Posts Tagged ‘Ray Call’

God Opens Hearts Through ESL!

Posted: October 25, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Prayer, San Diego
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Oliva - God is doing a good work in her life

God is doing a good work in Oliva’s life

The Lord has done a good work through our Friday evening English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Two woman have come to faith through our ESL ministry. Last spring an international Korean college student, Tesory, came to Christ and was baptized into the church.

Recently, Oliva, a Mexican woman started coming to ESL classes. She learned about the class through a newspaper ad.

As a part of the class, Ray Call leads a devotional time in English to encourage their English and to share the love of Christ with the students. Our intern, Emily Gryder is also involved in ESL. She has been teaching the classes while she’s been with us. Emily took the initiative to invite Oliva to the Spanish service we have on Friday evenings.

While Oliva was at the service she met Edgardo and Elizabeth Avila who lead the Spanish ministry. Elizabeth explained the gospel message to Oliva, and she gave her life to Christ.

Oliva has been faithfully attending Harbor Mid City on Sunday. The Lord is drawing her nearer and she is considering making a deeper commitment to Christ and his church.

It’s so encouraging to see the Lord at work!

A huge need we have now is to build up our teaching team. Emily has done a great job, but she is leaving in about a month, on November 30th. We are talking to some other friends about teaching English. Pray the Lord raises up a good team, and that he continues to use ESL to be a blessing to the City Heights community.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Taking Jesus to the Streets – Day 2

Posted: June 8, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members
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Our neighborhood evangelistic team - Dave, Jim, Zach and Ray

Our neighborhood evangelistic team – Dave, Jim DeWitt, Zach Lutz and Ray Call

We enjoyed another great day in City Heights. It is invigorating to interact with people in the community as we walked the streets and shared the love of Christ.

Many shared their fear of crime and violence in the city. They lacked trust, and they didn’t know their neighbors well. The people are concerned for their family and for their well-being.

It was a real joy to talk to them. The Lord taught us some good things as we listened to them, and attempted to learn from them. Jesus opened our eyes and hearts as we were in the community .

Crime and security are big concerns in the neighborhood of City Heights. Doors and windows usually have protective bars covering them. Some said there was a big need to help families with children. They felt this was a way that the church could help.

Jose selling Candy in City HeightsJose selling Candy in City Heights

Jose selling Candy in City Heights

Continue to pray with us that the Lord’s Spirit breaks forth, and transforms the community. O God, touch their hearts, and change their lives.

Our next stop for prayer is on Monday we will go into Tijuana, and hopefully in the surrounding community. Plans for that are still coming together, so we appreciate your prayers as the Lord brings all the loose ends together.

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Pray for us as we go on a men’s retreat this weekend with the men from Harbor Mid-City, and World Impact.

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Walking the Streets for Jesus

Posted: June 7, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members
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A lot of bars on doors and windows in City Heights

A lot of bars on doors and windows in City Heights

Yesterday and today I am walking the streets in City Heights. Jim DeWitt, Ray Call, Zach Lutz and I are taking it to the streets for Jesus. We are praying for the community and inviting the people we meet to come to our ESL classes.

I enjoyed getting out and meeting the people. I saw a lot of fear in their eyes as they live in a tough neighborhood and are trying to make it. Most of the people we met spoke Spanish, so as we interacted with them in Spanish their eyes would light up. They enjoyed chatting with us.

We met two painters, both named Juan. We met Antonio who drives a truck loaded with candy. He sells candy as he drives around the neighborhood. Two young mothers, Blanca and Lizbeth were walking their babies in strollers. They were wary of us at first, but they warmed up to us as we asked about their little ones.

There is some suspicion, some distrust at first. They are wondering what we are up to? What is our angle? But they do warm up when they see we aren’t selling anything, and a number of them have a genuine interest in learning English.

Our prayer is that we will be a light in the community. That the love of Christ will emanate from us. We pray that they will join us for the ESL classes on Fridays, and that they will grow to know and love the Savior.

Pray with us that many respond as we take Jesus to the Streets!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

The End of an Era for BEAMM

Posted: May 30, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, God's Leading, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana
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Gene and LuAnn Bowman

Gene and LuAnn Bowman

While I was in Juarez, Mexico for our BEAMM team meetings two weeks ago Gene Bowman gave a surprise announcement. Gene, who has the BEAMM coordinator for the last nine years announced that he and LuAnn would be resigning. It was a tearful resignation followed by surprise and sorrow in the room.

