The Departure

Dear friends, family and blessed saints in Christ Jesus,

As many of you know the Lord is closing one chapter of my journey and beginning to scribe the next, or finish the story all together. For the past four years I have had the great privilege of serving as the associate pastor/ youth pastor of Grace Baptist Church here in Salado, TX., and what a sweet time it has been in my life. I have never felt more loved than I have in the last four years. Thank you church. Philippians 1:6 says "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus." I truly believe that Jesus is the "Author and Finisher" of my faith, and He will surely do it. On Saturday October 11th I will get on a plane and fly to Monterey, Mexico where I will take a bus to Mexico City, Mexico. There is an area there called Tepito that I will be serving in. It is a rough area of around two million people. There is a cult there called the Santa Muerte, which means St. of death or holy death. The streets of this dark place are lined with statues of the Santa Muerte where people of all ages and backgrounds seek happiness in these idols made by the hands of sinful man. I will arrive in Mexico City on Sunday the 12th, and will start language school on the 14th. The Lord has opened a door for me to live with a family near the area that I will be working in. Their names are Paco and Elizabeth. They have started a church in their home, and have agreed to assist me in any way they can. I will be traveling into the area of Tepito in the mornings walking the streets prayer walking and meeting people, then in the afternoons I will attend school. It is my hope that within the first year I will meet a few guys and start a Bible study with them, and as the gospel changes their lives, and start a church in Tepito. This area of Mexico is called the "Heart of Darkness", and I believe that even the dark is light to God, and that Jesus is the light of the world. I want to be the mirror that will reflect that light that the world may see the glory of the Father. Psalm 92:4 says "For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your work; at the works of Your hands I sing for joy." It is my deep passion that the people of Tepito would see the works of the Lord and sing for joy! That people would see the gospel radically transform peoples lives as they are regenerated and this would erupted in endless praise of the King, and transform the country of Mexico, and spread to the ends of the earth.In closing I want to thank each one of you who that God has used to shape and mold me. In life there are many ups and downs, trials and tribulations, good seasons and bad ones, but through them all I can truly say I am loved by the King. The puritans used to say the valley is the place of vision, Oh! so true that is. "as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20

See you in Glory!

By Grace,
jonathan

Prayer Request:-I do not speak Spanish well. Pray that i would learn quickly.-I have never met anyone in Mexico City. Pray that God would allow me to make friends.-Tepito is a dangerous place, so pray that I would have discernment about when to be out and when not to be.