Mexico Mission

        Teaching To Evangelize Locally

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We spent five evenings, Tuesday through Saturday, conducting a training work at the church in Moroleon, with each of us four men taking turns teaching. We were able to maintain two sessions each evening, with the first three evenings devoted to teaching on Elders of the Church, and the last two evenings on why we do not use the Bible Class or Sunday School method of teaching. The teaching we provided was well received, and included lively discussions during question and answer sessions. I wish more men from other congregations had been present, but those from outside the Moroleon area included Javier Najera, Joel Najera, Nathanael Martinez, who were all present last year, and Tomas Colin. Unbeknownst to us, the Moroleon congregation had recently appointed elders and deacons, so hopefully our teaching on church leadership provided a resource for them to evaluate the men they have chosen.

Elders & Deacons at Moroleon

The main reasons for our teaching on the Bible Class system is because several of the congregations have been using children’s classes. It is my opinion that there are two primary things that have contributed to the introduction of the use of Bible Classes among these churches: (1) The absence of our direct, personal contact and teaching with these churches, for over a decade, by regular mission trips; and (2) the emergence of a new, younger group of church leaders and preachers with whom our U.S. brethren have not had personal contact or influence during the years of our absence. A third reason cannot be ruled out, that being the influence of churches that use Bible Classes. It is my humble opinion that we not act hastily toward these congregations and “cut them off,” but continue to teach and reason with the brethren who can influence this matter. They were open to our teaching about it and promised to study the matter. Hopefully Pat Manon’s book on Bible Classes, that has been translated into Spanish and is to be printed and distributed, will help settle this issue. Also, I strongly believe we need to provide resources to the churches that will aid their parents in the teaching of their children at home. We carried six copies of a Spanish children’s Bible and left for the brethren to evaluate and distribute. It was apparent these six copies were not enough. I recommend we arrange for the purchase of additional copies, either through a source in Morelia, or through Gospel Tidings and ship directly to the church at Moroleon. The Biblia Para Principiantes can be purchased through Gospel Tidings for approximately $7.50 each in a case lot of 12 books.

The Moroleon congregation is thriving, has many young families with children, and apparently enjoys a good reputation within the community. Our translator, Jose, was so favorably impressed, that we expect to receive word of his obedience to the Gospel. Both Bro. Roberto Lara and Bro. Martin Magana are studying to improve their English skills.

On Sunday afternoon, November 11, we traveled to Morelia to meet with the church there, where Bro. Francisco Martinez preaches, at which time Scott preached to a smaller group than what is at Moroleon. I am sure Lenoir, Dennis, and Scott have a better insight into the work at Morelia than I, so I will forego any comments, except to say I was disappointed that we did not get to see David Garcia or any of the folks that meet in the church in his home.

Iglesia de Cristo, Ocampo

On Tuesday, November 13, we traveled to Ocampo to visit with Bro. Tomas Colin and his family, as well as the church there. Tomas and his wife, Eva, have five children, two of whom are married with a child each, and three sons who are still single. I was left with the impression that all of these are active in the church. The highlight of this visit was to walk up the hillside from the church building, and visit the home of 90 year old Bro. Benifacio, and his wife, Soledad, who have been members of the church for many years. We were told they are the ones who donated the land on which the church building sits. It was my observation that both churches at Morelia and Ocampo are using Bible Classes for their children.

Lenoir Hanry & Benefacio Soledad, Ocampo

Mexico Mission Fund     P.O. Box 995     Greenwood, AR 72936