I often tell people that our Salvation is free, however sharing the Gospel may cost us plenty...even our lives. Few Christians are willing to sacrifice for the Gospel, even fewer will put their lives on the line for the cause of the Gospel. In Luke 14:26, Jesus says that anyone who will not put Him ahead of their entire family cannot be His disciple. They are not denied salvation, they just simply cannot be His disciples. Living in Juarez, Mexico I get to see what real sacrifice and suffering is from many that I meet. Most believers in well developed nations cannot fathom what their brothers and sisters in Christ suffer. The prosperity message in most of the developed nations may portray those who suffer for God's Kingdom as losers who are weak faith. Yet, I have never seen such faith as I see in this City that has been beaten by the Devil as a rug on a clothesline. Lately I have been preaching messages of suffering and faith. If suffering is lack of faith then the Apostle Paul and the untold number of other servants of God failed miserably (see Hebrews 11). And what can we say of Jesus' sufferings? Suffering is as part of the Christian walk as is Love. Peter even had the nerve to write that we have been called to suffer (1 Peter 2:20). When we tell an unbeliever that God will fix all their problems, plus flood their lives with "things", we do a terrible service to them AND to the gospel. They will set themselves on a path to fill their lives with the "things" that prove them to be a servant of faith. They also fail to become a strong servant of Christ with all the sacrifices required. And when life gets tough they become disillusioned with their faith and walk away from God.
Yesterday I met Pastor Rosales. Someone had told him about some nut who had moved to Juarez and he wanted to meet me. He found the Lord in Jail after a long life of drug trafficking across the border. He carried 200 lbs of cocaine across the border at a time. He has been a Pastor for 6 years. His church building looks very impressive for the area that he serves. Most of his congregation comes from the same lifestyle that he did. They are mostly ex-addicts and traffickers. Pastor Rosales last sentence was for 12 years. Twelve years in a Mexican jail is no cake walk. As with others who have walked in his shoes, Pastor Rosales would visit Satanic churches and ask for protection from demons as he worked that lifestyle. The things that go on in those churches cannot be described here. Pastor Rosales even had demons appear to him. When he gave his life to the Lord he prayed, and for reasons that he still doesn't know he was released after just 100 days. He found a good church and served well until years later he became a full time Pastor. He never called me by my name. He kept calling me "Servant of God." I could say a lot more about this man but let me share about what he experienced last year.
Pastor Rosales has been followed by his old acquaintances from his old lifestyle ever since he became a Christian. They beg him to return to work with them. Surprisingly, they treated him well even when he tried to witness to them. But last year things changed. One man came to his church and told him that if he didn't come up with $8,000US that they would start killing off his family members one by one; starting with his mother and ending with his kids, wife, the burning of his church, and finally his own murder. They knew that the only way that he could come up with that huge amount of money was to return to drug trafficking. But what he did was to start selling all that he had, including his old car. The only problem was that he only had $2,300 by the set date before the murders would begin. Days before that he called a family meeting and told them what was going on. He told everyone to leave Juarez, but he couldn't leave his church. One member told him, "Pastor, if you die, I want to die with you. I will not leave you." I also met that church member yesterday.
The men came on the specified day and walked into his church, carrying their weapons. They asked for the money. Pastor Rosales simply told them that he only raised $2,300. He pointed to his forehead and to his heart. He told them to aim for those two areas so they can get it over quickly. But he finished by telling them that one day they would have to answer to Jesus for their crime. They asked him several questions about Jesus, he answered, they turned around and left. Pastor Rosales was left holding the $2,300 and staring at the member who was willing to die with his Pastor. The men never returned. Pastor Rosales took the $2,300 and put it all towards the completion of his half-built church building. It is a great looking building. I will preach there Sunday at 5pm.
Meeting people like Pastor Rosales in the flesh is one of my greatest blessings. I meet men and women like him all the time. They serve the Lord with such zeal and love, yet they struggle to meet the smallest needs. Truly, we have been called to suffer for Christ. We, like Paul, glory in our sufferings. Do you suffer? Do you know Christ?