God used Gene and LuAnn to build the ministry of BEAMM over the last nine years. The ministry grew under Gene’s leadership. We celebrate how God used them. The border ministry is not an easy one. We face many challenges in seeking to make a difference for the kingdom on the border.

Gene expressed that over the past two years they’ve had a growing sense of divine discontent.

Since Dawn and I have changed ministries three times I know what this is like. When God calls us to a place, He doesn’t always call us their for the duration of our ministry.

BEAMM team in Juarez, Mexico

The BEAMM team in Juarez, Mexico

Personally I enjoyed working with Gene, and I will be sad to see him go. Yet, I understand it’s not good to stay in a place too long when God is moving you on. Since I was there when Gene shared he and LuAnn’s pending change, I was the first to offer him a new ministry opportunity. I let him know that he’d be welcome to work with us on the San Diego – Tijuana border. 😉

Gene visited Ray Call and me in San Diego last week. It was a wonderful visit that we had planned before he made this decision. So I not only was able to show him what we are doing, and who we are working with, but I was able to entice him to consider ministering with us. Because Gene is very gifted, and he and LuAnn make a good team he’s already had a number of offers. He told me that he’s not going to seriously consider where the Lord might be leading them next until September.

Please pray with us for Gene and LuAnn as they enter into this time of transition. Praise the Lord for their faithful years of service and how He has used them for His glory on the border.

So what does Gene’s leaving mean for Dawn and me and our work on the San Diego – Tijuana border?

Larry Trotter leading our BEAMM meeting

Larry Trotter, who is Mission the World’s Mexico country coordinator asked me to lead the San Diego – Tijuana team. I will report to Larry. This is an interesting development, because Larry and Sandy arrived in Mexico City about a year before Dawn and me. We’ve known them a long time. They are very gifted cross-cultural church planters and leaders. We look forward to working more closely with them again!

While disappointed that Gene and LuAnn are resigning from their post, we are excited about what lies ahead. I believe the Lord will lead them to a place that is a good ministry fit for them. I continue to be amazed by how the Lord is working, and the awesome things He is doing on the border.

It takes time for all the things to come together that we would like to see, but God is moving. He is working! This gives us great hope, even in changing times!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

God uses English to Touch Lives!

Posted: April 25, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana
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Ray Call has done a great job with our ESL!

Ray Call has done a great job with our ESL!

We launched our ESL (English as a Second Language) class on April 13th. The first day of class there was a huge rainstorm, so that ended up not being the best day to start. We have a small, but good group.

There are some very encouraging things that give us hope that this outreach will be a success. Ray Call has done a wonderful job of coordinating our ESL. He arranged for all our teachers to be trained ahead of time. We have a great group of committed teachers. The Lord has really blessed as the foundation for this outreach is established. As we see God working it inspires us. I’m thrilled with the work Ray has done, and the team he has recruited minister to the community in this way!

Hannah and Ray practicing teaching with other participants

Hannah and Ray practicing teaching with other participants during ESL training

One area that I’d like to ask you to continue to pray with us about is that the Lord would bring more students. Often when a new ministry is launched it can take time for word to get out. I think that we will see our attendance grow as more people in the community hear about the opportunity to learn English.

I’ve prayed that the Lord will use this time to help the teachers become more comfortable and confident with the material that they are teaching. Also that the Lord will help us to build a solid foundation for the ministry to grow.

We are planning to continue the ESL classes until the end of May. Then take a break over the summer and start up again in the fall.

Thanks for standing with us through prayer, and your loving support.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Interns, Video & Prayer

Posted: April 19, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana, Video
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One of our summer interns, Zach Lutz just posted a short video interview to help us to get to know him better. It also gives us a better idea of how to pray for him, and who we are praying for. We are enthusiastic about Zach joining us in a little over a month.

Here’s some of the ways you can pray for Zach’s experience. Zach mentions on the video that you can find more prayer requests and updates on his blog site: zalutz@blogspot.com. You can also pray for our other interns, Emily Gryder and David Diaso Jr. in the same way.

  1. Pray for Ray and Dave as we plan out Zach’s schedule.
  2. We are still working on finding the best housing situation for our interns.
  3. That they will raise up all their funds before they arrive on the field.
  4. That the Lord would help us to work together and be unified.
  5. That God would use us and the experience to build into the life of our interns.
  6. That the Lord will touch the lives of many through the ministry of our interns.

