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Stay Connected! Event Calendar
December 12th, Wednesday 6:30-8:00AM
Men's Breakfast
100 Pacifica Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92618
December 15th, Saturday
Year End La Mision, Baja Trip
December 15th, Saturday
Santa Ana Outreach
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Christmas Outreach 2018
"Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind, for the Compassionate One guides them." Isaiah 49:10 (MSG)
Over sixty-five volunteers representing US based churches and civic organizations, Calvary Bible College Ensenada, Rancho Libertad La Misión, and event host Misión Agape Mundial Church Tijuana united for our December 1st Outreach where we were blessed to serve both the local population as well as the migrant families. Originally planned in Zona Norte, the event had to be moved to the colonias by Life in the Canyon due to the recent arrival of the migrant caravan who is using the outreach facility as temporary shelter. Since Strong Tower Ministries had already partnered with Pastor Albert of Misión Agape Mundial Church to construct a service kitchen for a future onsite community food bank, a venue change was made and a children's outreach was added to the adult outreach already in the works. In addition to the over five hundred people anticipated to attend, Pastor Albert and church volunteers already had been feeding and clothing migrant caravan families which led to more than fifteen families being relocated to the church property.
It was an amazing day for all, highlighted by volunteers praying over dozens of people who came forward at the conclusion of the service. Other highlights of the day included volunteers engaging over two hundred kids in a children's service, followed by crafts, games, and photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. At the conclusion of the adult service, over four hundred plates of food were served and home baked goody bags shared. The event concluded with the distribution of two hundred fifty stuffed Christmas stockings, one hundred fifty stuffed animal bags, brand new cold weather clothin
g, hats, blankets, and bags of groceries for one hundred families.
Many thanks to all of you who donated, shopped, wrapped, stuffed stockings, baked, transported, and attended the outreach.
To view slideshow or download outreach photos:
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The Migrant Caravan and Strong Tower Ministries
Our Ministry mission has always been a simple one:
mobilizing
ordinary believers to be the hands and feet of Jesus by
serving those who are
actively engaging the "least of these" in Baja,
bringing the GOOD NEWS through the
spoken Word and
acts of love.
In accordance with our mission, God has provided us the opportunity to partner with local Tijuana churches that are focusing on short and long term assistance of what is soon to be an over eighteen thousand migrant population at the Mexican/American border. We are committed to partner with these churches as they collaborate with local and federal governments, police, and other non-profit organizations with the goal of addressing basic food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual needs.
Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities for YOU to engage your time and talents in the months to follow. Below is a link to Dj Schuetze's (ministry president) weekly blog, as he offers some insights into the "Why Should We?" question.
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| Seattle Bridge Church Group |
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A Snapshot into Serving
We are often contacted by first time churches, youth groups, families, businesses, and individuals with the same question, "We are interested in bringing some folks to Baja, but what would we do that could actually make a difference?" To which we reply, "Every trip is different. It's the people that make and ultimately define the experience." What we can say with certainty is that we will expose you to meaningful servant leaders already making a difference in Baja and that if you decide to step out across the border, God will not waste His time connecting you with the right people that need your love and assistance.
As an example, here are some notes from the recent Seattle Bridge Church Trip that took place December 6th-9th led by Adam Stieve (STM Board member and Mana House Project Coordinator):
- Operation Christmas provided clothes, toys, and food that our group transorted to the Manos Unidas de Amor Ninos Orphanage in TJ.
- Connected the group with their sponsored orphanage from Genesis Diez.
- Delivered over five hundred meals on Saturday to three separate caravan migrant camps. There were some unusual helpers with us that came from the Agape Church. One is a twenty-four year old mom named Daria and her eight year old daughter named Nicole. I saw this very white, blonde woman and assuming she was American said "hi" to her. She could only give me a strange look back because coming from Moscow neither she nor her daughter spoke English or Spanish. Nobody knew their story of how they got to TJ. Through a smart phone translator, we figured out that Daria is trying to get to her father who lives in New York, but for now was being given shelter at the church. Before our group left the church to serve, Dana expressed her desire for her daughter and her to go out to serve with us. So they joined the group and hopped in the van. While we were serving, a woman from Chicago came up and started telling us about a service that a non-profit agency comprised of lawyers was offering to the migrants. They were assisting them with getting legal documents prepared for the US immigration appeals process. I looked at her and said, "Do you see that blond woman? She is from Russia. Nobody can speak to her but she needs some help." To which she responded, "I speak Russian". The two quickly connected. I could see the relief that Daria felt to finally be able to speak to another adult in her maiden tongue.
- We delivered over one hundred roses with Bibles verses, sandwiches, bracelets and other presents to the sex slaves in TJ. The visiting American group learned that these women are not prostitutes, but slaves, forced to perform their service. Almost all of them were younger than our college-aged girls who went out into the streets to bless these women. The twelve people visiting from America who spoke with and touched these girls have left with a different view of the fastest-growing crime in the world. They will never forget these young girls that they prayed for.
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We delivered another five hundred meals to the residents of the active TJ dump located near Tecate. The road was so deep in mud from the recent rains that it came up to the bottom of the van. Some of the serving teams' shoes came back "a little less white." We shared the gospel and we shared some of God's hope with them.
"...Stand your ground and don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master. Confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."
1 Corinthians 15:58 MSG
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StrongTowerMinistries.org | 949 212-8071 | FACEBOOK: STMinistries
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