Posts Tagged ‘Tijuana’

Planting Churches, Transforming Communities

Posted: February 20, 2023 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Video
Tags: , , , , , ,
4
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

Our Growing Family in Mexico

Posted: January 30, 2020 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
Tags: , , , , ,
3
The Love of Christ is Touching Lives
Junior, Damaris, Federico, Blanca, David & Daniel Muñoz

Dawn and I spent a wonderful afternoon with Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz. They are planting a new church in Mexicali.

Blanca shared with us how she felt led to take a walk in her neighborhood, which she mentioned that she doesn’t usually do by herself. Yet, this day the Lord nudged her to do it. As she was walking she met a woman who was looking for her son.

Blanca sharing with friends at a an outreach event they held in Mexicali

The woman’s son had run away, and she was distraught trying to find him. Blanca was able to encourage her and tell her that she was willing to help. She showed the love of Christ to the lady, and gave her a big hug. While they were hugging the woman began to cry. She felt loved. She felt that someone cared.

Blanca took the opportunity to tell her that it was because of Christ’s love that she was able to care for her and show her compassion.

Later Blanca was surprised to find out that the woman she had met who lost her son is someone that has a lot of influence in Mexicali. This made Blanca feel humbled and grateful for how the Lord worked. In a few days Blanca learned that her new friend had found her son.

God is so good and we love learning how he is faithful to work through his children.

God’s love wins, and this is one of the many reasons we plant churches and seek to share the love of Christ.

Pastor Deivis & Luz Pardo in Playas
David & Dawn with Pastor Federico & Blanca and Pastor Deivis and Luz

The Lord abundantly blessed Dawn and me, because after we met with Federico and Blanca for a few hours Pastor Deivis and Luz Pardo joined us. It was the first time that Dawn and I have been able to meet with all of them together. Deivis and Luz are just getting started on the church plant in Tijuana.

After much prayer they found a place to live in the area where they are going to plant their church. We were able to rejoice with them as they prepare to move in. They are still working on getting everything set up and furnishing their house.

We believe that the Lord has a great plan for Deivis and Luz and Playas and we can wait to watch and see all that he does!

Join Us in Prayer
  • Pray that the Lord will provide for all of Deivis and Luz’s needs as they move into their new place.
  • They also need some help moving and getting set up.
  • Continue to pray for Pastor Federico and Blanca that the Lord will open up even more doors for them to share the gospel.
  • Pray for me as I’m having surgery today on my hernia. I’d appreciate prayer for a quick recovery.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Equipped for the Harvest!

Posted: September 5, 2014 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Video
Tags: , , , , , ,
2

Church planting incubator

Church planting incubator

Last week I was in Monterrey, Mexico with pastor Ivan Casados from Tijuana and MTW colleague, Jim DeWitt among others. It was an exciting time going through the church planting incubator.

I felt like it was the beginning of the realization of a dream that I’ve had for the Border and the Baja. I desire to work with our team to see church planters trained and equipped so that they are better prepared to plant a church.

What a thrill to have the most recent church planter that we’ve partnered with Ivan Casados going through the training. We hope to be able to bring this training to other church planters we are working with in Tijuana, but this was a wonderful first step!

I’m so thankful for our partners with Lo Mejor del Trigo. God is blessing their efforts and our partnership as they work towards planting 50 churches.

While we were in Monterrey Jim DeWitt put together a video with the help of one of our other colleagues Jarett Hall. Here it is for your enjoyment.

God is doing wonderful things on the Border, the Baja and Beyond! Rejoice with us!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Joy of Christmas and God’s Increase

Posted: December 24, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Family Happenings, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
0
The Joy of the Season!

David & I both celebrate our birthdays in December. The cake got the best of us - "Mordida"

David & I both celebrate our birthdays in December. The cake got the best of us – “Mordida”

Today is a doubly special day in our home. We celebrate the birth of our first-born son, David Jr. and we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Like many my family and I enjoy this season. It’s a great time to reflect on the many gifts the Lord has given us. I love having all the family together, at least my immediate family. I do wish I could be with my parents and my brothers and their families. It becomes more complicated to bring everyone together, but I am so thankful that our kids can be with us.

God Provides the Increase

When I reflect on this last year, and some of the gifts and blessings the Lord has given us I’m reminded this has been one of the most fruitful years we’ve had in our 25 years of ministry. I realize that the Lord provides the increase, but it’s so good to be on this journey. It’s so good to witness God working in the hearts of men and women.

Paul says it best in 1 & 2 Corinthians:

I planted, Apollos water, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. – 1 Corinthians 3:6,7

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. –2 Corinthians 2:15

God is doing a Healing and Restorative work!

