the date of Christ's return - he is saying that he is smarter that the Son of God! By his mortal research, Mr. Camping declares that he has been able to calculate and deduce the end of time but Jesus declares He doesn't know the day or time and that ONLY the Father knows. That is heresy in it's truest form as it raises Mr. Camping's knowledge and reasoning about the Son of God's. The other problem Mr. Camping has is that in 1992, he wrote a book in which he proclaimed that Jesus might return on September 6, 1994. To ensure he had an out, he also said it could be on May 21, 2011. As these days come and pass, Mr. Camping is revealed as the deceiver he is. We need to pray for Mr. Camping and his followers that they would humble themselves and step back from this deception. They do great harm to the Kingdom of God by making the world ridicule and disbelieve God's people more when their silly predictions fail.
Instead of buying into these "calculations" and "predictions" of the return of Jesus, we should keep ourselves prepared and evangelizing the unsaved at ALL TIMES! The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:3-4; "While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief." In closing, the only thing a believer needs to know it that Jesus WILL return and we should live and do the work of His Kingdom every day with all that we have. His return could be at any time on any day, it could even be today. Are you and your family ready? Are you doing all you can for His Kingdom? Let's rejoice because we can be confident in saying that he is coming and coming soon!!!!
Many may ask what's the problem with Mr. Camping's prediction? Many feel he is doing evangelism by spreading the Gospel and trying to get people prepared for Christ's return. The problem is that the bible refutes Mr. Camping's attempt to discern the end in Matthew 24:36 when Jesus talks about the signs of the end of the age (the return of Christ). Jesus declares that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father". When Mr. Camping announces he has figured out the date of Christ's return - he is saying that he is smarter that the Son of God! By his mortal research, Mr. Camping declares that he has been able to calculate and deduce the end of time but Jesus declares He doesn't know the day or time and that ONLY the Father knows. That is heresy in it's truest form as it raises Mr. Camping's knowledge and reasoning about the Son of God's. The other problem Mr. Camping has is that in 1992, he wrote a book in which he proclaimed that Jesus might return on September 6, 1994. To ensure he had an out, he also said it could be on May 21, 2011. As these days come and pass, Mr. Camping is revealed as the deceiver he is. We need to pray for Mr. Camping and his followers that they would humble themselves and step back from this deception. They do great harm to the Kingdom of God by making the world ridicule and disbelieve God's people more when their silly predictions fail.
Instead of buying into these "calculations" and "predictions" of the return of Jesus, we should keep ourselves prepared and evangelizing the unsaved at ALL TIMES! The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:3-4; "While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief." In closing, the only thing a believer needs to know it that Jesus WILL return and we should live and do the work of His Kingdom every day with all that we have. His return could be at any time on any day, it could even be today. Are you and your family ready? Are you doing all you can for His Kingdom? Let's rejoice because we can be confident in saying that he is coming and coming soon!!!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Christian Response
As the news of Usama Bin Laden's death broke last night, we saw the whole gambit of responses on the t.v. and internet. We were in Mexico when the news was released and finally saw it when we got home late after church and dinner with friends. I have been waiting to post on it until now as I have meditated and prayed over the correct response. Finally, I believe God has guided me through His Spirit and postings from friends and family. One of the most poignant and accurate posts I have seen is on my daughter's blog "Chrystal's Corner" (http://networkedblogs.com/hmtgI?ref=nf). In her blog she quotes Proverbs 24:17 "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice." We should always pursue justice in our society as God's word says in Proverbs 21:15 "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers." However, we should never, ever rejoice, gloat or party at the death of a person - especially one who will now face God's judgement and the torment of eternity apart from Him. For the people of God, His instruction is clear about justice and revenge in Romans 12:19 - "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." Justice is approved, revenge is not. God will be the final judge and His promise is that he will avenge those who reject Him and bring harm to His righteous people.
So the question is, do we rejoice because we got revenge and the justice of man has been served? Or are we satisfied that justice has been served and terror had been brought to evildoers while grieving for the death of one who does not know the resurrection power of Jesus? Myself, I choose the second. God desires that none should perish without knowing salvation and that includes Usama Bin Laden. While we continue to seek justice in this war on terror, God's people needs to seek a final resolution to this war by prayer and working for the salvation of all the terrorists who need Jesus to change their lives.
