Thanks for your prayers!
The Pictures say it all...
Blessings,
Pastor Linc, Dave & Sheryl
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Tijuana: Step Up To Life Training
Over 100 were trained with Step Up To Life
Thanks for your prayers!
The Pictures say it all...
Blessings,
Pastor Linc, Dave & Sheryl
Thanks for your prayers!
The Pictures say it all...
Blessings,
Pastor Linc, Dave & Sheryl
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tijuana: Wed-Thur
Sheryl reporting...
What an interesting week we’ve had thus far! It’s been very different from other trips in that we’ve not had a lot of large group meetings. Rather, we’ve had time to spend with individual couples continuing to develop friendships and relationships….to hear what’s been happening in their lives and families, and to speak words of encouragement to them.
I just love telling you about the people and all that comes with them. We may have inherited a beautiful 15 yr. old daughter of a wonderful pastor friend! She has a deep desire in her heart to study in the States, so we have offered the option of living with us in Omaha when she’s ready for the University. Her wish is to study in the area of Criminal Justice, which she could do there at UNO. She loves the Lord profoundly, and would be a joy to have living with us….although we’re not sure we really want to parent teenagers again! Fortunately we all have 3-5 years to pray on it before any decision would be made.
We spent yesterday morning with Pastor Raphael and his wife Juanita. You may remember him as the former president of the Ministerial Alliance here, or as the friend who held the “carne asada” picnic in honor of Dave a couple of years ago. We were privileged to be with them about a year ago when they renewed their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary. This has been a very challenging time for them both spiritually and financially, so we were thankful to be able to meet with them. Dave will tell you more later, I’m sure.
This morning we spent some time with Pastor Cuco, director of Operation Light – the Halloween outreach his church does here in Tijuana every year. This year they had well over 1,000 individuals in the church for 5 separate “programs” during the evening. People started lining up an hour before the doors opened….all dressed in an amazing array of costumes. We’ve seen the pictures, and it was totally organized chaos!! They closed the street off, and no one even objected! Many people gave their lives to the Lord, and there were 250 new visitors in the service Sunday morning. The big project now is how to organize discipleship for all these new Believers. They’re very encouraged with the results, and haven’t even heard from the other churches yet as to how things went. Pastor Cuco’s church is also establishing a 24 hr. house of prayer here in Tijuana at the church. We saw that today, and heard the vision for its operation. Totally amazing vision from God! They hope to have it operational by April.
In the midst of all of that, the Alliance has a variety of huge concerts, events, and outreaches going on all at the same time. It’s really pretty exciting to watch! Next weekend will be a concert with about 3,000 tickets sold already. In order to get the most out of the rental for the facility, they are also holding a youth purity conference earlier that day….expecting well over 1,000 kids at that. And then there’s the SUTL training going on in the city, in conjunction with Marked For Life, and Fresh Start workshops, and initiating a police chaplain corps, and a pastoral training school that begins with a course in theology next Wednesday evening. All of this and more in the middle of an extremely challenging economy, community health issues, political corruption, and violence! God is definitely at work in this city! Please continue praying for our brothers and sisters here as they try to get the Tijuana harvest in.
Because the economy is so difficult here, many of the pastors have not been able to get together as much as they used to do. It’s been good for us to be here because it has given them opportunity to get together, and to connect with Pastor Jesús again. The problem is that all of our “friendship events” tend to focus around meals, cafecita, lunches, breakfasts, food, food, and more food! Dave still sticks mostly to carne asada with rice and beans….but I’ve been eating some of the strangest things ever this week! I can have rice and beans at home. Jesús and I had a seafood “chowder” of some kind at noon today that appeared to have come directly from the sea! In addition to the zucchini, carrots, onions, potatoes…..there was everything imaginable in it in a bowl the size of an ice cream pail! We’re talking clams (complete with shells), half of a crab (yes, bringing its shell along and hanging over the side of the bowl), shrimp, and four other seafood items which I preferred not to ask about!! Last night we hit the taco stand two blocks away, and oh, my goodness! Dave was absolutely right that this is the best one ever! I’m sure the Health Department in Omaha would have been aghast, but the tacos and mulitas were the best!!
Our health is holding up well, (although Jesús has been somewhat sick all week with a bad cold), and we prayed for a girl this morning with the flu. You should have seen Dave hesitate at that one when they told him what she was sick with! Guess it comes in the category of drinking poison and picking up snakes! Hand sanitizer has become a very good friend these days. We’re sleeping very well, and Carlos (the hotel manager) is taking very good care of us. We’re looking forward to having Lincoln join us tomorrow afternoon, and then the marathon weekend begins until we return home about 11:00 p.m. on Sunday evening. Pray for the training time on Saturday with Pastor Linc. There are approximately 100 pastors and leaders planning to come. Each of them will return to train their own leadership teams in SUTL. The new “Marked for Life” edition in Spanish is being overnited hot off the presses at Woolverton Printing Co. yesterday afternoon.
