Posts Tagged ‘Pastor Leo Nevarez’

A Miraculous Healing! Thank You Jesus!

Posted: September 2, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Prayer, Tijuana
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God’s Healing Work
Pastor Leo Nevarez and Dave

Pastor Leo Nevarez and Dave

On returning from Monterrey, Mexico I called Pastor Leo Nevarez. They operated on Leo a week ago to remove a “cancerous” tumor from his kidney.

We prayed for more than a month that God would heal Leo before the surgery!

I must admit I doubted whether the Lord would answer our prayer, but I wanted to believe him for it. Then after the surgery Pastor Daniel Nuñez posted on Facebook that God had miraculously healed Leo. Part of me still wondered. Forgive my lack of faith Lord.

Leo told me that they took out the tumor, which they thought was cancerous. They didn’t have to take out his kidney, because the tumor was near his kidney, but not in his kidney.

Then after they took the tumor out and they examined it the doctors said the tumor was benign. Leo is cancer free!

Thank You Jesus for Your Healing Touch!
pastor Leo leading us in prayer

Pastor Leo leading us in prayer during an outreach event at the border

Before the surgery when they did all the analysis it was showing that the tumor was cancerous, so how this happened apart from God’s intervention no one knows.

Dawn and I rejoice along with all of our friends at Lo Mejor del Trigo. We are thrilled for Leo and Gloria. What a huge victory!

The church that Leo leads in Rosarito is growing. People are coming to Christ. They are ministering to the homeless, to drug addicts and to other needy people in the name of Christ.

God is glorified in and through this church. He is lifted up through his healing work! Hallelujah!!!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Need for Peace on the Border

Posted: August 1, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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Continued Opposition in Lazaro Cardenas
Dave with pastor Jose Luis Rivera and Raquel

Dave with pastor Jose Luis Rivera and Raquel

Yesterday I met with Pastor Jose Luis Rivera and his wife Raquel. They are facing tremendous opposition in an area of Tijuana called, Lazaro Cardenas. A witch and a mean-spirited family have set out to turn the community against them.

Jose Luis and Raquel have been doing prayer walks and sharing the love of Christ in the neighborhood. The people are receptive to the message, but they don’t end up coming to church.

Pray for a Person of Peace

We talked about various things, but one of the things that I encouraged them to pray for is a person of peace. A person in the community that is influential that can open doors for them.

When Jesus sent out the 72 in Luke 10 he encouraged them to look for a person of peace.

Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. —Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭5-6‬ ESV

Join us in praying for a person of peace! Pray that the Lord will open avenues for the gospel to enter in. We know that sometimes the ground is harder, and it takes more time for the gospel to penetrate the hard soil.

Yet nothing is too difficult for the Lord, so we look to him to work. Pray also for the Lord to encourage Jose Luis and Raquel. It’s discouraging when you work and you see little tangible fruit. O that the Lord, would strengthen them and give them wisdom as they serve in the Lazaro Cardenas community.

Pastor Leo – Praying for Healing
Pastor Leo in the middle with the green shirt, and his wife, Gloria is behind him to the right with Jose Luis and Raquel and a young couple from Leo's church

Pastor Leo in the middle with the green shirt, and his wife, Gloria is behind him to the right with Jose Luis and Raquel and a young couple from Leo’s church

After I met with Jose Luis and Raquel we visited pastor Leo and Gloria. You might remember that pastor Leo was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his kidney. He is waiting on the hospital to schedule the surgery.

God is working in Leo and strengthening him. He is upbeat and positive. After the doctor’s warning about needing to take better care of himself, Leo has started to eat better and to exercise. He’s already lost some weight!

We are trusting the Lord with Leo for God’s intervention and healing. While we were there we gathered around Leo and we prayed for him. We cried out to our loving and gracious God and asked him to bring healing – to remove the cancerous tumor. O Lord, hear our prayer!

In His Loving Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

A New Era for MTW

Posted: July 25, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Dr. Lloyd Kim Nominated as New Coordinator
Dr. Lloyd Kim

Dr. Lloyd Kim

Mission to the World (MTW) announced yesterday that Lloyd Kim is the new coordinator. We have been praying for a year as the search committee has been looking for a new coordinator to replace Dr. Paul Kooistra.

It’s the beginning of a new era for MTW.

Dr. Kooistra led MTW for 20 years. The mission grew from serving in 36 countries when he began in 1994 to 88 countries today. 738 missionaries and 1028 national partners serve with MTW.

Paul Kooistra said, “I can’t think of anyone who can better lead Mission to the World than Lloyd Kim.” Read more about Dr. Lloyd Kim and the transition here… 

Join us in Prayer
  • Dave & Hannah in line to cross the border

    Dave & Hannah in line to cross at the border

    Pray for the Kim family as they transition into this new role.

