APRIL UPDATE

Greetings from Cofradía, México! Over twenty years ago when this mission began, a group of people went to a village called San Diego del Naranjo to assist those who were sick and share God’s love with them.  We began to visit them each week to conduct Bible Studies there and some of you may remember that I eventually took over as the leader for that outreach.  We had a number of converts and baptized some of the believers.  There was one man named Joel who’s testimony and encouragement to others was really a backbone for the believers.  He was unexpectedly shot to death in 1997 (not for religious reasons) and the outreach began to see it’s struggles and opposition.  After a number of years, it was hard to get people to come to the bible study anymore.  Our youth Pastor, Luis, and his wife took over for a couple of years and found the same wall of opposition.  Eventually, we began to shift our focus elsewhere and continued to pray for the people with an occasional visit.  Last month, someone from our congregation went there to sell shrimp and came across a group of believers.  It turns out that just recently, some locals who have returned from living in Guadalajara for a while are leading a bible study there and they’ve been meeting for a few months.  Pastor Goyo has gone to visit them and they are asking for our help.  We have committed to pray for them and assist the leaders encouraging them to continue what they’re doing and offer training for them.  They have over 20 people meeting together and praying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays!  God is amazing!
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!


Last month, we asked you to pray for... 

1. Religious Association Status.  We still do not have sufficient funds to complete this. 
2. Bible School. Thank you to those of you who have responded to the request of sponsoring a student.  There are now only two students who have yet been able to finish paying their tuition before graduation in June. 
3. Drug Rehab Center: Please continue to pray for the barriers of opposition to be broken.  Drug abuse is rampant here and there is no specific Christian help for these people in the region.  Pastor Amado and his wife continue to meet with young people and do what they can to help.  One young lady is now staying at their own home.   
4. An Accountant: I met with our accountant last week and it was a very productive meeting!  Little by little I am understanding what to do and how to do it.  Please continue to pray for clear direction as we dabble with delicate duties. 
5. Internet. We continue to hope and pray.  Someone had a conversation with the phone company a couple weeks ago and the phone operator could not believe we do not have internet here.  They said they would get the ball rolling.  Well, let’s have faith they will keep their word. 
6. Splash 2016: Phenomenal event!  We had a number of churches participate and it was a lot of fun!  Read about it and see pictures at this quick “Splash Report”.
7. Church Anniversary Celebration.  Excellent time!  We had one of the biggest Sunday services ever.  Visiting churches celebrated God’s faithfulness with us as we have now been in the building for 5 years! Click here to see a quick report.
8. Mesa Team.  Successful week.  The team shared Bible stories and led various workshops for a week at one of the Cora Indian villages in the mountains.  Here is what Missionary, Jay TenBrink, had to say.

Here are some links to more:

• Last Month’s Update.
• A Window Looking into our Ministry: A two minute clip of some of the activities and more.
• Pastoral Perspectives: Read the bi-annual reports from three of our Pastors.
• EL RETO 2015.
• What is EL RETO?
• “Dwellings” candidates in Cofradia: Meet three families that are in need of a home.
• Cofradia’s Short-Term Missions Manual explains more of our mission in detail.
  

This month, will you please pray for...

1. Religious Association Status.  $2,000 USDollars. 
2. Bible School. Spring classes start on April 5: Missiology and Leadership.  Two students have yet been able to pay their tuition in full.  If you know them and/or would like to help, let me know and I will share with you how to do that.  The two students are Hugo Diaz ($70) and Angel Martinez “Niko” ($340). Thank you on behalf of them. 
3. Drug Rehab Center: Pray that a piece of property becomes available for this Center; pray that the costs of purchase, construction/renovation, furnishing, and function would be covered. 
4. Accounting: Pray the Lord will help us grasp the details of the requirements for the Civil and Religious Associations.  Pray the Lord will bless this ministry. 
5. Internet. Continue to pray that a better system becomes available to us. 
6. San Diego.  Pray that the Lord would continue to encourage the leaders in that Bible Study and that those who meet together would be impacted by His love and Spirit. 
7. Emma turns TEN on April 10.  We’ll be having her annual RETO Birthday party with all her friends and it should be a great time.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever!

Thank you so much for being part of our team as we work together to RAISE UP LEADERS IN RURAL MEXICO!!!!

Blessings,

Steve, Geña, Rebecka, Emma, and Mackenzie Silberman
Missionaries to Mexico
Alternative Missions
Cofradia Area Director

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