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“Serving communities in need and raising leaders to follow Jesus Christ.”

El Testimonio

In this issue:Templo Cristiano Elim

Pastor Gustavo: Foundation of the Church

Pastora Elizabeth: Heart of the Church

Transformed through Templo: Helio’s Story

Praying for Blanca at Siloé Clinic

A Spiritual Hub: Templo Cristiano Elim

El TestimonioNewsletter for la mision ministries

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NestledinthevillageofSantaAnita,TemploCristianoElimwasstartedasasmallchurchplantin1977,byGustavoPacheco’sfather,andhasgrownintosomuchmore.Gustavoandhiswife,Elizabeth,haveservedatTemploCristianoElimfor20years,shapingthechurchintowhatithasbecometoday.

TemploCristianoElimisthespiritualhubofthecommunity.Manypeopleturntothechurchforwork,food,shelter,andforemotionalandspiritualsupport.ThechurchishometoSiloeClinic,providingfreemedicalcare.Thechurchisaplacetoprayandbeprayedfor.Aplacetohaveaweddingorafuneral.Aplacetocelebrateyourbirthdayorthebirthofyourbaby.

Theirmissionissimple,changetheheartsofthepeoplethroughJesusChristtotransformthecommunityofLaMision.

TemploCristianoElimisthefoundationofLaMisionMinistries.ChadandErinFransen,thedirectorsofLaMisionMinistries,notonlyliveat

thechurch,butworkthereaswell.Theysupportthechurchthroughleadingyouthgroup,servingaspartoftheworshipteam,workinginthemedicalclinic,anddevelopingrelationshipswiththecommunity.

InthisnewsletterwewantyoutounderstandthepartnershipbetweenLaMisionMinistriesandTemploCristianoElim.Wewanttocommunicatethechurch’spassionandvision,andhowthischurchisacriticalpartofthecommunityofLaMision.

• GAlEríA dE foToS •

www.lamisionministries.orgpage 1

Directors Erin and Chad Fransen

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Pastor Gustavo and His Wife Elizabeth

Pastor Gustavo: Foundation of the Church

Withashovelinhishand,throwingcementtobuildthefoundationforthewallinthebackyard,ChadinterviewedPastorGustavo.Thesearesomeofthethingsheshared.

Pastorlikesthatsomanypeoplefromdifferentwalksoflifeareapartofthechurch.Pastorisveryencouragedbythefactthattherehabcenterscometothechurch.HelovestoseethekidsfromtheorphanageattendaswellanddeveloparelationshipwithJesus.Heisalsoproudofhisson,Iri,whoispastoringachurchinaverypoorareaofTijuana.Oneoftheirministries,TheBreakfastClub,servesbreakfasttothecommunityandtheyhavebeengettingmorethan250peopleeachmorning.ManypeopleinLaMisionmaketheefforttoserveinthisministryeachweek.

“Ihavelearnedalotofthingsfromotherpastors.”HecontinuedinSpanish(althoughhespeaksEnglishverywell).“Ihavelearnednottoworry.TherearemanypastorsinMexicowhoworktirelesslyandstressoutabouteverything.Thatburdengivesthemheartproblemsandtheyarenothappy.”PastorGustavoismotivatedthroughhardworkbothphysicallyandbypreachingandleadingworship,“Iliketoworkhard,butGodworksoveralongperiodoftime,andlittlebylittle.”

Pastorhasongoingvisionsforthefunctionandbuildingofthechurch.ThebackyardofthechurchisoneoftheplacesPastorGustavoiscurrentlyworking.“Iwantaplacewherethekidsinthechurchcanplayonswingsandplaygroundequipment.”Rightnowthereisnoplace.Theonlyareaistheparkinglotwithallofthecars.InApril,ChadandErinhostedagroupfromCalvaryChapelofMountlakeTerracewhoworkedinthebackyardastheirmissionproject.

Anotherthinghehaslearnedistobemissionfocused.WhilemanychurcheshavemadeTemploElimtheirmissiontripsite,PastorGustavohastakenthechurchonmissionstodifferentpartsofMexico.HehelpstodisciplePastorRamoninSinaloawithchurchplanting.Forthefirsttime,inNovember,TemploElimtravelledtoCiudaddeConstitución,toworkwithapoorcommunity.Twentypeoplefromthechurchservedtogetherdoingconstruction,kidsprograms,andservices.ChadandErinwerepartofthegroupofmenfromtherehabcenter,Mexicans,orphans,andotherAmericansthatworkedsidebysidetofurthertheKingdomofHeaven.

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Transformed through Templo: Helio’s StoryHeliodoroGerardoLopeztelloAlmazanfoundJesuswhenhestumbleduponTemploElimChristianoinLaMision.Asaresult,hislifeisverydifferentnow.HeliowasborninTolucaCity,whichisabout45minutesfromMexicoCity.Helioiswelleducated.HestudiedlawattheUniversidadAutónomadelEstadodeMéxico.ThereheplayedAmericanFootballasasmallnoseguard.WhenhefinishedschoolheworkedasajournalistforElSoldeTolucabeforemovingtotheUS.HelivedinSacramento,CaliforniawherehetookESLclasses,andworkedatTheOldSpaghettiFactory.Afterawhile,helosthisworkvisaandstarteddrinking.HemovedtoRosarito,20minutesfromLaMision,andworkedinabakery.Hewasverylonelyandalcoholtookoverhislife.Onenighthegotintoanargumentwithaguywhothreatenedtokillhim.

