VBS Mexico 2023 – A BIG HIT!

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True Path Ministry and the Central Cristiano Getsemani church in Galeana teamed up recently to take vacation Bible school to four remote mountain villages in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The group was in: La Presita, July 31; Refugio, August 1; Canoas, August 2; and Purisima, August 4.

Each day a group of enthusiastic adult and youth volunteers loaded up from Galeana and climbed in the TPM one-ton van, along with gifts, musical instruments and special supplies. Travel always included a rough one hour or more ride on roads up and down steep mountains, often clinging to the edge of cliffs just to get to the isolated villages. But it was well worth it for all involved!

The VBS event was a welcome summer break for the children. It was a time to learn more about Jesus and have some fun. The kids enjoyed singing, games, craft projects, gifts and candy. The local pastor at each of the locations were given a “blessing bag” filled with essentials. In some locations families got clothing that was donated.

Because of the cost, most of these children seldom get to travel outside their villages or have visitors. Gas is well over the equivalent of four dollars per gallon in Mexico.

God has greatly blessed this ministry serving Mexico’s rural, often forgotten areas. The blessings extend powerfully to the givers as much as to the receivers. It is a privilege to serve in Christ’s mighty name! “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (ESV)

NOTE: Below are photos organized by village. Click on a photo to see it larger.

La Presita, July 31

Refugio, August 1

Canoas, August 2

Purisima, August 4

Mexico Kids Club Honors Fathers

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On June 15th the True Path Ministry sponsored Marcos 10:14 Kids Club honored fathers. Adult and youth volunteers from the Iglesia Getsemani church, led by teacher Ana, helped the children understand and celebrate Father’s Day with a Bible lesson and special craft project. Exodus 20:12 was at the center of the meeting. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Prayer, songs, games, a Bible lesson, a craft project plus a meal are part of the weekly club meetings.

We are grateful to God to be part of these kids lives.

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

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Saturday, June 10, 2023: Fifty people packed into vehicles and headed to a crystal-clear pool of water deep in the remote mountains of Nuevo Leon Mexico. It took the group of Christians about two hours to navigate up and down the steep, mostly gravel, road to cover the 25 miles where fourteen people from the Iglesia Getsemani Church would be baptized.

It is an important event in the life of the church. Baptism is not salvation but is an outward expression of our obedience to Jesus once we are saved. As Christ-followers, being baptized shows others that we are willing to obey His command, to publicly profess faith in Christ and to formally commit our lives to Him.

 The congregation sat on large rocks beside the undisturbed pool of water. There was a time of prayer, and everyone joined in singing several deeply moving spiritual hymns to the sound of two acoustic guitars. There was a brief sermon reminding us of the importance of the event. Fourteen from among the group put on white robes and formed a line beside the waters. Pastor Rey, evangelist Raul, missionaries Stephen and Tonyia and Juan got in the water.

Each of the persons in white robes were led into the water and were completely immersed after Pastor Rey said their name and “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,” just as we are instructed to do in the Bible in Matthew 28:19. All the while the congregation, led by Pastor Lulu, sang the Spanish version of “I have decided to follow Jesus.”

It was a very special spiritual moment for everyone with many tear-soaked eyes. Those baptized ranged in age from teenagers to some well up into their adult years.

Each person baptized will receive a certificate to commemorate this unforgettable day. Once again God has blessed us to be a part of what He is doing in Galeana, NL, Mx.

Note: Click on a photo to see it larger.

Also, Donna from Medina Texas was Baptized

Tent of Meeting Erected in Purisima on June 9, 2023

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It was such a joy to be able to answer a prayer by providing a large event tent as a worship center in the tiny mountain village of Purisima, NL, Mexico. The Christian congregation there were meeting three times a week in an extremely small room. The new spacious “tent of meeting” has already been used for a service just hours after it was erected.

Steve, Tonyia, Jim, and Donna of True Path Ministry joined Pastor Rey, Lulu, members of Iglesia Getsemani: Benjamin and Angel and evangelist Raul and his wife at the church in Galeana to pray before going to the small mountain village of Purisima on Friday, June 9th..

Rebecca, who has taken over the roll of pastor since her father passed away, has been having church services in a small and confining concrete room. This tiny space was also used for a weekly children’s Bible time. Putting up the event tent gave the congregation more room for worship and will allow the church to grow. Once the frame was together, the covering installed and the chairs set in place, we all gathered to pray. We dedicated the tent of meeting to the Lord. Pastor Rebecca and the people that will come were also lifted to God.

Rebecca gave Tonyia a heartfelt note she had translated into English which said: “Thank you very much for your chairs, for the awning, for the installation, God multiply you greatly. It will be a great blessing for the congregation! We are very, very grateful to God and to you who remember the Purisima church.” It brought me (Tonyia) to tears as I read it.

We are so humbled to be able to participate in what God is doing not only in Purisima, but in many places in Mexico. Just as Moses erected the first tent of meeting in the desert dedicated to God, we are honored to place the first Christian tent of meeting in this remote mountain village. It will make a positive impact on this family and community. It is our prayer that one day God will provide the resources so that a Church building can be built here.

Riding the River Cowboy Church of Bandera, Texas generously donated 33 chairs which Jim and Donna Jones graciously brought to Mexico. The chairs fit perfectly under the tent and will be a great blessing. Thank you! Also want to thank Phillip Langer for donating the anchors and rope which will keep this tent grounded. Also, TPM supporters for providing funding for the tent.

The first tent of meeting was a place where God would meet with HIs people. We pray this place is used for exactly that: many souls saved, people restored and renewed. But most of all, God is Glorified!

It was a hard working group that went today! It takes Gods army to do His work and we are thankful for the many workers, prayer warriors and financial donors He has placed in our path! This is a small part of what God is doing through True Path Ministry here in Mexico and we say Thank you!

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Exodus 33:7

Note: Click on a photo below to see it larger.

Rey and Lulu with thePurisima crew
Tent of meeting assembly team
Oops, broke a water line on way out…

Learning to Live by Faith

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True Path Ministry and volunteers from the the Iglesia Getsemani church in Galeana, NL, Mexico welcomed forty children to the Marco 10:14 Kids Club on Thursday. Each week they meet as a community of Christ followers in a special area made just for them. They unit in a time of Christian prayer, games, songs, a Bible lesson, a craft project and a meal.

Most of kids who come have been attending for many months. Some of them come from difficult home situations. We have seen real growth in the faith of the children who come every week. The adult volunteers and teacher Ana encourage them to live out their beliefs in their daily lives. This last Thursday there was an especially intense time of prayer.

“We prayed for the children of Galeana and this club. Some of the children were concerned because they had seen their mothers crying. There are drugs and many distractions in the world. God touched the children to give these problems over to Him,” said teacher Ana (as translated). “I give Him the glory as He shows us His love.”

The children share all aspects of life at club. They enjoy laughing during the fun games and lifting up praises in songs. They also welcome new kids who are just discovering club. Thank you, prayer and financial givers for your faithful support. Through your gifts you are advancing the Gospel to a new generation of believers. All glory belongs to God.

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1:17 (NLT)

(Note: Click on a photo to see it larger. Some of the photos are from previous club meetings.)