Posts Tagged ‘Ivan Casados’

Hope for a Better Tomorrow!

Posted: August 29, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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Church Planter Training
Dave & Ivan in Monterrey, Mexico

Dave & Ivan in Monterrey, Mexico

Today we are finishing up our church planter’s incubator training in Monterrey, Mexico. It’s been a wonderful experience!

This morning pastor Ivan Casados who’s going through the training told me that it’s not only met, but exceeded his expectations. That is good news. Ivan is the first pastor from Tijuana that we’ve had go through this training. Our hope is that one day soon we will hold the training in Tijuana, which will help us tremendously in building a stronger church planting movement.

We are seeing a number of churches planted in Tijuana, but there is still a need for more and better preparation and training for our church planters.

One of the things that I’ve enjoyed about the church planting incubator is the variety of the types of men that are here. There are guys from different denominational backgrounds. Some are full-time pastors, some are bi-vocational pastors, some are not yet pastoring.

The Lord is using this to better prepare these men, but also to lift up their vision for the great need for church planting in Mexico.

Praying for La Paz
Church planting incubator

Church planting incubator

We’ve prayed for a church planter for La Paz, Baja California. La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur. There aren’t any Reformed churches presently in this city. We do have a candidate here that is considering working with us and leading the church plant in La Paz.

He’s still in the beginning process of praying with his wife about where the Lord is calling them, so I won’t mention his name. Please join us in prayer for him and his wife. Pray that the Lord will raise up the right person for the job.

Hope for New Church Planting Projects
Praying for the cities we represent for new churches and renewed cities

Praying for the cities we represent for new churches and renewed cities

While I’ve been here I’ve also been able to work on developing new church planting projects for Tijuana and Ensenada. It starts with the vision and prayer. As I get ready to fly back home later today, I leave with more hope for the future. The Lord is giving me greater hope and a renewed vision for reaching people through starting churches on the border and in the Baja.

Thanks so much for praying with us! I know the Lord hears our prayers. There’s so many things that have to come together for these projects to get off the ground that I am continually reminded if the Lord doesn’t build the house our labor is in vain.

O Lord, we don’t want our labor to be in vain. Build your church!

In HIs Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Building for the Kingdom!

Posted: March 24, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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A New Church is Born
Pastor Ivan Casados with Pastor Daniel Nuñez on the new church's foundation

Pastor Ivan Casados with Pastor Daniel Nuñez on the new church’s foundation

On Friday afternoon pastor Daniel Nuñez and his wife, Yolanda and I went to visit pastor Ivan Casados at the new church plant site in Valle Verde. They just poured the slab for the foundation last week, so it’s exciting to see the progress on the building.

Ivan gave us a good report about how excited his people are about the construction for the church. It will give them more visibility in the community and create the opportunity for them to reach new and different people.

We are praying that we will have the majority of the church building completed in time for their first service on April 13th, Palm Sunday. Join us in prayer that the Lord will bring everything together for his glory, and that the church will reach their neighbors as the gospel goes forth.

Training Our Pastors
Rocio & Ivan - Please pray for them as they lead this new work

Rocio & Ivan – Please pray for them as they lead this new work

Pastor Ivan and his wife, Rocio are heading to Monterrey, Mexico today for a church planting assessment center. This will help them to discover their strengths and weaknesses, which will be a tool to aid them in being better church planters.

I was planning on going with Ivan and Rocio, but because of the trials my family is going through right now many friends and co-workers counseled me that it would be better for me to not attend this time around. I’ve worked with Ivan and Rocio and talked to other friends that will be there to make sure they will be well taken care of and have a good experience.

The assessment center is part of our larger plan to better equip our church planters. The next step will be incubator training that they will attend in the fall.

I’m thrilled that even though we’ve only been on the border for a year and a half that the Lord is moving this forward, and new works are springing up.

The Church Moves Forward on Her Knees

We should attempt great things for God, but in doing so we need much prayer.

Dave with Pastor Ivan

Dave with Pastor Ivan

Here are some specific prayer requests:

  1. Ivan & Rocio’s travel to and from Monterrey, Mexico and for a great experience at the assessment center.
  2. For all the details to come together in the building of this new church.
  3. We will be doing the majority of building on April 5th and 12th.
  4. I’m working on recruiting and organizing 50 – 60 people who will be coming down to build the church.
  5. Transportation – that we have enough for everyone, and that we don’t have any trouble getting to the site.
  6. That God will protect everyone that goes on the trip, and that they will all have a great experience.
  7. That the Lord will use this for his kingdom and his church will grow in Tijuana.
  8. That the Valle Verde church has a wonderful opening church celebration on April 13th.