I’d like to ask prayer for some other needs we have that aren’t necessarily related to the interns.

  1. Ray and Dave at Border Crossing

    Ray and Dave at Border Crossing

    Ray Call had to go to the hospital in Mississippi Wednesday morning, because of the pain he was experiencing. They found out that he has kidney stones. He’s been having stomach problems for a couple of months, this is part of the reason. It maybe the main reason. Pray for his healing.

  2. The Call family has had nonstop problems with their van and car since October of 2011. I think this is an attack from the enemy, seeking to discourage them as they serve the Lord, and help us open a new ministry on the border.
  3. We’d appreciate continued prayer for our ESL classes. We began registration last week, but with all the rain the turn out was lower than we had hoped. It may take some time to build the attendance. Pray that more show up this week, and that the Lord uses this outreach for His glory.

Thanks for your faithful prayers!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Introducing Intern – Emily Gryder

Posted: April 11, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Journey, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana
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Emily Gryder

Emily Gryder one of our summer interns

Last week I introduced one of our interns, Zach Lutz. The Lord has blessed us with two other interns, Emily Gryder and David Diaso Jr. Today I’d like to highlight Emily.

We give thanks to the Lord for giving us such amazing interns. It is surprising in some ways that we already have a growing internship ministry, since our team is still young. We are thrilled that we can build into their lives. As they serve the Lord will use them to touch the lives of people they meet and minister to on the border.

Emily Gryder is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is the oldest of one brother, and two sisters. She is presently majoring in Spanish and minoring in Biology at UNC Chapel Hill. The Lord has given her a love for missions, and given her opportunities to go to the Dominican Republic with her youth group. Emily has a long time boyfriend, named David.

One of the ministries that she has enjoyed is children’s ministry. She’s been involved in outreach to children and tutoring elementary students.

Emily recently wrote about her experience in missions, and her opportunity to serve with BEAMM.

“As some of you my know, I have loved missions for a long time. This was first kindled at a young age and grew dramatically during two short-term missions trips to the Dominican Republic in 2008 and 2010. I am writing to let you know about another exciting opportunity that I have and to invite you to partner with me in it.”

We are glad that the Lord is working in Emily’s heart, and preparing her for the chance to minister with us this summer and fall. She brings excitement and energy to our team. You can learn more about Emily and her journey through her blog: egryder.blogspot.com. She will be with us from July 7th till November 30th.

We believe that our interns are an answer to our prayers. Join us in prayer that Zach, Emily and David will have an outstanding experience with us. Continue to ask the Lord of the Harvest to raise up laborers to work in and reap the harvest.

Have big dreams and don't live on the safe side!

Dream Big - don't live on the safe side! Come check out BEAMM San Diego - Tijuana

Speaking of the need for workers. This Thursday, April 12th, I will be at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis presenting our ministry to the seminary students. Pray that it goes well, and that the Lord would work in calling some to join us on our journey on mission with Jesus to serve on the border.

Ray Call and I would also appreciate your prayers for the ESL (English as a Second Language) launch this Friday, April 13th. Ray has been working hard with our friends at Harbor to promote and invite students. We are anxiously awaiting what the Lord will do through this outreach.

Thanks so much for praying for us, and for our growing team.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

“Your Kingdom Come” – Did Jesus Really Mean That?

Posted: March 29, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, San Diego, Tijuana, Video
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A Monument in Tijuana

A Monument in Tijuana

“Your Kingdom Come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”

— Matthew 6:10 ESV

Did Jesus Really mean it when He asked us to pray this way? I think He did, but I’m not sure we always work in a way that demonstrates our belief in seeing His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. It appears that many are interested in setting up their own little kingdoms. Jesus asked us to plead with the Father that His Kingdom and His will would be on earth as it is in heaven. This means that ultimately it’s a work that only God can do.

Even though it is the Lord’s work, it also gives us a clue as to what we should be working for as we serve Him.

That’s one of the reasons I’m enthusiastic about partnering with others in ministry. It exemplifies the kingdom. We are working together to see God’s kingdom expanded.

