Posts Tagged ‘La Paz’

Hurricane Odile – Help Needed!

Posted: September 18, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Hurricane Odile

We just wrapped four days of MTW worldwide leadership meetings in Cambodia. While I’ve been here the worst hurricane in recorded history landed in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Hurricane Odile. Our friends and fellow missionaries Peter and Jenny Boling live and serve in Cabo.

If you’ve read the news you’ve seen that they are airlifting 26,000 – 30,000 stranded tourist from Los Cabos. They are without water and electricity. It is estimated that the residents will be without water and electricity for three weeks.

I received one message from the Boling’s daughter, Leslie saying they were okay, but there was a lot of damage. Since they don’t have electricity, I have not been able to communicate with them since the Hurricane hit.

Our hearts and our prayers go out to the Bolings and to the residents of Los Cabos and La Paz.

Relief Efforts for Los Cabos

I am working with Mission to the World (MTW) to mobilize relief for the area. Since I’m traveling and communication with the Bolings has been limited it probably won’t be until next week that I have more info.

There will be opportunities for churches and individuals to help.

Right now I’d ask you to pray. Pray for the safety of the people and the relief efforts. We also need wisdom and discernment on how we can best help. This is also an opportunity for the church to show the love of Christ in a tangible way!

Thanks for standing with us in this effort. I will write more about the situation and what we are doing to help in the next few days.

Missions in Cambodia
Andres Garza & Dave in Cambodia

Andres Garza & Dave in Cambodia

It has been wonderful to learn about all God is doing around the world and to rub shoulders with other missionaries and nationals.

Good things happen when you bring people together that love the Lord and want to see the kingdom of God advance!

Tonight I will start my long trek back home. I will write more about all the Lord did in Cambodia when I get home.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Vision to Reach Northwestern Mexico

Posted: September 23, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, God's Leading, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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A Church Planting Network in Mexico
Monterrey, Mexico

Monterrey, Mexico

God opened my eyes even wider as I was challenged to consider working with others to reach Northwestern Mexico for Christ. I found myself feeling encouraged and at times overwhelmed.

I felt overwhelmed, when I got my eyes off of the cross, and focused on my own efforts, and how I would be able to accomplish the task of seeing the gospel extend to other parts of Mexico. I was encouraged as I considered joining with others, and an already strong church planting network that is based in Monterrey, Mexico.

The Church Planting Center

The Centro para la Plantación de Iglesias (Church Planting Center) is a ministry of Mission to the World (MTW). Dawn and I played a small part in the beginnings of this effort. We served in Mexico City when the seeds for this work were being sown.

Not everything that MTW has done in Mexico has borne fruit, so it’s thrilling to see when God does put his finger of blessing on a work.

Connecting Movement Leaders
Andres Garza and Daniel Nuñez chatting over a wonderful Mexican meal

Andres Garza and Daniel Nuñez chatting over a wonderful Mexican meal

One of the most exciting things for me on this weekend was that I was able to introduce Daniel Nuñez from Tijuana and a movement leader in his own right to the group here. I’m not sure what God will do as a result of the connection that Daniel was able to make with Andres Garza, who leads the Church Planting Center, but it’s fun to watch.

I enjoy dreaming about what might be. What could be! That’s at least part of what vision is all about.

I dream of a day when San Diego and Tijuana will be an even bigger hub for the extension of God’s kingdom on the border, and in northwestern Mexico.

Andres Garza sharing about the dream of MTW for northern Mexico

Andres Garza sharing about the dream of MTW for northern Mexico

I learned this weekend that 96% of the Presbyterian churches in Mexico are in the southern Mexico. There is a huge need for the church to grow and be strengthened in northern Mexico, and even more so in the northwest.

Keep Praying

I believe that part of the reason the Lord is increasing our vision and in doing so our boundaries is because of so many of you lifting us up in prayer.

Tomorrow I leave for some meetings in the La Paz, Baja California where we will discuss the opening of a new church planting field in that city. La Paz is the capital of Lower Baja California, and we don’t have any churches there. It’s a strategic city with a huge need. Join us in prayer that the Lord will go before us and bless our time in La Paz.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Related articles

Ending on a High Note in Los Cabos!