Last Friday I visited an orphanage that is dear to my heart. When I got there I found out that earlier in the week they had gone 2 days without water. I told them not to ever let that happen again, when they had my phone number. The orphanage is run by 5 family members: a mother, three daughters, and one son. All are highly educated. The Lord called them to Juarez from Mexico City to come and work here. The mom used to Pastor a church in Mexico City. Four of the kids are single and are licensed teachers. One is a Veterinarian. The Veterinarian works to support the ministry. The kids in this orphanage are very blessed to have all this knowledge around them. The kids are very respectable and very well mannered. There is very little need for a Veterinarian in Juarez. Even with a million people left here, she struggles for work. Even with her help this orphanage could not afford...water!!! So the young Doctor has recently taken on a second job. Unbelievably, this Doctor moonlights as a security guard. It is in this orphanage that I wish to start another project raising rabbits. I can't go wrong with a Vet on the premises.
Some quick notes:
The Lord continues to ask me to keep preaching and many doors are opening for that.
I will continue to work on Wednesday nights to build up a new congregation in an area where there are no churches.
Three brave ladies drove down to Juarez from Arkansas to minister. They worked in Juarez with Pastor Sylvia, who has a church in El Paso. It was great to visit with them during their stay. I only spent just over an hour with them. Thanks Sandy, Sharon, and Carol for the sacrifice. I know you were blessed.
I had another company who makes portable baptistries to donate a second unit. The first unit costs $250, and the second unit was $850. I already have both at no cost. My heart swells with blessings like these.
I will be very, very busy towards the end of this month. Pastors Luis and Dalys Acevedo, who are highly gifted by the Holy Spirit, are returning to Juarez with their daughter. They will be ministering for 2 weeks and I will be in all those services. I am really excited to see this couple again.
Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries, S.A.E.M., in El Paso, Texas is looking for a full time missionary with good computer knowledge. They print and ship gospel tracts and literature to Spanish Nations. Their campus has living quarters available. Call or write if interested in more information.
Temperatures in Juarez are back to 100+ degrees almost daily. We had a rare rainfall yesterday, so we are enjoying under 100 degree temperatures today.
I am closing in on one year in Juarez at the end of this month. What an experience!! I often struggle being here alone but God's grace is sufficient. The valleys have been low, but the mountain tops have reached heaven itself.
Blessings to all. Thanks for the prayers and constant love.
Daniel
Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936
1-501-827-7679
For tax credit:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, AR 72145
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
FAST RESULTS
Greetings to all. I have been without Internet service for about 2 weeks so I am behind on getting some information out. Lack of good Internet service and phone connections are a constant battle. I will try to cover the highlights of the past few weeks with a couple of entries to this blog.
One of the most exciting events has been the four day fast with Pastors, their wives, and a few other souls who wanted to join in. We had a total of 25 initial 'fasters'. It took me a number of trips to El Paso to gather all the things needed for this particular fast. The supplies are not easily found in Juarez and, if found, cost almost twice as much. The total cost of this fast was about $500. We met on Saturday June 16 so that I may give instructions for the fast, plus hand out all the liquids needed. The Spiritual re-awakening and cleansing is the most important part of any fast but, as an added benefit, this fast also totally empties out the kidneys and gall bladder of any stones. A good fast also helps to detoxify our bodies. It serves as a great tune-up for out physical as well as our spiritual being. If Jesus fasted, how much more should we? It is a certainty that all individuals who still have a gall bladder and who have not done this fast before have gall stones. A few also have kidney stones. During the meeting I stressed the importance of the Spiritual fast. We know that the believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and what affects the body also affects the Spirit of man. The Pastors wanted to start the fast the following Monday, the 18th of June. I called another meeting the following Saturday, to share testimonies of the fast and to enjoy Communion together. Before the second Saturday came around I was already hearing of some amazing stories. Here are some of the fast results:
