Posts Tagged ‘Pastor Federico & Blanca Muñoz’

A Proud Papa: A New Church

Posted: May 18, 2023 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Video
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Thankful for God’s Provision
Pastor Federico and Blanca with the people from their church Verdad y Vida

I feel like a proud papa as Dawn and I minister with Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz in Mexico. We’ve just put a down payment on some property and hope to build on it this Fall. I’m thrilled for them, because they’ve been working so hard to plant this church. For the last year and a half they’ve been meeting in a park on Sunday mornings.

Even though it hasn’t been easy to meet at the park, Federico and Blanca said that a number of people are coming to faith as they hear the preaching and worship. It creates a curiosity, and causes people to come to see what is going on. They hear the message and they like it.

Church in the park

While there are some advantages to meeting in the park, the problem is that Mexicali has extreme weather. It’s a desert climate, so in the summer months it can get as high as 120. As you can imagine, not many people want to be outside in those temperatures. The other problem is that there are no bathrooms nearby.

God is Answering Our Prayers

We’ve been praying that we will be able to build a place to hold services by the end of this year. We found a property nearby that we like that is suitable for construction. It’s also in a community where a number of new families will be moving. Federico and Blanca took the people to the site on a recent Sunday to pray together over the property (photo below). This lifted their faith and created momentum as they begin the process of purchasing the property and work towards building a church.

Praying over the new church property

Pastor Federico put a down payment on the property in this week! Now we are praying for and working to raise the funds to finish construction in November of this year. The down payment and construction costs are $31,100.

We believe that the new property is the next step in seeing the church grow, and reach out in the community. A permanent location will give them a greater presence. We are excited that more people are coming to faith and growing in Christ. We thank the Lord for these testimonies of lives that have been changed by the gospel.

Our goal is to raise the funds so that we can build the church in November. We’d like to launch the first church services in early November of this year.

Join us in Prayer!
  • Pray for Federico and Blanca Muñoz that the Lord will guide and lead them.
  • Pray that many lives will be transformed.
  • Pray that the gospel continues to go out powerfully and effectively.
  • Pray that the Lord will raise up the $31,100.
  • Prayerfully consider making a donation today to help us build this church.
Extend Your Hands to Help!

Your generosity is bringing life transformation to families in Mexicali. Would you prayerfully consider joining us, and making a commitment to help us accomplish this God-given vision to impact Mexicali for generations to come. Make a Donation Today.

Click to Donate…

Video: God is Building His Church in Mexicali

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org

The Inevitable Expansion of the Church

Posted: March 22, 2023 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Video
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God is Building His Church in Mexico

Top: Federico and Blanca Muñoz family at Damaris’ quinceañera; bottom right: Noe & Eneydi Reyes family; bottom left: Eliel and Jessica Osorio family

The church is growing all throughout Mexico, and we are excited that we get to be a part of all that God is doing. The expansion of God’s church is inevitable. We see from the book of Acts how the church has grown. Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Then in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost the promised Holy Spirit was poured out and the church began to grow like wild fire. The once fearful disciples, became bold and brave when they encountered opposition.

We have the same Holy Spirit today who emboldens his people. The gospel is going forth in power. Lives are becoming transformed by Jesus Christ. That is why we start new churches. We pray for and work for the ever growing expansion of God’s kingdom through the proclamation of the good news of Jesus.

I put together some videos with my good friend and fellow missionary, Jim DeWitt that highlight some of the church plants that we are working on in Mexico. Oaxaca led by Pastor Eliel and Jessica Osorio. Durango led by Pastor Noe and Eneydi Reyes. Mexicali led by Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz. Each one of these churches are making an impact in the communities that they are reaching. In the video I expand on what each church is doing. How the Lord is using them for His Glory!

Video: God is Building HIs Church
Extend Your Hands to Help!

Dawn and I are grateful that we can be a part of the great and mighty work that God is doing in Mexico, on the Big Island and the Dominican Republic. Your prayers and your gifts play a critical role as the gospel goes forth. We are supporting church planters and the life changing ministries that they are involved in. Extend your hands to support our church planters, our familia today! 

