As Dawn and I look back on 2019 we realize that we have much to be thankful for! Dawn and I experienced fruit and growth as we ministered on the Border, the Baja and Beyond.
2019 has been one of our best years in ministry. We are planting life giving churches in a number of cities in Baja California. We are starting churches in La Paz, Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and Mexicali with the hope of expanding beyond the Baja in Mexico. There are also numerous church plants in Cuba that are growing.
The Lord is Faithful to Grow His Church
Our church plant in Ensenada led by Pastor Petri and his wife Yudy
Dawn and I continue to pray that the Lord will enlarge our tent and expand our borders. Isaiah 54 has become a key passage for us as we dream and ask the Lord for more.
“”Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.” Isaiah 54:2-3 ESV
Thankful for Our Growing Family
Pastor Federico & Blanca Muñoz and their children are one of the many families that we work with that have become part of our family.
This passage also speaks of promises to our offspring. The church planters we work with have become like family to us. We have come to love them, and we see God expanding the kingdom through the ministry of the churches they are starting. Dawn and I feel very blessed through these relationships and all that Jesus is doing through them!
We Rejoice! Hallelujah!
Yany, Rachel & Jorge leading worship in Cabaiguán, Cuba
Hallelujah. We rejoice for God’s good work and all that he is doing!
Let’s Finish 2019 Strong!
Dawn and I would like to ask you to consider making a year-end giftso that this more lives will be transformed by the gospel. We look forward to 2020, and believe that it will be an even greater and more fruitful year!
As I write this I’m enjoying a cup coffee and taking in the views of the snow capped peaks in Colorado. It reminds me of God’s majesty. Dawn and I are thankful that we can visit our family in Colorado Springs this Christmas and take in the beauty of God’s handiwork.
I’ve been reflecting on God’s goodness and his wonderful work in our lives and throughout the world.
Dawn and I feel like our family keeps growing. Both David and Jonathan married wonderful young women in the last year for which we give much thanks. Also, the Lord has given us family in Latin America.
Giving Thanks for Our Partners
Pastors and Leaders in Cuba
A number of the pastors that we work with have become like family to us. We are in constant communication with them, praying for them, encouraging them and coaching them. At the end of Romans Paul wrote about a long list of people who ministered with him in the gospel. It is evident that Paul didn’t minister alone. The Lord gave him a team of people to work with.
In Philippians 1 the apostle gives thanks for the church and his partners in the gospel there.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3-5 ESV
In the same way Dawn and I give thanks for our friends, our family, our partners in the gospel. We rejoice in all that the Lord is doing through them.
The Church is Advancing
Yany lovingly leading the children in Cabaiguan
Our friends Mario & Yany, who live in Cabaiguan, Cuba wrote us this week and told us about the opportunity they had to show the love of Christ to 90 children. Mario and Yany are planting four churches in the Cabaiguan area. They are very special friends that Dawn and I have come to consider part of our family. I’ve written about them in other posts.
It’s so good to see the kingdom of God advancing in Cuba.
One of Pastor Justo & Sara’s house churches in Jatibonico. It’s busting at the seams!
Some of our other friends Justo and Sara also wrote us and told us about the outreach and the growth of the church in Jatibonico. Every time we hear from these friends and other partners we rejoice and give thanks.
Join Us In Prayer!
Our Cuban Family – Faithful to Pray
Dawn and I have prayed for years that we would be part of kingdom expansion on the Border, the Baja and Beyond! We are starting to see that prayer answered. God is growing his church on the Border and the Baja where we live and work. We are also seeing growth Beyond these areas, mainly in Cuba. We continue to pray for more. More of Jesus. More of the Spirit and more kingdom growth and expansion!
Thank you for praying with us. We know that we are not alone. The Lord has given us a wonderful team of partners like you who are interested in seeing the kingdom of God expand through this work. We recognize that prayer is the life blood of all that we do.
Pray with us as this year comes to a close, that we will finish the year strong, so that we start 2020 off well. Dawn and I are praying that we can start at least 3 new churches in Mexico and 3 new churches in Cuba in 2020. We also are training and coaching many more church planters and leaders, and seeking to expand that part of the ministry as well.
You can help us make that a reality by praying for us, and by giving a year-end gift. You can give online by clicking the donate link.
Thank you for helping us take the gospel to The Border, The Baja and Beyond!
In His Loving Grip, Dave
Dave & Dawn We wish you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Pastor Federico & Blanca with their children, Junior, Damaris, David & Daniel
The good news of the gospel for Mexicali!
Our church planters Federico and Blanca Muñoz just held an evangelistic outreach in Mexicali. They made it a fun event. An opportunity for people in the community to get to know them.
Federico and Blanca have some friends, a team that they’ve recruited. Their team helped them pull off an enjoyable activity. Some of their friends donated 500 hotdogs, and some toys for the children. They also organized games, and face painting.
Some fun activities including face painting
There were many smiles shared on this special fun-filled day.
Loving Outreach & Connections
Blanca with one of the families that came
Nowadays Christians get a lot of bad press, but there are some wonderful and even amazing things that Jesus followers are doing. The Muñoz family is seeking to present Jesus in a loving and authentic way to a skeptical world.
At this particular event, Federico and Blanca were able to introduce themselves and the new work that they are starting. They also introduced their team. The initial phase of a church plant is making contacts and letting them know what you are doing.
Music, games and the gospel!
I’ve been encouraged by the progress that the Muñoz’s have made in their first few months as they work towards launching their church. They’ve worked hard on developing their vision and mission for the church. It’s exciting to see how they are connecting with people in the community.
They are training their team in how to share the love of Christ in a winsome way.
The Gospel Touches Hurting People
Fun gifts were given to the children and adults
One example of how they are being sensitive to the Lord and ministering to people. Federico and Blanca told me they were setting up a business contract for their ministry, and as they were getting to know the lady that was helping them God showed up. The lady began to share how her family was experiencing division and pain. Federico and Blanca asked if they could pray for her, and she said yes. They prayed for her, and she felt so much better and so encouraged that she actually lowered the price for them.
Wow! Isn’t it a joy to be on this journey with the Lord and see how he works in the hearts of those all around us. So many people are in need. We just need to open our eyes and be sensitive to the Spirit.
Join us in Prayer
Federico & Blanca’s friends with the gifts they received!
Continue to pray for the Muñoz family and those that are working with them as they reach out into the community and make new contacts. We are praying for the Lord to shower them with his blessing, and that many will respond to the message of Christ. The needs are great, but the workers are few. The enemy is on the prowl seeking whom he may devour. Thanks be to God that greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world!
Beyond Borders 