Posts Tagged ‘gospel’

Mixed Emotions: The Hannah Diaso Memorial Church

Posted: February 5, 2018 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Prayer
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Honoring Hannah’s Memory – Church Expansion
Pastor Daniel Nuñez, Pastor Edson Martinez, Pastor Mere Godinez, Dave Diaso and Pastor Rafael

Pastor Daniel Nuñez, Pastor Edson Martinez, Pastor Mere Godinez, Dave Diaso and Pastor Rafael

Ever since the day our daughter, Hannah moved to heaven I’ve prayed that her death wouldn’t be in vain. I know from 1 Thessalonians 4:13 which mentions to not grieve as those without hope, that her early home going isn’t in vain. Yet, I would like to see in tangible ways how the Lord has used her life to have a lasting impact on the earth. I suppose these are complicated emotions to explain, but I do have the drive to honor our daughter’s memory.

One of the ways we are doing that is building a new church in Mexicali, Mexico in Hannah’s memory. We are doing this with some of my best friends on the planet, Pastor Daniel Nuñez, and Ministerios Transformación. We are inviting friends and family to come help us build the church. Both David Jr. and Jonathan are flying out for the church build as well as other very special people we love.

Memorial Church in Mexicali, Mexico
The site where we are building the church

The site where we are building the church

On Friday I was able to go visit the site where the church will be built. Daniel and Yolanda Nuñez along with Edson Martinez took me to Mexicali. Mexicali is the capital of Baja California, and it’s about three hours from Tijuana. We’ve partnered with Ministerios Transformación to plant five churches in Tijuana and Rosarito. This will be the first church we’ve helped plant in Mexicali, so that is exciting for us.

This will be the 34th church that Ministerios Transformación has planted! These churches are making a huge difference in the communities they serve in.

Planting Churches with our Special Friends
Pastor Victor Bravo, his wife Sol and their son, Abraham

Pastor Victor Bravo, his wife Sol and their son, Abraham

Today (Sunday) Dawn and I went to visit Pastor Victor Bravo and his wife, Sol and their church in Rosarito. It’s always a huge blessing for us to be with them. We helped them plant their church 3 years ago. Their church is growing and the people there are in love with Jesus. They have a wonderful outreach to an orphanage, Nueva Generación, “New Generation”.

Victor and Sol’s church is just one example of the difference the gospel is making through the churches we’ve helped to plant in communities around Tijuana and Rosarito. We give thanks for God’s good work!

These friends I’ve mentioned Daniel and Yolanda, Victor and Sol love Hannah, and Hannah loved them. I know if she was still living she would be so proud and excited to know that we are planting a new church with these much-loved friends. Hannah is now a part of the cloud of witnesses. I don’t know if she can see back into this world or not, but if she can I’m sure she’s praying for us and rooting us on along with Christ and all the Saints.

The pastor of this new church is Mere Godinez and his wife is Edna. We’d appreciate your prayers for Mere and Edna as they start this church.

The Mixed Emotions
One of our goals for 2018 is to build a church in memory of our daughter, Hannah.

Our daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Diaso

When I visited the church site this last week I had mixed emotions. I felt both excited and sentimental. When I think about Hannah and her memory it brings up many emotions. I miss her so much! My family and I are grateful for this opportunity to not only honor Hannah’s memory but to make a difference in a community in Mexicali.

Help Us Finish This Memorial Church Plant

We’ve been able to raise more than half of the amount we need to plant the church, but we still need to raise some more to build this church. When I was in Mexicali I realized that it’s so hot there in the summer that they need air conditioning to be able to meet in the church during the summer months. An additional expense we hadn’t considered.

You can give to the church plant in Hannah’s memory by clicking on the link below. We’d love to have you join us!

Click to make a donation

Click to make a donation

Thank you, dear friends, for standing with us on this wonderful and sometimes painful journey.

In His Grip, Dave for Dawn, David Jr., and Jonathan

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

God Rocks My World: Cuba

Posted: June 28, 2017 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Video
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The Gospel is Changing Lives in Cuba
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Dave with Jim Moon Jr., Yamil & Yuneisi Domínguez, Melissa, Ariadna & Frank Batista

Every time I go to Cuba I feel like God rocks my world. I’m both challenged and encouraged by the people and how I see the Lord working in the lives of the people.

