Posts Tagged ‘leadership’

Relationships & Multiplication: God’s Gift to Us!

Posted: January 6, 2020 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Family & Growth: So Exciting
Some of the church planters that we are working with that are seeing multiplication

Two of the things that excite Dawn and me the most is our close relationship with the church planters we are working with and seeing the church grow. We continue to work for and pray for multiplication on the Border, the Baja and Beyond!

I feel like it’s hard to describe the special relationship that we develop with the church planters that we partner with. A number of them refer to us as family, ‘Padre y Madre’. I haven’t experienced many relationships like this in the U.S.A. I think people tend to be a little more guarded in the United States.

These relationships make us feel good, but there’s more to it than just good feelings!

Fruit: The Ministry is Growing!
Pastor Luis & May with their children David & Zuri

The Lord is using these relationships and the training and coaching that Dawn and I are able to provide to produce fruit. We are seeing ministries grow.

Just today one of the church planting couples that we are working with in Cuba, Luis and May told us how their relationship with us has made a dramatic difference in their lives. They refer to it as a before and after. Luis and May told us that their ministry and their effectiveness has grown since they met us.

They’ve been using some of the church planting training material that I shared with them the last time I was there. Red de Multiplicación (Multiplication Network) has some excellent church planting training resources that we’ve given them. Luis and May took those resources and have trained 12 couples that have started 12 house churches in their city in the last year. 400 people have been reached through these churches!

That is multiplication, and that is what we are praying and working for! Praise Jesus!

Continued Growth in 2020!
Pastor Mario & Yany’s church in Cabaiguan. There’s a growing network of churches in this city

Luis and May are planning on starting two more house churches this month as we begin 2020. They are already off and running! These are just two of the church planters that Dawn and I are working with. God is building his church on the Border, the Baja and Beyond!

Please pray for us as we kick-off 2020. We are praying for more churches and multiplication of leaders with a clear vision to reach the lost for Christ. God is so good, and he is so faithful to grow his church!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Mobilizing for the Kingdom

Posted: March 11, 2013 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego
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Dave presented at MTW's vision retreat

Dave presenting at MTW’s vision retreat

On Monday David, Jr., Dawn and I were at the Mission to the World (MTW) office in Lawrenceville just outside of Atlanta. We participated in MTW’s Vision Retreat. At this event those who are interested in pursuing missions come to learn more about what God is doing around the world.

It’s an enjoyable time for us as we meet new people who are exploring what the Lord has for them. We are also able to connect with friends and colleagues. For example, we got some time with Bill Goodman. I’ve known Bill for 27 years. I first met him when I was still single. He was our first team leader when we started serving in missions in Mexico City.

In the afternoon I had the privilege and opportunity to share about our work, and what God is doing on the border. Those that were in attendance responded well.

I must admit I get a little anxious at these events, since I’m trying to promote what we are doing, and wondering if I did well enough to persuade them to take a look at us. “O Lord, help me to keep my eyes on you.”

On Tuesday morning we are off to drive up to Covenant College to present our border ministry to the college students there.

Pray that the Lord blesses our efforts, and that he will bring those that he is calling to join us! I pray we will be patient and rest in Him.

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

The Joy of Mobilizing for the Kingdom!

Posted: March 3, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Journey, Ministry, Missions, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana
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Ray Call

This past Thursday my BEAMM teammate, Ray Call, and I went to Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California to meet with students. We had a wonderful opportunity to share about what our vision is for reaching out to Hispanics on the border. We provided pizza for lunch, which is definitely a draw to hungry seminarians.

We had a great time! I love to share the stories about how the Lord has led us to the border, and how He is already working and changing lives on the border. I get energized by the youth and enthusiasm of a younger crowd.

I find that it gives me great joy sharing about what we do, and the vision the Lord has given us for the bi-national city of San Diego – Tijuana border. It encourages my soul when new friends respond to what God is doing. I always enjoy sharing how God is working and how He’s called us. Usually I am doing it to raise funds for our ministry. It is a nice change to be able to share these same things to encourage and motivate people to serve with us.

I don’t know what God will do. I don’t know who He will call to join us, but I do know that Jesus told us to pray for workers. My wife likes to tell of a plaque her parents had that said, “pray, but row to shore.” I think that applies here. We pray for workers, but we also ask people to join us.

Emily Gryder

Emily Gryder one of our summer interns

Just in the last few weeks we’ve had one new intern, Emily Gryder decide to work with us from July to November. We also have an awesome young lady from Birmingham, Alabama that is beginning the process to come on with Mission to the World, and to join our team. Pray with us as she goes through this process that God will make His calling even more clear to her. The Lord is raising up workers. Praise Him!

Back to our experience at Westminster seminary. I was so encouraged to see how well Ray and I worked together, as we shared our stories. I love working on a team. Thank you, Jesus for raising up workers and building our team. It reminds me that He is ultimately the One that causes the increase.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org