  • Pray for MTW as we work to plant churches and transform communities around the world as well as here on the border and in the Baja.
  • This week Dawn and I have sensed spiritual attack. This comes on the heals of a successful week in Ensenada.
  • Continue to pray for Pastor Leo Nevarez and his family. He is still waiting to hear from the hospital to schedule his surgery to remove his kidney, which has a cancerous tumor. We continue to pray for the Lord’s healing for Leo.
  • Pastor Daniel Nuñez and his wife, Yolanda are leaving for a two-week missions trip to South Africa today. Pray for safety as they travel and that it will be a fruitful trip.
  • That the Lord will advance our work on the border and beyond. We are praying for more workers and we continue to work for more church plants as well as healthy and growing churches.

Thanks so much for joining us on this journey.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

All Aboard in Ensenada

Posted: July 18, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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The Beauty of Ensenada!
A view of Ensenada at night

A view of Ensenada at night

Ensenada is a beautiful port city in Mexico. It’s about 70 miles South of the border. This week we’ve grown to know the beauty of the city and the people. Skyview Presbyterian from Denver, Colorado has been in this city all week loving on and encouraging the people.

It’s wonderful to see people from different cultures and languages come together to serve the Lord.

God Comes Through Again!
VBS at the Nueva Jerusalén church in Ensenada

VBS at the Nueva Jerusalén church in Ensenada

Iglesia La Nueva Jerusalén (The New Jerusalem Church) has worked side by side with Skyview all week-long. Over 50 children have shown up for VBS.

One of the participants from Skyview said he didn’t feel like they were helping very much. Then a friend from the New Jerusalem Church said that the church didn’t hold VBS last year, so that Skyview’s presence gave them the boost they needed to get it done.

Many smiles and happy sounds are seen and heard around the church this week. The church is reaching children from families that aren’t part of the church. We pray that some of these families will soon come to Christ.

The Value of Short-term Groups
The Skyview group at the New Jerusalem church in Ensenada

The Skyview group at the New Jerusalem church in Ensenada

Dawn and I love short-term mission projects for a number of reasons. God used short-term mission trips to call both of us into missions, so we personally have benefited from them. We know God can use a trip like this to grab a person’s heart and change it forever for the good of his kingdom work.

When these trips are done well, they can also be a tremendous encouragement to the church receiving the team from the U.S.

The Lord is Opening Doors for Ministry Expansion

Our prayer is that the New Jerusalem church will grow to be even healthier and strong, and that we will be able to partner to see new churches planted in Ensenada. We already have some missionary candidates interested in serving here. The local church also has a vision for church planting.

Everything in Mexico happens through relationships, so trips like this are key to building and strengthening our relationship.

Enjoying fellowship in one of the house church groups

Enjoying fellowship in one of the house church groups

Our friends will head by to Denver tomorrow evening, but the work here continues. They will have left with new friendships and having strengthened and encouraged the church here as well as our missionary work.

We give thanks to the Lord for the work he is doing here and his faithfulness!

Thanks for praying for God’s care and the advance of the kingdom.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

P.S. Please continue to pray for Pastor Leo and his wife, Gloria. He is in the hospital waiting for surgery to remove the cancer in his kidney.

Pray for Pastor Leo Nevarez

Posted: July 15, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Prayer
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Pastor Leo Nevarez and Dave

Pastor Leo Nevarez and Dave

Lord Bring Healing

Pray for our good friend, Pastor Leo Nevarez and his wife Gloria. Pastor Leo just found out he has cancer in one of his kidneys. He is in the hospital and they will operate in the next couple of days. We are praying for God’s complete healing and a full recovery.

Pastor Leo is the church planter for the first church that Harbor and Lo Mejor del Trigo came together to plant in 2012. The church is doing very well. It is growing and God is blessing.

It would be wonderful if he would be healed without surgery. We look to the Lord for his healing touch!

Oren por nuestro amigo Pastor Leo Nevarez y su familia. Pastor Leo tiene cancer en uno de sus riñones. Van a operarlo esta semana. Estamos orando que Dios lo sane completamente!

Skyveiw’s Missions Trip in Ensenada
VBS at the Nueva Jerusalén church in Ensenada

VBS at the Nueva Jerusalén church in Ensenada

We are in the middle of Skyview’s missions trip working with the Iglesia La Nueva Jerusalén (The New Jerusalem Church) in Ensenada. They are working with the church to lead VBS and helping with other outreach in the community.

The week is off to a good start. We had close to 50 children come on the first day, we are praying that each day more will come.

