Evangelism Blitz Touches Mexico Shantytown
A large team of American Christians headed south of the border last week to share the Gospel with hundreds of poor Mexicans and to build homes for families who had previously lived in shacks.
The volunteer church teams built 21 homes, a dining hall, and a storage unit in Baja, Mexico, during an evangelism event called "Operation Saturation and Baja Blitz 1000," from May 21 to May 26. The event was organized by California-based Baja Christian Ministries.
The goal of the outreach event was to saturate two valleys in Baja – Terrazza and Rojo Gomez – with the love of God and to challenge 1,000 locals to complete the Bible study workbook called, "The Purple Book."
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"The whole outreach was a form of saturation of love and good deeds and Gospel outreach in those areas, and I think it was very, very effective" Bob Sanders, founder of Baja Christian Ministries, told The Christian Post on Tuesday.
"We had a little rain part of the time, but I think overall our prayers were answered and large areas were impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Some 500 volunteers participated in the home-building and outreach events, and managed to present the Gospel message and challenge 800 locals to complete "The Purple Book."
Sanders said remaining ministry team members will continue the outreach to fulfill the goal of 1,000 this month.
Local churches will do follow-ups with those participating in "The Purple Book" challenge after the American church teams leave.
Among the memorable success stories of Baja outreaches, Sanders recalled hearing about local men who used to beat their wives stopping the abuse after beginning "The Purple Book."
"We are all sinners and we all need help and sometimes when the Gospel is articulated clearly then people know how to come to a place of change and repentance, and begin to have more of a reverence of God," Sanders said.
Popular Christian band Newsboys – a long-time supporter of Baja Ministries – also joined in the building project. Church members from Newsboys lead singer Peter Furler's church, Bethel World Outreach Center in Brentwood, Tenn., also participated, along with others from Every Nation Churches – a global family of churches and ministries with a focus on evangelism – of which Bethel World Outreach is a member.
"I'm thankful for people who come down to build houses and to build lives for Jesus Christ through sharing the Gospel and discipling people," the BCM founder said. "[Mexico] is a local, third world country that we can access pretty quickly and easily without a lot of expenses from airfare and other things … and make a huge impact in people's lives."
Baja Christian Ministry was founded in 1992 by Bob Sanders who had been ministering to the poor in Mexico since 1984. The Christian organization is dedicated to serving the physical and spiritual needs of the impoverished in Mexico in the name of Jesus Christ. BCM has provided over 1,000 homes to families in greater Tijuana, Mexico. It's goal is to evangelize and disciple 1 million souls in the Baja peninsula and build 10,000 homes, church buildings and other projects to serve God's people and the poor over the next 20 years.
