Posts Tagged ‘Los Cabos’

Why the Church? Is it Still Valid Today?

Posted: November 12, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Video
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Should We Get Excited About the Church?
Dave & Peter (the small guys in the back) with Benjamin & Blanca Romero and Victor & Fanny and Karis Gonzalez in Los Cabos

Dave & Peter (the small guys in the back) with Benjamin & Blanca Romero and Victor & Fanny and Karis Gonzalez in Los Cabos exploring a new church planting project for La Paz

We talk a lot about planting churches. You could say we get excited about seeing new churches start-up. And maybe you wonder why? To some the church seems like a mess. I mean how could God use it? Just read the newspaper and you will find some bad news about a church somewhere.

Those are good questions.

And yet despite its shortcomings, God in his infinite wisdom chose the church as his vehicle for his kingdom to grow on the earth. Jesus taught us to pray, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray for the expansion of the Lord’s kingdom as he works through his church.

Life Transformation is Why!

One of the main reasons why we do what we do is because of the transformed lives. It’s gets us stoked to see and hear the stories of a life changed by the gospel. When Jesus enters in and turns someone’s world upside down.

This last Sunday at the multi-cultural, bilingual church, Bridge Church (formerly Harbor Mid-City) that we partner with Dawn and I were able to share in the story of wonderful story of a man with many last names who God claimed as his own.

Robert’s Story – Covenant Renewal

Many people were moved to tears as they listened to Robert’s testimony. Watch the video here, and see if you don’t agree that God has done an amazing work in Robert’s life.

Dawn and I feel privileged to get a front row seat to what God is doing in the lives of people through the work of his church. As feeble as the church may be Jesus reigns supreme and he is the giver of life. He gives us hope and through the gospel we see life transformation.

Some Exciting New Works

I just returned from Los Cabos and La Paz Mexico where we are working on a new church planting project. We are working and praying for the right church planter to lead this project.

We are also talking to Pastor Daniel Nuñez about partnering with Lo Mejor del Trigo to start a new church planting project near Rosarito in Mexico. God is on the move here and he that keeps us busy.

Please join us in prayer that we will see the Lord open the necessary doors and bring everything together so that these churches will be healthy from the beginning.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Learning to Practice What I Preach!

Posted: November 4, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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I find that often after I preach a message that the Lord soon gives me an opportunity to put into practice what I preached on. Maybe it’s because I’m a slow learner? 😉

A New Work in La Paz
Dave & Peter (the small guys in the back) with Benjamin & Blanca Romero and Victor & Fanny and Karis Gonzalez in Los Cabos

Dave & Peter (the small guys in the back) with Pastor Benjamin & Blanca Romero and Pastor Victor & Fanny and Karis Gonzalez in Los Cabos

Last week I was in La Paz and Cabo San Lucas in Baja California. I was with fellow MTW missionary Peter Boling and a Mexican church planter that is considering leading a church planting project in La Paz. We were also to see some of the sites and people affected by Hurricane Odile.

The Lord blessed our time together. It’s encouraging to think about starting something new, especially a new church in the capital city of Southern Baja California. I hope to write more about our time in La Paz and Los Cabos in my next post.

Continuing to Learn to Rest in the Lord’s Hands

While that was going on there were some troubles at home, so I had to leave earlier than I was planning on. That’s when I especially needed to apply what I had preached on – The Incomparable Peace of Christ. 

The Lord promises us a supernatural peace that will guard our hearts like soldiers guard a city. He encourages us to pray and not to be anxious.

I was listening to some praise songs today, and one of the songs I heard sang, You hold me in Palm of your hands. What a wonderful promise.

God has often reminded me as I pray for my family that he loves them even more than I do.

Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭15,16‬ ESV)

Isn’t that a comfort to know that God will not forget you? He cares for you, and that you are continually before him. This promise gives me great hope. Isn’t it good to know that the Lord cares for you in such a loving and tender way?

These are some of the things that I had to remind myself of as our family encountered some difficult trials. It seems to be a hazard of my trade. Yet, God hasn’t forgotten us. He has a good plan for us and he uses it for his good, which is ultimately for our good as well.

