• Home
• Church
  • Times & Location
  • Calendar
  • Sunday School
  • Nursery Care
  • Music Philosophy
  • Doctrinal Beliefs
  • Church Covenant &
    Confession of Faith
  • Sherwood History
• Ministries
  • Internet & Media
  • Tapes
  • Nursing Home
  • Children's
    Life Lessons
  • Youth Ministry
  • Prison
  • Missions
  • Bible Conference
• Missionaries
  • James D.
    to South Asia
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Andres Galaviz
    to Northern Mexico
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Calvin Gardner
    to Central Brazil
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Horn/Syts
    to South Asia
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Almond Katryan
    to Guyana
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Forrest Keener
    Evangelist
    • The Mission
    • 2008 Itenerary
    • Keener Thoughts
    • Recent Report
  • Tom Montgomery
    to Mexico City
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Timothy Parrow
    to Stillwater, OK
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Dan Roten
    to Mexican Indians
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Brent Spears
    to the Philippines
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Terry Spears
    to the Philippines
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
  • Thailand Mission
    • The Mission
    • Recent Report
    • Photos & Links
• LIVE WebCast
• SermonArchive
  • Search by Keyword
  • Search by Date
    • 2008 Sermons
    • 2007 Sermons
    • 2006 Sermons
    • 2005 Sermons
  • Search by Speaker
    • Paul Brown Sr
    • Paul D Brown II
    • Blain Daugherty
    • Dan Roten
    • Forrest Keener
    • ...and many more
  • Special Topics
  • Bible Conference 2008
  • Bible Conference 2007
  • SermonArchive
    Podcast

Dan Roten
To The Tribual Nations of Mexico



Sovereign Grace
Baptist Church of Cardenas

Home Address::
6508 N.17
McAllen TX 78504
956-687-8346

Home Church:
Sherwood Baptist Church
2845 S.W. 39th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73119
Pastor:
Paul Brown
Email:
pastor@sherwoodbaptist.com
Web site:
www.sherwoodbaptist.com

I returned a few days ago from a very trying 2 weeks in Cardenas. It is not premature to mention this, since the situation has already been dealt with at length on the pastoral level, and the brethren are much in need of your prayers. In this MMB I must give a disappointing report, and must hope that through the hearing of your prayers together with mine, the Lord would be pleased to change some hearts and bring about some needed restoration and reconciliation. There are numerous examples in the New Testament of men who seem to have started well, but who later strayed in some very serious matter. This appears to be the case with Fidel and his house, who are the firstfruits of Cardenas. He has forsaken the church in a very bitter spirit, and taken others with him. This has been heartbreaking for the church. After both pastoral efforts, and sincere efforts from brothers in the church, there has been no progress toward repentance or reconciliation, but only hardening. Final steps must yet be taken by the church, but for a few weeks while I am in the US, time and space is being given for repentance, and we pray that it will be so.

We do not yet have the results from Janet's tests. Please keep praying for her. She has not been feeling well. Also Michael had to go to the Dr. yesterday with 103.9 fever! He is on antibiotics now, and feeling better.

God willing, Janet and I will be headed north to the annual Bible conference at Sherwood Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, June 22 - 25th.

We value your prayers and support for this work. Truly you are fellowlaborers together with us, and we pray for you often.

I am attaching 2 photos from Cardenas. One is a picture from a recent service there. In addition to the brethren, you might notice the video camera mounted in the back of the room, and the recording devices on the pulpit. We thank the Lord for the privilege to preach the word both in Cárdenas, and around the world by means of the recordings on the website. Meetings in the new rental house are much more comfortable than before.

It has become apparent to the church that Bro. Fidel (who has in no way been unfaithful) is not the man to stand before the church as pastor. Bro. Eduardo is now doing all of the teaching in the services when I am not there. The church is praying that the Lord will call and set a full-time pastor in their midst. The brethren appreciate your prayers on their behalf.

The other photo shows one of the beautiful trees in bloom at this season.

Please remember my family in your prayers. Janet just had her annual tests run, which showed some decrease in her lung function. She will need to be re-tested in July. She struggles with pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, and fatigue every day. With 3 diseases affecting her lungs, this is no big surprise, but she needs your prayers.

Also pray for Michael. He injured his back on the job, and is now in the process of trying to get some therapy. He will not be able to return to work until there is some significant improvement. He is looking forward to graduating from homeschool in May!