 

Thanks so much dear friends. I don’t know what we would do without your prayer covering!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Joy of Christmas and God’s Increase

Posted: December 24, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Family Happenings, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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The Joy of the Season!
David & I both celebrate our birthdays in December. The cake got the best of us - "Mordida"

David & I both celebrate our birthdays in December. The cake got the best of us – “Mordida”

Today is a doubly special day in our home. We celebrate the birth of our first-born son, David Jr. and we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Like many my family and I enjoy this season. It’s a great time to reflect on the many gifts the Lord has given us. I love having all the family together, at least my immediate family. I do wish I could be with my parents and my brothers and their families. It becomes more complicated to bring everyone together, but I am so thankful that our kids can be with us.

God Provides the Increase

When I reflect on this last year, and some of the gifts and blessings the Lord has given us I’m reminded this has been one of the most fruitful years we’ve had in our 25 years of ministry. I realize that the Lord provides the increase, but it’s so good to be on this journey. It’s so good to witness God working in the hearts of men and women.

Paul says it best in 1 & 2 Corinthians:

I planted, Apollos water, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. – 1 Corinthians 3:6,7

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. –2 Corinthians 2:15

God is doing a Healing and Restorative work!

Dawn and I love the people we work with. The pastors we are able to serve alongside on both sides of the border. We are grateful that our relationship with them has deepened.

He is moving and bringing many to a saving faith. It is beautiful to be a part of a ministry where we witnessed over 100 come into a new relationship with Christ. Many of those that came to Christ are now growing in their faith.

Just last week we saw 17 people come to Christ through our Christmas in City Heights outreach!

Dave with Daniel Nuñez and two of the church planters, Ivan Casados and Jose Luis Rivera

Dave with Daniel Nuñez and two of the church planters, Ivan Casados and Jose Luis Rivera

There were also many in Tijuana that came to Christ through are partnership with Lo Mejor del Trigo and our church plants there.

Here’s the story that one of our friends, Pastor Ivan Casados and his wife, Rocio shared with us about a family that has been changed forever by the gospel.

Recently, Rocio met a woman who lives in the neighborhood, Veronica. Rocio asked Veronica if she could pray for her. Veronica said that she needed prayer for her back, and that she was scheduled to have surgery later that week. Veronica was nervous about the upcoming operation.

Rocio prayed and Veronica felt God’s peace, which carried her through the surgery. This comforted and encouraged Veronica and it opened a door for Rocio and the church to share the love of Christ with her. Veronica gave her life to Christ with her. Later her husband, Saul and her son, Samuel came to Christ. Now the family is growing in their faith and they are part of the core group for this new church.

Dave and Dawn - thankful for the Lord's renewing work on the border

Dave and Dawn – thankful for the Lord’s renewing work on the border

One of the things we are excited for 2014 is that we are getting ready to help Ivan and Rocio plant a new church in Valle Verde in Tijuana.

Prayer is Key

I strongly believe that one of the reasons God is blessing the ministry on the border is the prayer of so many friends. Thanks for holding us up, and standing with us in prayer.

Merry Christmas! Worship the King!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

It Starts with Vision: A New Church

Posted: October 4, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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A New Church in Valle Verde
Dave with Pastor Ivan, Pastor Jose Luis and Pastor Daniel Nuñez

Dave with Pastor Ivan, Pastor Jose Luis and Pastor Daniel Nuñez on the new church plant site

Earlier this week I met with Daniel Nuñez in Tijuana, and we visited a new site for a church plant. The site is in an area of the city called Valle de Verde, which means Green Valley. It’s not very green now ;).

We also met with the pastor that is already working on starting up this new work. Pastor Ivan Casados and his wife, Rocio. Pastor Ivan has started up a small group that will be the committed core for this church. A number of these people a from an area nearby called, Rivera del Bosque, which means brook of the forest, so they’d like to call the church Lo Mejor del Trigo – Rivera del Bosque.

I love the passion that Daniel and pastors he’s working with have for reaching lost people and starting churches to minister to them all throughout the city.

Praying for an Improved System for Church Planting

Daniel and I just came back from a vision trip to Monterrey, Mexico. We were both very encouraged to see the system that the Center for Church Planting has in place. They are doing a great job at assessing, coaching and training their church planters. We’d love to develop a stronger system to sustain the movement of church planting on the border.

Join Us in Prayer for This New Work
Pastor Ivan Casados with the land for the new church site behind him

Pastor Ivan Casados with the land for the new church site behind him

While we were at the church planting site, we stopped to take some time to pray. We do want to lift up this new work, and ask the Lord to go before Pastor Ivan and his wife, Rocio to see many won to Christ and a strong church planted in the community of Valle Verde. O that this church would be a city set on a hill for this community!

Pray with us that God will work powerfully through Ivan and Rocio and all those involved in this project.

We also need wisdom as we work on bringing all the loose parts together to get this off the ground. Lord, enable us to do a better job of training and caring for our pastors, so we can do a better job of loving the city!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org