Dawn and I love the people we work with. The pastors we are able to serve alongside on both sides of the border. We are grateful that our relationship with them has deepened.

He is moving and bringing many to a saving faith. It is beautiful to be a part of a ministry where we witnessed over 100 come into a new relationship with Christ. Many of those that came to Christ are now growing in their faith.

Just last week we saw 17 people come to Christ through our Christmas in City Heights outreach!

Dave with Daniel Nuñez and two of the church planters, Ivan Casados and Jose Luis Rivera

Dave with Daniel Nuñez and two of the church planters, Ivan Casados and Jose Luis Rivera

There were also many in Tijuana that came to Christ through are partnership with Lo Mejor del Trigo and our church plants there.

Here’s the story that one of our friends, Pastor Ivan Casados and his wife, Rocio shared with us about a family that has been changed forever by the gospel.

Recently, Rocio met a woman who lives in the neighborhood, Veronica. Rocio asked Veronica if she could pray for her. Veronica said that she needed prayer for her back, and that she was scheduled to have surgery later that week. Veronica was nervous about the upcoming operation.

Rocio prayed and Veronica felt God’s peace, which carried her through the surgery. This comforted and encouraged Veronica and it opened a door for Rocio and the church to share the love of Christ with her. Veronica gave her life to Christ with her. Later her husband, Saul and her son, Samuel came to Christ. Now the family is growing in their faith and they are part of the core group for this new church.

Dave and Dawn - thankful for the Lord's renewing work on the border

Dave and Dawn – thankful for the Lord’s renewing work on the border

One of the things we are excited for 2014 is that we are getting ready to help Ivan and Rocio plant a new church in Valle Verde in Tijuana.

Prayer is Key

I strongly believe that one of the reasons God is blessing the ministry on the border is the prayer of so many friends. Thanks for holding us up, and standing with us in prayer.

Merry Christmas! Worship the King!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Do you Believe Tijuana is Safer than Chicago?

Posted: September 30, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Ministry, Prayer, Tijuana
Tags: , , ,
5

Tijuana-welcome

Tijuana-welcome (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I love being able to highlight good news coming out of Mexico. Each day I read a number of news feeds about Mexico, and it’s not all good news, so it is always a source of encouragement to read about positive change in Mexico.

Just last week an article came out from SanDiegoRed.com that reported that Tijuana is 28% safer than Chicago. Read article here…

I already posted this article on Facebook a few days ago, but I wanted to make sure that you saw it in case you didn’t see my Facebook post.

There’s been a huge change for the better over the last five years in Tijuana.

Dawn and I visited Chicago this summer, and we didn’t feel like we were in an unruly city. The media does play a big part in our perception of a place.

This quote from the article titled, Tijuana is much safer than Chicago, written by Brenda Colin and Omar Martinez describes some of our misconceptions and challenges of changing those misconceptions.

It’s very common when speaking well of Mexico that the neighbors up north do not recognize the changes that have been made, and continue to make comments about “the great danger of visiting Mexico”, but for those who have come and visit its cities, they know well that its nothing like “they” make it seem to be.

Comparing Tijuana and Chicago is only one example of how important is to look further into details before making your own judgments, and not just going by what everyone else thinks.

Keep praying for a renewed Tijuana and a revived border.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Related articles

God is Moving on the Border!

Posted: May 31, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
4
The Gospel is Making a Difference in Tijuana

The pastors from Lo Mejor del Trigo that we met with last week.

The pastors from Lo Mejor del Trigo that we met with last week.

I give thanks for the leaders the Lord has given me to work with on both sides of the border. Last week I was able to meet with a number of them. Such choice servants of the Lord!

We visited the two churches that Harbor helped plant among some of the other churches. Cesar one of the younger pastors has just taken over a church that has gone through a lot of turmoil. The church had shrunk and was down to about three families.

Since Cesar took the church over just in the last month they’ve had 100 people attend the church.

The Lord Hears the Prayer of His People

I asked Cesar what they were doing to reach the people. He said the main thing they were doing was praying. God is hearing their plea.

These ministries are loving on the people in the community. Many of them are feeding the poor. Periodically they set up a medical clinic to help those that can’t afford to go to a doctor. It’s so good to see the Lord at work.

God is working through these churches as they share the love of Christ in their community. Our prayer is that they will continue to grow and to be a blessing in Tijuana.

Praise and Prayer

I praise the Lord for his faithfulness to these churches, and those who serve in them. They are blessing their communities in some practical ways. One of the questions we are asking is how can we come alongside of them, and be of encouragement to them.

Join in prayer as we ask the Lord to open the hearts of the people as the gospel goes out into the communities surrounding the church.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Related articles