Thanks for caring and praying!
Dave and Sheryl
http://gehrlsministry.blogspot.com/
What an interesting week we’ve had thus far! It’s been very different from other trips in that we’ve not had a lot of large group meetings. Rather, we’ve had time to spend with individual couples continuing to develop friendships and relationships….to hear what’s been happening in their lives and families, and to speak words of encouragement to them.
I just love telling you about the people and all that comes with them. We may have inherited a beautiful 15 yr. old daughter of a wonderful pastor friend! She has a deep desire in her heart to study in the States, so we have offered the option of living with us in Omaha when she’s ready for the University. Her wish is to study in the area of Criminal Justice, which she could do there at UNO. She loves the Lord profoundly, and would be a joy to have living with us….although we’re not sure we really want to parent teenagers again! Fortunately we all have 3-5 years to pray on it before any decision would be made.
We spent yesterday morning with Pastor Raphael and his wife Juanita. You may remember him as the former president of the Ministerial Alliance here, or as the friend who held the “carne asada” picnic in honor of Dave a couple of years ago. We were privileged to be with them about a year ago when they renewed their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary. This has been a very challenging time for them both spiritually and financially, so we were thankful to be able to meet with them. Dave will tell you more later, I’m sure.
This morning we spent some time with Pastor Cuco, director of Operation Light – the Halloween outreach his church does here in Tijuana every year. This year they had well over 1,000 individuals in the church for 5 separate “programs” during the evening. People started lining up an hour before the doors opened….all dressed in an amazing array of costumes. We’ve seen the pictures, and it was totally organized chaos!! They closed the street off, and no one even objected! Many people gave their lives to the Lord, and there were 250 new visitors in the service Sunday morning. The big project now is how to organize discipleship for all these new Believers. They’re very encouraged with the results, and haven’t even heard from the other churches yet as to how things went. Pastor Cuco’s church is also establishing a 24 hr. house of prayer here in Tijuana at the church. We saw that today, and heard the vision for its operation. Totally amazing vision from God! They hope to have it operational by April.
Because the economy is so difficult here, many of the pastors have not been able to get together as much as they used to do. It’s been good for us to be here because it has given them opportunity to get together, and to connect with Pastor Jesús again. The problem is that all of our “friendship events” tend to focus around meals, cafecita, lunches, breakfasts, food, food, and more food! Dave still sticks mostly to carne asada with rice and beans….but I’ve been eating some of the strangest things ever this week! I can have rice and beans at home. Jesús and I had a seafood “chowder” of some kind at noon today that appeared to have come directly from the sea! In addition to the zucchini, carrots, onions, potatoes…..there was everything imaginable in it in a bowl the size of an ice cream pail! We’re talking clams (complete with shells), half of a crab (yes, bringing its shell along and hanging over the side of the bowl), shrimp, and four other seafood items which I preferred not to ask about!! Last night we hit the taco stand two blocks away, and oh, my goodness! Dave was absolutely right that this is the best one ever! I’m sure the Health Department in Omaha would have been aghast, but the tacos and mulitas were the best!!
Thanks for caring and praying!
Dave and Sheryl
http://gehrlsministry.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tijuana: Day Three
Dave reporting this time.
First, Thank You for your prayers we feel wonderfully covered.
Today we have breakfast with Raphael, the past President of the Alliance, then lunch with Eduardo and Ana Mendez, the founders of our two orphanages followed by a follow-up ministry session tonight.
We continue to be amazed with the favor God continues to give us in serving these precious brothers and sisters…They have adopted us as their own. Please pray that we clearly hear the Lord’s heart and speak His words in every opportunity.
Blessings,
Dave & Sheryl
First, Thank You for your prayers we feel wonderfully covered.
Yesterday we had good meetings with some core leaders and made some new friends. We had the honor of sitting with two pastors in their 70’s or higher who we know suffered much for the Gospel, yet were so full of the joy of the Lord…
We enjoyed being with Jesús and Rosa as they went about their day…taking care of a precious granddaughter…talking with Rosa, Abel and Manuel as we waited at the border on the way to do some errands in the US and a weekly Bible Study.
We continue to be amazed with the favor God continues to give us in serving these precious brothers and sisters…They have adopted us as their own. Please pray that we clearly hear the Lord’s heart and speak His words in every opportunity.
Blessings,
Dave & Sheryl
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tijuana: Day Two
Greetings!