I’m planning on writing more about my trip later, but I wanted to share this short video that I put together with the help of my Cuban friends, Frank Batista and Yamil Domínguez. The video focuses on the Gospel Coach training that we are partnering with them on. By the way, Havana is spelled with a b instead of a v in Cuba.

Gospel Coach in Havana (Habana), Cuba

Gospel Coach Habana from David Diaso on Vimeo.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Gospel Growth in Mexico City!

Posted: June 26, 2017 in Christianity, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer
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Mexico City Feels Like Home
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Dave and Dawn with special friends, Mario & Silvia Silva, Monse Santiago & Barush Sanchez 

I feel in some ways like every time Dawn and I return to Mexico City it’s like going to our second home. A place where we lived for almost ten years, and both Jonathan and Hannah were born there. We still have many friends that we love and care for that live there. Special friends that we partner with in ministry.

Two of those special friends are Barush Sanchez and Monse Santiago they are the RUF-CUR campus ministers at UNAM one of the world’s largest universities. I always come away encouraged after I’m with them, and learn how the Lord is moving on the campus.

God’s Amazing Grace in Monse’s Life
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Monse Santiago

I asked Monse if she would share her story with us, and she told us how she came from a background where she was involved in a mixture of New Age religions, and she even tried on Marxism. Then while at the campus she joined an English club led by our RUF-CUR workers. At first she didn’t even know that they were Christians, but she was drawn to them. They were friendly and loving people. She went on a retreat with them, and it was there that she heard about grace for the first time. That confused her at first, because she had believed in Karma. You get what you give, and she only understood the works of trying to do good. The idea of receiving something she didn’t earn or work for did not make sense to her.

After about six more months of learning and asking many questions she gave her life to Christ. She said that the campus minister that spent so much time with her was very patient and loving. Monse is a very committed and passionate young woman. She ended up joining staff a few years later.

Monse also told us how she prayed for and shared the gospel with her family. Her sister and mom have also come to Christ. It moved me to tears to hear her tell of how God has begin to work in her family. Her sister is now leading a group on another campus, and her mom is helping with worship by playing the piano for the church.

She asked for prayer for her dad and her other siblings who have not yet come to faith. Her dad especially has been very resistant.

Pray for Monse’s Family and the Campus Ministry

It lifted Dawn and my spirit to hear first hand how the Lord is moving on the campus and in Monse’s family. We enjoyed being able to encourage Monse and Barush as they so faithfully serve.

Reconnecting with a Wonderful Friend
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Dave with Fernando Sanchez

To top off our wonderful time together, Barush’s dad, Fernando joined us. I first met Fernando about 24 years ago. When I was training youth leaders in Mexico. It was a special time to be able to reminisce and remind one another of the Lord’s faithfulness over the years. Fernando has been pastoring a church for the last 18 years, and both of his sons are ministers. He said that Dawn and I had left an imprint on their lives. They have left a huge imprint on our lives as well, which is one of the reasons I love Mexico City.

I pray for a breakthrough in the city. Barush and Monse told us they were going to be participating in an evangelistic campaign the next day with a number of youth and churches from around the city. The goal was to share the gospel with One Million people in one day, which takes a lot of prayer and coordination to pull off. Can’t wait to hear all the stories of how God showed up.

Thank you Jesus for all you are doing in the Big City of Mexico!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

Multiplying Coaches: Juarez, Mexico

Posted: January 20, 2017 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Coaches Needed

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Dave leading a session on coaching with Alcides De La Cruz

Why do we leave leaders to struggle on their own? Why do some leaders isolate themselves from others? The casualties of those leaving the ministry every month are astonishingly high. The difference in effectiveness between ministers who have the support of a coach, and those that don’t is remarkable.

These are some of the reasons we believe that it is imperative that leaders in the church should have a coach. When I first arrived in Tijuana, I was talking to one of my missionary colleagues who’s also been a coach to me, Gary Watanabe. I explained to Gary how the church was growing so fast here that I couldn’t keep up, and that I couldn’t coach all the leaders myself. Gary encouraged me to explore ways to multiply myself, to multiply coaches.