Circumstances changed back and forth several times before the church in Cardenas discovered that, "Well yes, after all, you do have to move out of the house you are presently renting to meet in, and it needs to happen within a week." The new rent house that was at first promised, and then denied, became available again while I was there present. In the providence of the Lord, I was accompanied at the time by my dear Winter Texan brethren Robert and Judy Stell. With their help, we were able to pack and move all the belongings for the church's meeting room, and my mission apartment in one day. I have attached a photo of the house that they now rent to meet in. It is more conveniently located for everyone, and is a much nicer facility. The rooms that I rent for my mission apartment are also much cooler, and have a much more pleasant view than the brick wall that I used to look out on. The church is now very happy in the new facilities, and also very happy to have new visitors most months, and to see some of the new ones attending regularly.

The work among the Pa-mes has just expanded. Using census data, I have discovered another area where Pa-mes are also concentrated, that was previously unknown to me. The population of Pa-mes in this new area is double what it is in the area I have been covering, and is only a one hour drive to the south of Cardenas. Not far away are even larger concentrations of Huastec and Nahuatl Indians. I look forward with great anticipation to this expanded opportunity to "declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people"!

Please continue praying for our health--Janet, Michael, and me. Janet still stuggles with the sarcoidosis, and I with the migraines. Michael has been diagnosed with POTS Syndrome, which is not life-threatening, and should go away within a few years, and should be easily controlled with either natural and/or medicinal aids.

Greetings again. We greatly appreciate you prayers. Our son Michael has had 3 consultations with doctors, and several tests were run, all with good results. He is to see another doctor next week for more tests, but at the moment they expect to find a rather benign condition that is not extremely serious. They feel like they have ruled out any cardiac problems. Please continue to remember him in your prayers.

I have attached a photo taken after a recent service in Cardenas. The brethren are encouraged to see more and more visitors, and some that continue to return. In one service, while I was preacing, Fidel had to bring in more chairs to our meeting room. They are praying for a pastor, and ask you to join them in that request.

This month they are in the process of finding a new house to rent for the meetings. The owners of the house they have been renting are wanting to move back into the house themselves. A very nice home will be available soon, and they are still waiting to see if they can rent it. It will be more comfortable--cooler in the summer--and so I am very hopeful that it will work out.

The Spanish sermon website now has 360 sermons online, and more almost ready to be added. There were over 8 gig of downloads last month, which means that the listening to the sermons is in the thousands. Letters come in regularly giving testimony to the blessing that the website has been. There were visits from 31 countries. Each month the US has the greatest number of visits, followed by Mexico. From there down the order changes considerably each month. Please continue to pray for this outreach too. I have also attached a photo showing the locations of those who visited in January 2008.

I write you today for Cardenas. We have had blessings that have brought joy to us while here. We have long been praying for the translation and recording of a thorough Gospel message into the Pa-me language. Our brother Calixto has finished a first draft of his translation. We have already recorded it. We still need to do review and revision, but our hope and prayer is that this will soon be in distribution on cassette and CD as we tread the mountain trails in the Pa-me villages near Cárdenas. I have attached a photo of Calixto as he was finishing up his first draft, preparing to begin recording. Please continue to pray for this effort.

Please pray also for Michael, my 18 year old son in McAllen. This week he experienced a very frightening physical episode, which included passing out. He has been to the doctor, who discovered some sort of cardiac concern and has scheduled Michael for an appointment with a cardiologist.

I will be traveling back to McAllen tomorrow, God willing.

I have good news regarding the Pa-me translation effort. When I went out to El Huizache to make contact with the man who had agreed last month to do the work for me, not only did I find that he was half way through the translation, but also found a Canadian brother present that day in the village who is doing the translation of the Pa-me New Testament. He was there to work with his language assistants, one of whom is the man translating my tract. The Bible translator told me that he had also read the tract, and that he strongly approved of its message. He offered to double check the translation work done by the native translator to make sure that no clarity, or theological emphasis was lost in the translation. That is a huge answer to prayer. My hope is that the translation will be ready when I go out to see him in February, and that we will be able to make the audio recording at that time. Then we will be able to distribute cassettes and CDs with a thorough Gospel presentation recorded in both Pa-me and Spanish! Please keep praying.

I have attached a photo from a recent evening service in Cardenas. The brethren send their greetings, and covet your prayers for the work there. The house they have been renting to meet in may be sold soon, so they may be having to find another place, and move. Adequate facilities are scarce, so please pray with us about this.

Keep praying for Janet. She is improved, but not yet back to full strength. Pray for me also. I have been having almost daily migraines for several months now. To say the least, that really slows me down, and is very frustrating.

Cárdenas ministry was delayed over and over again due to unforseen and unavoidable obstacles, but finally took place right on the Lord's schedule!

