God has a Plan for Today

Saturday, February 17, 2024, Stephen and Tonyia Williams with True Path Ministry, friends: Dana and Phillip Langer and Will and Debby Loveless; Evangelist Rulis, his wife and members of Centro Cristiano Getsemani had planned to go to Refugio, a very remote mountainous village. Well, God had other plans.

We woke up to heavy rain in Galeana and when we arrived to gather the group from the church to leave, we were told that Pastor Selodonio from Refugio had let them know that the road to Refugio was not safe to travel, too much rain. We began to ask Pastor Rey, with Centro Cristiano Getsemani, if there was another village that would be safe to go to. He determined that we could safely go to San Ildefonso. It is a mountain village several hours away, but the road was more rocky and not as treacherous.

Lulu and son Abdiel, with Centro Cristiano Getsemani, sang and played drums for worship. Tonyia with TPM and the Texas group were called forward and introduced. Evangelist Rulis preached a powerful message while teacher Ana took the kids to a different room.

Ana spoke an important message to the kids and several accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Each child put together a special art project which let the children know how much God loves them. The kids were excited to recite their scripture verse and received a special treat.

After services were complete, each child was given a backpack with school supplies, a gift and a Christian tract. Then giant snow flacks began to fall just as we began our return trip to Galeana. The beauty of it just added to an already good time.  At end of the day we realized our trip to San Ildefonso is what God had in mind for us.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

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Celebrating Christ in Refugio

(Note: below the article are many photos.)

Steve and Tonyia with True Path Ministry and 17 members of the Central Cristiano Getsemani church, Galeana, NL, Mexico travelled deep into the mountains to bring the word of the Lord to Refugio on December 22, 2023.

Going to Refugio is always a special time. Pastor Selodonio and his family are faithful servants of Jesus. Once arriving, we were fed a delicious meal. When most of the families arrived, services began. Many walked or rode donkeys long distances to attend the service.

 Lulu led the singing which included the group from Iglesia Getsemani singing a beautiful praise song. Steve and I were introduced, and Lulu read Ephesians 2:11-22 and explained How Jesus brought peace between God and all people. He did this by “tearing down walls” that separated us by his death on the cross. Which made it possible for everyone to united by faith in Christ. She went on to say how we are not promised tomorrow and that if they had not received Jesus in their heart, that today was the day.

It was a special day of testimony and prayer. One woman who has cancer mentioned that she was in remission and believed Christ is the reason for her healing. She talked about how it had been difficult be she was holding fast to her faith.

Another testimony, a man said he had been praying for 4-5 years for his wife to know Jesus but she wouldn’t listen to him. But God opened her heart and she was there with him and is now a Christian.

We have been visiting this ranch since 2011 and it is an honor to see the work the Lord is doing in this place. Not just physical but spiritual growth.

After the testimonies, Pastor Rey preached on Luke 15:11-31. Once we were all lost but now we are found and children of the most High King. There are many people who do not know Jesus and do not understand the blessings Christians received knowing Jesus. Some may have left their first love, Jesus, but it is not too late to repent and return to Jesus. Jesus says in Luke 15:17 that there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. Now matter our circumstance, it is time to receive Jesus or return to Him.

After Pastor Rey completed his sermon, several came forward for prayer. We anointed and prayed for everyone that came forward. One lady will be having a kidney operation and we prayed and believed for her healing.

The children also had a time of prayer, worship, and teaching from the Bible. Their teaching focused on the fact that Jesus was the greatest gift.

Boxes full of gifts for each child were brought down off the top of the van. Each boy received a backpack with school supplies, and a soccer ball and Christian tract. Each girl received a backpack with school supplies, a drink tumbler, fingernail polish and Christian tract. The preschool children received small backpacks with toys and a tract.

Blankets were given to each family, sweaters, handmade dresses for the girls, toboggans, caps for the men and candy.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)

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Powerful Day Serving the Lord in Canoas

(Note: many photos below the article) Stephen and Tonyia with True Path Ministry, Donna and Jim Jones from Texas and 15 members of Iglesia Central Cristiano Getsemani church, Galeana, NL, Mexico travelled to the small mountain village, Canoas, on December 20, 2023.

Pastor Alfredo met us as we were parking the vehicles. We said our greetings and were then invited to eat. Part of the group went to Pastor Alfredo’s house and the other part went to Francisco and Noehemi’s house, they are faithful members of Alfredo’s church. It was a blessed time visiting with the Pastor, his wife Alicia and some family members. After eating, we made the short walk back to the church.

The small wooden church building filled up as the congregation sang several songs, led by Galeana’s pastor Lulu. During the service the Galeana group came to the front and sang. Afterwards, Steve, Tonyia, Donna and Jim came forward. I explained that we come to Canoas not for ourselves but because our desire is to spread the word of God and for all to be saved.

Several more deeply spiritual songs were sang then Pastor Rey preached for the church members as the children were dismissed with Ana to go outside for their own special time.

 Galeana’s Pastor Rey preached on Matthew 25:1-13. We must be ready and prepared every day because Jesus is coming back. He explained that salvation is personal and can’t come from your mom or dad. We don’t know how long we will be on earth, so we must stay ready to meet our Lord.

