September 2, 2002

Mary Hill Davis funds flow through River Ministry
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___GARLAND--The room was packed. People stood in the doorway trying to hear. The audience clung to the speaker's every word, even though they could not understand him. A translator interpreted the message: "Jesus saves. And he wants you to save others."
___Listeners responded. One hundred people, some never before interested in evangelism, went to a mission meeting. There were professions of faith in Christ and rededications of faith. The crowd deeply desired to follow Christ.
___This was the Pentecost-like scene at First Baptist Church in Garland as Nicholas Hernandez, a seminary professor from Juarez, Mexico, delivered two Spanish sermons one Sunday morning earlier this year. Dexton Shores, director of the Rio Grande River Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, translated the message.
___The event was the result of a long relationship between Hernandez and First Baptist in Garland that has been fostered by Texas River Ministry.
___When Hernandez became the pastor of Mount of Olives Baptist Church in Juarez, the church was in the middle of a building project. Hernandez convinced the congregation it did not need the new additions. Instead, he said, the church should start new churches for the growing population.
___Juarez is a city of 3 million people, many of them poor, and there are only 2,500 evangelical Christians, he said. The city lacks significant infrastructure. That makes door-to-door evangelism difficult.
___Hernandez's church began sponsoring cell groups in homes. Small groups would gather to hold regular Bible studies and hopefully grow into a church.
___"For me it is very important to establish a mission in each colonia," Hernandez said. "We must go and take the gospel closer to their homes. When we have Vacation Bible School close to the homes, we have more than 100 children attend, but they will not go to the church. In the next colonia, we will have another 100 children from that area."
___While Hernandez was cultivating the cell groups, the small seminary in town was trying to hire a church-starting professor, but was having trouble raising the necessary funds. River Ministry pledged $500 a month salary, and the seminary hired Hernandez.
___River Ministry also offers scholarships to the 28 students. The Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions funds the scholarships, as well as providing other support to the seminary through River Ministry.
___The seminary struggled to get by. By Shores' description, it is "in the middle of one of the worst neighborhoods in Juarez," surrounded by rampant drug use, crime and sex-related businesses. The staff considered relocating the seminary, but the students rejected the notion, believing if they could not reach the area around them, they could not reach anyone.
___The students and Hernandez started a church, naming one of the students as pastor. Some of the students pledged money to create a $40-per-month salary package for the pastor.
___"The economic situation is very difficult for the students," Hernandez said. "They receive $11 per month. Most must work in the mornings and then study at the seminary in the afternoons. Their weekends are spent working at a mission or church. Some have offered to give $1 per week, others $2. For some it is difficult, but most give with much enthusiasm."
___The church's efforts were not met with open arms by local residents, however.
___"The disintegration in the family that exists and the trauma that they carry has made them used to that type of living," Hernandez said. "They do not believe there is any other way of life."
___His dream of growing churches in Juarez received a boost in 2001 when he met a man with similar aspirations.
___"It has always been my dream to be involved in mission partnership and starting new churches and reaching people for Christ," said Jim Witt, associate pastor of missions and young married adults at First Baptist Church in Garland.
___The Garland church brought a team of volunteers to help Hernandez improve ties with the communities and evangelize when possible, marking the beginning of a continuing relationship.
___"We have helped to strengthen the direction they wanted to go," Witt said. "Our ministry has been to encourage and support more than anything else."
___After the encouragement of the missionaries, the church made headway in the community. The public became more open to the message because the people understood the church was trying to help.
___"We are helping those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol," Hernandez said. "We are giving them medication and taking them to rehabilitation centers. Now the community sees in us the possibility of change. There are 25 studies in the homes, with the missionary being accepted by everyone. One of the drug addicts who used to rob us at the seminary is presently being rehabilitated."
___The Garland church flew Hernandez to North Texas to preach that February morning this year. It was his first time in the United States, and he was amazed at the possibilities of the large Christian community in Texas. He dreamed what would happen if just a quarter of the 5,000 members of the Garland church would minister in Juarez.
___The congregation also saw his vision, and a team of 50 will take a mission trip to Juarez this summer. They plan to paint houses, teach English and Bible classes as well as staff a medical clinic. One member of the congregation donated $1,800 to allow the pastor of the seminary's church to be a full-time minister without concern about personal finances.
___Hernandez expressed gratitude for all Texas Baptists have done to help the people in Juarez.
___"Many see Mexico as a mission field, which is true," he said. "They have encouraged a mission thrust. Many of the activities and results would not have happened had many not put their heart in the work in Mexico. You are and will continue to be ... a blessing for the work in Mexico."
___Hernandez is confident Baptist efforts will reach the people of Juarez.
___"We have an attendance of eight adults and 10 children," he said. "For us that is a great accomplishment. It will not be easy, but in a few years we will have a church of the Lord."

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