I am sitting in the El Paso, TX airport having just uneventfully crossed the border from Mexico. My time in Juarez, MX was, however, quite full of events. It will probably take a number of posts to fully recount my adventures; so I have taken the liberty of labeling this "part 1".
Let me first give you some background...
Amigo Fiel is the name of a very small church in Juarez. Translated it means "Faithful Friend". Jesus is this friend. And everything I observed and participated in down here revolved around Jesus and the salvation He and He alone brings. This church and the various ministries associated with it is the product of the burning vision placed in a man's heart about twenty years...Pastor Carlos Garcia. He was born in Juarez, moved to the US, became involved in ministry at a Calvary Chapel in Alberquerque and then in Santa Fe. He has a family and a business and makes his home in New Mexico. But twenty years ago he responded to the brokenness of heart he was having for the people of his birthplace, Juarez.
These are broad brush strokes; but basically, Carlos started traveling regularly to Juarez. His purpose down there has evolved and today his ministry's mission is to equip the believers in Juarez to do God's work in preaching the Gospel and ministering to others. All social and humanitarian efforts come second to the delivery of the Gospel. And Carlos happily admits that he freely uses various forms of "bait" as he conducts his spiritual fishing trips!!
He has also constructed an extremely hospitable mission base where mission teams, like mine this week, can come and serve on a limited basis and then return to their home churches having had their spiritual, physical, and emotional horizons broadened.
Amigo Fiel is a hub of numerous evangelistic-oriented ministries. They have an after school program in place at the church. They regularly conduct concerts and outreach events for various groups. They have an outstanding drama team. Their congregants also try to arrange for the church to serve the community in whatever capacity they can dream up.
Carlos has also worked extensively with hundreds of churches and pastors to coordinate activities and aid. Many resources have been funneled through him from US churches. He has surrounded himself with devoted men and women who have (or have adopted) his vision and committed themselves to carrying it out.
My church became involved with Carlos through Franklin Graham's Operation Christmas Child (OCC). Carlos has taken the power of a simple gift and taken it to the next level. In the months leading up to Christmas, Carlos and his network of pastors begin planning and organizing. Using the shoeboxes as bait, they encourage the children in their churches to reach out and bring two of their classmates or friends to church to get info on how to receive a box. They also get all participants to commit to a 12-week discipleship program that will follow receiving the gift. Some schools have even gotten on board and send entire classes!
On the day of the distribution, the children are gathered by their local pastors, given an identification bracelet, and then escorted to the distribution site...this year it was a large tent (more on this later). Once inside the tent they are entertained with balloons, face painting, juggling, beach balls, clowns, and a drama skit that gently presents the Gospel. They are offered the chance to give their lives to Jesus and then lined up for the distribution where they receive an age and sex appropriate shoebox
and a Gospel handout. They then return home to begin their 12 week discipleship program under their local pastor.
Some pastors have congregations of 20-30 active members but close to a hundred children in the discipleship program. The intent is to next use the children as bait to draw their parents in; then to use the parents to reach the greater community.
The team I was a part of got to walk right into the most glorious part of all this and hand the gift box to the child. Carlos and his team humbly step back and allow us this incredible moment of joy.
In part 2 I will get you some of the details of what I got to do the last four days. Hasta la vista!
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