Download - El Testimonio Winter 2010
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El Testimonio
In this issue:Templo Cristiano Elim
Pastor Gustavo: Foundation of the Church
Pastora Elizabeth: Heart of the Church
Transformed through Templo: Helio’s Story
Praying for Blanca at Siloé Clinic
A Spiritual Hub: Templo Cristiano Elim
El TestimonioNewsletter for la mision ministries
WiNteR
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NestledinthevillageofSantaAnita,TemploCristianoElimwasstartedasasmallchurchplantin1977,byGustavoPacheco’sfather,andhasgrownintosomuchmore.Gustavoandhiswife,Elizabeth,haveservedatTemploCristianoElimfor20years,shapingthechurchintowhatithasbecometoday.
TemploCristianoElimisthespiritualhubofthecommunity.Manypeopleturntothechurchforwork,food,shelter,andforemotionalandspiritualsupport.ThechurchishometoSiloeClinic,providingfreemedicalcare.Thechurchisaplacetoprayandbeprayedfor.Aplacetohaveaweddingorafuneral.Aplacetocelebrateyourbirthdayorthebirthofyourbaby.
Theirmissionissimple,changetheheartsofthepeoplethroughJesusChristtotransformthecommunityofLaMision.
TemploCristianoElimisthefoundationofLaMisionMinistries.ChadandErinFransen,thedirectorsofLaMisionMinistries,notonlyliveat
thechurch,butworkthereaswell.Theysupportthechurchthroughleadingyouthgroup,servingaspartoftheworshipteam,workinginthemedicalclinic,anddevelopingrelationshipswiththecommunity.
InthisnewsletterwewantyoutounderstandthepartnershipbetweenLaMisionMinistriesandTemploCristianoElim.Wewanttocommunicatethechurch’spassionandvision,andhowthischurchisacriticalpartofthecommunityofLaMision.
• GAlEríA dE foToS •
www.lamisionministries.orgpage 1
Directors Erin and Chad Fransen
page 2 www.lamisionministries.org
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Pastor Gustavo and His Wife Elizabeth
Pastor Gustavo: Foundation of the Church
Withashovelinhishand,throwingcementtobuildthefoundationforthewallinthebackyard,ChadinterviewedPastorGustavo.Thesearesomeofthethingsheshared.
Pastorlikesthatsomanypeoplefromdifferentwalksoflifeareapartofthechurch.Pastorisveryencouragedbythefactthattherehabcenterscometothechurch.HelovestoseethekidsfromtheorphanageattendaswellanddeveloparelationshipwithJesus.Heisalsoproudofhisson,Iri,whoispastoringachurchinaverypoorareaofTijuana.Oneoftheirministries,TheBreakfastClub,servesbreakfasttothecommunityandtheyhavebeengettingmorethan250peopleeachmorning.ManypeopleinLaMisionmaketheefforttoserveinthisministryeachweek.
“Ihavelearnedalotofthingsfromotherpastors.”HecontinuedinSpanish(althoughhespeaksEnglishverywell).“Ihavelearnednottoworry.TherearemanypastorsinMexicowhoworktirelesslyandstressoutabouteverything.Thatburdengivesthemheartproblemsandtheyarenothappy.”PastorGustavoismotivatedthroughhardworkbothphysicallyandbypreachingandleadingworship,“Iliketoworkhard,butGodworksoveralongperiodoftime,andlittlebylittle.”
Pastorhasongoingvisionsforthefunctionandbuildingofthechurch.ThebackyardofthechurchisoneoftheplacesPastorGustavoiscurrentlyworking.“Iwantaplacewherethekidsinthechurchcanplayonswingsandplaygroundequipment.”Rightnowthereisnoplace.Theonlyareaistheparkinglotwithallofthecars.InApril,ChadandErinhostedagroupfromCalvaryChapelofMountlakeTerracewhoworkedinthebackyardastheirmissionproject.
Anotherthinghehaslearnedistobemissionfocused.WhilemanychurcheshavemadeTemploElimtheirmissiontripsite,PastorGustavohastakenthechurchonmissionstodifferentpartsofMexico.HehelpstodisciplePastorRamoninSinaloawithchurchplanting.Forthefirsttime,inNovember,TemploElimtravelledtoCiudaddeConstitución,toworkwithapoorcommunity.Twentypeoplefromthechurchservedtogetherdoingconstruction,kidsprograms,andservices.ChadandErinwerepartofthegroupofmenfromtherehabcenter,Mexicans,orphans,andotherAmericansthatworkedsidebysidetofurthertheKingdomofHeaven.
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page 2 www.lamisionministries.org
Transformed through Templo: Helio’s StoryHeliodoroGerardoLopeztelloAlmazanfoundJesuswhenhestumbleduponTemploElimChristianoinLaMision.Asaresult,hislifeisverydifferentnow.HeliowasborninTolucaCity,whichisabout45minutesfromMexicoCity.Helioiswelleducated.HestudiedlawattheUniversidadAutónomadelEstadodeMéxico.ThereheplayedAmericanFootballasasmallnoseguard.WhenhefinishedschoolheworkedasajournalistforElSoldeTolucabeforemovingtotheUS.HelivedinSacramento,CaliforniawherehetookESLclasses,andworkedatTheOldSpaghettiFactory.Afterawhile,helosthisworkvisaandstarteddrinking.HemovedtoRosarito,20minutesfromLaMision,andworkedinabakery.Hewasverylonelyandalcoholtookoverhislife.Onenighthegotintoanargumentwithaguywhothreatenedtokillhim.