This week, let's pray for the salvation of those who wish to bring harm to the United States. And let's pray that the people of the United States repent and seek the God of the founders of this nation.
To Him be ALL the Glory!!!!!
So the question is, do we rejoice because we got revenge and the justice of man has been served? Or are we satisfied that justice has been served and terror had been brought to evildoers while grieving for the death of one who does not know the resurrection power of Jesus? Myself, I choose the second. God desires that none should perish without knowing salvation and that includes Usama Bin Laden. While we continue to seek justice in this war on terror, God's people needs to seek a final resolution to this war by prayer and working for the salvation of all the terrorists who need Jesus to change their lives.
This week, let's pray for the salvation of those who wish to bring harm to the United States. And let's pray that the people of the United States repent and seek the God of the founders of this nation.
To Him be ALL the Glory!!!!!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Culture - A Key To Ministry
Tonight, we will be attending our first Quinceañera in Mexico. In case you haven't heard of a Quinceañera, it is the celebration of a girls 15th birthday that marks her transition from childhood to young womanhood. We are excited to be a part of this ceremony and to continue to become more familiar with the culture of Mexico. As we attend the different cultural events of the people we serve, we become aware of the fact that being a representative of God's Kingdom means developing relationships in the culture of the people around us and then speaking the truth of God's word into that cultural context. That doesn't say we should compromise our integrity and holiness when advancing His Kingdom. However, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:22 "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." For too long, Christians have tried a "cookie cutter" approach to evangelism regardless of the culture they are trying to win. Over the years, we have developed a Christian look, lifestyle and language and expect all to fit in it as we evangelize. What we miss is that whether it is foreign missions, prison ministry, intercity evangelism or church planting in rural areas there are many different cultures with different looks, lifestyles and languages. As we are finding in our journey as missionaries in Mexico, their culture may be different than ours but the truth of the Gospel of Jesus has the same power to transform their lives as it has ours. We just need to know their culture and then share the Gospel in a way that relates to their lives. Just look at the different ways Paul reached out to the Jews, the religious scholars and the educated gentiles. Hey respected their culture and presented the Gospel in a way they could relate to and the Kingdom advanced rapidly.
Today, God is calling His people to;
1. Go into the world and develop relationships (Get to know people and their culture)
2. Take His unchanging Word and preach the Gospel into that culture in any legal, moral and ethical way you can.
3. Offer the eternal gift of salvation
4. Disciple people inside their culture so they can live Christian lives in that culture and reach out in even a more effective way to those like them.
Today, God is calling His people to;
1. Go into the world and develop relationships (Get to know people and their culture)
2. Take His unchanging Word and preach the Gospel into that culture in any legal, moral and ethical way you can.
3. Offer the eternal gift of salvation
4. Disciple people inside their culture so they can live Christian lives in that culture and reach out in even a more effective way to those like them.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Blog Changes
After looking at several ways to blog on our website, we have decided to return to the blog format we used before because of the links it had to the social networks and how easy it is to compose and post a blog.
God has been doing many things with us and through us in our time as missionaries and we want to capture these events to give testimony to the power, authority, mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has blessed us with the opportunity to see His kingdom grow and advance and we sense the Holy Spirit telling us that we are soon to witness and be involved in an incredible expansion of His kingdom as the Gospel is preached in all nations with signs, wonders and miracles following. It is an exciting time to be alive as we anticipate the return of our King.
We hope you enjoy the look and feel of our updated blog. Please check back often as we continue down the path God has given us for this time and age.
Dave and Toni
God has been doing many things with us and through us in our time as missionaries and we want to capture these events to give testimony to the power, authority, mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has blessed us with the opportunity to see His kingdom grow and advance and we sense the Holy Spirit telling us that we are soon to witness and be involved in an incredible expansion of His kingdom as the Gospel is preached in all nations with signs, wonders and miracles following. It is an exciting time to be alive as we anticipate the return of our King.
We hope you enjoy the look and feel of our updated blog. Please check back often as we continue down the path God has given us for this time and age.