Through Gary I met Tom Wood and Jim Moon with Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM). Tom Wood has developed some outstanding training for coaching church planters and leaders. The Gospel is at the center of their training, which is refreshing!

Multiplying Coaches in Mexico & Cuba
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Dave with Jim Moon and Josue Mayo

I began working with Tom, Jim and Gary on bringing the Gospel Coach training to Mexico. In December of 2015 we held our first training event in Tijuana and Monterrey, Mexico.

Jim Moon invited me and some of us who minister in Mexico to go to Cuba to see how they were applying the Gospel Coach in Cuba. That was a life transforming trip for me as the Lord introduced me to the wonderful people of Cuba, and showed me how he was at work there. The church is growing in amazing ways in Cuba.

This relationship with Jim Moon who heads up the Spanish ministry for CMM has continued to grow and flourish. Last weekend I worked with Jim and MTW missionary Jamie Burkemper to lead training in the Gospel Coach in Juarez, Mexico. Forty leaders came to the training.

We find as people are exposed to the concepts of coaching the Lord grabs them, and they desire to grow in their capacity to coach others. They also realize how important it is for them to have a coach.

God is Using Our Story
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One of the small group exercises during the coaching training

One of the emphasis that I love about the Gospel Coach training is the focus on the gospel. I led a module on the history of the gospel, and during my session I shared about Hannah’s passing. The Lord used the story of our family and the hope we have in the gospel to encourage our friends. One of my prayers has been that the Lord will use Hannah’s death to bring glory to himself. I know her death isn’t in vain, but as a father I long for evidence of God’s greater purpose. Jesus is already showing up, and showing himself strong as I share how he has sustained us during this time of sorrow and sadness. Thank you Jesus!

We see the light of Christ shining brightly as Dawn and I minister together. Dawn loves to pray for and encourage others. She has a knack for coming alongside those we meet, and showing them the love of Christ. We are much more effective as we team up and serve together. Jesus is giving us moments of light as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Thank you for praying for us as we seek to follow Jesus. We are serving as we grieve. God’s grace is sufficient. Thanks be to the Lord!

We pray that coaches will continue to multiply in Mexico and Cuba and wherever else the Lord opens up the doors for us to minister!

In His Holy Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

A Celebration of God’s Work!

Posted: October 27, 2015 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer
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Celebrating Life & Gospel Advance
Enjoying a meal with Tom and Donna Baird after the service

Enjoying a meal with Tom and Donna Baird after the service

This weekend the Lord blessed us and lifted our spirits through the visit of our good friends from Colorado Springs, Tom and Donna Baird. Our family lived in Colorado Springs for 12 years, so a part of our heart will always be there, even more so because our son, Jonathan lives there.

Tom and Donna wanted to go to Mexico while they were here. On Sunday our friends in Ensenada at the Nueva Jerusalén church celebrated their 26th anniversary. It worked out for us to take the Bairds to Ensenada. We enjoyed introducing them to our friends at the church, and participating in the celebration.

Worshipping and Celebrating with La Nueva Jerusalén

Worshipping and Celebrating with La Nueva Jerusalén

There are aspects of the church in Baja California that aren’t as strong or as healthy as we would like. We are grateful that we can celebrate the Lord’s faithfulness to raise up this church, and to minister to the people in the community through the gospel. We are working for and praying for a renewed and a revived church.

O Lord, build your church. Extend your kingdom on the earth as it is in heaven.

Coming Together for the Advance of the Church
Meeting with church planters in Phoenix

Meeting with church planters in Phoenix

Today I met with a number of church planters in Phoenix. One of the points that touched me was the need for us to partner together, to work as one church to see the gospel go out faithfully. God has not called us to build our own little kingdoms, but to participate together in building His kingdom.

It’s incredible what God is doing and will do if when we aren’t concerned about who gets the credit!

Lord, thank you for working in our hearts and granting us the privilege to serve for the advance of your reign on the earth.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Our Struggle – God’s Answer!

Posted: October 10, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Our Daily Struggle
Jonathan, Hannah, David Jr., Dawn & Dave

Jonathan, Hannah, David Jr., Dawn & Dave

The Lord’s Spirit touched Me as I read a devotional reading this week on Romans 7. This passage addresses our struggle with sin.

