Pressure in Negritas Increasing

We need to pray for Lupe, Leticia, and all of the believers in Negritas. Ever since they returned to their home town in Mexico believers have suffered a great deal of criticism, mocking, and open rejection. Until now, that has not slowed them down very much. About a month ago, the local Catholic priest spoke out in church about those who want to read and study the Bible at home. He called these people dangerous members of bad sects. He also called on the people of the Catholic church to immediately identify anyone who might be participating in such activities. Little did the priest know that Lupe and Leti and three others who attend their Bible studies were present in the congregation that day. Since then the priest has said that those who participate in such independent Bible studies would not be allowed to attend Catholic mass.


When the priest first mentioned brought this subject up a month ago, Lupe visited all of the people in his home Bible studies to find out what their response was. At that time everyone told him that they wanted to continue in the Bible studies. Since that time presure has ramped up and two of their Bible studies have been at least temporarily cancelled.


Pray for Lupe and Leti, Fidencio and Rosa, Francisco and Lupe, Modesta, Dul, Reyes, Reina, and Victoriano. Pray for their children. Pray for the Catholic priest to come to faith and begin preaching Jesus. Pray for Lupe as he is praying about going and speaking with the Catholic priest. Pray for Carmen , Flaviola, and Jenaro as they continue to have Bible studies in their homes. Pray for Beto, María Guadalupe, and Teresa as they have temporarily suspended their Bible studies. Pray that all would continue to read the Bible, that God would open their spiritual eyes, that they would wholeheartedly follow Jesus.





Lupe and Leti last year at our church in Jefferson.

Pray for José

José received Jesus as his Savior over two years ago and almost immediately began devouring God’s word. During 2008 he read the New Testament over 10 times and he told me he was interested in teaching God’s word.

José was one of those we sent back to his home town in Mexico to share Jesus with others and start a church. When he arrived last January he started to witness but within two months he stopped reading the Bible and stopped coming to church. It is very difficult to live for Jesus in a small town in Mexico.

I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to convict José and not allow him to drift away. Lupe had a chance to talk with José and he told Lupe that he had no peace in his heart. 1 John 3:9, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”

José has started to read the Bible again some. Pray for him to be fully restored and to become a strong witness for Jesus in Negritas. Pray for Lupe, Leticia, and the rest of the believers in Negritas to be strong in the face of open opposition.

Pray for Mari and her friend.

Mari is a young lady who grew up in our ministry. She is a junior at a University here in Oregon. She has a Muslim friend who would like to study the Bible with her. We sent her a Bible study for the book of John that she will be using with her friend starting this week. Mari is excited at this great opportunity. She has never led any kind of Bible study before. Please pray for Mari to be led by Jesus and for her friend to come to know Jesus as her personal savior.

We had a great time at Family Camp

Church Family Camp this year was the second weekend of September. We had a great time. Here are some pictures:

We also baptized 2 people: Carmelo and his wife Cristina. They received Jesus as their Savior last year and are really growing and living for Jesus.

Mission to Negritas Report (from our newsletter)

In our last newsletter we shared that we sent 11 people from our ministry back to their home town of Negritas to live for Jesus and share the Gospel.

They started a new church which meets on Sunday evenings at 5 pm. Lupe and Leticia Alvarez have taken the lead and he is now pastoring the new church. Lupe and Leti also teaching 4 home Bible studies every week.

Leticia teaching a Bible Study

We went to visit them in Negritas in August. We drove down in a donated Ford Expedition which we left there for Lupe and Leti to use as a ministry vehicle. The trip down took three and a half days, including driving all night the first night.


Jerilyn visiting Andrea




The main reason for our visit was to encourage Lupe and Leticia as well as the rest who are meeting together every week. It is amazing how the enemy uses every little thing to try to discourage. Satan does not want an evangelical witness in this little community.




Jon teaching a Bible study




One of the things we did while we were there was to set up an office for Lupe and Leti. We took them a used computer and spent time almost every day teaching them how to use it. We took them into town and found an internet café that they could use to Email us and even talk to us using Skype. All of this is new to them and they need a lot of practice and prayer.