The morning began very early on Monday with a Pastors’ morning prayer group. They were mostly all known to us already, so we were incorporated right into the prayer circles rather than having to be introduced first. That was kind of special as it allowed us to minister with them to each other as peers instead of being set apart as the unique visitors from the States! Interesting note was that they separate men and women into two different prayer circles. Dave at least had a translator or two among the men, but I found myself surrounded by pastors’ wives who spoke almost no English! Thankfully, I can understand a bit of Spanish, but it was stretching at best! We found an amazing thing, though, as we prayed. When I prayed with the women, I just prayed as the Spirit led, and Rosa (Pastor Jesús wife) prayed right along with me in Spanish. We’re still not sure whether or not the Lord was giving her interpretation of what was being prayed! The only thing we know is that we could see the Holy Spirit moving on the women and bringing peace to their hearts….in the midst of great physical, spiritual, and emotional challenges for them.
Another lunch followed that meeting, as is the custom here. The twelve-alarm chili was good when you could get past the choking, burning lips, and gasping….all done discreetly, of course, while declaring “Muy Rica!!)!! One could say it was “tasty”! This church meets in a lovely building that also contains a rather sizeable Christian bookstore – all Spanish, of course – where I couldn’t resist buying a new travel-sized Spanish Bible….and two new worship CD’s…Dave thought I was a bit crazy, but it made sense to me! If you can find the reference, they can read the verse, and it makes sense to the one who needs it!
We met with Gerardo Espejel later in the early evening at his office near the beach in Rosarito. Unfortunately, a dense fog had rolled in, so there wasn’t much visible of the beach THAT day! Many of you may remember meeting Gerardo when he was with us in Omaha earlier in the Spring. He is working among the churches here to plan the “Marked For Life” campaign during this next year in Tijuana. There are a number of events leading up to that on Easter weekend 2010, that will be building outreach and evangelism training, particularly into the youth of the city. Although there have been unanticipated obstacles in the timeline of this program, it would seem that the Lord has been adjusting it so that it will fit His plan better than ours. There will be well over 30 churches initially represented at training, and the official permission has been received just this week to begin to hang the banners on the overpasses of the highways around the city. They are being allowed to put them into what is normally a “restricted zone” where no one is allowed to post any advertising! This is nothing short of a miracle! The target area initially will include one of the most traveled loops in the city, so they expect to be adding churches continually who wish to sponsor another banner in a different location in the city. Those can be sponsored for approximately $75 – which represents a very large sacrifice for many of these congregations. Gerardo and Jesús are very encouraged with the progress being made, as there are doors opening that will last far beyond the specific “Marked” event. Continue to pray for increased unity among the churches here…that is a big issue at the present time.
Today will include a morning meeting with another group of pastors, a prominent businessman in the city, and the Orphanage Director for CFCI (Eduardo Mendez). We are being allowed to attend primarily as guests, and likely to announce the SUTL training scheduled for Saturday with Pastor Lincoln. It already appears that there will be over 100 pastors and youth leaders here for the seminar. We’re passing out sample booklets in Spanish (both adult and childrens’ versions) to all the pastors we come in contact with, and giving them a spare copy to use as an invitation for Saturday. Pray that this training time is a huge advancement in the equipping of the Body of Christ here in Tijuana. Later this evening, we’ll cross the border into Chula Vista again to spend the evening with Gerardo and his wife Rosa.
Not quite sure what tomorrow holds yet…. Pray for continued strength and energy. We both slept like rocks last night, and Dave has been doing quite well physically. We can sense your prayers, and although the people seem tired, there also seems to be a “lightening” of the spiritual atmosphere here. Please continue to pray that darkness will be pressed back and that this city will be transformed….along with our own!
Blessings,
Sheryl and Dave
Tijuana, MX
Monday, November 2, 2009
Tijuana: Day One
Greetings Faithful Ones!
We arrived safely yesterday morning in San Diego, having left home MUCH too early Sunday morning! Seemed like an entire day had passed, and we weren’t even at noon yet!! Great flight, no problems with connections or luggage, or even bumps in the air. Jesús and Rosa picked us up about 1:00 and we went over to their church with them for service at 2:00 p.m. Jesús pastors a small CMA church in Chula Vista in order to supplement his support through CFCI. Dave shared in the service regarding appropriating the blood of Jesus – the Great Overcomer – and the message was well received, followed by a time of praying with several people whose hearts were really hurting. The Hispanic congregation has a large number of single moms, and the economic system out here has been particularly hard on them as they try to raise families alone.
For those of you who have been here with us, the service was followed by the usual time of eating tacos together, and as usual, the food and fellowship were great! We love these people. I wish I had more Spanish (I’m sure Rosetta Stone would help!), but we communicate how we can – and with many charades and one-word sentences!
Jesús and Rosa send their love. She is doing much better healthwise, for which we are all thankful as it allows her to be more involved in ministry with Jesús. They will be picking us up shortly for a morning meeting with a Pastors’ prayer group where Dave will be speaking this morning. The work that we do this week will be twofold in nature.
