Agape Mission Coastal Ministry: Samaritan Purse Shoebox Fiesta at the beach in San Agustín

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Samaritan Purse Shoebox Fiesta at the beach in San Agustín

You will notice in the photos that parents were there also. This is normal for children's fiestas. They hear the gospel also and from this we have always gained many new families finding Christ.

When the children received their gifts they also got stamped. This stamp said paid for. We explained to the kids that Christ also gave us a gift and paid for us with his life on the cross.

Also the "gringas" in a couple photos were Debbie and Colleen from Canada. Debbie is the coordinator for the Smaritan Shoebox program in her area and she loved seeing a fiesta showing the end result of all of you who give to the Samaritan Purse Christmas drive.

1 comment:

Dawn Hockaday said...: You've captured some great expressions! Looks like a wonderful day for all; January 21, 2010 at 7:28 PM

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Beginnigs of our Beach Ministry

In 2002 I moved our mission headquarters from Oaxaca City to Huatulco. It was closer to Lachiguiri.

That year we planned a youth rally on the beach, for the teens living in Lachiguiri. Mike Hendricks brought a group of indigenous natives from Canada to minister.

We camped on the beach using the large patio palapa of the "Tres Hermanos" restaurant owned by Hilda and Temo for this event. We set up tents to sleep in under their palapa. They graciously allowed us to do our own cooking. There wasn't an active church at this time in this beach community. Most of the 300 families here earn their living by fishing and catering to tourist.

Hilda and her family watched and listened each day to the teachings for the youth. Hilda and I spent a lot of time talking and before the camp was over she accepted Jesus as her Savior.

Later, she kept asking me if we could start a church there in San Agustin. I met with her occasionally and gave her and others Bibles. They so desired a place of worship so started listening to a false teacher who started coming to the beach. I knew I had to do something right away.

I talked with Armando Gutierrez, a minister friend and after conferring with his pastor, we commissioned him as the pastor for this new mission. He and I would go out every Wednesday night as that was the only free time the people could leave their tourist trade to attend.
Over the next couple years the mission began to grow. Then when he and his wife decided to move back to Mexico City we interviewed a couple of prospective pastors and God chose Damian Cruz as pastor of the mission.

Our coastal ministry now includes three mission churches and the Pochutla Prison ministry.