Outdoor church

There are four new believers in Negritas and several more who are interested. Most people are afraid to express their interest openly because of the fear of persecution. Everyone there is struggling to stay strong in the face of open opposition. Please pray for them!


This family is reading the Bible together every day. Fidencio came to Christ in our ministry in Oregon. His wife Rosa has put her faith in Jesus within the last year.

If you would like to know how you can support Lupe and Leticia please email us at sousaj@bauercom.net.

We are in Mexico!

After driving all night the first day we arrived in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and spent the night. One and a half days later we arrived at our destination - Negritas, Mexico. Pray for wisdom as we encourage Lupe and Leticia. They were anxiously waiting for us and expressed a great need for our fellowship and encouragement. They feel very alone at times and many people are trying to discourage them. Just two days before our arrival someone from the community visited Lupe and told him to give up; what gave him the right to teach anyone?; you are going to fail anyway!



The only training that Lupe has is sitting under our ministry for 8 years. We were not expecting God to send him back to Mexico to start a church. But that is what happened! A church is started and Lupe is doing a great job of pastoring it. Please pray for Lupe and Leti.



Lupe teaching a home Bible study Thursday night.

Pray for us - We are on our way to Mexico!

Jon and Jerilyn are heading to Mexico to visit and encourage Lupe, Leticia and the rest of those that we sent back home to start a church and shine Jesus' light in their community. Pray for God's protection on the way - pray that Jerilyn will not get a migraine from the travel.

We are taking a Ford Expedition to Lupe and Leti as a ministry vehicle. Pray that we can import the vehicle without problems. We are also taking them many other ministry tools. Mostly they need encouragement because just as Paul wrote, "For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."

Pray for wisdom for us to know how best to encourge them. Jon will be preaching and teaching a lot. We will be visiting a lot of people.


Lupe and Leticia leading worship in the liquor store.

Pray for Juan and Vicki Herrera

A few years ago Juan and Vicki Herrera received Jesus as their Savior. Jon baptized them in 2005. Later that year they moved back to Mexico because of some health problems that their oldest son has. For the last three years Juan has been coming up to work at least part of the year because they need money for medical expenses. Whenever Juan comes he is actively involved in our ministry. Since he lives in Salem, it was natural for him to help out in the starting of our Salem church, which he has been attending since its beginning.

Juan is learning to play the bass guitar to help out with the music. He is also how to lead a Bible study. A couple of months ago he had his first practice at teaching by leading the adult Sunday school class in Salem. Today Juan preached for the first time during a regular worship service. This is very exciting to us!

Pray for Juan and Vicki. Juan is growing tremendously and is very strong in the faith. His wife is having a hard time back in Mexico because there is no encouragement from their non-Christian family. He calls her every week to encourage her but it is still very difficult. Pray for her faith to strengthen. Pray for healing for their son (kidney problems). Pray that Juan can soon go back to his family and that he would be able to stay with his family more. Pray for his ability in the Word to continue to grow and that God would use him to lead his family and his community to Christ.

Juan Herrera after preaching on Sunday.

Pray for Diana Alvarez

Diana Alvarez is a young lady who has grown up in our ministry and loves Jesus very much. She spends a lot of time in God’s word and she has a real burden for the lost. Diana has been helping Lebanon First Baptist Church with their Vacation Bible School since she was 12.

Diana is now 16 and is working as a volunteer with Larisa Craig for the summer. Larisa is an area missionary with American Missionary Fellowship. Her field is in east central California and western Nevada. Larisa and Diana will be leading several VBSs and helping in two summer camps.

Pray for Larisa and Diana. Pray for protection as they travel. Pray for wisdom as they minister to people. Pray for success as they share Jesus. Pray for sufficient finances to fund the ministry.

Diana's Testamony as given at her quinceaños:

When I was 6 years old, my family and I moved here from Mexico. At that time I did not understand why this happened to me. But now I know that God has a plan for me. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

When I received Jesus he opened my eyes so that I could see the truth. He helped me to understand that I am a sinner and that he died on the cross for my sins. He helped me to understand that if I trusted in him, he would cleanse me from all my sins – and he did so.