Sunday night January 6th, Carmen gave testimony to the church of her recent conversion, and requested baptism and church membership. Since our baptisms take place in the creek, it will probably be March before the baptism can take place. Carmen has faithfully been attending the preaching of the word for over a year, and rejoices in the change that God's grace has made in her life. We join with her in that joy. Pray for her, and for her son Elías, who has been attending regularly, and is receptive to the preaching of the word, and has a desire to live accordingly. I have attached their picture for you.

The church has had several new visitors recently, and is much encouraged. One is a young man who is a middle school teacher. Also there is an older couple who have long professed faith in Christ, but never settled into any church in the area, because none were teaching the word--which is absolutely true. Please pray that their profession will prove to be genuine, and that their years of independence will not be a hindrance to joining and serving within a church body.

I will share more blessings next week.

Please pray much for Janet. The sarcodosis has been extremely active, painful and debilitating for her for some time now. She has spent more than a week in bed, with much weakness, and taking antibiotics for infection in her lungs. (She enjoys emails -- janet@sherwoodbaptist.com ).

Greetings. We make plans, but the Lord works everything out accord to His schedule. I am still here in McAllen. The 4Runner is still in the shop. It was repaired once, and then had to go back. If the work is finished as the mechanic estimates, I will get it back today, and so will travel to Cardenas on Saturday. Please pray that I can make the trip at that time.

As you pray for us, please remember both Janet and I and our health issues. Both the sarcoidosis and diabetes have been troubling here lately. And my migraines have been extremely debilitating--having an episode at least once every day, and often twice a day.

Traffic on the audio sermon web page has been good. In October there was traffic for over 1500 total sermon downloads. I don't know how many partial sermon downloads there might have been. With no prestigious names to attract visitors to the page, I consider that to be a very good number. The letters I receive let me know that this outreach is a great blessing to many around the world. In 2007 there have been 3,666 different visitors to the website, and 13,926 page views. Of these, there are 78 visitors who have been to the website more than 100 times. There are 64 who have visited 51-100 times, and 68 who have visited between 26-50 times. Some have downloaded all of the over 300 sermons on the website. If you have a website, a link to our site would help improve our visibility on the web, and therefore help us preach to more Spanish speaking people around the world. If you would like to do that, please write to me, and I can send you the source code for the link. Incidentally, today on a Google search, if you look for "sermones mp3" Riquezas De Gracia comes up as #3. If you search for "sermones bautistas mp3" (i.e. Baptist mp3 Sermons) the page shows up as #1. Those numbers vary from day to day. Any of you who have ever done a search realize how valuable it is to have a top listing like that. We have done nothing special to earn that ranking--it is the Lord's blessing!

Please accept our thanks for your regular support and prayers. It is a joy to labor knowing that you stand faithfully behind us.

We have seen progress in different areas of concern in the Lord's work in Cárdenas. Carmen is a lady who has been attending the church in Cárdenas for almost a year. She has come to me personally giving a credible profession of her new faith in Christ. She will have some difficult details to work out in her homelife, so please pray for her.

Please pray for a young man named Eliseo Rios in the village of Laguna de Saucillo. He calls himself a Pentecostal, and has been preaching to a group in his village. When we met him, he showed serious interest in meeting with us to learn a deeper and more Biblical understanding of doctrine and practice. Fidel and I have met with him twice for lengthy discussion, and we have left some good reading materials with him. I hope to see him again next week.

Please remember also Fidel's parents in your prayer. His dad is named Braulio. The first time I spoke to them, they were infuriated with both me and Fidel. We were ordered never to show our face there again. Today, he warmly welcomes us to his home, and always requests that I hold an informal preaching service with family and friends. The last time I left him, the tears and embrace he gave me displayed more respect than I have ever received from an elderly person in all of my years in Mexico. It is evident that God has changed him, and I have good reason to hope that there is genuine fruit of salvation in his life.

Also, we had continued to be disappointed in our efforts at translation of a Gospel message into Pa-me. Fidel and I recently went out to El Huisache, and found there a professing Christian who is working with a Wyciffe Bible Translator on the Pa-me New Testament. I showed him the written message that I want to translate, and he said he would have it finished for me within a month. Pray that it will be so!

I will be speaking Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Community Baptist Church of Elmendorf, TX on the subject of missions. Please remember me. Then next Tuesday, I should be driving back to Cárdenas. I have some mechanical work to be done on the 4Runner before I make the trip, that the mechanic has had trouble diagnosing.

I have attached a recent photo of the Rotens still living at home--Michael, Danny, Janet, and Daniel. If anyone wants a higher quality copy for printing, I will be glad to email it to you.

I look at the date, and am surprised at how long it has been since I wrote last. I am attaching 2 photos taken in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. There Bro. Tomas Olvera and I preached a weekend conference for the church, where the fellowship is always sweet and blessed. This trip was no exception.

