18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 18-19 (NIV)

By Gladden Lawrence, Aleluya Mission of Hope, Piedras Negras, Mexico

KUMC mission teams have regularly traveled all over Mexico to serve the least, the last, and the lost; sometimes even twice a year. Working in Nuevo Progreso at a little Methodist Church, I remember during Saturday night Worship our local missionary (Willie Berman) ending his lesson by telling us the most important sign in a Church was the Exit sign! HUH? Must have been Willie’s attempt to get everyone to leave with a bit of humor.

Not exactly, Willie explained later. The Exit sign analogy was his way of telling us that when we’re in Church, then leave, it’s where we go afterward that’s important. Where’s the direction the Exit sign is taking us?

It wasn’t long after that trip, safety concerns quickly put a halt to taking teams to serve in Mexico.  Recently, however, God showed KUMC an Exit path back to a small Methodist Church in Piedras Negras, Mexico, appropriately named Aleluya Church.

My hope and prayer are others might come alongside us and pass through their own Exit sign to serve the Christian brothers and sisters in Piedras Negras. But, if serving in Mexico is not the right path, take time to reflect during these final few days of Lent and listen to your heart and pray for God’s wisdom, clarity, and encouragement to help you find a different Exit sign.

Meaning does not come to us in finished form, ready-made; it must be found, created, received, constructed. We grow our way toward it. (Ann Bedford Ulanov)

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Pray for:

  • the hydroponics farm can be completed and up and running  
  • God will bless the Aleluya Church with new families who will share the good news of Jesus to the city of Piedras Negras
  • Flavio’s house can be completed so his family knows they have a place to call “home”

Did you know:

  • The Aleluya Church services 2 local orphanages: House of Mercy and Casa Bethesda.
  • The caretaker of the Church, Flavio, offers handmade crosses to help fund a Hot Lunch and Devotions program for more than 70 children.
  • A hydroponics farm on the church property will be used to grow fresh vegetables for the Hot Lunch and Devotions program.

Contacts:

See previous posts of the Mission’s Lenten Journey:

Week 1: Feed My Lambs

Week 2: Joy in the Harvest

Week 3: Society of St. Stephen

Week 4: UM ARMY

Week 5: Living Water International

Week 6: Helping Hands

Next Week: Mission of Hope, Haiti Food Packing Event