Life on the Rock InternationalMissionary Journey to Mexico - Written by James Guerra (aka James G!) Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mexico
* In July of 2019, James G. left his job his family and his home to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ from Dallas, TX to Mexico. On July 4th while America was celebrating our Independence by watching fireworks, James drove overnight from Dallas to Del Rio, TX. He picked up a pastor friend "Pilo", and left for Mexico, Piedras Negras Prison. Keep in mind James drove all night and had not slept a wink. He returned after 10 years to this place where he had previously sown the seed of the Gospel to find a good return on his harvest. Imagine this, 10 years ago while the Drug Cartel was having a BBQ gang meeting just 10 feet away from their crusade/revival, while drinking beers in their nice clothes "Offenders", the cartel who at that time ran everything...one man responds to the Altar and accepts Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Fast forward to this same place 10 years later on this July 4th weekend in 2019, this same man returns to hug James after the long absence and James is blown away by the testimony and questions of this man. This man asked James, "Do you remember me?" and proceeds to tell James he is now the Sr. Pastor of this Prison Community Church. James inquired as to how he had been? And his response, was that the words of the testimonies and preaching from that fateful day 10 years ago had touched him and he had completely began living for Christ Jesus. He described how he had repented and began living a Christ Centered life and was now the lead Pastor inside the prison conducting evangelism events himself. Amen, Hallelujah!!! The fruit of our labor had become apparent and the parable of the sower in Matthew talks about a 100 fold return...here was living proof to that truth! On July 6th we as a team visited Val Verde Correctional Detention Center where there are over 2000 immigrants being deported from Del Rio, Tx back to their countries. James and the team discovered a new missionary field in the young men of this detention facility who were speaking English and living in America under the responsibility of their families having been brought over here at a very young age, and now being deported back to a country in which they lived only briefly or not even at all. As they are being deported into Mexico, the Drug Cartels are waiting for them at the border to recruit them whether the like it or not. Not a lifestyle choice many would make having the desire to remain Americans. But due to their parents negligence, they did not have proper identification to remain in the USA. As a missionary, James presented the gospel to as many as would listen, having been emboldened by the encounter just a day before from seeing the Pastor in the Prison who heard the gospel 10 years prior...James and the team of Cornerstone Ministries preached about God's love and redemption even in the most dire of circumstances. Life on the Rock InternationalMissionary Journey to Mexico - Written by James Guerra (aka James G!) Reynosa Tamaulipas This is Cadereyta where in March of 2017 there was an entire prison riot and many men were killed. James visited there and saw the men crushed and devastated physically, emotionally, and spiritually. James admits he has never seen anything like it. This is the Topo Chico prison in Monterrey. James has been going into this facility since 2014. 3 DisciplesOn 3/31/2019, LOTRI went to the MTC Bridgeport Unit for a 2 hour Gospel service. God is so good when we first arrived to the unit. We had to immediately pray for favour just to enter having one volunteer not able to enter due to not having the proper paperwork. But God, who is rich in His mercy and grace made a way, where this pastor has never seen a way made before and I give all the Honor and all the Glory to God for this evening of precious grace.
9 servant volunteers entered the unit to have a service with 77 offenders who were all in eagerness anticipating what God would do on this night in March of 2019. We started with an amazing worship time with the Bridgeport Unit Choir and Band. They ushered in the spirit and we all got to sing and lift up the name of the Lord. Introducing the ministry of Life on the Rock we then read an Old Testament and New Testament scripture before asking one of the brothers to open up the service in prayer...full of the Holy Spirit we all felt God move into the Gym which quickly became His Sanctuary. My wife and I talked quickly about how much we love the men and love the ministry God has blessed us with. Up first was Holly, this being her first time into prison we all prayed God would use her mightily and He did. She shared about being able to share of the loss of her brother to suicide in an environment in which that topic alone is almost taboo being any volunteer who would hear from an offender of a desire to take their own life must report it immediately, creating a less than safe place to share of this brokenness in one's life. Mrs. Laura shared a Bible verse that has become the backbone and foundation for a marriage in the ministry that she saw prevelant throughout the theme of her recent wedding to Rock teammate and leader Robert Moore. We are always amazed at the incredible ministry we are able to do within the prison system and the men we are able to reach, when Jesus is preached. First time into a prison with Life on the Rock after meeting us inside a unit was Wilbur and he was so fired up and exciting, it seemed the men were eager to place his coming back in with an inner desire to change and the willingness to now come in sometime in their futures as ministers of this ministry to the least of these. God have your Way! Another man delivered from a life inside prison and the gangs and violence preached about being filled with the Holy Ghost by being born again in a cell inside Ad-Seg where Jesus came to meet him. Jerry is a brother Nikki and I met when he reached out to us to take us up on the offer of helping him when he returned to the DFW area after meeting Life on the Rock in one of the largest prisons in TDCJ. A man of his word he called and he touched base with the ministry through not taking no for an answer and that has led to his success on this side of the Razor Wire. Brother Woody from Waterside Church, a great blessing to this ministry was able to show how being a young Christian does not mean deference to a more mature man of God. Christ can use a willing servant so his message on this night was to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and be filled with God's purpose and go and be the Church! Bringing the main message was JD who delivered every expectation I have for a disciple, a message that is all about Jesus. When asked to preach impromtu, he fulfilled the scripture in 1 Peter 3:15, to sanctify the Lord God in your heart and be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is in you. Closing the service in prayer and supplication for a young man in the struggle was Robert whom I always find diligent in the Lord's business of salvation and resurrection power. If you think that any of this sounds like something you would want to be part of...remeber to visit those who are in prison as if you yourself were in bonds with them. Hebrews 13:3 If we can get you to understand, that Life on the Rock is all about Jesus and not about me, or any of the other teammates, then you may be able to also understand, that this ministry is yours, and we will only be as effective as the least member of the team, not the greatest which is why Jesus said the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Please invest your time, talent, and tithe into the ministry of kingdom building by proclaiming the good news of JESUS Christ! Amen. |
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