In first photo on the left is Bro.Tomas, who is pastor of the Emmanuel BC in Nuevo Progreso. I am in the center, and David Aguilera, one of 3 pastors in Torreon is on the right. The church there is well attended and stable, and growing in the faith, and numbers as well. I have begun once again helping them with quarterly pastoral training, scheduled next in January. One Sunday per month, one of the preachers from Torreon will be preaching in Cardenas, and it is my prayer that one will be called of the Lord to pastor there over the next several months.

After leaving Torreon, I made a quick trip to Queretaro to visit Omar Ibañez, faithful pastor in that city of central Mexico. There we had good fellowship, and I picked up a large box of sermons on cassettes to convert for the website. Pray for Omar and the growth of the church there. This brother has been greatly used in translation, and in training other pastors, often alongside fellow missionary Tom Montgomery in Mexico City.

There are 318 sermons now available on the website, and new sermons are being added every month. Emails arrive frequently giving testimony of blessing, encouragement, and usefulness of the site. If you have not seen it, take a look, and point your Spanish-speaking contacts that direction: www.riquezasdegracia.com
.

Pray for me, traveling later today, and preaching this week and next in Cardenas.

I am writing from the computer school in Cárdenas. I pray all is well with each of you. This has been a profitable trip in many regards, which I will share in different MMBs.

Monday we went out to the Pa-me village of Las Guapas, where we have visited on several different occasions. Candido, who we usually visit was out taking his daughter to the boarding school in the nearby town of Vincente Guerrero. That is a 2 hour bicycle trip one way over mountainous gravel and dirt roads. So we went to the home of Juan Castillo, whose photo attached. I sat with him for a long time, sharing the Gospel. It was a very fruitful time.

The situation in LasGuapas is common all over Mexico, and probably many other parts of the world. "Short term¨ mission groups (and even full-time missionaries) arrive in a village and want to do something. They bring in mountains of blankets, used clothes, medicine, food, and other things thinking they are going to help the people, and maybe that will help win a following. It has been a CURSE on the true work of the Gospel. I talk to multitudes who ask me what I have brought to give away. If it is ¨only¨ the Gospel and eternal life, then they are not interested!

There is a "church" in this village of regular attendees. They go there for gifts, and go to the Catholic church for worship. Juan Castillo is a rare exception who spoke to us saying that he wants someone to explain the Word to him, and the Gospel. He doesn´t want any gifts and he will not go where the emphasis is on hand-outs. What a breath of fresh air!!! He loved our time together, as did I. Pray for Juan Castillo.

I will be driving back to McAllen on Thursday. Please pray for a safe trip.

I am preparing right now for a trip this weekend to Torreon, where Tomás Olvera and I will preach a 2 day conference. From there, I will travel directly to Cardenas for 2 weeks. I am grateful that Bro. Roger Ragland will be accompanying me on this trip.

Please pray that it will be dry enough to travel out to the Pa-me villages. They have been hit hard both last month and this month from torrential rains due to hurricanes making land on the Gulf coast. That has severely limited travel into the villages, which are all reached by travel over dirt roads. There are several cities nearer to the coast where thousands have been displaced by flooding. Visit this link to see several pictures taken in and around Poza Rica: http://www.oem.com.mx/diariodexalapa/notas/g17532.htm . Use the small red arrows to scroll through the pictures.

Many of you are interested in personal reports regarding the Roten family, since you pray for us each day. I have attached a photo for you of the whole clan, taken at Josh and Claire's wedding last weekend. The family keeps growing, and we rejoice in every blessed addition the Lord gives us.

Happy 99 degree (heat index) autumn day to you. We pray things are well with each of you. You are colaborers together with us as you stand behind us in your prayers, and we treasure that relationship.

There have not been new visitors to the services in Cárdenas in recent weeks, but much faithfulness on the part of those who attend. There is much desire and need for a full-time pastor to replace this missionary and the brethren hope that you will pray steadily with them in this regard.

On the last trip I had the unusual experience of refusing an opportunity to preach. The setting was with Fernando's family, who were all upset because a family member (a member of one drug cartel) had been kidnapped by a rival drug cartel. In this particular instance, I would have been viewed by both sides as a chaplain for one cartel seeking blessing and predominance over the other cartel, regardless of what I actually might say to them. The drug cartels are superstiously religious, and in Spanish call themselves "mafias". Pray for Fernando who struggles because he cannot fully distance himself from all these things, because they are all his immediate family members.

The Rotens have a big event coming up this Saturday. Joshua will be married to Claire Antoni, from here in McAllen. Please pray for the Lord's blessing on this new family.