Make a Donation Today.

Click to Donate…

Thank you for joining us in prayer, and for considering making a gift to help our precious familia.

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org



Planting Churches, Transforming Communities

Posted: February 20, 2023 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Video
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Pastor Daniel Nuñez’s Dream
Pastor Daniel Nuñez praying over Pastor Hector and Perla at the inaugural church service

Dawn and I moved to the San Diego – Tijuana border in 2012. One of our main desires has been to extend the kingdom by planting new churches. God has far exceeded our expectations!

One of our key partners has been Ministerios Transformación (Transformation Ministries) led by Pastor Daniel Nuñez. When we first met Daniel and his wife, Yolanda in 2010 he told us that he had a goal to plant 50 churches. I think they had planted 7 or 8 churches. At that time 50 seemed like a far off goal. On Saturday, January 28th of this year we joined Pastor Daniel and Yolanda and 500 others to inaugurate and celebrate church number 50!

Church number 50 – Esperanza de Vida (Hope of Life)

Wow! it’s so encouraging to see God building his church along the border and throughout Mexico. God has given us the privilege to partner with Daniel and Ministerios Transformación (MT) in a number of ways. We’ve helped evaluate, train, mentor and coach many of their pastors. The Lord has provided for us to raise the funds and build eight of their church plants in Tijuana, Rosarito and Mexicali. We’ve also aided in building and extending the ministry of another 7 churches. It’s been fun to be a part of building and planting churches from the ground up.

Pastor Hector and Perla Sigala
Perla and Hector

Church number 50 is being led by a young couple, Hector and Perla Sigala. Hector and Perla have three beautiful daughters. Dawn and I first met them at the Centro de Descubrimiento (Discovery Center) when they came through as church planting candidates last year. They were also involved in the evangelism course we led this Fall.

Hector and Perla hold a special place in our hearts. The first time we met them Perla was wearing a blouse with butterflies on it. Butterflies hold a special significance for Dawn as they remind of her of our daughter, Hannah. The Lord used Perla’s blouse and Hector and Perla’s sweet spirit to draw us toward them. Now it seems like almost each time we see them Perla gives Dawn a gift with a butterfly on it. We are excited for them as they lead this new church.

God is building His church!

Some people have asked Pastor Daniel what’s next, now that he’s reached the goal that the Lord gave him. He is raising up a new group of young leaders from MT. They have felt that the Lord is calling them to plant 500 churches. That’s a big goal, but God is able. He can do all things!

Each of these churches become a light that shines brightly in the community where they are planted.

Join Us In Prayer – Extend Your Hands to Help!
Damaris’ Quinceañera (15 year birthday celebration). From left to right: Junior, David, Federico, Damaris, Blanca and Daniel

God is on the move building His church. One of the goals that we have for this year is to build a church in Mexicali, Mexico for our church planters, Federico and Blanca Muñoz. Pray with us that God makes this dream a reality. (see video below)

We need $25,000 to build the church in Mexico. We’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider making a gift for this need. Your gift will allow us to accomplish the God-given vision to impact Mexicali for generations to come. Make a Donation Today.

Click to Donate…

Video: God is Building His Church In Mexicali
God is on the Move in Mexicali

Thank you for joining us in prayer, and for considering making a gift today!

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org

The Ever Expanding Kingdom

Posted: January 19, 2023 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Video
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God is Building His Church in Mexicali
From left to right: Daniel, Federico, Blanca, Dave, Damaris, Paola, Junior with Mykela, and David

In my last post I wrote about Pastor Jorge Alvarado and his wife, Lucy who are planting a church in Mexicali. Dawn and I give thanks for them and for how the Lord is using them to shine the light of Christ in a dark place. Today I would like to highlight another church plant in Mexicali that we are excited about. The church is called, Verdad y Vida, “Truth and Life” and it’s led by Pastor Federico Muñoz and his wife, Blanca.