Thank you Lord for your loving care. Thank you for your tender mercies. You are so gracious to remind me of the truth of your Word and your promises.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Help the Hurting – Hurricane Odile

Posted: September 26, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Relief & Aid for Victims of Hurricane Odile
Damage done is some of the poorer areas of Cabo San Lucas

Damage done is some of the poorer areas of Cabo San Lucas

Aid is slowly coming to the battered in Los Cabos and La Paz. 40% of the people now have power. It’s going to be a very long and slow road to recovery.

I am working with fellow missionary Peter Boling and his family, who live in Los Cabos. The Boling family are ministering out of their church to provide food and clothing for the many affected in the area. Peter, Jenny, Leslie and Josh are frayed at the edges, but the Lord is sustaining them.

Pastor Benjamin Romero is ministering to those in his church and the surrounding area in San José del Cabo.

It’s sad to see all the loss. Many are hurting. The love of Christ is shining through the compassion and aid being given to those affected by the hurricane.

I’m working with Mission to the World (MTW) so we can send aid and work teams to the hurting in Los Cabos. We now have a fund set up that you can give to in order to help the many in need.

You can Help!

Make your gift out to MTW and designate it for #93922, and send it to:
MTW
PO Box 2589
Suwanee GA 30024-0982

You can give online at: www.mtw.org

Peter’s First Hand Account
Many of the poor lost everything in the hurricane - devastating!

Many of the poor lost everything in the hurricane – devastating!

If you have never been in the eye of a monster hurricane, it is an unforgettable experience. From total chaos to total calm in the matter of less than a minute. All of the neighbors popped out of hiding to check on one another knowing we only had about 30-40 minutes before the storm raged again. Unreal.

The winds literally picked our Volkswagen up and moved it twenty feet. Thankfully it did not slam into another car and we ran below to move it back in place and then waited…

The church were we serve, Vida Nueva or New Life, has become a command center of sorts for the humanitarian relief effort. The Government has provided food for feeding 200 people two meals a day for the foreseeable future. We just had to provide the workers. Leslie and Joshua are very involved with this effort but are really upset about missing school 🙂 We have also started a clothe distribution center on the property as well as a medical brigade staffed with two volunteer doctors.

The need is almost overwhelming but we are doing our part to be the hands and feet of Christ. Thanks to a generous gift from one of our supporters we were able to build a shelter for an elderly couple who lost everything.

Pray for the hurting
The Hurricane winds were fierce throwing cars around!

The Hurricane winds were fierce throwing cars around!

Peter and his daughter Leslie are both sick now along with hundreds of others as the effects of stress, trauma, open sewage. Peter’s wife, Jenny has not had a chance to rest and is now playing nurse.

Continue to pray for our the Bolings, pastor Benjamin Romero and his church and the many affected by the hurricane. Those that are healthy are worn out from helping others. Lord, please give them strength.

In His Grip, Dave
DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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

God Moves in Los Cabos

Posted: May 2, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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The Lord Works Through Us
Dave with Peter Boling, Larry Trotter and Jim DeWitt in Los Cabos

Dave with Peter Boling, Larry Trotter and Jim DeWitt in Los Cabos

I’m writing this post from Mexico City, a place that was home to us for almost 10 years. I arrived here from Los Cabos on Wednesday.

Many memories come flooding back while I’m here, but today I’m going to focus on what I was doing in Los Cabos. In my last post I wrote about our gospel advancement meetings with the our partners from the Mexican National Church. Those meetings gave me hope for the future in the Baja.

Praying & Planning for the Advance of the Gospel
Jim leading us through a planning exercise

Jim leading us through a planning exercise

After we finished I met for two and a half days with our regional San Diego – Baja team, which is made up of Peter Boling, Jim DeWitt and me. The region we work in is spread out, we don’t get much face to face time, so it was wonderful to have time together to get to know one another better, and to be able to work together.