Posted: August 22, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Team Members
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God’s Rich Blessings In Los Cabos
Dave preaching at the Fuente de Vida mission church

Dave preaching at the Fuente de Vida mission church

Our ministry trip to Los Cabos ended on a high note. In the morning, Peter Boling and I visited Vida Nueva. American missionaries who came several years ago started the church. These missionaries won many of the leaders and church members to Christ.

So encouraging seeing the legacy that they left. The missionary, Johnny Lynch who started the church didn’t even speak much Spanish. It’s amazing what God can do with a willing and faithful servant.

Now this church faithfully preaches the gospel, and they have ministries to gang members and the poor in the community that they are reaching.

May God’s Peace Rain Down on La Paz

Peter and I met with the church leaders on Saturday night, and we told them of the plan to start a new church in La Paz. They were very positive, and they started thinking of all the people they knew in La Paz.

La Paz means “the peace”. We pray that the Prince of Peace will bring his peace to the people of La Paz.

Then in the evening we went to the mission church that I wrote about in my last post, Fuente de Vida “Fountain of Life”.

The Journey from Prison to Missions
Peter Boling sharing his testimony at Fuente de Vida mission

Peter Boling sharing his testimony at Fuente de Vida mission

Peter shared his testimony. How God saved him from a life that was headed on a downward spiral. God used a fellow prison mate, who threatened to kill him to wake Peter up spiritually. Instead, the animal, as they called him, read Peter a Bible passage that brought him from asleep to being more than curious.

When he got out of prison he went to visit an aunt who was a believer. She didn’t want to open up the door when she saw Peter. He had a long beard, and long hair and looked like a bad dude. His reputation presided him. He told his aunt after she finally let him in; “I want to know how to become a Christian.”

She wasn’t sure she could believe him at first. “Are you serious?” she asked. Peter assured her he was, and she shared the gospel with him. Now Peter is a missionary with a wonderful testimony that he is using for the glory of God.

One thing I’ve seen about people who have been saved out of bad backgrounds is they get God’s grace. It’s not hard for them to understand the need for grace in their lives. Since they get it, they are good at sharing it with others. That’s what Peter and his wife, Jenny dedicate their lives to now.

The Gospel of Hope
The Arc of Los Cabos

The Arc of Los Cabos

After Peter shared his testimony I was able to preach about grace for those that don’t believe as well as the believer. I find there are so many Christians that either fall into liberalism or legalism. The people responded very well to the message. Grace gives us hope.

The Gospel gives all of us hope and lifts off the heavy burden that many try to carry alone. Jesus wants to take those burdens and carry them for us.

Our prayer is that the gospel will be powerfully proclaimed in Los Cabos and La Paz. Lord please do rain down your peace on La Paz and the Baja peninsula.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Dreams of a New Ministry!

Posted: August 19, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Team Members
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God Works Through Relationships
Peter, Jasmin, Benjamin and Dave in front of Fuente de Vida Church

Peter, Jasmin, Benjamin and Dave in front of Fuente de Vida Church

On Friday Peter Boling and I met with Pastor Benjamin Romero in San José del Cabo. Benjamin also introduced us to his wife, Blanca and some of the people serving in the church, Jasmin and their summer intern, Othaniel.

Benjamin and the others shared about the ministry of their church, and a mission church they started a couple of years ago. I felt encouraged by their passion for Christ. They are praying and working to see Christ’s name proclaimed in the region.

On Sunday, Peter and I had an opportunity to share at their mission church, Fuente de Vida.

Our Hope for a Church Planting Team

Our hope is that Peter will partner with them in ministry to strengthen their work, but to also work with a church planter to start a new work in La Paz. The city of La Paz is about two hours from Los Cabos. It is the capital of Southern Baja California. It is an important city for the region.

10 Churches in the Next 7 Years

The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico has targeted 10 key cities in northern Mexico where they presently don’t have works. Their goal is to plant churches in these cities by 2020. La Paz is one of these cities. It’s exciting to see the expansion of God’s kingdom in the area. What a blessing that we get to be a part of this new work!

Pray for a Good Beginning

Pray with us as we establish a firm foundation to minister together with our new friends in San José del Cabo. Pray that God will lead the way for us to set up a beach head, a new church in La Paz. Our hope is to start the initial phases of the church plant in 2014.

We know we need much prayer to see this happen!

Pray too for the ministry of our new friends, Benjamin and Blanca Romero, along with Jasmin and Hugo, and their summer intern Othaniel. That their church will grow and flourish and God’s Spirit moves in and through the church.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnThe Ministry.org