Federico and Blanca were renting a nice hall for their Sunday services, but the church wasn’t growing. They thought they were in a good location, but when you are a new church plant and you are not reaching new people that is a problem. Federico realized that they needed to do something different. He and Blanca prayed and they found another community where there wasn’t a church, and there was a need. They left the building and started meeting in a park. The weather isn’t always ideal in Mexicali, because it is a desert climate similar to Phoenix.

Even though it seems like a park wouldn’t be ideal they did start to grow. In a few weeks they doubled in size. This month they just completed one year of meeting in the park. The church has left the building!

The Gospel is Changing Lives
Fun during the ministry event at the park in Mexicali

Last weekend Federico and Blanca held an outreach event on Saturday afternoon. Initially we had a church from Southern California that was going to join them and help them with the event, but the church ended up not being able to come. The Muñoz’s felt like they should hold the event anyway. That is one of the qualities that I love about them is they are very committed and they will work through adversity.

Blanca praying for Kimberly while Federico is leading the group

They had a great response as many showed up for the games and food at the park. After the fun time Federico presented a gospel message to the people and thirteen people said “yes” to following Jesus. Pastor Federico and his team invited them to join them for church on Sunday and ten of them returned. Now they are busy following up and encouraging these friends in their new found faith. It’s so exciting to witness God changing hearts and building his church in Mexicali. We have six churches that we are working with in Mexicali and five of them are recent church plants. Eight years ago only one of these churches existed.

Join Us in Prayer and Extend Your Hands to Help
Isabel working with the children who came to the outreach in the park

One of my goals for this year is to raise the funds and find enough partners to come alongside us to buy some land for the Verdad y Vida church. I also would like to be able to build at least the initial building for the church. My prayer is that we can begin building the church by this Fall. Join Dawn and me in prayer that this dream will become a reality. We’d like to invite you to prayerfully consider giving towards the construction of this new church. We will need $25,000 to put a down payment on the land, and build the church.

Thank you for joining us in prayer, and for considering making a gift today.

Click to Donate…

Video: Jesus is Bringing New Life to Mexicali
We Give Thanks for how the Lord is Building His Church in Mexicali

In His Grip, Dave
P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org

On a Journey Towards Jesus

Posted: December 28, 2022 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Evangelism Training in Tijuana
Evangelism training course for pastors and leaders in Tijuana

I hope that you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends. Dawn and I celebrated Christmas at home this year, and we spent the afternoon with some good friends for an outstanding meal and a fun time.

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is almost over. One of the highlights for us this last year was the evangelism training we helped lead for pastors and leaders in Tijuana. We teamed up with a friend, Steve Dueck who works with Cru. He and his wife, Alyssa were missionaries in Italy and now they’ve been ministering in the San Diego area for the last 8 years or so.

Dawn and I enjoyed partnering with Steve in training pastors and leaders about how to share their faith in a natural way. This experience took us back to our roots, because when we first met in our 20’s I was attending Campus Crusade’s seminary, the International School of Theology and Dawn was on staff. Campus Crusade, which is now called, Cru used to be headquartered in San Bernardino, California. We met there in the mid-80’s, and we were married just outside of San Bernardino in Redlands.

CoJourners: Showing Others the Way to Jesus
Steve Dueck and Dave leading the evangelism training course in Tijuana

Steve led the training, and I recruited the pastors and leaders. I also translated for Steve as we went through the four week training. We made the time interactive and it filled my heart to hear the testimonies of those that participated. There were 20 pastors and leaders that went through the material with us. It was so encouraging to get feedback from them on how they were putting the principles that they were learning into practice. One of the main things that stood out to me was when we talked to them about the importance of praying for people that don’t yet know Christ. We explained how it’s essential to lay the groundwork through prayer. All of them had testimonies of family members and friends that they have been praying for. Some of them have already come to Christ. God is at work in drawing people to himself through the prayers and testimonies of his people!

The course is called, CoJourners: Joining Others in Spiritual Journey. The basic idea is that everyone is on a spiritual journey, and we get to join them on their journey. God is already at work in other people’s lives. He uses us to help guide and lead them towards Christ. We have the privilege of showing them the way to Jesus.

