Mexico FIEL - EFCA Midwest District Partnership

Mexico Evangelical Free Church partners with MWD Evangelical Free Church of America

HISTORY

  1. Initiated in 2001 between leaders of the FIEL and the MWD.
  2. District vision trips were made in 2002 - 2003. Each time the teams worked with our Free Church missionaries and built relationships with the pastors and leaders of the FIEL.
  3. Several MWD churches have come on board and have pursued relationships with Mexican churches.

PURPOSE

The Mexico Partnership exists to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Hispanic people in Mexico and the United States.

A FEW MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

The recent years of ministry between MWD churches and the FIEL churches have been productive. The following is a partial list of what we have seen the Lord do through Midwest District churches in ministry in Mexico. To God be the Glory!

Leadership Training

Bill Smith, superintendent for the Midwest District, has been invited to several of the Leadership meetings of the FIEL to present Leadership principles and Biblical teaching. Bill and Sue Smith also did a traveling training and relationship building tour to many FIEL works in 2007. Dennis Hesselbarth and Flavio Gonzalez from Wichita, participated in the annual assembly to teach principles of a healthy family in 2005, and Pastors Dale Ribble and Bryan Dahlberg from Lincoln taught pastors the book of I Timothy in 2007.

Reynosa

Both the Sidney EFC and the Manhattan Faith EFC have worked in Reynosa, Tamaulipas to assist Pastor Benjamin Torres and his congregation. Sidney helped put a roof over the Torres' family home and Manhattan joined with the 'Lily of the Valley' EFC in various youth ministries. Because of the encouragement and support of the various team activities, local government has promised to come alongside the church with some future projects.

Matamoros

Teams from Monroe EFC and Holdrege Trinity EFC were among those that worked with 'The Palms' EFC. Pastor Juan Roque and his ministry team have a vision to reach the city with multiple cell group churches that join to worship on Sundays. They purchased property east of the city just off the highway towards the beach and have been building a ministry center that includes dorms and picnic areas. The US teams built the water system from tower to facilities to septic field. Because of their work, a national youth retreat was held the same summer. The team's outreach efforts into neighboring suburbs brought about new cell groups that joined the church.

Hidalgo State - Tlanchinol, Citlala, Tenango, San Felipe, & Aquilastec

The Grand Island EFC formed a relationship with the Aquilastec church in the rural mountains, and the Oak Lake EFC has a relationship with the Citlala church. These are part of a cluster of Mexican Evangelical Free Churches in the rural mountains of an area where persecution exists against evangelical believers.

The mentoring pastor and missionary, Dionicio Hernandez, accepted a call to the area from the city about 13 years ago. He, his wife, Doris, and daughter, Yehezquel, who live in the county seat of Tlanchinol have not been allowed to rent any home for more than two years, and have not even been allowed to build on their own land because of political persecution against evangelicals. Every time the church would begin to consolidate and grow, they would have to move to another home and the church attendance would fall. In 2003 the Omaha Brookside EFC brought a men's team to Tlanchinol to do Outreach English and Construction. Dr. Brian Finley on that team offered his services to do a medical clinic. He treated over 160 patients; among them was the county president's wife with a migraine. The county president was so grateful that Dr. Finley had resolved his wife's pain that he gave permission for Pastor Dionicio to build on his property. The building is a multi-level ministry center that includes the 'Word of God' EFC and a training center for the region, as well as a home and a place for Dionicio's bi-vocational glass and aluminum business. Grand Island EFC, Lincoln Oak Lake EFC and Omaha Brookside EFC have brought several ministry teams over the past several years. They haven't forgotten their rural village partners, but the goal over the past couple of years was to encourage and strengthen Pastor Dionicio's ministry in Tlanchinol as he makes himself available to mentor the village ministries. There have been medical teams, children's ministry, Outreach English, women's ministries, addiction treatment ministries as well as construction teams to work on the structure.

Summer 2008 teams completed the second floor roof enclosing a space that will be dedicated for the church to use. With great rejoicing we announce that on Sunday, August 31, 2008, the Word of God EFC held their first worship service in 'their' space.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For additional information please contact:

Partnership Director
Eric Petersen
email - Eric.Petersen@efca.org
phone - 308-746-1274

EFCA ReachGlobal CONNECT Mexico Advocates
Eric and June Petersen
mailing address
PO Box 2437
Kearney NE 68848

Midwest District EFCA
email - midwestefca@charter.net
Mailing address - 218 West 18th Street
Kearney, NE 68845

THREE MAJOR MINISTRY AREAS

The FIEL has identified three major areas of ministry needs for their churches. The Partnership seeks to send teams to respond to these needs as identified by each local Mexican congregation.

  1. EVANGELISM

    This is the most typical area of ministry. Teams may be requested to serve in a number of different areas.

    1. Evangelistic special events, arranged by the local church.
    2. Children's Vacation Bible School. Activities could include games, teaching, music and handcrafts.
    3. English as a second language. (EFCA-CONNECT has excellent outreach training materials available. You do not have to speak Spanish to do this type of ministry).
    4. Adult Bible teaching with evangelistic emphasis
    5. Athletic Camps. Soccer is a very popular sport in Mexico and will draw a group of children in the community. Other sports can also be taught as part of sharing Christ.
  2. TRAINING

    Bible teaching is a need for adults as well as local pastors. At least twice a year the Partnership plans to send teaching teams into Mexico. These teams will meet with adults that will gather together from around Mexico to learn God's Word. Mexican pastors will benefit as many do not have opportunity for formal education in Biblical studies.

  3. CONSTRUCTION

    In many locations, the local church has asked for assistance in improving their facilities. Teams that go to help in construction will be encouraged to include a ministry component that helps the spiritual growth of the congregation.