Later I began to read the Bible and I found many promises that God has made. What God promises he fulfills because he does not change. I also found promises that assure me of my salvation. John 5:24 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

I know that God has helped me and I know that he will help me because I have put my confidence in him. I know that when I need strength to do his will he will give it to me.


Diana Alvarez and Larisa Craig

Prayer Retreat

This weekend 31 people from our churches (including babies) went for a weekend retreat to seek God's face in prayer. People trickled in on Friday night after work and we stayed until Sunday afternoon. On Friday evening we focused in on Mark 6:31 and expressed to God our desire just to be with him and rest in him.

On Saturday morning after a time of worship and prayer we separated and spent a good time alone with God and John 6:24-69. Later we came back together and shared with each other what God was saying to us through his Word. This was followed by a good time of corporate prayer and worship. In our afternoon session we had a good time of interceding for each other as several people expressed prayer needs regarding personal and family growth issues. We gathered around each one and lifted them up before God's throne of grace. This was a very powerful time as God touched people at their point of need. Saturday evening we celebrated the Lord's Supper together.

Also, on Saturday we had special activities for the children. Jerilyn took the youngest children for the day to Bethel Church where they had a great time and also did a craft – making and coloring a book about how to and what we can pray for. Our son Joel took the younger teens and spent the day in Salem, mostly at our daughter Jessie’s house.

On Sunday morning after a time of singing praises we separated into family groups and parents and their children had a good time of praying together - hopefully starting a tradition that will continue at home. We all agreed that we wanted to have another prayer retreat soon - maybe in 6 months or so. God is good. This weekend was truly a blessing!

Some pictures:




We met in this log house close to Amity, Oregon. Thank you Lee and Irene!





Praying and worshipping together.



Time alone in God's Word.

Everyone agrees - all day in prayer can be very tiring. This is our beautiful granddaughter, Citlali Rose.

This group picture was unfortunately taken after 3 families had already left.

Carne Asada Outreach

Every year for the last 4 or 5 we have offered a free meal and game night after our regular worship service in Jefferson. Carne Asada (barbequed beef) is one of the favorite meals on the Mexican menu. This year's turnout was a little disappointing as we had only about 40-45 visitors -- way down from last year. BUT... we had a great time and we had 40-45 visitors to church!

Here are a few pictures:

Serving up the good stuff!


Children and ice cream go together.


The kids enjoyed the lesson and the craft.


The men played basketball and soccer.

Cleanup went faster because everyone pitched in.

Negritas Needs Prayer

Please pray for those we sent back to Negritas, Mexico. It has been four months now since 11 of the people from our ministry in Oregon returned to Mexico to reach their small community and the surrounding communities for Christ. Of those we sent back one has left the faith entirely for now (peer pressure is very great there). Three others are waning in their ferver for seeking God and reaching the community. Those who are remaining strong are suffering persecution and other attacks of the enemy.



On the positive side, there are at least two new believers in Jesus who are reading the Bible faithfully and growing in Christ. Victoriano has stopped drinking and instead reads his Bible throughout the day. Reina, an unwed mother of an infant, has also trusted in Jesus and is reading her Bible every day.


Lupe and Leticia are very encouraged that new people have visited the church and several are interested in having a home Bible study.
Francisco and Maria



Please pray for the believers in Negritas: Lupe, Leticia, Fidencio, Dul, Francisco, Modesta, Reina, Jose Alfredo, Victoriano, Reyes, Itzel, and Andy.

Pray for Lupe and Leticia in Negritas, Mexico

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:9, "a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." The same is true of our new outreach and church in Negritas, led by Lupe and Leticia.

I just spoke with them and many exciting things are happening. They are now leading 5 different Bible studies and one weekly prayer meeting. There are also two more Bible Studies that may be starting soon. They are also actively serving the community in practical ways. They are helping out some of the poorest of the poor with food and transportation to the doctor. Meeting felt needs is opening more doors for ministry and hearts to the gospel.

Lupe and Leti are pleading for prayer. Their first and foremost prayer concern is for their own spiritual lives. They stressed to me that they need prayer to help them spend more time in personal Bible reading and prayer. With the enemy working overtime trying to discourage them in every way and with the business of an active ministry, Bible reading and prayer is sometimes not given its due priority (Acts 6:4). Pray also for the people in the Bible studies and the church to grow in faith and to stand firm in Jesus.