One of the main reasons that people don’t share their faith is because of fear. Fear can paralyze us. Many are afraid that if someone asks them a question they won’t have the correct answer. People are also afraid of rejection. These are some of the things that we address in the training.

Steve and I had actually started talking about doing some training like this over two years ago, but then COVID happened and it slowed down our progress. This was a pilot run for us. Everyone that went through the course with us loved it, so in 2023 we’d like to work with more pastors and leaders. Pray that the Lord guides us and leads us as we prepare and plan for 2023!

Extend Your Hands to Help!
Starting from bottom left: Pastor Federico & Blanca Muñoz; bottom right: Pastor Eliel & Jessica Osorio with Sarvia and Tirsa; Top right: Pastor Ernesto with his wife, Dayana and their daughter; Top left: Our familia on the Big Island

You can help us to end the year strong, so that we can continue training and coaching leaders. Our desire is to spread the flames of faith and ignite church planting movements on the Border, the Baja and Beyond!

3 Ways You Can Help

Please consider giving an extra gift of $25 $50, $100, $500, or more to plant a new church and to equip and encourage ministers who are bringing the love of Christ to the Border, Baja, and Beyond.

Thank you for joining us in prayer, and for considering making a gift today.

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave
BeyondBordersLife.org

Celebrating the Advance of the Gospel!

Posted: September 26, 2022 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Video
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Thankful to be On the Road to Recovery
Dave & Dawn with Monse Santiago the night before my surgery celebrating Mexico’s Independence Day. Lower right Pastor Eliel & Jessica Osorio in Oaxaca. Lower left the celebration on the plaza in Mexico!

I’m grateful for all those that prayed for me this last week. On Friday, September 16, which is also Mexican Independence Day, I had my surgery. I stayed in the hospital overnight, and came home the next day. I’ve been home resting and recovering since then. I’m feeling much better now, so I give thanks to the Lord for His healing work, and for the prayers of his people.

Dawn and I had planned to be in Mexico City for a Discovery Center, our church planter evaluation. We were going to be part of the team to assess and evaluate the church planting candidates. Unfortunately, we missed the Discovery Center, but it went well without us. The only hiccup was an earthquake in Mexico City on the 19th. It wasn’t a major earthquake, but it did cause some fear. It’s interesting that this is the 3rd time since 1985 that there have been earthquakes in Mexico City on September 19th. The last two did cause a lot of damage.

God’s Work Continues to Advance!

Our church planters in Mexicali have been giving us some encouraging updates about how the Lord is working. We actually have a number of church plants going on in Mexicali right now. The two most recent start ups are being led by Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz and Pastor Jorge and Lucy Alvarado.

Every week they are sending me photos and encouraging testimonies.

Pastor Federico & Blanca: New Life in Mexicali
Blanca praying for Teresa

Federico and Blanca are still meeting in a park on Sundays. We are praying for a better more permanent place for them, but in the meantime they are faithfully sharing the love of Christ in the park. Blanca loves to send me photos of the church services and the people that they are ministering to. She has a heart to pray for those that come.

She recently told me that she was praying for the people in the park and one of the women that she ministered to is Teresa. She came with her son Fabricio, who is 10 years old. Teresa told Blanca that from the first time she saw them worshipping in the park, her son really wanted to come and participate. In fact, he was insisting that they go. Teresa shared with Blanca how the preaching that morning had touched her. She was very encouraged and she said that she will continue to attend, because she felt God minister to her life and to her son as well. Praise God! (See video below about how Jesus is bringing new life to Mexicali).

Pastor Federico and Blanca Bringing New Life to Mexicali
Pastor Jorge & Lucy: New Birth in Mexicali
Pastor Jorge & Lucy Alvarado

Jorge and Lucy our other church planters in Mexicali are working with a number of people that are being set free from a life of addictions. God has given them a special heart to reach out to people many of whom are living on the streets. It’s so exciting to see these lives that are transformed by the power of the gospel.

