The Largest attendance Ever! Convention 2006

5000 people came and left the church property in Chenalho within the last three days. It is an event that has to be experienced because there is no way to really describe what takes place within those two days of services. Of course it has taken months of preparation and no one works harder than the people here of this congregation. Pastor Alejandro of Chenalho is an excellent organizer. His people have the enormous task of feeding the multitude! Most of them do not sleep from Wednesday morning until they go to bed on Saturday night. 5 bulls arrived on Thursday and all 5 were prepared for the many meals that were cooked and served throughout the convention.

Of course the most important part of all of this is to gather in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What an Easter celebration we have had! People from all over the mountains speaking various dialects attended wearing their beautiful hand woven clothing of their tribe. Also in attendance were groups from various states in the country of Mexico who of course speak Spanish. Services are biligual in Spanish and Tzotzil.

Musician from Torre Fuerte did what they do best and the music was marvelous. The opening service began with a processional led by Pastor Carlos in full Tzotzil official attire. Russell was given clothing representing the Tzotzils of Mitontic and the other head pastors and professors of their training sessions were dressed in the various tribal clothing. What a special time!

The most beautiful of all was the presence of the Lord and the ability to worship openly in a part of the world where this did not exist 30 years ago. Most of these believers are fairly recent converts. The river baptism is always a part of the convention with 133 being baptized in the cool mountain water. Pastor Carlos preached 2 powerful messages. Those who are answering the call to ministry were blessed and sent out with special prayer.

We thank you for your prayers. They were answered! It was cool all week prior to the convention and Thursday it rained all day and even into the night. But God sent picture perfect weather for the next two days. The little bit of cloud cover during the Friday night service only helped to break the heat from the warm day.

We pray your family is enjoying a wonderful day of celebrating our risen Lord!

Chenalho Clinic

Village of Oxinum

Tuxla Orphanage

Convention 2006!

Larry and Mary Lou Myers have arrived this afternoon in Chenalho. Thursday Jerry and Margie Hargrave will join us. And Friday 4000 others from the southern region of Mexico will arrive! Various states of Mexico will be represented and many different groups of people of Mexico will join together for our 2006 convention. Please pray for the safety of all who are traveling to and from the convention and for the presence of the Lord to so saturate our gathering!

Please pray for good weather as well! For those of you who have been here in Chenalho, the services Friday and Saturday will be held outdoors in the stadium that can be seen from the kitchen windows. Not only do we need good weather during this time frame, but several thousand people will be sleeping outside. The evenings have been cool with some cloud cover. We have not received any rain this week, but it does get rather cold before morning. We certainly know that God is in control of the weather patterns. We trust Him to give favor upon this momentous event that will be a gathering in His name and for His glory!

NEWSLETTER March - April 2006

I Kings 8:20 "Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise..."

II Cor. 1:20 "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."

Marcelino's Story

Several years ago we had an opportunity to meet a young man named Marcelino - a Tzeltal Indian from Yajalon, Chiapas. Prior to meeting him, Marcelino had gone through a very difficult time in his life and was headed down a destructive path. At a very young age, he began sniffing paint thinner, using marijuana and cocaine. Though it may seem harsh, his dad tried to change him and tied his feet together with a rope, hung him upside down and beat him. He told his son that he would have to change from his life of sin and drugs. Soon thereafter Marcelino left home vowing to one day return and kill his father, but God had other plans. Marcelino went to a church in the city of Acayucan where he met Pastor Rafael. He lied to the pastor and told him that he was a Christian, so he could be provided with housing and food. While there he accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. That same year Russell drove from the Atoyac Bible College in the state of Guererro to Acayucan, Veracruz to transport students. During those years in bible school, Marcelino grew in the Word and knowledge of the Lord. We made a promise to him that if he was faithful to preach the Word and evangelize his people that we would one day help him in building a church building for the congregation.

A Promise Not Forgotten

This past November while we were praying a simple prayer in Tuxtla for God to broaden our horizons and vision, little did we know that Marcelino was waiting for us to arrive in Chenalho that same evening. We had not seen him in 13 years since his graduation. After renewing old memories, he presented 2 request - one was for a church where he is presently the pastor of Templo Emanuel in Petalcingo, Chiapas. The Lord has provided and enabled us to keep our promise to him. In late February we had the opportunity to drive through the mountains to this village and present the funds necessary to build educational classrooms. Marcelino also oversees 12 other missions where he has to walk many hours to reach these locations. His latest area of evangelism is in the village of San Juan Cancuc with the Tzeltal Indians, an 8 hour walk one way. Marcelino had not forgotten the promise we made 13 years ago and neither had we! We thank God for the changes that have taken place in Marcelino's life and for the transformation that comes from His Word. Marcelino continues to reach his own people, and we know that God will provide for those of San Juan Cancuc.


Thanks for making it possible!

In addition, we thank God for the two block churhes recently built by Destiny Foundation of Orlando, FL and Crossroads Church of Lafayette, LA. Also, 3 senior pastors received their very own means of transportation this past month. Presently, we are involved with a medical campaign here in the mountains of Chiapas. In April Chenalho will be hosting the annual convention where at least 4000 people are expected during the 2 days of services.

Thank you for helping us to fulfill the promises that are made to continue the work of the Lord. We know that you are holding onto your own promises from God and that you can rely on the words that Solomon spoke "not one word has failed of all His good promise."