March 11, 2002
Donated Spanish-language Testaments
already bearing fruit in Piedras Negras
___PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico--Gospel seeds planted by Baptists have begun to bear fruit in northern Mexico.
___Members of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Piedras Negras–just across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass--have delivered evangelistic packets to one-fourth of the homes in their city. They plan to deliver the materials, which include tracts and a New Testament or a copy of the Gospel of John, to all 42,000 residences.
___And even before the sowing is complete, they're witnessing the beginning of a harvest, noted Israel Rodgriguez-Segura, the church's pastor.
___Church members delivered the packets to a section of the city called Presidentes Feb. 22.
___Jose Luis Cantu received a packet on Friday and visited the church on Sunday, Rodriguez said.
___"He listened attentively to the message that was preached and participated in the joyful environment of fellowship in our church," the pastor reported. "When the invitation was given, he came ... responding to the invitation of salvation that Christ offered to him. With eyes filled with tears, he confessed Jesus Christ as personal Savior."
___The church sponsors more than 120 family cell groups that meet across the city. During the following week, a member of the cell group closest to Cantu's home visited him, asking him to participate in the small Bible study.
___All this made a significant impact, Rodriguez said.
___"Sunday, March 3, Jose Luis came to church once again, but this time accompanied by his entire family--his wife and three adolescent children. After hearing the message, every member of the family made a decision for Christ. With God's help, on Sunday, March 17, the entire family will obey the Lord in baptism."
___These are the kind of results Primera Iglesia members hope to see all over their city.
___They have collected enough materials to present more than 30,000 gospel portions to homes in the city, and they are organized for delivery, Rodriguez said.
___"There is a large group of brothers and sisters who for different reasons cannot go from door to door, so they are supporting those who can with prayer," he said.
___"The youth of our church have formed an excellent team that puts the packets together and works every day in a special room to print brochures and needed materials, package the materials with gospel portions and take them to the distribution coordinators.
___"Every week, more than 100 people are going out to the streets and knocking on doors to say, 'Good morning, we are from the First Baptist Church ... and want to give you and your family a gift. May God bless you.'"
___Although Primera Iglesia members have completed about one-fourth of their city project, they already are looking ahead, Rodriguez said. They hope to distribute evangelistic materials in Eagle Pass on the Texas side of the Rio Grande and in Acuña and Sabinas on the Mexican side. They also hope to do mission work in the state of Guanajuato in the interior of Mexico.
___Dexton Shores, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' River Ministry, has asked Texas Baptists to "pray for this effort to saturate the borderlands with the gospel."
___Sunday School classes, mission action groups or churches that would like to help provide Spanish New Testaments or Gospels of John to the effort can send them to Del Rio/Uvalde Baptist Association, 244 Mulberry St., P.O. Drawer 1728, Uvalde 78801.
___Donors also may purchase Spanish-language New Testaments from the International Bible Society for 75 cents each or Spanish-language copies of the Gospel of John for 15 cents each.
___The Bible society's phone number is (800) 524-1588.
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