We are raising funds for Jorge and Lucy so that they can finish building their church. We only need $2,200 for the windows, doors and air conditioning. It’s great that we are getting so close to finishing! As I’ve mentioned before Mexicali is in the desert, so an air conditioner is essential. (See video below about the new birth in Mexicali.)

New Church led by Pastor Jorge and Lucy
Extend Your Hands to Help!
Dave & Dawn with Jorge and Lucy as their church is being built

Dawn and I are praying for these special friends who are like family to us. We are working on raising funds for their church planting projects. We need $2,200 to finish building the church for Pastor Jorge and Lucy. We are just beginning to raise funds for a building for Pastor Federico and Blanca, so we still need $30,000 for their project. God can do it! It’s exciting to be on this journey with Jesus.

Dawn and I invite you to join us through prayer and giving a special gift to help advance the kingdom in Mexicali and Beyond! We appreciate the pivotal role you play!

  • Join un in prayer for Pastor Jorge and Lucy Alvarado, and for Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz
  • Prayerfully consider making a gift today, by clicking on the link below
Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org

The Church is on Fire in Mexicali

Posted: August 4, 2022 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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The Heat is on as God is Building His Church
Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz ministering in the park

I just spoke to Pastor Federico Muñoz and he said that it’s been up to 122 degrees in Mexicali this summer. That’s hot 🥵! The church doesn’t have a building, so they are meeting outside in the park. They have started meeting a couple hours earlier during the summer to beat the heat, but it still has effected their attendance.

In spite of these obstacles the gospel is going forth and lives are being changed. Federico and Blanca are some of our most committed pastors. I’m always amazed by their faith and their willingness to make sacrifices so that the gospel might advance. Their faith is a great example to me and they encourage Dawn and me a great deal.

They wrote me this week and shared some testimonies from their ministry. I think these will lift you up as you read them.

Rene – Freed from Witchcraft
Rene far right worshipping the Lord

Rene, who is a boxer and the brother of one of the leaders in the church has been involved in witchcraft. He had made a vow with the saint of death, which is a thing in Mexico. He actually worshipped this “saint”.

Federico and Blanca prayed for him and through prayer they broke off the vows Rene had made so that he would be free. After they prayed, he felt peace and he started sleeping well at night after months of nightmares and fear. They continue discipling Rene and you can see the difference in him. He is very happy for the change that the power of God has brought in his life. Praise the Lord!

Katia – Freed from Drugs
Blanca praying with Katia

Katia, a single mother suffered greatly as she was addicted to drugs for a number of years. Some friends from the church, Anibel and Miriam were helping her care for her baby. They began to share with Katia about the love of God. She recently came to one of the church services so that Federico and Blanca could minister to her. As Blanca prayed for her, Katia began to cry. Blanca hugged her and told her that God wanted to strengthen her and heal her of all her wounds. She told her, “God loves you and your baby.” Katia is beginning to grow as she experiences of the love of the Father.

Alberto – Physical and Spiritual Healing
Blanca praying with Alberto

A little over a week ago Alberto’s brother was in a terrible accident. He was fighting for his life. Anibel and Miriam the same women that ministered to Katia and brought her to church are friends of Alberto and his family as well. Anibel y Miriam asked Federico and Blanca to pray for Alberto and his family. Last Sunday Alberto and his brother, Jonathan came to church to give thanks that their brother who was involved in the accident was doing much better and that he was no longer in danger of dying.

We can see in these testimonies that each of these people, Rene, Katia and Alberto are experiencing a real living God who has the power to change and transform lives. It’s thrilling to see the Father work through his children and his church.

Every week Federico and Blanca are seeing the fire 🔥 of God touch the lives of people in need. There’s a spiritual fire, the power of God as they worship in a place where there is much heat.

Join us in Prayer
From left to right: Daniel, Federico, Blanca, David, Damaris, Paola, Junior, Maykela and David

Pray with us for Pastor Federico and Blanca and their team as they continue to share the love of Christ in Mexicali. We are praying for a more permanent, cooler place for them to meet. Pray with us for the funds for a building or some land where we can build a church.

