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A MESSAGE OF HOPE:
Leadership Conferences in Southern
Mexico
By Frank R. Parrish
This past November, I was privileged to minister at two
pastors’ gatherings in Chiapas, southern Mexico. As in prior trips, I was
humbled and amazed by the immense hunger of pastors and leaders for more of
God and His Word – and equally humbled by God’s ready willingness to fill
them!
Our ministry team was headed by Don and Lois Richter,
founders and directors of Harvest Preparation International. They are a
wise, seasoned and compassionate couple, with a powerful outreach to
pastors; they have partnered with World MAP by putting Shepherd’s Staffs
into the hands of leaders throughout Mexico and Africa. We were also joined
by Pastor Vic Torres, who pastors a community-impacting church in upstate
New York.
In both conferences, it was clear that the theme was
right on target: “Weathering the Storms of Life in the Church”. Pastors in
this part of Mexico face profound difficulties in their lives and much
opposition in their ministries.
Many who had planned on attending the first conference
laid aside that deep desire in order to take up the difficult, yet
joy-filled, labor of helping to restore a nearby community, Tapachula,
which had been devastated by recent hurricanes.
This town lost many citizens, as well as homes, bridges
and businesses. Food and water were scarce and there was no government aid
available. But the pastors and congregants who could went with medicines,
food and supplies to help bring relief and a message of hope. Many were
receiving Christ through the love and compassion showed by the local
Christians!
We had a wonderful time of teaching, fellowship and
ministry with the pastors in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
The conference concluded with a presentation of World
MAP’s Shepherd’s Staffs to each attendee; extra copies were left for
the pastors who could not join with us.
Fierce Resistance
The second conference was held in San Cristobal de las
Casas, in the central mountains of Chiapas.
As descendents of the Mayans, the local people practice
a bizarre syncretistic blend of Mayan animism and saint worship borrowed
from the early Catholic missionaries. They are tightly controlled by the
tribal elders, who require the people to daily drink both an alcoholic
drink called “posh” and a cola drink in order to be protected from evil.
Of course, the people have to buy these products from
the elders at a very heavy mark-up.
We also visited a local “church” and watched as shamans
(witchdoctors), who are also paid by the local villagers, chanted prayers to
various saints but not to Jesus.
The shamans and elders fiercely resist Christianity and
any person espousing faith other than their tribal religions. Children are
even forbidden by the elders from attending the local elementary school.
The town hospital is nearly empty, though there are
many who could benefit from its services. However, those resorting to
medical means for help are severely persecuted.
But the greatest persecution is reserved for
Christians. In the nearby town of San Juan Chamula, just a few months prior
to our conference, a local evangelist had preached. Two miracles of healing
took place, but he was driven from the town with angry threats. He
returned, and again preached the Gospel. Another undisputed miracle of
healing took place. This time, the elders and villagers seized the pastor,
gathered the townspeople in the square and forced them to watch as they
burned the pastor alive! There are still Christians in this and similar
communities, but they must meet secretly and avoid the ever-watchful
“mayordomos” (elders).
Oh, how people desperately need the simple yet
all-powerful message of hope, deliverance and freedom available only
through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Profound Impact
An unprecedented 80 pastors from the surrounding mountains
joined with the several hundred local pastors for our second conference in
San Cristobal. We had a tremendous time of sharing from God’s Word about
navigating and overcoming in the midst of storms. The pastors received so
much encouragement and impartation, and were profoundly impacted by this
conference.
In addition, the pastors at both conferences were
presented with their own copy of World MAP’s The Shepherd’s Staff,
which they received with much gratitude and joy! Each pastor was also
signed up to receive a free three-year subscription to ACTS Equipping
Magazine.
Thank you for all that you do to help make these
conferences and equipping materials available; I only wish there were some
way to adequately communicate to you their impact and importance in the
lives of these front-line pastors. The rich teaching through the seminars, Shepherd’s
Staffs and ACTS materials will yield multiplied fruitfulness for years
to come.
Thank you for praying and for giving. May
God bless you for your commitment to the burgeoning Church in developing
nations!
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