Posts Tagged ‘Prayer’

Our Growing Family: Havana and Beyond!

Posted: February 4, 2019 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Our Growing Family

Some of our pastor friends in Cuba – starting from the bottom Justo, Lucas* & Maria* and Oniel

I’m on my way to Havana as I write this. Once I’m in Cuba I will have very limited if any access to the internet. I don’t usually like to write my posts on the phone while I’m traveling, but I believe that I need a lot of prayer covering. I will be in Havana from today until Friday the 8th. Then I will be going to some smaller communities to visit and encourage some friends who are pastors.

These friends have become like family to Dawn and me. Since they are isolated in many ways, because of the lack of internet access and because of some of what they’ve had to live through they need encouragement. We all need someone to help us along the way, but it’s even more pronounced on this Island.

Our Role as Spiritual Parents

Pastor Mario and Yany with their daughter, Lorena

Dawn and I have grown to love these dear friends. A number of them now call us dad and mom. This is something that’s more common in Latin cultures. It’s also a growing part of or ministry especially since Hannah moved to heaven. It’s like the Lord has called us to be spiritual parents to a number of people. We enjoy encouraging and loving these friends. It is a true gift from the Lord! Jesus has given us friends to love on in Mexico who see us as spiritual parents.

Join us in Prayer!

Dawn and I would also appreciate your prayers for Dawn and her mom as they had to stay behind. We know that we are in a new season as Dawn’s mom, Alice is not able to live by herself. It’s a privilege to have her in our home and care for her. At least for the time being Dawn is not able to travel as much with me. We trust in the Lord’s guidance and leading during this season.

Lately Dawn and I have been separated some. This will change after I get back from this trip, but it is something we are seeking to manage the best we can now.

I’m not expecting that I will be able to write and post once I’m in Cuba. So it will most likely be a week or more before I post again.

I believe that the Lord is going to do something very special during my time there. I look forward to writing about God’s great and mighty work once I return. Thank you so much for standing with us and praying for us! We praise Jesus for his love and his desire to bring change and transformation to the nations!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Freedom & Deliverance!

Posted: November 6, 2018 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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More Opportunities to Minister!

Today I begin a new adventure. I’m on my way to Oaxaca, Mexico to train fellow missionaries. This is my first time to this part of Mexico. I appreciate your prayers as we begin to prep for the training tomorrow.

Pastor Luis with his wife, Gina and their son

Pastor Luis with his wife, Gina and their son

In my last post, I wrote about what the Lord did when we were in Villahermosa, Mexico with Pastor Luis Alberto and his wife, Gina. That was such a good time of ministry, and I believe that it was just the beginning of what King Jesus wants to do. When I see the Lord at work it stokes the passion in me.

Pastor Luis has been following up on the people that Dawn and I had a chance to minister to while we were there. He asked me to pray for him and the people that he is reaching out to.

Freedom in Christ in Villahermosa
The Youth leading us in worship at the mother church where Luis is pastor

The Youth leading us in worship at the mother church where Luis is the pastor. The worship helped set the stage for the freedom that followed!

I mentioned in my last post how I had a chance to help set free someone that had been involved in witchcraft. Pastor Luis told Dawn and me that he knew of a number of people in the churches that were involved in witchcraft. It was disappointing to hear about that.

On Sunday night I shared with the men in the church, and I felt like I should talk to them about blessings and curses. I was careful to first explain the gospel of grace to them because I didn’t want them to be confused or to fall into legalism.

In summary, I shared how we need to be careful about what we allow into our lives. The Bible warns us not to give the enemy a foothold. I told them about different ways that we can open a door to evil, which included witchcraft.

We didn’t have as much time to cover the topic, but I felt like it was important to address it. I based that partly on the discussions we had with Pastor Luis during the week while we were driving around and getting to know one another.

