The first encounter with a missionary and with the prospect of becoming involved personally in mission work happened in November of 1983 in Ganado, Texas. Juan Alvarado showed up at my door at about 7:00 a.m. looking for some assistance. His suburban had broken down during the night. We brought him into our home, and then we went to gather those that were with him.  As we sought to get him the assistance he needed he began to share with me, and with other pastors (who had rallied together to help this missionary from Mexico) about the work that God was doing in Monterrey, Mexico. I, and another pastor from Louise, Texas were interested enough to accept the invitation to go to Monterrey to see the work that God was doing, and to help in construction, and in preaching God’s Word. About seven of us from two different congregations set forth on our first trip into Mexico to minister in the Name of Christ.  We all truly loved the work, and the experience of going in the Name of Christ, and helping a missionary to fulfill his call!

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Bro. Juan and I developed a good relationship through the following years.  I asked him to come, and minister in my church as an Evangelist.  He also asked me to come to preach at the mission where we had worked, and also for their special service when his first mission became a church. In 1995 Bro. Juan began to share with me about these villages that he had come to know in the mountains of Saltillo. He shared that there was a man in his church in Monterrey that was going to get married, and wanted for his parents to be there, but didn’t have a way of transporting them.  Bro. Juan offered to take him to go pick them up.  As he went he began to see the need for evangelism work in the villages that they were passing by. He shared that after hours of traveling they finally got to their destination, Siete de Enero. 

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Bro. Juan went back to Siete de Enero and began to ask if they would want to have a protestant church within their village.  He was rejected at Siete de Enero so he went to Sabanillas the next village down. Sabanillas was willing to open the door to him to have Bible studies in the village and later they allowed him to have some property where he built the first church adobe building, and later the adobe pastor’s home.  He invited me to come speak at his oldest daughter’s 15th birthday with the promise that afterwards he would take me to the villages to see the work he had in Sabanillas!  When I saw the need, and the people I knew that I wanted to be part of ministering in these villages.

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In December of 1996 eight from two different churches made a weekend trip to Sabanillas for the purpose of seeing how we could minister, and what could be done to help those who lived in the villages. We held preaching services, did some craft work during the day with the children, and the ladies.  We went door to door witnessing. It was a small beginning, but it was the beginning of our annual Mexico Mission trip.

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In 1997 I got with Shirley Sommer who at that time was the First United Methodist Church Youth Minister. We both shared about our experiences that we had in mission work in Mexico. We decided to work together and to bring both youth groups, and churches together for the purpose of taking into the villages a drama called “Shadows of Glory” (Sombras de Gloria), which would be presented in three villages, and in a Colonia in Monterrey!  On June 9th through the 15th of 1997 there were about 36 of us who were able to go on the 2nd annual Mexico Mission Trip.  We began to see God’s Hand upon this venture, as the Father provided the resources, and the people to accomplish the work in the villages. God’s people were coming from different denominations, communities, and occupations to join in working in the villages that were in the mountains of Saltillo.

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June of 1998 we saw the need to start renting vans to go to Mexico. Baptist Temple Mission allowed us to use their big red covered trailer, and their 1994 twelve passenger Ford Van to take for the Mission Trips. On this mission trip we were able to clear land for a new mission building at Siete de Enero. It was an exciting time to see a work at its beginning!  Frankie Dominguez was able to go with us, providing a way of having music in our V.B.S. and worship services! He was able to get other team members to bring their guitars and to play along with him. That made the services very special. That year we also began to provide V.B.S. for every age group! Also, we were introduced to a new village named Constancia.  Now we were involved in three villages. It was at this time that we decided to make sure that we would have enough financial resources to have fuel so we could minister in all three villages.  That year we took approximately 38 people.

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March of 1999 we were able to take a youth group from Fairview Baptist of Austin who helped put up adobe blocks in the new location at Siete de Enero. This Spring Break mission trip was our first experience in participating in real construction work within the villages. We hired for the first time the local village men and young men to help in the construction work. This enabled us to experience working side by side with the men of Siete de Enero! That proved to be a wonderful opportunity for the gospel of Christ.  We also were able to bring a good amount of clothes to give to the people at the villages, which were well received by the people.

 

In June of 2000 we sought to bring building materials into Mexico from Texas, which became the major hold up at the border! This caused us to move from our normal crossing at Laredo to another crossing at Columbia. Columbia became our regular crossing point for our mission trips. On this mission trip is when we took the name of Ambassadors for Christ! For the very first time Ambassadors for Christ brought into the villages a dental hygienist and several R.N.’s who made it possible for us to offer some medical and dental assistance in all three villages. There was a pavilion built in Constancia so that the mission team could have some type of cover. The windows, and door were built, installed, and painted for the building at Siete de Enero. We were also able to do some repairs at our home mission site at Sabanillas! There was a lot of door-to-door evangelism done. Many lives were touched by the love of Christ, and many came to know Christ as Lord and Savior. We decided at this time that we must make our mission trips the second week in June because by the end of June or in July many of the villagers went into Saltillo for the summer for the purpose of making extra money for their families. We also began to stay our last night in Mexico in a motel. Everyone enjoyed us being able to have a good shower, a day of shopping, and a one good night’s sleep in Mexico.

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In 2001 we had to make several preparatory trips into Mexico and into the villages because of the big building projects, and for the project of us taking photos of the families at Sabanillas so that on our return trip in June we could give them a framed family portrait. We built an outhouse for the mission at Sabanillas (our mission site), and a shower. The fellowship hall was to get a septic tank and indoor plumbing in hopes that later it could become a home for a pastor and his family. The mission also got some electrical work done so that both buildings would have electricity. The church building at Siete also was to get a roof.  We were able to go, and have two major construction projects at the same time while still conducting all of the regular ministries. We took 52 in our mission team; the largest we had ever taken.  We were also able to do some things that truly blessed the people. A music teacher took 150 kazoos, and taught the children how to play. On the last night at Sabanillas they gave a performance. Ambassadors for Christ decided to make the mission trip from Saturday to Saturday, that way the mission team would have a day of rest before having to go to work. It also made it easier on our days of traveling for us to find places open to get assistance when needed.

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History was provided by: Adam Jaquez, Sr. Pastor of New Life Baptist Church

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