At the end of the service Pastor Rey asked if anyone was moved to publicly commit their heart to Jesus. Pastor Alfredo’s  granddaughter, age 20, came forward. Pastor Rey prayed with her that she receive Jesus as a permanent part of her life. Tonyia gave her an RVR 1960 Bible which we had brought for such occasion.

Pastor Rey then called for anyone that wanted prayer to come forward. Many came and we anointed them with oil and prayed for each one.

Outside, once the kids completed their song time, Ana taught the children on the Christmas story. Each one also completed a manger scene-craft that included their name.

Every kid was given a candy bag and the preschool children received a small backpack with gifts. Every school age boy received a backpack with school supplies, a hygiene pack and a soccer ball. Every school age girl received school supplies, a hygiene pack and a drink tumbler. Each backpack also included a Christian tract.

We also handed out blankets, caps and toboggans. But before we said our goodbyes, a member of the church whom we had prayed for at a previous visit, ask for prayer again. Her cancer had returned. We prayed and believe with her and her family for her healing.

We said goodbye and headed towards a village just down the mountain from Canoas called Palo Gacho.  When we visit the area we always stop and usually give them candy and a stuffed animal but this year, we wanted to bless them with backpacks.

The preschool kids got a small backpack with gifts and the school age kids got larger backpacks with school supplies, a hygiene pack and a gift. They also were given candy, toboggans and blankets. Lulu asked the lady if the village had a church and she said no. Pastor Rey prayed for them and invited them to come to Canoas the next time they came through. Which should not be too long.

TPM and Iglesia Getsemani work together to send out a mission team to take the gospel monthly to the many tiny mountain villages in the areas.

Wow, what a blessing the day was serving our Lord Jesus the Christ in Canoas!

Service in Joya de Agua Frio

Stephen and Tonyia with True Path Ministry (TPM), Donna and Jim Jones from Texas and members of Iglesia Getsemani traveled deep into the mountains of Mexico to Joyas de Agua Frio on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

After 3 hours of driving up steep, rocky mountainous roads, we felt like we had arrived at the end of the earth. 😊 Several of the climbs going up the road were so steep and with loose rocks, making it difficult for our Buick Enclave to gain traction. We had to use a thick rope attached to the TPM van so it could pull our Buick up the hill. Difficult, but we made it work.

Stephen and Tonyia had visited this ranch once in 2016. Pastor Jose de Jesus, has a church in San Francisco, NL, Mexico. It is a small town about 15 minutes from Galeana. He is also now the pastor at this ranch, it is his mission church. He said Christians once came regularly to the village but quit coming. He said about 4 years ago a woman from the ranch invited him to come so he did and now he goes every few months and preaches God’s word.

Speaking with Jose, you could hear the passion for Jesus in his voice and see the joy on his face to have the opportunity to service this small ranch. He said it is hard for him to come very often because it is a long, hard trip and gas is over $5 per gallon.

The adult service was held outside under a tree as there is no church building. The kid’s service was held separately under a tin awning.

Pastor Rey from Galeana preached on Matthew 9:20, the woman with bleeding and her faith. How we must daily look for God and trust Him for everything! After the service, Pastor Rey invited folks to come forward for prayer.

He read the scripture James 5:14-15 – Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Pastor Jose, wife Mara and Tonyia anointed those who came forward for prayer with oil and prayed over each person. Once the these were prayed for, Pastor Rey had Pastor Jose de Jesus, wife Mara and daughter come forward. Donna, Tonyia and Steve anointed them with oil and prayed for them.

Ana taught the children about the Christmas story. Noting Christ is the greatest gift they can receive. Two children who did not have a Bible were each given one.

Once the service was over, the giving of gifts began:  blankets were given to each family, dresses that were handmade; caps, toboggans, each school age girl got a backpack with school supplies and a drink tumbler, each school age boy got a backpack with supplies and a soccer ball. The young children that did not go to school received a small backpack with a few supplies and a gift. The children also received candy.

All the children received their gifts, the traveling group was fed a great meal of chicken mole, rice and beans. We said our goodbyes and headed back to Galeana.

What a blessed day with Jesus!

 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)

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Mexico Construction Continues

True Path Ministry and the Central Cristiano Getsemani Church in Galeana, NL, Mexico are closely aligned. Their church is a thriving congregation of faithful followers of Jesus. The church building, parsonage, ministry house and club area are all part of the Mexico home-base for TPM activities. They sit on the rocky side of a mountain overlooking the town. The steep road leading to these areas have long been in need of attention and thanks to the Lord and our supporters we are in the process of addressing that need. A new retaining wall will provide more usable space, and a concrete road surface will provide a permanent entrance. Another project that has been addressed, is the addition of a wall on the north side of the Marcos 10:14 Kids Club meeting area. It will provide a greater level of comfort for meetings, especially during the winter months.

We also have funding to help put a much-needed roof on a church building in El Nacimiento, San Luis Potosí where pastor Faustino Garcia faithfully proclaims the gospel.

Earlier we were able to work with pastor Celestino and the church in the Santa Rosa mountain-village to repair their roof. Volunteers applied a special seal coating on the concrete roof to make it resist the weather. Coating will add years of use to this place of worship.

Because of the Lord’s blessings and your faithful support TPM continues to touch the lives of many in economically challenged areas of Mexico. Thank you for your support.