Thanks for praying and partnering with us!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

Immigration Reform and the Gospel

Posted: May 13, 2014 in Christianity, Ministry, Reflections & Musings, San Diego, Tijuana
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Our hope for the Border

Our hope for the Border

A friend of mine, Susie Fikse who went with her family to one of our recent outreach trips to Tijuana just wrote a helpful article on immigration issues. Click on the link to read the article Immigration: Reforming Hearts as well as Policy.

I like to highlight articles like Susie’s that can help us think through an issue that many people feel strongly about. Yet, I think most of us don’t understand all the complexities that are involved. What is our responsibility as Christians? How should the church respond to the needs of the immigrant community? Difficult questions for sure.

Fikse in her article cited above asks,

What are our deepest beliefs about immigration? Are they influenced more by the political parties and the media, or by Scripture and the heart of God? As Christians more fully understand the deeper issues embedded in the immigration debate, grasp God’s love and compassion for the “alien,” and begin to love those in our midst, our political positions will be infused with the compassion and truth of our Heavenly Father.

These are the types of issues and questions that we deal with daily here on the border. On the U.S. side of the border I frequently interact with people who live here, who have out stayed their visas. On the Mexican side some of the ministries that we are directly involved in are reaching out to the homeless and disenfranchised.

Ministering to the Needy on the Border
pastor Leo leading us in prayer

Pastor Leo leading us in prayer at the border

There are many people living in Tijuana right at the border line that have been deported, and they have nowhere to go. Fortunately, there are loving friends like, Leo and Gloria Nevarez who care for these people. They share the good news of the gospel with them, and they feed them.

The complexity and challenges of the border are some of the things that drew Dawn and me here. Jesus loves the foreigner, the alien, the lost and the destitute, and he calls us to do the same.

One of the passages that the Lord used to call us here is found in Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound… They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:1,2,4 ESV)

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

Taking Jesus to the Border

Posted: December 6, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings, San Diego, Tijuana
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Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone For Christ
Jon with Leo and Gloria at El Bordo

Jon with Leo and Gloria at El Bordo

On Wednesday my son, Jonathan and I felt awkward and uncomfortable for the gospel. God used our time at El Bordo on the border to move us to compassion through the people we met there. We were also in awe of how God’s grace penetrates through the witness of our friends Pastor Leo Nevarez and his wife, Gloria along with the San Diego/Baja YWAM (Youth With a Mission) team.

Leo and Gloria go to El Bordo with a number of young people from YWAM every Tuesday. They share the love of Christ through song, testimony and the Word of God. The compassion and mercy of the Lord also shine in this dark place as they bring a warm meal for more than one hundred homeless people who live right on the border.

El Bordo: A Place for the Homeless
Entering the homeless park, El Bordo in Tijuana

Entering the homeless park, El Bordo in Tijuana

El Bordo is a park that sits right at the border crossing. You can see the crossing where the cars drive into Mexico from the park. Many homeless and deported immigrants live there. Most of the residents, who sleep in tents in the city park are men, but there are some women.

It was such a huge blessing that my son, Jon could accompany me. You might remember that two weeks ago he had eye surgery! He is still recovery, but God is bringing healing.

Compassion for the Hurting
feeding the homeless at El Bordo

feeding the homeless

I find myself feeling uncomfortable when I’m among so many hurting people. There are so many in need of hope. They also have very basic human needs like for food and clothing.

God uses these uncomfortable moments to break us, and touch our heart.

The need is just crushing!

The Gospel in El Bordo

It encouraged my heart to see Leo and Gloria, some people from their church and all the young people from YWAM out there praying for and ministering to the people. They are willing to take a risk, and to get dirty for the gospel.

One of the guys that went with us, Jaime began a conversation with a couple of people at the park. He called me over and asked me if I could help him. Together we began to share the life-giving message of the gospel with a man and a woman.

The man, Fernando didn’t seem as interested. He told me he had bad cholesterol and that he couldn’t think clearly.

The woman, Agustina said she was seeking to grow in faith. She has a friend who is a believer that she’s gone to church with. We sought to encourage her in her faith in Christ.

The others that went with us also had opportunities to share with the people and pray for them.

Rehab on the Border
pastor Leo leading us in prayer

pastor Leo leading us in prayer

Many of the people at El Bordo are caught in addictions. God has used Leo’s background, as the Lord saved him from drug abused, so that he can reach these people. Leo and Gloria have started a rehab center. They take those that desire to get off of drugs, and they work with them so that they can get back on their feet.

They are in the process of building a rehab center right behind their home to house those interested in rehab. These hurting men and women are hearing the good news!

