THANKFUL TO GOD

It is so very humbling for us, Stephen and Tonyia Williams, True Path Ministry, to be used by God to impact Mexico. We are blessed and thankful!

Steve and Tonyia, Jim and Donna Jones and Manny Escobedo from Medina, Texas and a group from Centro Cristiana Getsemani drove 2 hours and 37 miles into the mountains, to the small village of Purisima. It was a difficult drive but not as treacherous as yesterday. We did notice some lakes that had been made from increased rain in the past and some of the roads had been washed away.

It was a hot day, almost 90 degrees. The small village is at a higher altitude, making it closer to the sun. The church meets under a makeshift tent and has no AC. BUT JESUS! The people came!  The praise and worship was a joyful time!

Mariia preached a powerful sermon on Mark 7:24-30 –

 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.  He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. We must stay faithful to God in all situations, pray fervently knowing He answers prayer.

When the sermon starts Ana took the kids to a separate area for their time. They pray, sing, have Bible study and create a craft.

Once preaching ends, the black boxes are removed from the top of the van. Each child is then given a backpack filled with school supplies, a Christian tract, a hygiene pack and a gift along with a bag of candy.

Pastor Rebeca’s family fed us a great meal of tamales and beans be. It was so good!

This is the sweet words of gratitude that Pastor Rebeca had me (Tonyia) read in front of the congregation:

With these words we want to express our deepest gratitude, first to God who gave us the privilege and pleasure of being able to meet the missionary brothers to whom we are very grateful for the blessing that we have received from their hands and by the grace of the Lord, they have been an important part of this project which continues every day we wish with all our hearts that God multiplies what you lovingly give for his work. Each one of you is another reason for our prayers and we ask the Father to bless and preserve your lives, their wishes, desires, and according to His will. Fulfill your purpose. You will always have a place in our hearts and in the Church of Purisima. As Pastor of this place, I can only say Thank you for everything. Thank you very much. My heart is happy for having you with us and we hope in some way to be able to give back to your generosity that they have shown for the church. We love you.

We go to bless the people, and we are the ones that receive the blessing. I have so much to be thankful for!! THANK YOU JESUS!

Note: Click on a photo to see it larger.

Warm Welcome in Refugio

Written by first time Medina, Texas visitor, Manny Escobedo.

My experience today will be one that I will cherish the remainder of my life. I had the most wonderful opportunity to join Stephen and Tonyia Williams with True Path Ministry, Donna and Jim Jones from Medina and a group from Centro Cristiano Getsemani of Galeana to go to the small mountain village of Refugio. It took 3 hours to drive 54 miles. Once starting up the mountain, it was a beautiful, slow, treacherous drive. In several areas, the road had been washed out by the tropical storm Alberto that came through in June of this year. New roads were created in the river rock.

Once we arrived, Pastor Celedonio and family met us with big smiles and hugs. They were very excited to see us. After the greetings, we were fed a wonderful meal before worship started. I was able to lead the Texas group in the song “This little light of mine” in Spanish. Several in the audience joined in and sang along.

It was a treat to have Evangelist Ramiro join us. He preached a powerful sermon using Deuteronomy 10:12-16:

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?  Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it. The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-neckedno longer.

Once the sermon was over a woman and her family came forward and Tonyia and Pastor Ramiro anointed them oil and prayed for them. She was giving God thanks because she is healed from cancer. A young couple also came forward to dedicate their infant to the Lord.

Teacher Ana took the children to a different area where they sang, had a Bible study and completed a craft.

Once the service time was completed, each child received a Backpack with school supplies, Bible tract, soccer ball for the boys and a gift for the girls.  The men were given a hat and a t-shirt and the ladies received a blanket and a t-shirt.  It was all a blessing for them, but it also blessed me. I was so impressed by the genuine Christian love and acceptance of the people.

Fall 2024 True Path Ministry Inc. Newsletter

Included is a link that will open a PDF file with the Fall 2024 True Path Ministry Inc. Newsletter. It is suitable for printing. Share it with folks who may not see it online. The two-page newsletter is full of photos and short articles about TPM activities in Mexico over the past few months. Included is information about progress at several church related building projects, Marcos 10:14 Kids Club updates and the beginning of a new kids club. Click on the link and the newsletter should open and allow for printing.

http://truepathministry.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/newslt-fall-2024.pdf

New Kids Club Ministry Fiesta

Texas visitors with True Path Ministry and volunteers from the Centro Cristiana Getsemani Church in Galeana NL, Mexico teamed up to take a Christ centered Fiesta to the small village of El Derramadero on November 9, 2024. It was part of establishing a new Marcos 10:14 kids club in the village that does not currently have a Christian church.

Getsemani Church members Abraham and Lupita live in El Derramadero and want to bring more of Christ’s light to the area. Lupita and volunteer Perla are the teachers of the club which meets every Tuesday. This club will follow the same agenda as the Galeana Marcos 10:14 Kids Club: prayer, songs, games, Bible study, a craft and a light snack. We were blessed to be able to give each child a small gift and candy bag.

The older youth from the Centro Cristiana Getsemani Church were in the village a few hours before the event to go house-to-house inviting children to come have some fun in Jesus’ name.

The Galeana Marcos 10:14 Kids club has been meeting weekly since 2016. Many of the children who first began going to club are youth now and able to assist with the current club.

Texas visitors Will, Debby and Hope Loveless jointed missionaries Stephen and Tonyia Willams to travel to Galeana in support of the new club. We also used the time to prepare some of the gifts TPM will be giving out at Christmas.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

New Kids Club in El Derramadero, NL, Mexico

True Path Ministry Inc. and the Centro Cristiana Getsemani Church of Galeana NL, Mexico teamed up to take the Marcos 10:14 Kids Club to El Derramadero, NL, Mexico. A Fiesta complete with games, gifts, food and the Gospel was held in the village on Friday, September 20, 2024.

 It was the first of what will be a weekly meeting for the children in an area where there is no Christian church. A faithful group of volunteers from the Galeana church included adults and youth. Among the young people helping at the event were present and past members of the Marcos 10:14 Club in Galeana. Several have moved into becoming active Christian youth as they became older.

Please include in your prayers this new extension of the Marcos 10:14 club. The Lord has used the club to bring many children closer to Him.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14 (ESV)