NOTE: for a 12 minute report of the mission work, visit http://www.sherwoodbaptist.com/archive/conference/2007/index.php and look for my link in the list of confence speakers. Both audio and video are available.

Greetings. Our daughter Rosalynn gave birth to Lydia Grace Fulton on August 15, and they are all doing well. Janet has been there with her since before the birth up til now. She should be home again Thursday night

While Janet was away, I have been in Mexico, and also attended one conference and visited 3 supporting churches in the US. I even got to spend a few days with the grandkids in OKC!

I will be travelling to Cardenas on Friday. There are several matters there worthy of your prayers. Please remember the following:
1. The growth of new members in the church.
2. The addition of several who have long been attending without becoming members.
3. Fernando, who is requesting baptism, but struggling ion his life.
4. The need for a different meeting place. The present rented facilities are much too hot, and not able to be cooled.
5. The need for a pastor to soon be set apart in the church.
In addition to these needs in Cardenas, please remember to pray for:
6. Both Dan and Janet's health.
7. The outreach and translation work among the Pa-mes.
8. The Spanish sermon audios website.

Two photos are attached. One is Lydia, our new granddaughter with her older brother Elijah.

The Lord is blessing, and the brethren are encouraged in Cardenas. After a few months postponement, we were able to have the baptism for two sisters in the Lord. Noelia is Fidel's oldest daughter, and Micaela is Eduardo's wife.

Both are rejoicing to have been able to take this step of obedience, and to now hold membership in the Lord's church in Cardenas. I had to use the 4 wheel drive through muddy roads to get out to the selected place where there was ample, clean water. The baptism took place in the morning, and they were officially welcomed as members in the evening service, and the Lord's Supper was held following the service. The church is praying that the Lord will call or send a man to serve the church as pastor. Please join them is this petition.

My wife, and son Daniel left this morning to spend a couple of days with my mother-in-law, and then go on to Oklahoma City to help our daughter Rosalynn, who is expecting our 4th grandchild any day now. Please pray for them all.

Greetings. I am writing from Cardenas. I had to travel a week later than planned, because Michael had his 4 wisdom teeth removed, and Janet was feeling extremely ill due to a new medication that she is taking for her diabetes. Both of them are much improved now.

We had very good services both on Sunday and last night. I have attached a photo of the group present last night. It was good to have 4 visitors in the meeting. The brethren seem to be growing in the faith, and are intent on witnessing to friends.

We finally have been able to schedule the baptism that has been delayed for a few months. Lord willing on Sunday morning, Noelia and Micaela will follow the Lord in baptism. I hope to have pictures of that for you next week.

I made a quick trip out to Cuesta Blanca, the Pa-me village where Pascuala's dad lives. It was good to find out that he is re-reading and re-hearing the tracts and tapes that we leave with him. Tomorrow we should be going to Rio Verde for counseling with Noemi, who was disciplined a couple of months ago. Please pray for her, as well and the continued growth of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Cardenas!

Warmest greetings to all. I am writing this week from Oklahoma City, where I am attending the annual Bible Conference at our home church, Sherwood Baptist Church. Our hearts have been warmed by very instructive teaching and preaching regarding the Holy Spirit. I would encourage you to visit www.sherwoodbaptist.com and go into the audio & video links and listen to the messages, which should all be uploaded to the site within a few days.

Continue to pray for Janet's health. A CT scan on her neck found 5 herniated disks, for which we will need to seek further recommendations from a doctor. In the same scan, they noticed 2 lesions on Janet's thyroid. We have had a sonogram on that, and will see the doctor for the results on Thursday.

June was a very good month for our Spanish audio sermons website. A new record was set for downloaded sermons, reaching nearly 700 sermons downloaded for the month. If you do a search in Google or Yahoo for mp3 sermons, or Baptist mp3 sermons, or sermones in Spanish (searching in Spanish, of course), the webpage consistently appears on the first page of listed sites, occasionally as high as the #1 spot, and often in the #2 spot. That now gives us a very high visibility on the web, and is generating much more traffic. Searching in the search engines unique to Spanish-speaking countries, there are the same results. We much praise the Lord for this wonderful opportunity to preach and teach the Gospel in Spanish around the world!

Thank you for your faithful prayer support!

Our latest 10 days in Cardenas were physically and emotionally demanding. Temps in the bedroom each night were 88 to 94, even though it was nice and cool outside--the concrete block just heats up all day, and radiates all night. Temps in the meeting room for the church were about the same. The brethren are looking around for a different place to rent.