We focused on refining our mission, vision, values and goals for our team. Even though that might not sound like much fun, the Lord blessed our time. Every one in the group left feeling more encouraged. Do we have any obstacles ahead of us? Yes, but nonetheless we also have some outstanding opportunities to make a difference for the kingdom as we work together.

I must admit that the work we did was at times exhausting. It’s hard to try to create something new. It’s not easy to work for transformation of such a large region. We know God has to bring the increase. We serve a big God. This truth gives us hope.

Join Us In Prayer
The two sides of Los Cabos.

The two sides of Los Cabos.

The three of us recognize that even our best plans will come to nothing, if we don’t put Christ first. Prayer has to be one of the keys to our ministry as we trust the Lord to bring the results.

All of us also believe that building a strong relationship between us and those we are working with as well is key. One of the ways to develop a better deeper relationship to spend time together not only working, but having a good time together.

We took advantage of the beauty of Los Cabos and went out on a boat one of the afternoons. It was so relaxing and just an all around good time to enjoy one another’s company. We also saw the needy areas in Los Cabos, the areas the tourists don’t see.

Hear Our Prayer

Our prayer for San Diego – Baja and beyond is that God’s Spirit will blow through this region and touch the hearts of the people  so that we will see 1000’s come to Christ and changed by the gospel. O Lord, make it so! As it is in heaven, may it be on earth! Thy kingdom come.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

God is Building His Church in Baja!

Posted: January 2, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, God's Leading, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings, Team Members
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The Expansion of the Church into Baja
Peter and Jenny Boling are in the middle with Dawn and Dave and Yolanda's mom on the left and Sophie (our intern), Yolanda and Daniel and Camila Nuñez on the right

Peter and Jenny Boling (middle) with Dawn and Dave and Yolanda’s mom (left) and Sophie (our summer intern – middle right), Yolanda and Daniel and Camila Nuñez (right)

One of the things that I’m most excited about as I look back on 2013 is the expansion of our team and missions presence. The Lord opened the door for us to begin working with Peter and Jenny Boling!

They are missionaries with Mission to the World (MTW). Peter and Jenny were ministering in Bogotá, Colombia, but they felt God tugging at their hearts and calling them to Los Cabos in Baja California.

Dawn and I are thrilled to work alongside the Bolings, and have them join our team. The only complication I’ve had is that I’ve called our team the San Diego-Tijuana team, so now we have to adjust some 🙂 . Although I always thought of it as San Diego-Tijuana and beyond!

God’s Answer for More Workers and Ministry Expansion
A map of Baja California Sur Municipalities hi...

A map of Baja California Sur Municipalities highlighting Los Cabos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s thrilling to have more workers, which is one of the answers to prayer that we’ve seen this past year. We are so excited to see our missionary force expanding! Lord, please continue your work and send even more laborers.

Peter and Jenny moved to Los Cabos in September, and they are already connecting with ministries at the tip of Baja. The Bolings are caring and loving servants, who are full of grace. I believe that the Lord will use them in a powerful way in 2014 and into the future.

Peter was saved out of a gangs and a wayward life. This has given him a tremendous platform to minister to those that are caught up in a lifestyle of drug addiction, alcohol and gang warfare. One of the ministries that Peter has connected with has an effective outreach to those in gangs. Many gang members are coming to Christ and growing in their faith.

The Lord set the Bolings up in 2013, which allows us to be in prime position to start a new church planting project in La Paz in mid-2014. It’s amazing to see how the Lord brings things together.

Join Us In Prayer for the Bolings & the New Church Plant
Peter Boling sharing his testimony at Fuente de Vida mission

Peter Boling sharing his testimony at Fuente de Vida mission

We appreciate your prayers for Peter and Jenny as we begin to work on this new project. The Bolings are still in the process of getting rolling themselves. One of the things we still need is a Mexican National church planter to lead the project. We hope to identify one by the end of March.

Pray that the Lord will bring all the loose pieces together. Our desire is to honor him and see people won to Christ through this new church. Those that come into the church will become mature followers of Jesus, and as the Lord brings the increase we will see more churches started.

I feel that we need a lot of wisdom as we set the church plant up. There are a number of things that still need to fall in place.