After I taught about blessings and curses I asked them if they would pray with me. I led them in a prayer of confession and repentance. When we got to the part of the prayer where I paused so they could confess what they felt like they needed to confess to the Lord, I noticed a number of them were crying. When I tried to continue they weren’t ready, so I gave them more time.

Breakthrough and Freedom from Witchcraft

Then we continued through the prayer. Towards the end of the prayer, one man, in particular, started weeping, and it was noticeable. I finished the prayer with the group, and then I had a chance to talk to this man, we’ll call him Jose. Immediately after the prayer, Jose handed me a necklace with a figure on it. He said he had been involved in witchcraft, and he was having all kinds of problems with his wife and family.

All the other guys left, so I was alone with Jose, so I wanted to be careful and treat this seriously. I led him through some prayers of deliverance. As we prayed together I could see the peace of the Lord come over him. When he left he looked like a new man. It was sad that he had gotten involved in something evil, but it was exhilarating to see him set free.

Continue to Pray for Healing and Breakthrough
Thank you for praying for us, and for joining us on this journey!

Thank you for praying for us, and for joining us on this journey!

I talked to Pastor Luis and he told me that later in the week he went to visit Jose and he was doing much better. Jose said he felt peace and freedom.

There’s so much power in the blood of Christ! Jesus is the almighty God! Continue to pray for Jose as he walks out his freedom. Pray as well for Pastor Luis and his wife, Gina as they minister in a difficult place filled with darkness. Yet, we give thanks that we are overcomers in Christ! There’s so many more that need to experience this freedom. We look to the Lord!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Invigorated by God’s Power to Change Lives!

Posted: October 26, 2018 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Open Doors on the Road
The Youth leading us in worship at the mother church where Luis is pastor

The Youth leading us in worship at the mother church where Luis is the pastor

Dawn and I are often amazed by all that the Lord does when traveling and when we are here on the border ministering. We recently returned from a ministry trip to the Villahermosa area, which is in Southeastern Mexico. We went there to work with a team to train pastors and church planters, but God had much more in mind for us.

On the weekend we were supposed to go Coatzacoalcos to meet with some pastors there, but those plans fell through. That gave us a great opportunity to spend more time with Pastor Luis and his wife, Gina. Luis asked me to preach in one of the mission churches.

Prayer Brings Breakthrough
Worship at the mission church where I preached. Pastor Luis is leading the service

Worship at the mission church where I preached. Pastor Luis is leading the service

It was a celebration service as they were celebrating the anniversary of the mission. At the end of my sermon, I asked the people to stand and I led them through a prayer that I’ve found to be powerful in helping set people free. After the time of prayer, I told the congregation that Dawn and I would be willing to meet with anyone that needed prayer.

At first, no one asked for prayer, but during the meal after the service one of the women told me she would like to meet with us.

Dawn and I met with Patricia and her twelve-year-old son, Mauricio. We found out that Patricia’s husband had recently left her, and it was hard on her son. Mauricio was acting out and even threatened to kill her. After hearing their story we led them through some helpful and powerful prayers, and we explained the gospel to them.

New Life in Christ

We asked both Patricia and Mauricio if they would like to pray to receive Christ with us. They said yes, so Dawn and I led them in prayer. Immediately after the prayer, we could see a shift in Mauricio’s attitude. He was experiencing the peace of God.

Dawn and I realized that it was important for them to reconcile with God, but also to reconcile to one another. We helped them to pray and to ask for forgiveness. Mauricio asked his mom to forgive him and then he gave her a big hug! Patricia was in tears as they hugged. God is good!

There is still work to be done, but it was so good to see the power of God break through in that situation. Pastor Luis is following up with them, and working with them as they continue to grow in their faith.

Continue to Join us in Prayer!
Thank you for praying for us, and for joining us on this journey!

Thank you for praying for us, and for joining us on this journey!

I’d like to ask you to pray for Patricia and Mauricio and others like them who are in need. The battle is very real, and the enemy doesn’t play fair and he doesn’t give up easily. We trust the Lord and his promises as he tells us that we are more than conquerors in Christ! O that this will be true in their lives, and that they will begin to walk in victory as they seek and serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord’s.