Peter Brown accompanied me on this trip, and was a big help duplicating tapes and going out with me several days to the Pa-me villages. We distributed tracts, Gospel tapes and spoke to individuals as we went house to house. We are still praying for the Lord to direct us to those whose heart He will open to receive the Gospel. Still no progress on the translation and recording of the Pa-me tape. The teacher who has been putting me off on this project will be out of school on summer vacation the next time I am in town, and says he will have plenty of time to finish the project. Please pray with us that the Lord will make it so.

Micaela was not fully recovered from her surgery, and so was not able to be baptized. Noelia gave a testimony of faith to the church, and requested baptism. So, Lord willing, there are two to be baptized on the next trip. Fernando did not make it into the US illegally. He is back in town and I was able to keep exhorting and teaching him several days. His family is still trying to get him to transport drugs for them, and he still refuses. For other reasons, his profession of faith is less than credible, but he keeps coming back, and I keep preaching to him.

I see evidence of both growth, and struggles in the church. Please keep the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Cardenas in you prayers.

Also remember Janet, who at this point seems to be feeling worse instead of better, with the whiplash. She is having regular treatments, but not good progress toward recovery. Also, I am having migraines almost everyday. Medication will relieve the pain, but they still slow me down.

Warmest greetings again. Rejoice with me in the news from my cancer doctors that I am released and no longer have to return to M.D.Anderson for check-ups. I have crossed the 5 year mark with no indications of returning cancer.

Friday I am scheduled to fly to Oklahoma City for an ordination in our home church, Sherwood Baptist Church. I will be leaving from there to drive to Cardenas this month. (I am tired already just thinking about it. It will be a much longer trip than usual.) There are still plans for baptizing 2 sisters in the Lord on this trip. It may not be possible to have the baptism for Micaela, though, because she had a surgery a couple of weeks ago, and may not be released by the doctor for water activities of any sort. We do thank the Lord that she is recovering well.

Traffic on the Spanish audio sermons (mp3 and wma, and soon videos) is up considerably this month. Every month for the last several months there have been new records for visits and downloaded sermons, and this month increased much more than usual. Sound Bible doctrine is being listened to around the world by this means. It always surprises me to even seen downloads from Australia, Poland, India, Norway and other non-Spanish speaking countries. Most of the visits are from the US, Mexico and Argentina, and I guess every Spanish-speaking country in the world is represented among the visitors to the site. You can visit the site at www.riquezasdegracia.com.

Please remember to pray for Janet's health--she is still in pain, and treatment for the whiplash from the auto accident several weeks ago.

Summer has arrived in Cardenas. The concrete block houses toast in the sun all day, soaking up the heat, and then radiate the heat all night long. So even though it gets cool and pleasant outside, the house there has been 90 to 94 degrees each night at bedtime. I didn't sleep very well the last trip down.

The planned baptism did not occur, due to a scheduling conflict. So plans now stand to baptise Micaela after the first of June. Fernando will not be baptised, due to a very inconsistent testimony. And now, he has left for the US, entering as an illegal. His life before professing faith in Christ was such a wreck, that he cannot continue in Cardenas. I can understand that, but I strongly counselled him against going to the US. But, he knows how to "sheetrockear" and thinks that will be the best thing for him for awhile. It is RARE to meet anyone in Cardenas who has not spent time in the US illegally. The official data released last week from the Mexican government stated that in 2006, there were 577,000 emigrants from Mexico, most of them to the US.

One note of grief for the church in Cardenas--Noemi was disciplined and excluded from the church last week. Though it caused much sorrow for the church, it also had a very positive effect on the members, and on those looking forward to membership. They were soberly reminded that church membership is no game, and there is an evident seriousness as a result.

One note of additional blessing. Noelia has professed faith in Christ, and requested baptism. Lord willing she will also be baptised in June.

Today Janet and I celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We are taking a couple of days off together.

We appreciate yours prayers and support! Thank you.

Greetings again.

I am attaching 2 photos from Cardenas. In one picture you see Eduardo and his wife Micaela. The church is happy that in our last service in Cardenas, Micaela presented herself for baptism and church membership. Fernando is still awaiting baptism. Right now, Eduardo is meeting daily with him for discipleship training. Lord willing, these two will be baptized in May, when the water in the lakes and rivers is a little warmer. Pray for their growth and faithfulness.

In the other picture you see Eduardo and Fidel seated at a table in Eduardo's restaurant. This was taken during our regular theology studies. We normally meet from 7:00 to 8:00 am each morning, before the restaurant opens, to read and discuss a book together. For several months we have been going through John Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied. What a joy to see these men growing in understanding of Bible truth.

March was another good month on the website. Over 350 sermons were downloaded from 26 countries.

Janet is still in significant pain from the whiplash in the auto accident last month. She is seeing a chiropractor daily, and just starting to see some improvement.