The light of the gospel shines forth in this dark place. It’s worth feeling uncomfortable and even awkward at times as we roll up our sleeves to share the love of Christ.

Hear Our Prayers!

O Lord, that your grace will break loose at El Bordo, and that many of the lost that live there will find their way back home. They will find their way to you.

Thank you Lord, that in you there is hope for the outcast.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

God’s Blessings Keep Rolling Down in Rosarito!

Posted: January 11, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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Pastor Leo Nevarez and his wife, Gloria

Pastor Leo Nevarez and his wife, Gloria

God has done some amazing things in the Rosarito church plant. Every time I talk to pastor Leo Nevarez I come away encouraged.

Harbor partnered with Lo Mejor del Trigo to build the new church in May of 2012. A friend in Phoenix suggested that I introduce Leo to the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) ministry which is right near Leo’s church in Rosarito.

Leo and his wife, Gloria have developed a close relationship with YWAM. They’ve begun to minister in the community together. It’s a wonderful example of kingdom work.

On January 19th YWAM is going to help Leo add-on to their present church, so that they can have more space to minister to children from the community. The Lord is doing a good work as these ministries come together in seeking to be a blessing in the community.

Pastor Leo & Gloria with Vicente & Billy with Dave in the middle

Pastor Leo & Gloria, Vicente & Billy with Dave in the middle

Earlier this last summer someone read a blog post I had written about the homeless in Rosarito. God moved them to contact Leo, and they’ve begun to help to reach out. They donated 200 backpacks to children, so that they could carry their books to school. Then they gave some land that the church is hoping to use as a drug rehab center. The Lord uses things like this to bring about change.

I praise the Lord with Leo and Gloria as God’s blessings keep rolling down.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

–Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)

Lord, continue to encourage Leo and Gloria and their church as they reach out in their community, as they seek to make a difference for Christ.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

A Second New Birth in TJ!

Posted: October 16, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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A group of us visited the new church plant site in eastern Tijuana

A group of us visited the new church plant site in eastern Tijuana

It’s so encouraging to see how the Lord is blessing the first church that Harbor partnered with Lo Mejor del Trigo and Daniel Nuñez on. Later this month, October 27th and November 3rd we will again partner with pastor Daniel and his church planting movement to start a new church in eastern Tijuana.

I recently posted a video about the church plant in Rosarito. Leo Nevarez shares his testimony on the video. The Lord is doing an outstanding work through pastor Leo and the church there.

It’s amazing that in just a few months we are ready to start a second church in Tijuana. The Lord is providing the funds and the planter to begin this new work.

A few of us visited the new site a couple of weeks ago. It’s in a busy and populated part of the city. I can’t wait to see what the Lord will do through this work.

Join us in prayer as we recruit people to help build the church, and as that the Lord opens doors for the planter and his team as they share the good news of the gospel.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

P.S. Harbor Mid-City just opened a Facebook page – check it out here…

Taking Jesus to the Streets!

Posted: October 10, 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 & Gloria with Vicente & Billy with Dave in the middle

Pastor Leo & Gloria and Vicente & Billy with Dave in the middle

Yesterday Ray Call, Emily Gryder, Vicente Salinas and I took Jesus to the streets in City Heights. We paired up and walked the streets. As we  walked along we prayed for the city, and we invited people to our English class. We offer English to the many Spanish speakers, and others who don’t yet speak English.

I walked with Vicente and it was a great experience. He was very bold as he invited people to come to the English class. I enjoyed ministering in the city with him.

Another cool connection with Vicente and his wife, Billy is that they have some friends in Rosarito. You might remember that Rosarito is where Leo and Gloria Nevarez work on the new church plant. Vicente and Billy were so excited when they learned about the new church, because they are concerned for the welfare of their friends.

When a group of us went down to Rosarito last week we tried to call Vicente and Billy’s friends, but we weren’t able to get in touch with them.

This past Sunday at church Pastor Leo and Gloria came and I was able to introduce them to Vicente and Billy. They were able to explain to pastor Leo where their friends lived, and they also made sure that he had the right phone number. It will be interesting to see how the Lord works through these relationships.

It’s so good to see the Lord open doors and build bridges across the border. I was thinking earlier today that maybe our ministry should be called some like, Bridge Builders for the Border. That’s part of what our mission is. “O Lord, grant us huge success for your glory.”

Please pray for me as I attempt to build more bridges across the border this Thursday. I will be preaching in the mother church in Tijuana of “Lo Mejor Del Trigo.” It’s been a while since I preached or taught in Spanish. Pray with me that the Lord speak through me, and use us to love on and minister to the people of Tijuana.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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