Pastor Luis told me that there are many people in the churches who are involved in witchcraft in Villahermosa. They hide it, but they secretly get involved in these occult practices instead of trusting the power of God.

Later that evening I was able to minister to a man who has been involved in witchcraft. I’d like to write more about that experience soon. Sometimes it’s hard to get all of what God is doing down. That often is the case, the Lord is doing so much that it’s difficult to post it all. Let me say in closing, I believe one of the reasons the Lord is opening these doors for us to minister in this way is because of all the people praying for us. My blog isn’t just about getting the word out, but we earnestly need and desire prayer.

Thanks so much for joining us and for praying with us!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

More Lord! We Want More of You in Mexico

Posted: April 12, 2017 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Prayer
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Thrilled by the Growth of the Gospel
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Prayer & Planning Meeting in Monterrey, Mexico 

The church is growing in Mexico, and we are thrilled to be a part of that. When we moved to the border almost 5 years ago, and even before that we prayed and dreamed about what we hoped the Lord would do in Mexico. We asked the Lord to use us to see His church grow and flourish.

Last week we had the wonderful privilege of meeting together as leaders and ministers with Mission to the World in Mexico. Leaders from our various teams came: Monterrey, Guadalajara, El Paso/Juarez, McAllen/Reynosa, Baja. It was a great time to pray, hear testimonies and celebrate what the Lord is doing through our teams in Mexico. The church is growing, and the gospel is going forth.

More of Jesus, More Transformed Lives!

One of my great desires is that we will come together as a larger team in Mexico for prayer and to join forces as we seek to partner with the church in Mexico to see many people won for Christ, and to see lives transformed. This was the first time we had a meeting like this in Mexico in a number of years. We want more of Jesus, and more of his Spirit. O Lord, do your mighty work in and among us. We want to see the church expand all across the country.

God is already doing some very encouraging works through our missionaries and our partners, but we long for more. We don’t want to be satisfied, because there is still much work to do. Content in all things, but yet striving for more and for all that the Lord has for us.

Join Us in Prayer!

Please join us in prayer as we look to the Lord to continue his mighty work, and that we will see even greater works of the Lord.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Awed by God and His Work in TJ!

Posted: December 10, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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In Awe of God
Worship with our friends from Lo Mejor del Trigo - A wonderful celebration!

Worship with our friends from Lo Mejor del Trigo – A wonderful celebration!

I love seeing God work in amazing ways. I’m in awe at times that Dawn and I along with our family is able to take part in God’s kingdom work.

I’ve mentioned my friend, Pastor Daniel Nuñez and the group of churches (Lo Mejor del Trigo) he leads in Tijuana and beyond numerous times. They are now up to 20 churches that they’ve started since 2005.

A Wonderful Day of Celebration

On Saturday they held their first conference for all the churches. More than 1,000 showed up for the Impacto de Gracia (Impact of Grace) conference.

Dawn and I loved the opportunity to be with many dear friends, and to celebrate with them.

The weather didn’t cooperate as they planned outdoor games and activities, but that didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of those who were there. Although many were huddled inside trying to stay warm and dry, there was a good group that played outside.

God Touched Many Through Worship and the Word
Pastor William Galdamez sharing the good news!

Pastor William Galdamez sharing the good news!

The highlight of the conference was the worship and keynote. Pastor William Galdamez gave the last message. There was so much energy in the room you could feel and see God’s spirit moving among the people, which touched Dawn and my heart as well.

More than 30 people responded to the gospel message and gave their lives to Christ!

Pastor Daniel Nuñez with his wife, Yolanda

Pastor Daniel Nuñez with his wife, Yolanda

Daniel Nuñez presented all the pastors, and when and how their work began. He even introduced us and shared with the crowd how we (Harbor Church and Mission to the World) had helped with two of the church plants, and we are getting ready to start a third.