It is a joy to report to you once again of the Lord's recent blessings in Mexico.

Back before my cancer was discovered and treated, I was traveling on a regular basis to Torreon, Coahuila. There I would meet with the Iglesia Bautista Monte Sion for conference and training sessions with young preachers of that church and area. Then with my cancer, I had to cancel my trips there. For a while, that project was placed on hold. Then seeing that I would not be able to return for a long time, Bro. Tomas Olvera resumed meetings there, along with Ken Billings, and his son Ken Jr. It was my joy this past weekend to finally return, and to participate in the ordination of 3 men who had be chosen by the church as their new pastors. You will see them in the attached photo titled ''ordained", standing with their families. They are, l to r, Leonel Robles, David Aguilera, and Adrian Fernandez.

Also there is a photo attached ("preachers") which shows the group who gathered for the pastoral training sessions. At the front and right you will notice that Bro. Fidel from Cardenas was able to attend to the first time, and found the meetings to be a great profit.

Please pray for Janet. Two weeks ago, while visiting San Antonio, Janet's car was struck in the rear bumper in a hit and run accident. She is now experiencing significant pain from whiplash, and undergoing therapy. Remember to pray for her sarcoidosis also.

Greetings again. Thanks so much for your faithful prayers. The Lord hears and answers, and we are continually blessed to watch and see what the Lord is doing!

I've attached a photo of the ladies gathered around Pascuala and her first grandbaby. This might seem like normal church life to you--that is just what it is. The church is functioning, blessing and being blessed. This is the first baby at the church, and they are taking notice. The young parents, David and Noelia, are yet lost, but have been attending frequently for a long time. Please pray for their salvation. In the picture you see Carmen on the left, and Dalila seated on the right, and Micaela standing on the right.

Pray for Fidel and Eduardo, who do all the preaching when I am in Texas. They are both growing.

Our Pa-me translator completed the translation of our Gospel message in the dialect. He wanted to spend a month practicing the reading so that it would sound well on the recording. So finally, Lord willing, we will be ready to record on the next trip down.

The brethren are regularly requesting tapes and even videos. We are in the process of trying to obtain a suitable video camera. This will allow me to record videos for the internet ministry, as well as made DVDs for the brethren in Cardenas.

I don't think I have mentioned that February was a new record for audio sermon downloads from the website. There was 2.5 gig worth of downloads, which is over 400 sermons going around the world.

Greetings again. I returned Monday from Cardenas. It is a joy to see the steadfastness and joy with which the brethren of the church there are serving the Lord. For several months now Fernando has been attending the worship services. He is wearing the brown jacket in the attached photo. Last Sunday he gave his testimony of faith to the church and requested baptism. He comes from one of the darkest backgrounds that you would not even want to imagine. He has been beaten by his brothers who are angered that he will not ferry drugs for them anymore. Please do remember him in your prayers.

As I have mentioned before, establishing contacts within this Pa-me Indian people is slow going. In our last Bible study in Las Guapas, Candido looked at me with a very somber face, and said "I want to be totally honest with you. I have been inviting people to come to this Bible study with us, but no one is interested." He was fearful that I would not want to return. I reassured him that I would continue to return as long as he is interested in learning more. I have attached 2 pictures from that Bible study. We always meet outside under a porch roof. That day was cold, FOGGY, and misty. But the word was a blessing as it always is. We also left several new cassette recordings with them. Keep praying for Candido, the rest of his family, and the village of Las Guapas. The wet and slippery dirt roads sure made the canyons feel a lot deeper and menacing.

We were able to visit another small village, El Nogalito, for the first time, and leave tracts and cassettes in all the homes.

Keep praying for the Pa-me recording. We should be able to make good progress on that on our next trip. The translator has it finished, and promised to have it on hand when I return.

Please pray for my family members right now--everyone is sick with winter viruses and/or infections, and Michael is getting over pneumonia. We had to cancel our Wednesday night service because of this. The Fritz family is going through the same thing, and would appreciate your prayers.

Greetings from Cardenas. It is my joy this month to have Bro. Paul Brown and Bro. Blain Daugherty accompany me in ministry here. I have attached a photo of Bro. Brown preaching for the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Cardenas, with me interpreting into Spanish, of course.

We have been praying a long time for the Pame translation of a gospel message, to be recorded. It seems we are finally nearing the fulfilling of that desire. One of our translators who was totally inconsistent before, has finally finished a first draft, and soon we will be able to review and record it. Keep praying!

Tomorrow will be a really busy day for us, as I have an early appointment scheduled, and then a trip out to the Pame village of Las Guapas, and then regular services here in Cardenas. Please hold us up before the Lord. We should be leaving Thursday to return to the border.

