Updates & News
Stories From the Field
Outreach to Mexican Soldiers
A team from Waterstone Community Church in Littleton ministered in Juarez in September. They built a house, conducted a medical clinic and VBS and had a food outreach to the community. They have been awesome ministry partners for several years.
MM teams cross the border in Santa Teresa, NM west of El Paso now to avoid going through the city of Juarez where the drug related violence in the area is centered. After going through two military checkpoints, Gary Auten, a Waterstone team member suggested that we reach out to the soldiers at the checkpoint closest to Missions Ministries team center. The young soldiers are the first real layer in the resistance against drug cartel activity. They are looking for two things coming in from the US – money and guns. Vehicles headed north across the border are checked for guns, money and drugs.
Leo Pineda, our Director of Mexican Operations and Chris Henshaw, MM VP who led the mission trip, went to the checkpoint to ask for permission to bring pizzas and maybe pray for the men. Their approach to the soldier guards was greeted with questioning and frisking. After talking to three people in the chain of command, they were allowed to approach the captain. Imagine their surprise when they saw him sitting at his desk reading the Bible. Permission was granted!
The next day Leo, Chris and Pastor Martin along with Gary, Eric and Mike from the Waterstone team arrived at the checkpoint with a stack of pizzas, sodas and a box of Spanish Bibles. Pastor Leo reminded the team not to be pushy with the Bibles - “just offer one and see where it goes.”
It was about 5 p.m. on September 11. The off-duty soldiers were hanging out waiting for dinner. A ten-gallon pot of beans simmered on the stove. Imagine their joy when the team brought in a stack of pizza boxes and sodas. They all dressed in their fatigues and spiffed up to enjoy the special treat.
The captain asked if it was time to serve. Chris said “It’s time to pray” and pointed to Pastor Martin. The captain instructed the men to calm down and bow for prayer. The room was silent except for the prayer of Pastor Martin echoing through the concrete building this group of soldiers called home.
The captain insisted that their visitors eat too. Chris explained they were about to return to the team center to eat dinner with the team. Leo said, “He might want to be sure the pizza is okay for his soldiers.” So they ate. Chris noticed the captain taking a photo of him and Leo. Was it to be used as a memento of an unusual encounter on duty or was it “just in case?” Chris thought “smart man, this captain.” He is on the alert.
As the guys began to get their fill of pizza, Chris began to ask them questions like:
- How old are you? - average age of 23 at this checkpoint
- Do you have families? – most of them have wives and kids back home
- How long have you been at this checkpoint – a couple of weeks to a couple of months
They shared about their concerns for themselves and their families and the brotherhood they shared with their fellow soldiers.
It seemed like a good time to offer a Bible. The first Bible was offered and three hands reached out. Instantly five or six guys were grabbing for another. It was like handing out ice cream at food outreaches. There were 16 Bibles and 20+ men. The men were encouraged to share their Bible with those who didn’t get one (Leo and Pastor Martin returned to give Bibles to the men who didn’t receive them). It was great for all of us to see men who were thirsty for the Spirit of God have their thirst quenched. Everyone remembered Leo saying, “Just offer one, and see where it goes.”
As Pastor Martin saw these tough, trained, dedicated men reach for the Word like it was the answer and relief they have been looking for, he saw an opportunity and jumped. He got the men’s attention. He reiterated the things he heard them share. He asked them to join the Kingdom of Heaven and know their Creator and Savior. He asked the men to bow and pray with him if they chose to. Unlike the earlier prayer that echoed down the bare halls of the barracks, this time more than a dozen men repeated the prayer of salvation in command style with Pastor Martin.
Chris was heard to say, “I do not know if I will ever see these same men here again, but I know I will see them in heaven, as they remain faithful to their families, to their country, and more most importantly, to the Lord.”
Who would have thought that drug-related violence in Mexico would provide the opportunity for these men to hear the Gospel and accept Christ? Please pray that their first steps in faith and commitment to Christ will grow as they read the Bibles they received.
And thank you to those of you who support Missions Ministries so that we can provide Bibles for our partner churches, prisons and community outreach. If you’d like to support our many-faceted ministry to the poor in the name of Christ, your check can be mailed to:
Missions Ministries
P. O. Box 3324
Englewood, CO 80155-3324
or you can donate by going to www.missionsministries.org . Click on “Give” at the top of the home page in order to make a one-time or monthly donation on a secure website.
Questions?
Phone – 303-771-3789 or writeus@missionsministries.org