Paul recognizes that apart from Christ there is no good in me.

Romans 7:18-19 (ESV),

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

One problem we can have is thinking too highly of ourselves. I know that I can fall into thinking if I just try hard enough I can overcome an area of sin in my life. If I just do it differently, and obviously the Christian must take responsibility for his actions, but we grow in grace. We grow best as we apply the gospel to our daily situations.

Our Need for Jesus

Jesus said apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5b). NOTHING. did you catch that? He didn’t say we can do some things or a few thing, but zero, nada! We need Jesus to be at the center of everything we do.

Most of us struggle to believe Jesus. As I mentioned above in regards to my own challenges, and the thought if I just try a little harder. If I would just pray more, or read the Bible more, or go to church more. These are all good and important disciplines, but the key is am I trusting in my effort, or in God’s work in me? Is it all on me, or am I leaning on Christ?

Christ Alone
The Sunset on the Pacific - near Cabo San Lucas

The Sunset on the Pacific – near Cabo San Lucas

Oswald Chambers said, “the only way to keep true to God is by a steady persistent refusal to be interested in Christian work and to be interested alone in Jesus Christ .” (Oswald Chambers: The Best from All His Books, vol. 1, p. 381

Chambers words are a helpful reminder that as I serve in ministry my chief interest should be Jesus Christ. This is the gospel message. As Luther said, we must beat the gospel into our head. He said this, because of our propensity to forget.

I would just like to encourage to you dear friend to seek God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all of your mind and with all of your strength. Do this in the strength and power of the Lord. Recognize your weakness and God’s great strength.

Let’s grow in Christ together! We need each other!

Join Us in Prayer

As I write this post our family is undergoing a huge trial. I can’t share the details of the trial in this forum, but I would ask you to pray for us. We need the Lord’s comfort, wisdom and strength.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

Is the Gospel Advancing in Mexico?

Posted: April 27, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Meetings for the Advance of the Gospel
Our MTW team with some of the Mexican leaders

Our MTW team with some of the Mexican leaders

This weekend I’ve had the privilege of being in gospel advancement meetings in San José de Los Cabos. It’s been wonderful to be with fellow Mission to the World (MTW) teammates as well as pastors and leaders from the national church.

I must confess that at times the meetings were tedious, but overall I found our time encouraging. Everything happens through relationships in Mexico, and we had an outstanding time to get to know our Mexican brothers and sisters.

Christ-centered Preaching
Larry Trotter teaching on Christ-centered preaching

Larry Trotter teaching on Christ-centered preaching

We were able to play a key role in the meetings. On Friday my friend and our Mexico director, Larry Trotter did an excellent job teaching on Christ-centered preaching. He had the majority of the people there asking him when he could come speak and teach at their church.

Larry also preached a Christ-centered sermon on Sunday from Psalm 110. It was a great exclamation point to the churches 6th anniversary celebration. During the service three people publicly confessed their faith and they were baptized.

O Lord, That Your Church will Grow

On Saturday I enjoyed the opportunity to teach on church planting movements. My teammates, Peter Boling and Jim DeWitt assisted me. The group received it well, and I am very encouraged as we all leave.

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Dave teaching on Church Planting Movements

I do pray that the gospel will advance in Mexico, and I pray for your Holy Spirit to blow so that we will see many won to Christ, and many new churches planted. Jesus please do your might work!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

How Do You See Yourself? Are You a Child or a Slave?

Posted: July 17, 2013 in Christianity, Journey, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Dawn and I accomplished a first on Tuesday. We are in a small village San Antonio de las Minas near Ensenada, Mexico for the first time. The other thing I’m doing for the first time is writing this post using my iPad mini (It’s doable, but a little more challenging!)

Our journey to grow deeper, to learn more about inner healing and to connect with kingdom minded ministries brought us here. This is borne out of a desire to help others and to see God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

While connecting with our new friends here we’ve been discussing and learning about the keys for a transformed life!

One of the things that we talked about last night was our standing before God. Paul refers to those in Christ as sons and daughters of God. Yet we often think of ourselves as slaves.