Atthispointinhislife,HeliowasnotaChristian,butthereweremanyChristianpeoplearoundhim.At8am,onDecember10th,2001,GodtoldhimthatheneededtoleaveRosaritoorhewasgoingtodie.Hetookhisbackpackandstartedwalking.Hegotintoataxiandheadedsouth.ThetaxidroppedhimoffinLaMision.
Hewalkedintoahardwarestoreandaskediftherewasachurchintown.TheypointedhimtothechurchofTemploElimwherehemetPastorGustavo.PastordirectedhimtotheChristianrehabcenter.OnDecember28th,heacceptedJesusintohislife.HestartedtoattendchurchregularlyandwentonhisfirstmissiontripwithTemploElim.Shortlyafter,PastorGustavoinvitedHeliotoliveatthechurch.ThesupportofthechurchcommunitytransformedHelio’slife.InOctoberofthisyear,HeliomarriedMonica,whohemetwhiletheywereservingtogetheronamissiontripwithTemploElim.
HeliohasbeenafriendofLaMisionMinistriesfromthestart.Hehasprovidedwisdomandhelpedinmanyways.HeliocoachesfootballwithChad,runsthesoundforthechurch,andalsopreachesoccasionallyatthelocalrehabcenter.TemploElimwasacriticalpartofHelio’slife.NowhecontinuestogivebackandhasbecomeacriticalpartofTemploElim.
Please pray for Helio in these ways:
• To be on the right path for God.
• Prosperity. Stable work.
• Health. For him and his family.
MeetPastorGustavoandhiswifeElizabeth.TheyrunthelargestchurchinLaMision:TemploElimCristiano.Whiletheyhavenopaidstaff,theyencouragethecongregationtoserve.Gustavoisatalentedmusician,humblepreacher,andanexcellentforeman.HeprovidesaveryconstantandfirmfoundationinChristforthechurch.Elizabethsharesherdeliciouscookinggenerously,lovestosingintheworshipband,andisfullofhospitality.Sheistheheartofthechurch.
www.lamisionministries.orgpage 3
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Pastor Gustavo and His Wife Elizabeth
Praying for Blanca at Siloe Clinic
Pastora Elizabeth: Heart of the Church
ElizabethisfilledwithjoyandenergyafterrecentlycelebratingtheweddingofherdaughterBecky.ThewholechurchcommunitywasinvitedandservedadeliciousMexicanfeast.Elizabethisfulfilledwhensheiscookingandvisitingwithothers.Shegoesoutofherwaytofeedandserveothersandthisdemonstratesherloveforthecommunityandchurch.
SheseesthechurchasaplacetoencounterGod.FamiliesarechangedwhentheyareabletomeetGodandbetransformed.Elizabethexplains,“Afamilycametoourchurchthatwasstrugglingandsuicidal,foundJesusandthroughHim,thehopetocarryon.”Peopleneedtobeencouragedinthemidstofemotionalandeconomicstress.
Elizabethwouldliketoseemorepeoplehelpoutinthechurch,“Thereismuchworktobedone,butnotmanypeoplehavetime,ormaketime.Ilovetoseepeopleusetheirgiftstohelpotherpeople.Thechurchshouldbeaboutmakingdisciples.”
Elizabeth’sheartisacriticalpartofthischurchandcommunity.Sheissuchablessingtothecommunityandshecontinuallyteachesusallhowtobegenerous,loveothers,andshowhospitality.JustaskanyonewhohasbeenwelcomedhereinLaMision.
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AnotherwayTemploCristianoElimgivesbacktothecommunityisthroughano-costmedicalclinic,SiloeCommunityClinic.WorkingfortheclinichasbeenawonderfulwayforErintomeetpeopleinthecommunitywhodon’tcometochurch.OnesuchpersonisBlanca.Blancastartedcomingtotheclinicforpre-natalcare,andnowshecontinuestokeepcomingbackforsupportandmedicalcare.ErinhasbeenblessedtoparticipateinprayingandgettingtoknowwomenlikeBlanca.Blancasays“Theclinicishelpfulformebecauseyoulistenandprayforme.”Overthepasttwoyears,BlancahascometoTemploCristianoElimandhasstartedtobringherhusbandaswell.
Gustavo’s Prayer Requests:
• Grace to help people in the community. There are many families that struggle with drugs and have big problems.
• More jobs.
• That people would hunger for God, not just for His blessings.
Please pray for Blanca and her family:
• For her 3 kids who live in Bakersfield, CA.
• That her relationship with God would continue to grow, to affect her marriage and her community.
Pastora’s Request for Prayers:
• “It’s hard to gain support financially for the church. These are hard times, and not many people like to send money to churches from the US. It’s easier to give to a child.”
• “Our daughter Sofy has plans to attend the University of Tijuana in January. I am not worried, because God will make it happen, but it is a financial burden for our family.”