Please join us in lifting these needs up to the Lord!

In HIs Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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A New Work in La Paz

Posted: September 26, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Missions, Prayer
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New Beginnings in La Paz
The group that met together to open up the new work in La Paz

The group that met together to open up the new work in La Paz

On Wednesday I participated in a historic event for the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (NPCM). The head of evangelism for the NPCM, the leader for the Church Planting  Center, leaders from the Fronterizo Noroccidental (Northwest Border) Presbytery met with us to explain and agree on a plan to open a new field and start a new church in La Paz, Baja California.

I feel like this is huge, because it’s not always easy to find common ground and to agree to work together when people from different cities, cultures and organizations come together. Yet God made a way!

La Paz, Baja California

La Paz, Baja California

Another reason that it’s a major accomplishment is that there are not any Presbyterian churches in La Paz, and there are only a few churches. La Paz, which means, the peace, needs the prince of peace to reign in their midst.

I represented Mission to the World (MTW) at the meeting, and I presented our missionary workers who will be working alongside the national church planter, Peter and Jenny Boling.

It’s exciting to be part of something new!

I learned some more about Mexico during our meeting. There are 27 cities in northern Mexico. These 27 cities contain 80% of the population in northern Mexico. There are 50 million people living in northern Mexico. The other interesting fact is that the northwest part of Mexico has less than 2.5% of the presbyterian churches in Mexico.

Praying for the Prince of Peace to Reign in La Paz
Praying for the work in La Paz

Praying for the work in La Paz

Anyway you look at it the need it huge. That’s one of the reasons that I ask you to pray. This is the Lord’s work and only he can bring the increase.

Peter and Jenny Boling are now living in Los Cabos, and they will begin doing the preliminary work to start the new church. In the meantime we will be working with the NPCM and the Church Planting Center to find a lead church planter. The Lord knows who that will be, but we don’t know yet. Pray that the Lord raises up the right person for the ministry.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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

The Contrasts of Los Cabos

Posted: August 17, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Los Cabos: The Beauty and the Crying Need
Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas

For the last two days I’ve been with fellow missionary, Peter Boling in the Los Cabos area. He’s been showing me around, and we’ve been connecting with some of the ministries here.

I would describe Los Cabos as a land of contrasts. There is the beauty of the Pacific, the Sea of Cortez, the landscape and the beach. Then there is the barrenness, the dirt, the cactus and the shrubs inland. Some of the wealthiest people in the world have homes here, and many tourist come to enjoy all that Los Cabos has to offer. In contrast there are people who are struggling to survive, many people living in very humble conditions.

Most of the residents of Los Cabos depend on the tourism for their survival. The tourism has suffered over the last few years, because of the economy and the recent drug wars.

It hurts to see some of the people living in the humble conditions they live in.

Reaching Gangs for Christ

Peter and Jenny Boling have a passion for this area and for the many hurting people. I love watching Peter interact with those that live and serve here.

Peter sharing with the young gang members

Peter sharing with the young gang members

Just yesterday we met a group of 30 young gang members that had recently come to Christ. The Lord is using a Salvadorian hit man and drug runner to reach into the gang community. Emilio has street credibility with these gang members, because of his past. He had a dramatic conversation, and the Lord is now using him in a powerful way.

We dropped in on their meeting in the afternoon, and they asked Peter to share his testimony. Peter is a big guy, and he comes from a rough background. He was once involved in gangs and drugs. God got ahold of his heart while he was in prison, and he became a warrior for the Lord. Since, he lived the life that they are living they listen.

God is on the Move

It’s so encouraging for me to see that behind all the tourism that moves the economy that God is moving in people’s lives. He is touching the hearts of many that are now following Jesus.

The main reason that we are in Los Cabos is to pave the way for Peter and his wife, Jenny to move here so that they can minister in Los Cabos and La Paz. We want to see ministries strengthened and new churches started. The kingdom extended for God’s glory!

Join us in Prayer

Pray with us the God will grant us favor and open many doors for the Bolings to walk through as the look to serve here!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org