Our Sonship is at the Heart of the Gospel

It is an amazing thing to realize that we can have such an intimate relationship with God. Romans, Galatians and Ephesians among other books in the New Testament demonstrate that those in Christ are children of God and are part of the family of God.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:15, 16, ESV)

…to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” so you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:5-7, ESV)

Dawn and Dave are grateful for our grown children - I (Dave) feel privileged that my children call me daddy, at least sometimes ;)

Dawn and Dave are grateful for our grown children – I (Dave) feel privileged that my children call me daddy, at least sometimes 😉

What wonderful promises that God gives us. If we stop and think of the intimate relationship we can have with God it is mind blowing. In both of these passages Paul adresses God as Abba! Father! Like calling God daddy or papi in Spanish.

Do you see the Lord as being close to you? Can you relate to him as your daddy? All my kids call me daddy from time to time. My daughter, Hannah does it the most, and I love it, because it expresses a close and special relationship that we have.

God loves us enough that he is not only our Father, he is our daddy!

Oh, that we would all grow deeper in our love and understanding of the special relationship that we have with God. He is our daddy, and he will protect us and fight our battles. Lean on him. Look to him! Love him!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Healing and Gospel Expansion

Posted: June 25, 2013 in Christianity, Ministry, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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Dave and Dawn in Chicago

Dave and Dawn in Chicago

Hope for Healing

Dawn and I are learning and being recharged this week at a conference in Wheaton, near Chicago. We believe that part of our calling on the border is to see the Lord bring healing and wholeness to many who have experienced brokenness. We are grateful that God has given us this opportunity.

The conference is at Wheaton College. The school started around 1860, so it has some great history.

The Billy Graham Museum

The campus also houses and runs the Billy Graham museum. The museum looks at impact the gospel has had on America, and how it has gone out to the world. Since it’s named after Billy Graham it does trace his ministry from beginning to present. The museum also highlights some other evangelists that the Lord has used in the U.S.A., such as George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, D. L. Moody, Billy Sunday, etc.

Billy Graham's pulpit that was shipped around the world and used at his evangelistic campaigns

Billy Graham’s pulpit that was shipped around the world and used at his evangelistic campaigns

I found it inspirational to look back on how the gospel has had a profound effect on the U.S.

It is sad that the church has lost some of her influence in our country today. Yet the Lord is still using the Church, and God is still on the throne.

Our Prayer

O Lord, please do bless and stir up many to receive the healing and wholeness that only the gospel can provide. Grant us your bountiful blessing as we seek to make an impact on the San Diego – Tijuana border. Our eyes turn to you. Lord, please do work!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Related articles

Gospel Advance in TJ!

Posted: June 6, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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God Continues to Advance the Gospel in TJ
Abraham & Martha, Dawn, Cristina & Cesar (the pastors and their wives that Dawn and Dave were with this week)

Abraham & Martha, Dawn, Cristina & Cesar (the pastors and their wives that Dawn and Dave were with this week)

Dawn and I spent a wonderful afternoon on Tuesday with some pastor friends and their wives. It was wonderful, because we were able to encourage one another. We laughed. We shared heart to heart. We prayed for one another.

Even pastors need to be reminded of the gospel and grace. As Jack Miller and others have stated, “we need to preach the gospel to ourselves.” Luther said, “we need to the beat the gospel into our heads.” Ministry can bring you to your knees, but God and the gospel lifts us up in due time. For some reason, we have a short memory and we tend to forget how desperately we need Christ and the gospel of our risen savior.

Christ-centered Preaching

In early May, Bill Yarbrough, Mission to the World’s Latin American International Director came to the border. While he was with us he was able to share with a number of pastors from the Lo Mejor del Trigo movement about Christ-centered preaching. Some of the guys told me they wanted more of the message of grace. Bill and I thought it would be helpful if we could encourage them to think through how to preach the gospel more powerfully in their churches.

I’ve been following up with the pastors. We are beginning to study together some of the principles of Christ-centered preaching. I can’t wait to see what changes this will bring to the pastors and those in their congregations.

Please Join us in Prayer

I believe as we move forward with the gospel that Satan seeks to disrupt and attack what we are doing, so we need major prayer. Pray that Christ will be lifted up in all that we do. Pray that God will bless and that the gospel will be powerfully proclaimed in San Diego and Tijuana as we minister on the border.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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