Posts Tagged ‘Juarez’

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

Good News Out of Tijuana!

Posted: November 8, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Tijuana, Video
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I just came across this encouraging video report about the decrease in drug violence in Tijuana. In general I believe things are improving throughout Mexico. This news is in line with some of the other reports on Tijuana that have come out recently.

I read a report earlier this week that said that things in Juarez have improved dramatically. Juarez was considered the murder capital of the world just a couple of years ago. An example of the changes in this city that lies across the border from El Paso, Texas is that there were less murders in Juarez last month than there were in the city of Chicago.

This is big news, because a number of churches and ministries have shied away from the border and Mexico in recent years. Maybe now the tide will turn, and people will start coming back. The border obviously still needs the gospel!

“O Lord, continue your healing work in Mexico and bring renewal to the border and beyond! Please guide and lead us. Make even more clear to us the part we should play in this work of transformation and renewal. Amen”

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The End of an Era for BEAMM

Posted: May 30, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, God's Leading, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana
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Gene and LuAnn Bowman

Gene and LuAnn Bowman

While I was in Juarez, Mexico for our BEAMM team meetings two weeks ago Gene Bowman gave a surprise announcement. Gene, who has the BEAMM coordinator for the last nine years announced that he and LuAnn would be resigning. It was a tearful resignation followed by surprise and sorrow in the room.

God used Gene and LuAnn to build the ministry of BEAMM over the last nine years. The ministry grew under Gene’s leadership. We celebrate how God used them. The border ministry is not an easy one. We face many challenges in seeking to make a difference for the kingdom on the border.

Gene expressed that over the past two years they’ve had a growing sense of divine discontent.

Since Dawn and I have changed ministries three times I know what this is like. When God calls us to a place, He doesn’t always call us their for the duration of our ministry.

BEAMM team in Juarez, Mexico

The BEAMM team in Juarez, Mexico

Personally I enjoyed working with Gene, and I will be sad to see him go. Yet, I understand it’s not good to stay in a place too long when God is moving you on. Since I was there when Gene shared he and LuAnn’s pending change, I was the first to offer him a new ministry opportunity. I let him know that he’d be welcome to work with us on the San Diego – Tijuana border. 😉

Gene visited Ray Call and me in San Diego last week. It was a wonderful visit that we had planned before he made this decision. So I not only was able to show him what we are doing, and who we are working with, but I was able to entice him to consider ministering with us. Because Gene is very gifted, and he and LuAnn make a good team he’s already had a number of offers. He told me that he’s not going to seriously consider where the Lord might be leading them next until September.

Please pray with us for Gene and LuAnn as they enter into this time of transition. Praise the Lord for their faithful years of service and how He has used them for His glory on the border.

So what does Gene’s leaving mean for Dawn and me and our work on the San Diego – Tijuana border?

Larry Trotter leading our BEAMM meeting

Larry Trotter, who is Mission the World’s Mexico country coordinator asked me to lead the San Diego – Tijuana team. I will report to Larry. This is an interesting development, because Larry and Sandy arrived in Mexico City about a year before Dawn and me. We’ve known them a long time. They are very gifted cross-cultural church planters and leaders. We look forward to working more closely with them again!

While disappointed that Gene and LuAnn are resigning from their post, we are excited about what lies ahead. I believe the Lord will lead them to a place that is a good ministry fit for them. I continue to be amazed by how the Lord is working, and the awesome things He is doing on the border.

It takes time for all the things to come together that we would like to see, but God is moving. He is working! This gives us great hope, even in changing times!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Healing in Juarez!

Posted: May 18, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana
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Iglesia Promesa de Vida in Juarez - Promise of Life Church

Iglesia Promesa de Vida in Juarez – Promise of Life Church

I just returned from my time in Juarez, Mexico. Our BEAMM team met there for two days. Larry Trotter, MTW‘s new Mexico director joined us. It was a great experience to meet with all my co-workers. We have a combination of Mexicans and Americans working on our team.

It’s so good to learn how God is working along the border! The border is a tough place. It’s been in the news mucho. And unfortunately, most of the news is bad. Yet, in reality the border is becoming much safer. The situation in Juarez, Tijuana and other border cities has improved dramatically! Praise God and we pray that it will continue to get better. I do believe God’s doing a healing work in Juarez.

One of our workers, Juan Antonio Garcia shared how their church, “Promesa de Vida” (Promise of Life) is growing in Juarez. They just started a second service. The Lord has opened a door to minister to the community through serving lunches to children two times a week. They’ve also just launched a new church plant, “Frontera y Gracia” (Border and Peace). The new church is located right near the border.

Juan Arjona and Dave in Juarez

Juan Arjona and Dave in Juarez

Juan Arjona, who is ministering in Escondido, California shared about his church plant and community outreach. Juan’s church has faced some struggles financially, but the Lord is providing. There are 20,000 people who live in one square mile around where his church, “Misión Nueva Vida,” (New Life Mission) meets. Most of these homes are run by single mothers. There is a high unemployment rate, and 75% of the income of those with work goes to rent. Misión Nueva Vida distributes five tons of food to 200 people every Saturday. They are being a light in a dark place. They are bringing hope to the hopeless.

It’s not easy to work on the border, but it’s so uplifting to see God’s hand at work. Sure we’d love to see even more, and we do pray that greater things are yet to come. Join us in prayer for God’s guiding hand!

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. (I) Dave leave Saturday morning for Los Angeles. I will preach at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Bakersfield on Sunday, then be in ministry meetings all week in San Diego next week. Pray for a fruitful trip!

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Is There Hope for Juarez, Mexico?

Posted: May 15, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Family Happenings, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Team Members
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Mexico Border Crossing

Mexico Border Crossing

After a busy and fun-filled weekend celebrating my daughter, Hannah’s graduation I find myself in El Paso, Texas ready to go into Juarez, Mexico. My dad flew back to Fresno, California about the same time I got on my plane for my journey to El Paso.

Tuesday morning we will kick off two days of meetings for most of our BEAMM workers. Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministries (BEAMM) spans along the 2,000 mile US/Mexico border. We have people working in such cities as: McAllen, TX; Reynosa, Mexico; Laredo, TX; Nuevo Laredo, Mexico; El Paso, TX; Juarez, Mexico; Nogales, AZ; Nogales, Mexico; San Diego, CA; Tijuana, Mexico. The BEAMM ministry began over 20 years ago in Juarez, and it’s grown over the years.

Our prayer is that God would so ignite the border that we would see a church planting movement started that will transform the border, socially, culturally and spiritually. Please join us in this prayer. We realize that only God can change a person’s heart. Only God can bring true and lasting transformation.

We are meeting in Juarez, Mexico. A city with a bad rap. A city in need of the gospel. This bad rap has been earned over the last few years with all the violence and crime. Yet things have gotten better, and we do have teammates that are regularly ministering in Juarez. I don’t mean to minimize the great needs of the city, but it is not a city without hope.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”  — Jeremiah 29:7

Ray and Dave at Border Crossing

Ray and Dave at Border Crossing

God calls us to seek the welfare of the city. I pray that not only will the Lord bless our meetings as we discuss vision, and how the Lord is leading us to minister on the border, but that we will bless the city. Stand with us in this prayer.

Do pray for our safety, as well as unity. “O, Lord, give us your eyes to see. Give us your ears to hear. What are you calling us to do? What are the specific needs that you are calling us to meet? Fill us with boldness and the power of your Spirit.

What do you think, is there hope for Juarez?

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org