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Posted: 7/25/03

TOGETHER:
Partnership can change both groups

The National Baptist Convention of Mexico celebrated its 100th anniversary last week in Mexico City. I was invited to speak to them, sharing three essential elements to biblical revival–prayer, vision and cooperation.

Until Jesus comes again, Mexico and Texas are “joined at the hip.” We have signed a covenant agreement pledging that the Baptist General Convention of Texas will cooperate with the National Baptist Convention of Mexico to achieve our common objectives in prayer, evangelism, church planting, missions, benevolent ministries and leadership training. Staff representatives from both conventions are exploring ways that our churches, institutions and convention ministries can work together in achieving these objectives.

We already have seen significant cooperative efforts under way in meeting human needs through River Ministry, our Texas Baptist hospitals and Texas Partnerships working with the Baptist Hospital in Guadalajara, and countless ministries of individual churches. In the area of leadership training, exciting conversations are going on between our Texas Baptist institutions and the two Mexican Baptist seminaries.

In their goal to establish 10,000 churches in Mexico in the next 10 years, we have been able to provide the services of Otto Arrango, who has developed a tested training model of equipping pastors to train laity to become church planters. After seven months, we heard a report that already 2,450 students have been enrolled in this lay training in 115 churches, and they have set a goal to start 3,512 churches in the next few years.

I ask all Texas Baptists to pray for these efforts. There are 23 million Texans and 100 million Mexicans. Millions of them need to know the saving presence of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Miguel Bustamante drove us to the Mexico City airport, and he shared his testimony of God's touch on his life and the story of the church he now pastors. Two years ago, he went to this church, which had only one family remaining. Now it is thriving, with more than 200 members. He explained: “First, we began to have daily prayer meetings at the church. Then, I went to visit the inactive members, many who had been hurt in the past. I apologized for the hurt, even though I wasn't personally involved before. I preached the basic biblical doctrines of love, forgiveness, living for Jesus and salvation. The people began to come back, and they brought many others with them.”

When I arrived at DFW airport, a young man picked me up to take me to my car. The conversation got around to God's work in our lives. He said: “I got saved just a few weeks ago. I want to honor God in what I do with my life.”

“Did someone help you give your life to God?” I asked. “Yes,” he said. “I have prayed the sinner's prayer a lot of times, but I didn't really understand. This fellow who works with me took a Bible and showed me what it means, and when I prayed this time, I really understood and meant what I was saying. And my life is totally different now. It's great to be saved!”

That's just two of the millions in Mexico and Texas who need Jesus, but look at what God is doing through ordinary people who will use who they are and what God has given them to reach out.

We are loved.