Hannah & Dawn enjoying some tacos with Yolanda & Daniel

Hannah & Dawn enjoying some tacos with Yolanda & Daniel

Last week my wife, Dawn, my daughter, Hannah and my co-worker, Ray Call and I were in Tijuana with Daniel and Yolanda Nuñez. I shared about our visit in a couple of my last few posts: Should we Abandon Tijuana? and Exploring TJ and Praying for Expansion. While we were there I was able to capture some video of TJ and interview Daniel Nuñez.

I asked Daniel what he thought about working in partnership. We are serving together to see the church expanded in TJ through the ministries of Harbor, BEAMM and Lo Mejor del Trigo. Daniel said one of the statements that he likes in reference to partnerships is,

“Doing together what we cannot do alone.”

That is one of the reasons we partner with other ministries is that as we work together we are able to do more, and be more effective for the kingdom.

I would like to share a video clip on Tijuana and an interview with Daniel about serving together.

Video: Exploring Tijuana and Partnering with Daniel Nuñez and Lo Mejor del Trigo

It’s encouraging to see ministries come together. My prayer is that this will be in part an answer to our prayer, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10 ESV

I really appreciate all the great comments I received from my last post about whether we should abandon Tijuana. Now I’d like to ask, Do you think we should strive to work in partnership for His kingdom? Why, or why not?

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Please keep the launching of our ESL outreach with Harbor Mid-City in prayer. The first class will be April 13th.

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Should We Abandon Tijuana?

Posted: March 27, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana, Video
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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

Should we abandon missions in Tijuana, because of the security issues that this border town faces?

Last Wednesday, Dawn, Hannah, and I along with our BEAMM teammate, Ray Call spent the day with Daniel and Yolanda Nuñez in Tijuana. You can read more  about our visit here…

We did feel like we needed to careful and observant, but we didn’t sense any grave danger while we were there. Nonetheless the question above is one that may haunt many. On the one hand we shouldn’t abandon a place out of fear, but we do need to be wise. I believe it’s one of the many reasons that we need an army of friends standing with us in prayer.

Actually there has been some very good news lately about how Tijuana has experienced less violence, and is becoming a much safer place. Business although still slow is starting to pick up. Pray with us for a revitalization of this city. 

While we were in TJ I shot some video and interviewed Daniel Nuñez. I think you will enjoy Daniel’s perspective on Tijuana, and the good work he is doing there. His ministry Lo Mejor Del Trigo (The Best of the Wheat) is a bright light in a dark place.

We are thrilled about our growing relationship with Daniel. In my next post I will upload another video clip about our kingdom work, and the bringing together of important partners for God’s glory!

Let me know what you think about my question above. Do you think we should abandon Tijuana? Should the safety concerns change the way we go about ministry there?

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Great Weekend of ESL

Posted: March 25, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego
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Kristy Holliday leading the training

Kristy Holliday leading the training

ESL (English as a second language) training got us off to an outstanding start this weekend. Thanks so much for praying for us. Kristy Holliday did a great job leading our teachers in training in anticipation of launching ESL on April 13. My BEAMM teammate, Ray Call promoted and organized the training. Congratulations to Ray and Kristy for such a commendable job.

It was so encouraging to see the Lord working through the ESL training. It was a major blessing for me to not only be at the training with Ray and Kristy, but also to have my family with me.

Dawn, David, Jr. and Hannah attended the weekend event! We missed Jonny Boy, but somebody had to stay home to take care of princess (our dog).

Hannah and Ray practicing teaching with other participants

Hannah and Ray practicing teaching with other participants

Successfully starting ESL classes with a good group of students is our next big goal. To achieve this goal we obviously need teachers. Good, godly teachers. Thank you Jesus for the those that received the training. The other huge need is students. April 13th is less than three weeks away.

We pray the Lord brings us many students. It’s a way for us to bless the community, and share the love of Christ with those who come.

In preparation for the start of the ESL classes we will follow-up the training to get the right teachers that have a heart for loving the immigrants and refugees that come. It was encouraging to get to know those that came to the training. They definitely have a strong love for Christ. We are not sure yet, how many of them will help with teaching. We need six teachers, and someone who will organize and administrate the classes.

As my good friend, pastor Stephen Phelan said, “Please pray that this will be a common grace for the common good of our city and also a way that immigrants and refugees meet Jesus.”

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. This morning Dawn, Hannah and I are going up to Escondido to speak at New Life Presbyterian Church. We appreciate your prayers.

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

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