Dawn and I left the event filled to the brim with God’s blessing. It’s so encouraging to not only watch all that God is doing, but to be able to play a part in it.

The Lord is responding to the prayers of his people. Thank you so much for standing with us in prayer.

Dawn’s Prayer Need

Speaking of prayer, on a side note, Dawn asked me to let you know that she would like prayer for the Lord’s healing touch on her Sinus. The doctor told her she needs to have surgery on her sinus, because of a bad infection that she has. She needs this done, in order for the oral surgeon to be able to finish the dental implant that he’s been working on. Our prayer is that God will heal her Sinus without surgery.

Thank you for caring!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Power of Prayer in Ensenada!

Posted: August 5, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer
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A Prayer Meeting That’s Lasted 21 Years
Prayer meeting in Ensenada

Prayer meeting in Ensenada

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a pastoral alliance prayer meeting in Ensenada, Mexico.

I wasn’t expecting much before I showed up. After all, prayer meetings are usually poorly attended, and frequently they aren’t organized all that well. This was definitely different! There were a number of pastors and leaders at this prayer meeting.

The prayer alliance meeting began 21 years ago, and the pastors meet weekly to pray for their city and the work of the gospel. That’s a wonderful testimony to the faithfulness of these men and women to come together and meet with God on behalf of Ensenada.

Worship & Prayer: The Celebrant Singers
The Celebrant Singers

The Celebrant Singers

The other surprise I received at this prayer meeting was that the Celebrant Singers were there performing. I could tell it was an American group, since they needed a translator. I asked them where they were from, and found out they came down from Visalia, California. Visalia is only about 45 miles from Fresno, where I grew up.

The church we met in for prayer was on a hill that overlooked the city. It reminded me of the church being a city set on a hill.

The view of Ensenada from the church site

The view of Ensenada from the church site

I do believe God honors the prayers for his people, and he loves it when believers and leaders and from different churches come together to cry out for the city.

I ask the Lord along with these pastors that God would give them Ensenada. That the gospel will go forth powerfully, and that the city will be transformed in Christ.

May God’s Spirit Move in Ensenada

These praying leaders reminded me of how the great preacher Charles Spurgeon used to have people praying for him before and while he preached. He called it his boiler room. I’m sure that it kept the place warm, and full of the Spirit.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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The Door Opens Wider: Our 3rd ESL Class!

Posted: March 22, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Prayer, San Diego
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ESL, English as a second or foreign language

One of our Growing ESL classes

Today we made a breakthrough. Something we’ve been working on for a while. We got approval to use a classroom at a local elementary school for our ESL class.

The Lord Brings the Increase

This all started as we were going in the streets and handing out flyers to promote our ESL classes. We were handing some of them out in front of Fay Elementary school when we met the school principal. She got so excited when she found out that we were offering free English classes that she suggested that we use one of the classrooms at her school.

Handing out flyers in front of Fay Elementary school

Handing out flyers in front of Fay Elementary school

Since that day we’ve planned and prayed for the opportunity to start a new class at the school. Now we have the teachers we need and a place to hold the class. We will start our third class on Wednesday, May 1st.

Answers to Our Prayers

I’m amazed that God has brought this to pass so quickly.

More students are starting to come, and we found someone to help us with childcare. Wow, Lord thanks for your mighty and continued work!

We could still use more help with childcare, and more teachers, but we are headed in the right direction. Thanks for standing with us in prayer. It’s exciting to be on this journey with a faithful team that prays for us, and an even more faithful God who hears our prayers!

I pray that we will be a blessing to Fay Elementary School, and that we will be a blessing to the community. Lord do be glorified as we seek and serve you!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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The Joy of Mobilizing for the Kingdom!

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

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

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

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

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

Emily Gryder

Emily Gryder one of our summer interns

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

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

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

A Call to Prayer – Will You Join us?