We have brought with us the newest “Transformations” video regarding the amazing work of God among the police force in San Paulo, Brazil. There is a great deal of interest here in developing a Chaplain Corps for the Tijuana Police Department. The time is not quite ripe yet, but Jesús and I will be meeting with some individuals later in the week to talk about what resources CFCI might be able to bring to the table for that. (Stand by, Dennis Flohm!) Pray for clear communication and open doors into that segment of the city.
The other area where the pastors are beginning to move has to do with Pastoral training. They are presently beginning a theology/discipleship course taught by a man from Phoenix (I think) who is a Mexican himself. There is great enthusiasm among the pastors here, and a good number have already enrolled for this course. I will be meeting more with Jesús and some of the pastors to determine what other areas of pastoral training would be helpful to them, and maybe beginning to look at developing that more with them.
Dave sends his greetings! Please continue to pray for strength, energy, endurance, wisdom, safety, our families at home, and much revelation as we move through this week. The night was strange last night with very little sleep. Because of the time difference, and Daylight Savings time, we’re operating at a 3-hour shift right now. Just enough to make eating and sleeping weird! Dave tells me we’re running out of time if we still want morning coffee! So, we’ll be in touch again tomorrow.
Blessings to you all,
Sheryl for Dave
Tijuana, MX
We arrived safely yesterday morning in San Diego, having left home MUCH too early Sunday morning! Seemed like an entire day had passed, and we weren’t even at noon yet!! Great flight, no problems with connections or luggage, or even bumps in the air. Jesús and Rosa picked us up about 1:00 and we went over to their church with them for service at 2:00 p.m. Jesús pastors a small CMA church in Chula Vista in order to supplement his support through CFCI. Dave shared in the service regarding appropriating the blood of Jesus – the Great Overcomer – and the message was well received, followed by a time of praying with several people whose hearts were really hurting. The Hispanic congregation has a large number of single moms, and the economic system out here has been particularly hard on them as they try to raise families alone.
For those of you who have been here with us, the service was followed by the usual time of eating tacos together, and as usual, the food and fellowship were great! We love these people. I wish I had more Spanish (I’m sure Rosetta Stone would help!), but we communicate how we can – and with many charades and one-word sentences!
Jesús and Rosa send their love. She is doing much better healthwise, for which we are all thankful as it allows her to be more involved in ministry with Jesús. They will be picking us up shortly for a morning meeting with a Pastors’ prayer group where Dave will be speaking this morning. The work that we do this week will be twofold in nature.
- Frst, the people here need a strong word of encouragement. The financial situation is not good, and many are seriously struggling to have the means to support their families, let alone have any funds to travel about the city to minister to their people. Many are very discouraged, so it is important that we bring the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit in order to lift their eyes to Jesus who waits for us all at the finish line of this endless Marathon called life!
- Second, we will be planting seeds in preparation for Step Up to Life training among pastors and churches here in the city. Pastor Lincoln Murdoch will be here with us next weekend to do a day-long pastors’ training time, and the hope is that nearly 100 pastors will attend. They will then be able to take SUTL back to teach their congregations, followed by Pastor Elmer Murdoch coming in January with a follow-up seminar. A new SUTL pamphlet using the Marked For Life logo, and done in Spanish, is nearly hot off the presses from our son-in-law’s company, so everyone is excited about getting this striking new tool!
We have brought with us the newest “Transformations” video regarding the amazing work of God among the police force in San Paulo, Brazil. There is a great deal of interest here in developing a Chaplain Corps for the Tijuana Police Department. The time is not quite ripe yet, but Jesús and I will be meeting with some individuals later in the week to talk about what resources CFCI might be able to bring to the table for that. (Stand by, Dennis Flohm!) Pray for clear communication and open doors into that segment of the city.
The other area where the pastors are beginning to move has to do with Pastoral training. They are presently beginning a theology/discipleship course taught by a man from Phoenix (I think) who is a Mexican himself. There is great enthusiasm among the pastors here, and a good number have already enrolled for this course. I will be meeting more with Jesús and some of the pastors to determine what other areas of pastoral training would be helpful to them, and maybe beginning to look at developing that more with them.
Dave sends his greetings! Please continue to pray for strength, energy, endurance, wisdom, safety, our families at home, and much revelation as we move through this week. The night was strange last night with very little sleep. Because of the time difference, and Daylight Savings time, we’re operating at a 3-hour shift right now. Just enough to make eating and sleeping weird! Dave tells me we’re running out of time if we still want morning coffee! So, we’ll be in touch again tomorrow.
Blessings to you all,
Sheryl for Dave
Tijuana, MX
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