Video: New Life in Mexicali
Extend Your Hands to Help Our Familia
Some of the people and families that we are helping 

We are still sending funds every month to help the pastors and families on the Big Island. We would like to raise at least $18,000 this year to cover these needs.

Since the COVID-19 hit in March 2020, we’ve been able to help more than 2,000 people in 9 different cities, because of the generous gifts of many friends like you. Although we cannot help all 11 million people on the Big Island we can help some. It is a nation with tremendous needs. Where your feet cannot go, your prayers can go! Your offerings of love can go! You can extend your hands to bless these men, women and families who are waiting for a miracle every day.

Help us help the church and our familia! Will you join us? Please prayerfully consider partnering with us to help us bring aid to these beautiful people.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support for this work on the Big Island!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org

Jesus is at Work in Mexicali

Posted: March 14, 2022 in Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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The Gospel is Bringing Life Transformation on the Border
Pastor Federico & Blanca Muñoz in the middle on the front row with some of the people from their team

Jesus is at work in Mexicali. We give thanks for how the gospel is going forth and transforming lives through the ministry of Pastor Federico Muñoz, his wife Blanca and their team. The Muñoz family has become like family to Dawn and me, and we love the opportunity to partner with them in ministry. I just put together a short video that highlights what God is doing in this capital city in Baja California, Mexico.

Video: New Life in Mexicali
Join us in Prayer for
  • New Contacts
  • More People to Come to Christ
  • Their Leadership Team
  • A place for them to meet for Sunday Services.
Extend your Hands to Help

You play an important part in seeing the extension of the kingdom of God in Mexicali, Mexico, and other cities we are reaching in Mexico and Beyond. We’d like to ask you to extend your hands to help those in need. Your gift will help us to accomplish the God given vision to impact, Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, La Paz, Colima, Oaxaca, and beyond the borders of Mexico to the Big Island for generations to come. 

We are thankful that we can be an instrument to bless others, and we’d love for you to join us in this effort.

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

A New Birth in Mexicali!

Posted: May 30, 2021 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Launching a New Church in Mexicali Today
Dave & Dawn with the Muñoz family – front row: Junior and Paola; back row: Damaris, Dave, Daniel, Federico, Blanca, David, Dawn

Today is an important day. Not only do we remember those who have gone before us, and those that have given their lives to protect the freedoms that we enjoy, but we are launching a new church in Mexicali today. Although it is Memorial Day weekend in the USA, Mexico doesn’t share this holiday with us.

Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz will be holding their first public service in Mexicali today at 6 PM PDT. The launching of a new church, reminds us of the life giving work of Jesus. Sunday is a special day set apart to celebrate the resurrection of Christ!

When I think of those that have gone before us, it helps to remember that Christ took away the sting of death for those in Christ. He defeated sin, death and Satan on the cross. His saving work gives us hope. This is the good news that we preach!

Pray for Federico & Blanca and the New Church
Federico leading worship in Mexicali

I don’t usually post on Sunday, but I wanted to get this out, so that you could join us in praying for Federico and Blanca and their team as they launch the church. Church planting is a spiritual work. We need God’s grace and the Spirit’s powerful work to see lives changed by the good news of Jesus. That’s why we start new churches so that people might hear the message of the Jesus. The wonderful life giving message of the gospel.

Pray for Federico and Blanca today that the Lord will guide and lead them today. That Jesus will be glorified in their midst. Pray that their friends and those that they’ve invited will come. They’ve weathered a long period of the pandemic which has restricted their ability to meet, so this is a huge and an important step for them. Also pray for them as Federico’s brother passed away yesterday. Pray that the Lord of all comfort will bring him and his family His comfort and His love.

God’s Mighty Work Through His Church
Pastor Federico sharing the good news of the gospel in front of his house

Recently as I’ve been reading the Bible, I’ve been camping out in Acts 4. The early church encountered opposition, and they began to pray for boldness and that they would see the mighty hand of God work among them. Then the whole place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Pray that Federico and Blanca will be bold and that they will experience God’s earth shaking power today!

