Renewed and Refreshed After IA Missions Conference

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“Tonyia and I were renewed and refreshed after three days of prayer and good fellowship with other missionaries at the annual Independent Assemblies (IA) Missions Conference in Blackwell, Oklahoma on October 9-11, 2017,” said Stephen. “We were a bit surprised and honored to be among the missionaries who spoke at this year’s conference.”

Rev. Robert Johnson is the world missions director for IA. (click on a photo to see it larger)

Tonyia and I arrived a little early for the first session on Monday and IA World Missions director Rev. Robert Johnson met us and sat down to talk a bit. After a few minutes he asked us if we had a PowerPoint presentation that shows our ministry. I said yes and he asked us to be the first speaker on Tuesday morning. He said for some reason he had not settled on what to do in that time slot until after he talked with Tonyia and I.

Wow, the Lord does work in mysterious ways. It was humbling for True Path Ministry Inc. to be included in the program as the other organizations represented are well established through many years of service in their part of the world.

Ministries from around the world were represented at the conference. Missionaries that we met or who presented, serve in Africa, India, Mexico, Iran, Asia, South and Central America.

We met Kerry and Twyla Ruggles who live in Saltillo, Mexico and have a church and college there. We also met a Brother who has a ministry in Rio Bravo, Mexico and several others from IA who had done ministry through the years all over Mexico.

Rev. Kerry Riggs is head of a Christian college and church in Saltillo, Mexico

We enjoyed seeing how God is working through various organizations around the world. But also, it was a joy to be part of the very spirit-filled worship services held Monday and Tuesday nights. Plus, IA pampered us with special meals prepared by the good folks from the Blackwell Tabernacle. The fellowship between missionaries and world missions minded Christians was especially enjoyable.

In the final session IA brought all missionaries forward and laid hands on and prayed earnestly for each of us. Both Tonyia and I felt a renewed sense of purpose as we started our drive back south. We are proud to be part of IA, it is a very mission minded organization that is on the front lines of furthering God’s kingdom around the world.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

We were pleasantly surprised when Rev. Johnson asked us to speak at the Missions Conference.

Dr. Estes is vice-president of IA. He preached and told of his recent travel in India for Jesus. He is full of the Holy Spirit and is a powerful healing preacher.

 

Marcos 10:14 Learned Our Choices Have Consequences

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On October 5th, 2017 the children at the Marcos 10:14 Kids Club learned that our choices have consequences. Over the past few weeks the Christ-centered group has been studying how God created us out of love, but gave us the power to make our own decisions in life. This week they learned how choices that are contrary to God’s plan for us (sin) can have serious repercussion. Yes, God still loves us dearly, but something has to be done about our disobedience to Him for us to realize a joy-filled life.

The club teachers are using a study guide that lays out the gospel in a way that kids of various ages can grasp its meaning. It uses Bible stories to clearly illustrate what Jesus did for us and how we can  turn to him to unite us with God. The prayers, crafts, games and songs all support the weekly studies. We always end with a light meal.  Many of the kids come from economically poor families and some have no other Christian influences.

The kids are taught how to pray, Christian songs and to love each other.

 

Christmas Gifts Needed for Mexico’s Kids

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It is time once again to begin accumulating items to go into gift bags that True Path Ministry Inc. will give to children in tiny, hidden, rural villages in Mexico. Please let us know if you are planning to give items. We intend to give out about 210 gifts this year and are trying to keep them small to reduce the complexity of transport, sorting and packaging. Moving gift items from Texas, and to get them across the border is a big challenge.

Ideally we would have 210 of each item listed below:

  • red med size gift bags
  • slinkies
  • large combs
  • small toothpaste
  • toothbrush
  • chapstick
  • hand sanitizer
  • hair brush
  • ponytail holder
  • small bubbles
  • large balloons
  • small balls
  • spin tops

Of course we welcome tax deductible financial donations for our Christmas Gift Project or for our ongoing ministry (see “support“). We also want to thank those who faithfully support us through your prayers and in other ways. God continues to open doors for us to ministry in Mexico and to strengthen His Kingdom.

 

This little girl enjoyed the bubbles last Christmas.

Marco 10:14 Kids Club: God Loves Me Unconditionally

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The games, crafts and lesson for the 55 kids who came to the Marcos 10:14 Club meeting on September 21 all

God loves each of us unconditionally. (click on a photo to see it larger)

pointed in the same direction. God is our creator, He loves us unconditionally and He calls us to draw near to Him. And we can only relate to God through Christ. “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you,” said the LORD in Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)

Durning craft time the children were each given a piece of paper and asked to draw themselves  and write their names by the drawing. They were told how the love of God is so big that he loves us equally. They were also given pipe cleaners and asked to make something that represents God’s creation.

It was a fun-filled, active and Christ centered club. Dios bendiga (God bless). The Bible references that were part of the study were: Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 31:3, and Isaiah 43:1.

The games get all the kids involved.

Rolando made a man with his pipe cleaners.

Flowers were a popular thing for the kids to make.

The drawings the children made of themselves were interesting.

Pastor Rey was one of the adults who got into making things.

We are blessed to have a good number of adults to help with club.

It was nacho week for the snack.

Helpers pick up many of the kids using the ministry Suburban.

 

 

 

The Roman Road

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The Bible lays out for us a picture of the natural condition of mankind and how we humans can take a first step toward changing our condition by trusting God with our lives now and our eternity. Romans, the New Testament Bible book, gives us a road map to trusting Christ and following Him in obedience. Here is a seven verse series from the Holy Bible that is often called “The Roman Road.”

Below is that series and a link to BibleGateway for each verse:

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [Romans 1:20-21 (ESV)]

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [3:23 (ESV)]

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [5:8 (ESV)]

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [6:23 (ESV)]

 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [10:9-10 (ESV)]

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [10:13 (ESV)]

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. [11:36 (ESV)]

The Roman Road (click on image to see it larger)