First of all I would like to apologise for not having written earlier regarding the things we have seen and handled with our own hands. It took me a few days to adjust to the weather and time change. I want to take this opportunity to thank my congregation I'm a part of in Sheffield, City Life Christian Centre, for their prayers and constant encouragement; and all our spiritual warriors in the UK, Europe, Africa, Canada, the United States and of course Mexico. Moreover I want to give special thanks to Ministerios Unanimes, with whom we closely collaborate (http://www.ministeriosunanimes.com/unanimous-ministries/) in Mexico, for their Kingdom heart and zeal for unity. Thank you to the family and friends of Chris Nicholson for releasing him to join the mission and praying for us throughout. Finally I want to thank our Mexico ministry coordinator Juan Carlos Serrano for his work, integrity, loyalty to me as well as his tremendous anointing to minister the Word. All your prayers have been exceedingly answered!!
This is my seventh gospel-related trip to Mexico and every time I go there I encounter God in a fresh way. Three years ago I saw the awesome, life-changing and glorious, love-filled face of Jesus as I ministered to the sick in Veracruz and Chiapas, both in Mexico. Since then the Lord has been revealing to us different aspects of his character and nature. For us mission in Mexico is a central aspect in our knowing and experiencing God fully.
The Lord has given us a strategy for Chiapas. We're a ministry that works with the local church in winning cities and nations for Christ. For that purpose we have identified three stages: Revive, Equip and the Harvest. This trip was all about reviving the local church. Therefore the anointing that we received was to minister the Holy Spirit. This has surpassed all our previous expectations. In this sense many people were baptised in the Holy Spirit even as they heard the message, others were not even ministered to physically when they spontaneously began speaking in other tongues and prophesying. At times we literally witnessed people delivered from demons and healed from various sickness and disease where they stood. The Holy Spirit especially moved among the youth. On many occasions their expressions and body movements indicated that they felt as though their bodies were burning with a holy fire, although we're convinced their very souls were being purified by God's holy fire. In one of our meetings we literally saw the smoke of God's glory (please see previous blog entry).
This trip has been very special for several reasons:
- Several hundred people came to faith in Christ.
- Although we ministered in individual congregations, we also ministered to church alliances in three cities:
1. In Huixtla we did an evangelism workshop for pastors and leaders of the city.
2. In Tonala the congregations of the city came together to do a revival meeting
which we led.
3. In Tuxtla Gutierrez (capital of the Chiapas state) we ministered to about 40
pastors on how to win the capital of the state for Christ from an evangelistic
perspective.
- The Holy Spirit baptised many to be Christ's witnesses in their localities and to the ends of the earth.
- For quite some time it has been in our hearts to empower and equip young evangelists and church planters for the work of ministry both in Europe and abroad. This one time Chris Nicholson from Beacon Community Church in Norwich has joined us. He has been a blessing to the team and God has used him mightily through his message and with his hands healing the sick. As he laid hands of people many also received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the signs that follow.
Here are a few comments I made after the end of some of our meetings:
27 August 2010
"After a day of rest yesterday recharging from the long flight, today we're off to preach at a fresh church plant in Motosintla, Chiapas. We are expecting many would come Christ and the Holy Spirit gloriously poured out on the brand new congregation. Please pray that's the case in Jesus name!"
28 August 2010
"We had a very moving time ministering this morning to the pastors here in Huixtla on how to reach the city for Christ. Last night also 15 people came to Christ at a new church plant in Motozintla, as well as several people baptised in the Spirit and speaking in tongues for the first time. Tonight we're off to a friend's birthday and tomorrow preaching morning and evening! God's certainly moving!!"
30 August 2010
"Huixtla and Pijijiapan saw the glory of God as many came to Christ. Many many miracles, deaf hearing, blind seeing, & Rosita testified her dad was healed from terminal cancer in one of our meetings 8 months ago! Her dad has put on weight and is now back to work! In Pijijiapan the smoke came out of nowhere, at that point many manifested and were set free and confessed Christ as Lord!"
1 September 2010
"another great day at the first fruits party in Tzanembolom, an indigenous community where, yet again, we witnessed God doing miracles and baptising them in the Holy Spirit! Praise the Lord!!"
2 September 2010
"last night the churches at Tonala, Chiapas came together seeking revival among the Christian community. They had it. A pastor came to me afterwards saying "I was anxious, couldn't see what next, but God set me free tonight. I can now see God's plan for my church" I replied "and what's that?", she said "wining the city for Christ!", I said "Amen!""
3 September 2010
"I've enjoyed hearing our mission team member, Chris Nicholson preaching at the one and only English speaking church in the whole state of Chiapas! Thereafter people were baptised in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues for the first time! Tomorrow a youth conference in the city! Yay! More Lord more!!"
4 September 2010
"I was very pleased seeing over 300 youth with their families on fire for Jesus Christ here in Tuxtla!"
5 September 2010
"Amazing time ministering to pastors in the capital of the state on evangelism in the morning. In the evening we couldn't preach no more cos the Holy Spirit fell on the place healing many sick, saving 15 & baptising many. 3 preachings 2morrow, got heaps of strength, voice almost recovered, praise Jesus!"
6 September 2010
"Great stories @ the 3 places we visited 2day but 1 main character: the Holy Spirit! Similar signs of a move of God that's already a fact here. The outpouring's not been localised. Our question: "did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?". People had prophesied, spoken in other tongues, wept, been healed & burned with God's fire. We now return & are convinced that revival is in us! Glory 2 God!!"
Our next trip to Mexico is to Equip the church to win the city so please join us in our prayers in the following areas:
- Our coordinator in Mexico, Juan Carlos Serrano, his wife Caro and his children Grace and Abraham.
- Financial support for them and for continuing the work in Mexico.
- Strength and wisdom to prepare all the learning materials for the church in Mexico.
- Protection for my wife, our collaborators and their families, and indeed myself.
We are extremely satisfied with the work being done and look forward to our next mission!
God bless you all abundantly!!