Dave and Toni
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
New Website - http://carrythefireministry.com/
This has been a difficult and tiring season as we have been taking care of Dave's mom's estate business and tying up loose ends in Washington. We have been trusting in the strength of Jesus and relying totally on His strength and peace. As we take a slow trip home, we are resting and being restored by His presence. We are sensing a NEW season in our lives and our ministry and are looking forward to seeing what He has for us.
As part of this new season, we have initiated a website for Carry The Fire at http://carrythefireministry.com/. It is a "work in progress" and we will continue to add to it as we can. In light of this new website, we will no longer be using this blog site. As God restores us, we will begin blogging on the website and adding any new information about our ministry there. Please check out the website and become a member under the "Members" link on the top of the Home Page.
Thank you for following us here and we look forward to seeing you as a member on our new website.
Your Brother and Sister in Christ - Dave and Toni
As part of this new season, we have initiated a website for Carry The Fire at http://carrythefireministry.com/. It is a "work in progress" and we will continue to add to it as we can. In light of this new website, we will no longer be using this blog site. As God restores us, we will begin blogging on the website and adding any new information about our ministry there. Please check out the website and become a member under the "Members" link on the top of the Home Page.
Thank you for following us here and we look forward to seeing you as a member on our new website.
Your Brother and Sister in Christ - Dave and Toni
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
El Salvador Miracle - Cancer Healed!
Dinora Testifying About Her HealingDuring our trip to El Salvador, we experienced God in a way that we never had before. It was the first time in our life that we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit for 24 hours a day for 10 days straight and we continue to feel His presence several days after we have returned home. Even though our assignment was to go down and minister with the word of God, give encouragement to pastors and churches, pray for people for miracles and show the love of Jesus to everyone we met, God did an incredible thing is us. For us and our ministry, we received revelation, inspiration, visions, confirmation, anointing, FIRE and an offer from the Holy Spirit to go higher in Him. As we shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God confirmed it with signs, wonders and miracles in the people we prayed for.
Today, we want to share the incredible, doctor confirmed, miracle God began our trip with. It happened during our first night of speaking and praying for people and testimony of it was given on the second night service. We had been scheduled to speak our first three nights in a town adjacent to San Salvador called Soyapongo. Pastor Nelson and his church are one of the two works La Puerta has in El Salvador. After Pastor Nelson gave us a fun, exhilarating, thrilling and exciting 40 minute ride from the house we were staying in to the church, we arrived just as the service was starting. We enjoyed a wonderful, Spirit filled worship time and then it was time for Dave to start speaking. Before diving into the word God had given him, Dave had the Pastor and leaders of the church come forward. God had spoke to Dave's heart during worship and given him these words; "That the miracles would begin in the house of the Lord." Dave anointed and prayed for the leadership and then began to preach. After giving the word of God, Dave opened the altars offering to anoint people and pray the prayer of faith (James 5:15) for any that wished to receive healing. Many came forward and Dave began praying with each one. While Dave was praying over several people, Toni was drawn to a woman who was standing, waiting for prayer. Toni found out her name was Dinora and began to minister to her. Toni gave Dinora a word that she had received for her and then found out that Dinora had cancer in her reproductive organs. Toni then prayed for her to have faith that she would be healed. We continued to pray for the others at the altar. As the service was concluding, Pastor Nelson brought Dinora back up and asked Dave to pray for her. Dave spoke a word over Dinora that confirmed Toni's word before he knew what the situation was. Then both of us anointed Dinora with oil and prayed for her with Toni's hand resting on her abdomen and Dave's hand resting on Toni's. You could sense God's sweet presence in the room and we could feel His power as we prayed for her. We then closed the service feeling very humbled by the incredible presence of the Holy Spirit and were eager for more of Him.