Good Friday in Negritas

Our new church in Negritas, Mexico decided to have a Good Friday Outreach of their own. During their 10 Days of Prayer God led them to invite everyone town to eat elotes with them. Elotes (corn on the cob) is a special treat and much less expensive then a full meal. After eating they had a piñata for the children and then showed The Passion of the Christ on a big screen.

Four families came and everyone said they had a good time. God is blessing their efforts as a few people have come and privately asked Lupe and Leti if they would come and read the Bible with them in their homes. These are tremendous results as people in the small rural towns of Mexico are generally speaking very hard to reach. They are steeped in tradition and peer pressure is high to conform. Pray for this small group of believers who are courageously trying to shine Jesus' light and love to their home town.

Good Friday was Great!

Our Ten Days of Prayer were leading up to our Good Friday Outreach. Every year we serve a homemade meal prepared by ladies of our churches. After the meal we have a worship service that features a testimony from a couple in our church and an evangelistic message. Finally, we play basketball all night or until everyone goes home.

This year we had about 180 people in attendance. There were about 120 people who stayed for the worship service and there were 50 people in the children's program. We have never had so many people stay for the worship service before.


At the end of the worship service an invitation is given to pray to receive Jesus as Savior. This year a record 25 people indicated on response cards that they did.

Pray with us for efective follow-up. Five couples in our church will be contacting everyone who came by phone and with personal visits.

10 Days of Prayer

Each year before Good Friday our churches in Jefferson and Lebanon spend 10 days together, asking God to draw many people to himself during our Good Friday outreach. We write the names of as many pre-believers as we can think of on cards. Then we pray for them to come to Good Friday, to enjoy the meal and the worship service, and to eventually give their hearts to the Savior. During our prayer time we also spend time worshipping God in song, in reading scripture together, and in silence before Him. We always have great times together in God's presence and the 10 days of prayer is everyone's favorite time of year.

In these two churches we have very few believers but they have a heart for the lost and a strong belief that God answers prayer. In all we can identify only 25 believers in the two churches, including children. The low number is in part because we just sent 11 believers back to their town in Mexico to start a new church there (see our last post).

Each year we try to pray as many "man hours" as we can. One "man hour" of prayer is one person praying for one hour. That means that with only 25 believers, if we are going to pray 500 man hours of prayer each believer in the church would have to spend 20 hours in prayer during the ten days. In order to reach 1000 hours each believer would have to average 40 hours during the ten days. Adults work and the children go to school, so having any kind of high average is very difficult. Of course, we also have a few pre-believers spending some hours with us which helps reach a higher total. Well, we just finished and we were able to pray a total of 1625 hours! Praise God!

But that's not all! Our new church in Negritas, Mexico also had their own ten days of prayer. They wrote the names of every single person in their small town on cards and prayed for them to come to know Jesus. Only 11 believers managed over 1130 man hours of prayer. Now, THAT is commitment to prayer.

We are looking forward to seeing what God does!

New Church Started in Mexico

In January Jon took Lupe and Leticia Alvarez with their four children and two other men back to their home town of Negritas. Their desire to win their neighbors for Jesus. In all we sent eleven people home to Negritas to start a new church. That church met for the first time in Lupe and Leticia's house on January 25. There were 25-30 people in attendance. This picture was taken about half an hour after the service ended and some had already left.

Pray for this new adventure. Negritas is a very small town and closed to anything but their brand of catholicism. Pressure is very great to conform. The team has already suffered one casualty. José recieved Jesus as his savior a year and a half ago and was growing quickly as he was reading the New Testament once a month and the Old Testament once a year. When he got back to Negritas his old friends surrounded him and José has succumbed to the pressure - he is no longer reading the Bible or attending church services. Pray for José.

Other members of the team are staying strong and shining Jesus' light. They are Lupe and Leticia, Fidencio, Francisco, Dulfrano, Reyes, and Modesta. The children are also doing well. Jon and Jerilyn are going to be returning to Negritas to strengthen the believers in August.