Atthispointinhislife,HeliowasnotaChristian,butthereweremanyChristianpeoplearoundhim.At8am,onDecember10th,2001,GodtoldhimthatheneededtoleaveRosaritoorhewasgoingtodie.Hetookhisbackpackandstartedwalking.Hegotintoataxiandheadedsouth.ThetaxidroppedhimoffinLaMision.

Hewalkedintoahardwarestoreandaskediftherewasachurchintown.TheypointedhimtothechurchofTemploElimwherehemetPastorGustavo.PastordirectedhimtotheChristianrehabcenter.OnDecember28th,heacceptedJesusintohislife.HestartedtoattendchurchregularlyandwentonhisfirstmissiontripwithTemploElim.Shortlyafter,PastorGustavoinvitedHeliotoliveatthechurch.ThesupportofthechurchcommunitytransformedHelio’slife.InOctoberofthisyear,HeliomarriedMonica,whohemetwhiletheywereservingtogetheronamissiontripwithTemploElim.

HeliohasbeenafriendofLaMisionMinistriesfromthestart.Hehasprovidedwisdomandhelpedinmanyways.HeliocoachesfootballwithChad,runsthesoundforthechurch,andalsopreachesoccasionallyatthelocalrehabcenter.TemploElimwasacriticalpartofHelio’slife.NowhecontinuestogivebackandhasbecomeacriticalpartofTemploElim.

Please pray for Helio in these ways:

• To be on the right path for God.

• Prosperity. Stable work.

• Health. For him and his family.

MeetPastorGustavoandhiswifeElizabeth.TheyrunthelargestchurchinLaMision:TemploElimCristiano.Whiletheyhavenopaidstaff,theyencouragethecongregationtoserve.Gustavoisatalentedmusician,humblepreacher,andanexcellentforeman.HeprovidesaveryconstantandfirmfoundationinChristforthechurch.Elizabethsharesherdeliciouscookinggenerously,lovestosingintheworshipband,andisfullofhospitality.Sheistheheartofthechurch.

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Pastor Gustavo and His Wife Elizabeth

Praying for Blanca at Siloe Clinic

Pastora Elizabeth: Heart of the Church

ElizabethisfilledwithjoyandenergyafterrecentlycelebratingtheweddingofherdaughterBecky.ThewholechurchcommunitywasinvitedandservedadeliciousMexicanfeast.Elizabethisfulfilledwhensheiscookingandvisitingwithothers.Shegoesoutofherwaytofeedandserveothersandthisdemonstratesherloveforthecommunityandchurch.

SheseesthechurchasaplacetoencounterGod.FamiliesarechangedwhentheyareabletomeetGodandbetransformed.Elizabethexplains,“Afamilycametoourchurchthatwasstrugglingandsuicidal,foundJesusandthroughHim,thehopetocarryon.”Peopleneedtobeencouragedinthemidstofemotionalandeconomicstress.

Elizabethwouldliketoseemorepeoplehelpoutinthechurch,“Thereismuchworktobedone,butnotmanypeoplehavetime,ormaketime.Ilovetoseepeopleusetheirgiftstohelpotherpeople.Thechurchshouldbeaboutmakingdisciples.”

Elizabeth’sheartisacriticalpartofthischurchandcommunity.Sheissuchablessingtothecommunityandshecontinuallyteachesusallhowtobegenerous,loveothers,andshowhospitality.JustaskanyonewhohasbeenwelcomedhereinLaMision.

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AnotherwayTemploCristianoElimgivesbacktothecommunityisthroughano-costmedicalclinic,SiloeCommunityClinic.WorkingfortheclinichasbeenawonderfulwayforErintomeetpeopleinthecommunitywhodon’tcometochurch.OnesuchpersonisBlanca.Blancastartedcomingtotheclinicforpre-natalcare,andnowshecontinuestokeepcomingbackforsupportandmedicalcare.ErinhasbeenblessedtoparticipateinprayingandgettingtoknowwomenlikeBlanca.Blancasays“Theclinicishelpfulformebecauseyoulistenandprayforme.”Overthepasttwoyears,BlancahascometoTemploCristianoElimandhasstartedtobringherhusbandaswell.

Gustavo’s Prayer Requests:

• Grace to help people in the community. There are many families that struggle with drugs and have big problems.

• More jobs.

• That people would hunger for God, not just for His blessings.

Please pray for Blanca and her family:

• For her 3 kids who live in Bakersfield, CA.

• That her relationship with God would continue to grow, to affect her marriage and her community.

Pastora’s Request for Prayers:

• “It’s hard to gain support financially for the church. These are hard times, and not many people like to send money to churches from the US. It’s easier to give to a child.”

• “Our daughter Sofy has plans to attend the University of Tijuana in January. I am not worried, because God will make it happen, but it is a financial burden for our family.”