The next day, while seeing some of the sights in San Salvador with Pastor Rito and Julia, Julia received a phone call reporting that a miracle had occurred at Soyapongo involving Dinora. The details were spotty, so we waited until the service to hear the full report. When we arrived at the church that night, the Pastor told us that Dinora, HIS SISTER, had been healed of cancer and that she wanted to give her testimony. After worship was completed, we had her come up and tell what had happened. Dinora had been diagnosed with cancer in her reproductive organs and she had constant bleeding. When we gave the altar call, she came forward needing a miracle. She said that when she was being prayed over, she felt something "break" where the cancer was. She also felt an incredible faith in her heart that God was going to cure her. She went home and suddenly, her bleeding stopped and a "black" round object came out of her. The next morning, she went to her doctor and he did a battery of tests on her. He then compared the results of her prior tests with the new ones and he was amazed. He stated it was like they were from two totally different women and the newest tests showed, all Glory to God, NO MORE CANCER! Needless to say, Dinora was incredibly touched by God's power and we used her on the second night to help us pray for those with un-cured illnesses and injuries. She plans on sharing her testimony and ministering the love and power of Jesus Christ.
What a way to start our incredible adventure in San Salvador, El Salvador! We are so humbled that God would flow through us to work His incredible miracles. We take no credit for what occurred as we were just following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but we give all praise, honor and glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who did this miracle (and others during our time in El Salvador) as confirmation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are continuing to journal other amazing events that occurred and will post them once they are done.
Today, we want to share the incredible, doctor confirmed, miracle God began our trip with. It happened during our first night of speaking and praying for people and testimony of it was given on the second night service. We had been scheduled to speak our first three nights in a town adjacent to San Salvador called Soyapongo. Pastor Nelson and his church are one of the two works La Puerta has in El Salvador. After Pastor Nelson gave us a fun, exhilarating, thrilling and exciting 40 minute ride from the house we were staying in to the church, we arrived just as the service was starting. We enjoyed a wonderful, Spirit filled worship time and then it was time for Dave to start speaking. Before diving into the word God had given him, Dave had the Pastor and leaders of the church come forward. God had spoke to Dave's heart during worship and given him these words; "That the miracles would begin in the house of the Lord." Dave anointed and prayed for the leadership and then began to preach. After giving the word of God, Dave opened the altars offering to anoint people and pray the prayer of faith (James 5:15) for any that wished to receive healing. Many came forward and Dave began praying with each one. While Dave was praying over several people, Toni was drawn to a woman who was standing, waiting for prayer. Toni found out her name was Dinora and began to minister to her. Toni gave Dinora a word that she had received for her and then found out that Dinora had cancer in her reproductive organs. Toni then prayed for her to have faith that she would be healed. We continued to pray for the others at the altar. As the service was concluding, Pastor Nelson brought Dinora back up and asked Dave to pray for her. Dave spoke a word over Dinora that confirmed Toni's word before he knew what the situation was. Then both of us anointed Dinora with oil and prayed for her with Toni's hand resting on her abdomen and Dave's hand resting on Toni's. You could sense God's sweet presence in the room and we could feel His power as we prayed for her. We then closed the service feeling very humbled by the incredible presence of the Holy Spirit and were eager for more of Him.
The next day, while seeing some of the sights in San Salvador with Pastor Rito and Julia, Julia received a phone call reporting that a miracle had occurred at Soyapongo involving Dinora. The details were spotty, so we waited until the service to hear the full report. When we arrived at the church that night, the Pastor told us that Dinora, HIS SISTER, had been healed of cancer and that she wanted to give her testimony. After worship was completed, we had her come up and tell what had happened. Dinora had been diagnosed with cancer in her reproductive organs and she had constant bleeding. When we gave the altar call, she came forward needing a miracle. She said that when she was being prayed over, she felt something "break" where the cancer was. She also felt an incredible faith in her heart that God was going to cure her. She went home and suddenly, her bleeding stopped and a "black" round object came out of her. The next morning, she went to her doctor and he did a battery of tests on her. He then compared the results of her prior tests with the new ones and he was amazed. He stated it was like they were from two totally different women and the newest tests showed, all Glory to God, NO MORE CANCER! Needless to say, Dinora was incredibly touched by God's power and we used her on the second night to help us pray for those with un-cured illnesses and injuries. She plans on sharing her testimony and ministering the love and power of Jesus Christ.
What a way to start our incredible adventure in San Salvador, El Salvador! We are so humbled that God would flow through us to work His incredible miracles. We take no credit for what occurred as we were just following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but we give all praise, honor and glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who did this miracle (and others during our time in El Salvador) as confirmation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are continuing to journal other amazing events that occurred and will post them once they are done.
Dave, Dinora and Toni
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)