Greetings once again. Brethren, we count much on you as our partners in prayer!

I do not frequently mention the work here in McAllen, but we continue to divide our time between McAllen, TX (USA) and Cardenas, SLP (Mexico). Our primary calling is to Mexico, and we do not neglect that field. But since we continue to live on the border, I continue to preach and minister here also.

I have attached a photo of the McAllen group last Sunday night. We have occasional missionary visitors, like the Galaviz family who are on the right end of the photo. The Fritz family, and the Rotens are permanent residents of the Rio Grande Valley. The others are our very welcome "Winter Texans" who come here each winter from their homes in the northern states.

This metro area is estimated at 693,000 population this year, and the tri-city area (McAllen, Mission, & Edinburg) is one of fastest growing in the nation, and is expected to reach 1.4 million in the next 35 years. Because my primary calling is to Mexico, I cannot invest a lot of time working this side of the border, but the need is GREAT. Yet, ours is the only Sovereign Grace Baptist witness here, and there are no Sovereign Grace Baptist churches. Please pray that the Lord would grant the establishment of a Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in this place.

Greetings! Brethren, it is a joy to serve the Lord in Mexico, colaboring together with you who give and pray for this work. You are an essential part of this ministry, and there is fruit to your account. As this is our last Mexico Mission Brief of 2006, I want to express a big THANK YOU for all of your giving, praying, and correspondence in 2006.

I know several of you pray regularly for the outreach into the Pame (paw may) people. This indigenous tribal people was thriving in this same mountainous area of Mexico when the Spanish conquest took place in the early 1500s. Since that time they have been decimated by isolation, slavish oppression, starvation, and ignorance. Today they number only in the tens of thousands, and are yet extremely poor, fearful of outsiders, and uneducated. The fields they work produce meager harvests, and they have precious little financial contact with the outside Mexican society and economy. The "Pame visit" photo shows Fidel sitting and talking to a Pame man on one of our visits to Las Guapas.

Openings for us among them have been very slow. Our most promising contact is in Las Guapas, with two men who are brothers--Candido and Jacinto. I have been visiting there regularly, and they are requesting more frequent visits. The other photo titled "Jacinto" shows him looking at a new tape player that I had just given him, and his wife looking over the cassettes that I was leaving for them. Neither Jacinto nor Candido professes faith, but Candido is listening closely, and studying all that we give him, and sharing what he learns with family and neighbors. Brethren, the Pames are one of the tribes, tongues, peoples and nations which Christ redeemed. He has His people there. Please join us in praying regularly for souls to be saved, and a church planted within this people! Also pray that we may soon find a reliable Pame translator to get a gospel message translated and recorded.

We rejoice to labor together with you in the Lord's harvest. The brethren from Cardenas greet you once again. The attached photo shows the smiling faces and a few waves sent your way. There have been several new visitors coming to services lately, while some who had attended frequently for years having fallen by the wayside. So we have had both joy and sorrow in seeing what is happening in souls there. Those who are members of the church have remained faithful, and have been busy in their witness outside the church. Please pray for their growth in spiritual maturity. They are experiencing the struggles that are normal for a very young church.

Continue to pray for Francisco, who continues walking faithfully with the Lord, while experiencing harsh opposition from within his own home.

Especially I ask you to remember to pray for Fernando, who has recently confessed faith in the Lord, and comes from a past of both using and selling drugs. He has a mother and brothers in the same illicit occupation, that are continually tempting and attempting to drag him down with them.

The last trip out to Las Guapas was another trip of slipping and sliding on the muddy dirt roads, making good use of the 4 wheel drive. We had a good visit with Candido, his brother, father and mother. Candido is the best contact we have so far among the Pames, and wants to have regular Bible studies. Fidel continues to make new contacts in Cardenas, with people from Las Guapas, requesting personal visits. That seems to be the village where the Lord is stirring up the most interest, so please pray with us for this village and families. One of the attached photos shows Candido sitting with me during one Bible study.

The other photo is taken from the road up the hill, looking down toward Candido's house. He lives in the group of houses in the upper part of the photo, where you see a house with rust stained red streaks.

We STILL have been unable to get a translator for the Pame recording, so please continue to remember this in your prayers.

This is the biggest month so far of traffic on the sermon website. We have had almost 2 gig of sermon downloads already, and praise the Lord that His word is going out this way now. Send your Spanish speaking friends to www.riquezasdegracia.com.

Janet has not felt well lately, but has been working very hard. Saturday is her birthday, and she would be much pleased to receive birthday greetings from several of you. You can write to her at janet@sherwoodbaptist.com

back to top