Posts Tagged ‘Pastor Leo Navarez’

God Uses Little Things to Build His Kingdom!

Posted: January 19, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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dinner, Lo Mejor del Trigo

Hannah, Dawn, David and Dave having dinner with Leo and Gloria and other friends

This past Tuesday our friends, Pastor Leo & Gloria Nevarez invited us for a wonderful dinner at their church in Rosarito, Mexico. They also invited Pastor Marcos Gomez and Pastor Bennie and some other friends from the church.

Leo and Gloria wanted to thank Dawn and me for encouraging them in their ministry by introducing them to Janet Lambert and Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The Lord also used this blog to connect Leo and Gloria with a family in Oxnard, California that wanted to make a difference, and minister to people in need. All of these people and ministries have begun to work together and God is moving in Rosarito in a powerful way.

I really didn’t do that much, but I’m glad the Lord used the little I did to bless Leo and Gloria and their church Lo Mejor del Trigo (The Best of the Wheat). It reminds me of how the Lord takes the little that we have and multiplies it. He took a young boy’s lunch, five loaves and two fish and fed 5,000.

I think the Lord takes pleasure in using the weak things of this world.

I wrote about some of the latest things God is doing in Rosarito in the post: God’s Blessings Keep Rolling Down in Rosarito! I like that title, because I think it accurately describes what the Lord is doing there.

I would have never connected the Nevarez’s with Janet and YWAM, if a friend of mine in Scottsdale, Arizona wouldn’t have suggested that I introduce them. Eric Tooker gave me Janet’s contact info, and it all began from there. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for faithful friends. Thank you for bringing all the loose ends together.

border, Tijuana border, San Ysidro

The San Ysidro Border crossing going into Tijuana

Leo told me that they now have about 60 people coming to their church. The church is growing!

I also enjoyed getting to know Pastor Marcos and Pastor Bennie better. They are pastoring churches that aren’t too far away from Leo’s church. Dawn and I pray that the Lord will use us to be a blessing to them. We hope their ministry and outreach into the community will grow for God’s grace. Please join us in prayer as we engage in dialogue with them and explore how best to encourage and strengthen them.

Thank you Lord for using the little we have to offer to expand your kingdom! May your rich and powerful blessings continue!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Kingdom is a True Mystery – A Wonderful, Marvelous Mystery

Posted: June 4, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings, San Diego, Tijuana
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Pastor Leo Navarez receiving the keys to the new church

Pastor Leo Navarez receiving the keys to the new church

In my last few posts I’ve written about the new church plant in Rosarito, Mexico led by our friends, pastor Daniel Nuñez and pastor Leo Navarez. Daniel is the leader of Lo Mejor del Trigo (The Best of the Wheat) movement in Tijuana and beyond. Leo is the pastor of the church in Rosarito, which is Lo Mejor del Trigo’s 14th church! Praise the Lord for how He is moving through this ministry.

As I’ve thought about this church plant it’s reminded me of the kingdom of God. It’s reminded me of Jesus teaching on how the kingdom of God grows. In part it’s a mystery. It’s something God does as the gospel goes forth. The kingdom of heaven is a powerful and dynamic movement of the Spirit.

Jesus said in His teachings in Matthew 13:31-32,

“… The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in it branches.”

The kingdom of heaven is a beautiful thing. The Lord brings together sometimes unrelated parts to bring about expansive growth. If we look, if we pay attention, we can see the seed scattered. Then we begin to see these smallest of seeds bear fruit. They grow into something big and unexpected.

Hannah, Dawn and Dave with Yolanda and Daniel Nuñez in Rosarito - south of TJ

Hannah, Dawn and Dave with Yolanda and Daniel Nuñez in Rosarito – south of TJ

Some of the things I’m already seeing even as the church in Rosarito just celebrated their first service this past Sunday are:

  1. Pastor Leo remembering that his family owned some land in Rosarito, and realizing they could use that land to build the church.
  2. The Lord bringing two ministries together – Harbor Presbyterian Church and Lo Mejor del Trigo to plant this church.
  3. A mexican woman, Billy, at Harbor Mid-City who saw the video that Danny Kim put together. She got so excited, because she has family that live in Rosarito. She planned to invite all of them to the church. I’m anxious to hear what happened. How many came?
  4. A friend from one of our supporting churches just wrote me when he saw my letter about the new church in Rosarito. He said their church has been involved in a ministry to build homes for the homeless in Rosarito, but they didn’t have a church to connect them with. This new church could be an answer!
  5. Only time will tell of all the wonderful things that the Lord will do through this church. I’m thrilled to see all these different moving parts come together. Small seed growing!

I love the way God works, so encouraging to watch. Tell me, how have you seen God at work? How have you seen Him take something small, the smallest seed to bear much fruit?

Let’s Praise Him together for His mighty work!

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. I’d appreciate your prayers as we do prayer walks this week and next week in San Diego and Tijuana. Pray the Lord will give us His eyes to see!

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

New Life on the Border in Rosarito!

Posted: May 31, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana, Video
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Daniel Nuñez and Ray Call on land before the church was built

Daniel Nuñez and Ray Call on land before the church was built

This Sunday Lo Mejor de Trigo (The Best of the Wheat) will hold their first church service in Rosarito, Mexico. Pastor Leo Navarez will lead the church in their new building.

We are excited with them, because it represents new life and being a light for the gospel in Rosarito! We are also enthused because Harbor Presbyterian Church helped pastor Daniel Nuñez and pastor Leo Navarez to build the church.

We are praying that this Sunday, June 3rd will be a great time of celebration! Join us in prayer that the Lord uses pastor Leo, and the ministry of Lo Mejor del Trigo to be a blessing to their community.

This is the 13th church that Daniel has planted with Lo Mejor del Trigo. It’s the first one that Harbor Presbyterian has partnered with them to plant. We pray that it is the first of many!

Check out the video that Danny Kim put together on the Harbor – Lo Mejor del Trigo project. You will see the finished product, and some of those involved.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org