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:29-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬
Extend Your Hands to Help Those in Need
Our Familia in Need on the Big Island
One of the young church planting families that we are supporting on the Big Island

Dawn and I would like to invite you to not only to pray, but to make a donation today to help the gospel to go forth in Mexicali. We also are raising funds to aid our familia on the Big Island. We have ambitious goals to give to the needs of the pastors and families each month, so that they do not suffer, and that they can continue in ministry, and preach the life saving message of Jesus!

Give a donation today to the needs of the church and our familia. Your prayers and generosity will aid these families and the gospel in undeniable ways. Make a donation today by clicking on the link below!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

The Church is Advancing in Mexicali & Beyond! 2

Posted: April 15, 2021 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Pastor Federico & Blanca Muñoz
Dave & Dawn with the Muñoz family – front row: Junior and Paola
Back row: Damaris, Dave, Daniel, Federico, Blanca, David, Dawn

Dawn and I feel like proud parents when we think about all the church planters that we are working with who are ministering in Mexico and on the Big Island. The couples become like family to us, which we enjoy. It’s one of the ways the Lord is bringing redemption and restoration to us, which is something we’ve prayed for especially since Hannah moved to heaven. A number of the church planters refer to us as their mentors and as their father and mother, which is a real privilege for us to have that type of relationship with them.

I’d like to highlight one couple that we are especially proud of, Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz, who are planting a church in Mexicali. Federico and Blanca stand out, because of their deep commitment, boldness, and creativity in sharing the gospel. It’s been fun to partner with them, and watch them in action.

Church Planting in the Midst of the COVID Crisis
Pastor Federico sharing the love of Christ in front of his house

They started their church plant in the summer of 2019. They had 6 months to reach out and develop relationships before the pandemic hit. Over the last year, it’s not been easy to make contacts, which is key when your goal is to start a church with people who don’t yet know Jesus. I have sought to encourage Federico and Blanca as they have gone through this most unusual year. I thought that since so many people are fearful because of the Covid crisis, that it was an opportunity for the gospel.

As we prayed, God gave this young couple an idea to try to hold services outside in their carport. Their children are gifted musically and they love to help out and they enjoy leading worship. Their teen children pitched in when they started to make the shift to outdoor services. Surprisingly, their neighbors showed interest and they came out of their homes to listen and participate.

Church in the Park
Pastor Federico & Blanca Ministering with their family in the park

Later, Federico and Blanca ended up needing to move to a different house, so we prayed that the Lord would open up new doors for them and show them how to reach out in this new community. They began to hold Bible studies both outdoor and online. Then in March of this year, when some of the restrictions in Mexicali were lifted, they began to hold services in a nearby park. Through their boldness and creativity, they started meeting more people in the park. They asked the new friends who they were meeting if they could pray for them, and most of them said, “yes”!

I have to admit the restrictions have slowed down our church planting progress, yet I see how the Lord has also opened some doors. It’s forced our church planters to be more creative, and people who would not have had the opportunity to hear the gospel are being reached, because of the change in plans.

God is Building His Church!

I’m often reminded of Joseph’s reply to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (NLT). The Lord protects us and He goes before us. It’s important to remember as we build the church that it is His church, and as the Lord promises the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.

God is building HIs church in Mexicali and Beyond
Please Pray & Extend Your Hands to Help

Please join us in prayer for Federico and Blanca Muñoz as they share the love of Christ in Mexicali. Pray that the Lord will lead them to people who are open to the gospel and that the church will grow as they reach out in the community. Dawn and I would appreciate prayers for all of the church planters that we are working with so that we see lives changed and communities transformed by Jesus.

Consider a donation today to help us plant the seed of the gospel on the Border, the Baja and Beyond!

The situation for our familia on the Big Island continues to worsen. The cost of goods are increasing by 400 – 500%. You can read more about the situation on the Big Island here… Your prayers and generosity will aid these families and the gospel in undeniable ways. Make a donation today by clicking on the link below!

Thank you!

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In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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