Posted: January 17, 2012 in Journey, Ministry, Prayer
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Ray and Michele Call

One of the goals I have for this year is that the Lord would raise up at least 200 friends who would pray regularly for our San Diego – Tijuana BEAMM team. My hope is that we will have people sign up to pray for us each day, and others who will pray with us at least once a week.

Ray and Michele Call are on this team with us, so we want to work together in asking all our friends to commit to praying for us. Another friend with Mission to the World, Jim DeWitt is helping us to recruit prayer partners as well as implementing a plan to let people know how they can pray for us.

Dave with Jim DeWitt in Tijuana

We not only want to share our prayer needs with you, but we want to celebrate what God is doing. In my last post I shared how the Lord is working in my friend, Issaid’s life. It makes me tear up when I think of God’s faithfulness to Issaid and his family. It also gets me super excited to see how the Lord is using our friend and ministry partner, Stephen Phelan in Issaid’s life.

I asked you to pray for Brian and Anna Peterson. Well, God answered! Anna is now home with her family. She came close to dying while she had complications giving birth. Then there were concerns about brain damage, but the Lord has intervened and shown his mercy to the Petersons in healing Anna. They could use your continued prayer as it will take some time for Anna to fully recover.

Here’s how you can help!

If you would be willing to commit to praying daily, weekly or monthly for us let me know. I first post on my blog, and then broadcast it on Facebook, Twitter and our Facebook group “Pray for the Diasos“. My plan is to use all these social media networks to send out updates, and let friends know how to pray for us.

You can let Dawn, me, Ray or Michele know that you would like to pray for us by sending us a note. We appreciate any and all type of prayer. If you could specify whether it’s a daily, weekly or other that would be a tremendous help.

You can find our prayer requests on the prayer page on this blog. I will also send out prayer requests on my posts, and email updates.

The border in some ways is like a war zone, at least on the Mexican side. We need friends to intercede on our behalf. Our enemy wants to discourage us, and distract us from doing our work.

Dave & Dawn at the San Diego Harbor

Please pray for both our family and the Calls as we have experienced constant trouble with our cars recently. We had two cars die in 2011. The Call’s had to replace their transmission while on a long trip in October. Since they’ve returned both of their cars have continually been in the shop. They also had a car accident over the holidays.

Thanks for joining us on the journey, and standing with us in prayer.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

God’s Faithfulness & the Faithfulness of Friends!

Posted: January 4, 2012 in Journey, Ministry
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The Border Crossing into Tijuana, Mexico

Thank you Lord as we begin 2012. Praise you for your faithfulness and for so many faithful friends who uphold us in prayer, and through generous gifts!

We asked you to pray that the Lord would raise up $25,000 by December 31st, and it happened! We not only reached our goal we surpassed it! The Lord provided over $26,000 which is a huge boost as it helps launch our ministry on the border. Since many donations come in the last few days of December we still don’t know the final total. Yet we do know that we’ve exceeded $26,000!

Isn’t that encouraging! Praise the Lord with us. This gives us a huge boost as we begin 2012. What a great way to start the year!

We still need to raise more in regular monthly support to be fully funded, but these large special needs gifts will help cover our moving expenses, and ministry expenses as we launch our ministry.

Continue to pray with us that we will see the last 10% of our monthly support raised up.

In my next post, I’d like to talk about the power of prayer, and the huge need that we have for friends to pray for us. We will never be successful in this work without an army of people standing with us, and holding us up in prayer.

Speaking of prayer, I’d like to ask special prayer for our friends, Brian and Anna Peterson. Brian is the pastor of one of our supporting churches in Fresno, California, my hometown. Anna went into labor last Saturday, and had to have an emergency C-section, because of complications. She’s been in intensive care since Saturday. She is doing better, but it’s still a long and tough battle. Please lift up Brain and Anna and their family with us. You can find updates, and learn more from Anna’s sister-in-law’s blog: here…

Dave & Dawn at San Diego Harbor

Thanks for going on this journey with us!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

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