Everyone who fasted prayed for everyone else who fasted. Everyone involved in the fast experienced Spiritual renewal including words from the Lord, wisdom, knowledge, direction, and guidance, along with renewed hope. One Pastor was told by the Spirit of God about a wolf in sheep's clothing in his church, whom he thought was a great servant of God. The Pastor did some investigating and, sure enough, he was very alarmed to find some disturbing truths of things going on in his church, right under his nose. This surfaced before the fast even ended. The pastor corrected the problem even though he lost a few members in his small congregation. He was very happy with the way things unfolded, though he was also saddened by the events. That same Pastor spoke about how "grossed out" he was when he passed parasites on the third day of the fast. He passed them though his urine and they were still alive. He asked his wife to come see them as they swam in the commode. They said that they looked like tiny octopuses bobbing up and down in the water. The Pastor had been suffering with severe back pain prior to the fast, but not after. This same Pastor's wife, in her early 40's, testified about some physical problems that she had experienced in the past two years. Two months before the fast she felt that she couldn't go on any more. Before she finished the fast she felt 100% better. She wept uncontrollably as she testified about her experiences during the four days. She was extremely thankful for her new life. Another lady passed about 200 stones along along chili seeds from her gall bladder. She also had been suffering physically for 2 years. During the last 12 months she has been in constant 24 hour-a-day pain from head to toe. After the fast the only pain that she had left was a slight headache. We prayed for her to get total relief from her headache. Another incredible testimony was the one given by an evangelist couple. I wrote a story in this blog about them titled THE SHOES OF THE HAIRSTYLIST. Daniel pumped his body several times a day with hormones. He did this for 20 years to become a woman physically. He gave his life to the Lord and was instantly set free from homosexuality, however, ten years later, he still felt that his body was filled with the toxins from all the hormones. During the fast he was totally cleaned and he no longer felt the affects in his body. His wife, Irene, had body aches for the past two months, including swelling of the feet. She was also set free from the toxins that were causing all her troubles. Some couples testified about how much younger their mates looked after the fast.
Everyone passed gall stones. The number of stones ranged from approximately 100 to 200. Everyone got up to the microphone to testify. They ALL thanked me and their American brothers and sisters for this huge blessing. We had communion, celebrated, laughed, cried, and prayed. The fast brought the Pastors and leaders closer together.
Before the fast ended I was called to visit a few people who are on the list for gall bladder surgery. One particular 20 year old woman had traveled 2 hours (with her 4 month old) by bus to come to Juarez for Father's Day. She started having gall bladder problems a year ago. While in Juarez she became very ill, was hospitalized, and told that she needed gall bladder surgery. She refused surgery for several reasons. I went to visit her. I took her everything that she needed and started her on a fast immediately. Today she is back home with her baby and husband and is free of stones in her gall bladder. Currently, I have 3 others with severe gall bladder problems on the fast. I always stress to them the importance of prayer and Bible study during the fast. I also have a list of 10 people who need the fast. I have had to increase my trips to El Paso from one to two and three a week. I have to bring what I need from El Paso a little at a time.
I sense that people here are getting excited about fasting, which was something that they rarely did. Most people spoke about only fasting a half a day in the past, but even that had been years ago. I have asked church leaders that we must make fasting part of the Christian lifestyle and to teach their people about fasting.
In the near future I will be introducing many leaders to a 10 day fast. Prayer and fasting is what the Lord wants so that He may change lives. I have also been told by a medical Doctor that he may call on me to speak before a group of Doctors about this fast.
Moving on to other FAST RESULTS... I now have seven baby rabbits living in my back yard. I started with four adult rabbits on May 22. They all seem to be doing well. However, on the other side of town we started with a dozen rabbits and we are down to only one. The rest have died. I suspect that there are several causes for this. When I visit that place I often find the rabbits without water (temperatures are now above 100 almost daily), and cages not cleaned properly. I also suspect that too many children are allowed to play with the rabbits without adult supervision and they are being mishandled. I have spoken to them about this before. I decided not to bring any more rabbits to that area and to just raise chickens there. The chickens are doing well there. Recently they had 9 eggs hatch. I also plan to bring the remaining rabbit to my back yard until I can move them to another place where I know they will be taken proper care of.
I plan on writing more about current events very shortly.
Thanks to all for your continued prayers, support, and words of love and encouragement. As usual, you are free to share these stories.
Daniel
Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936
For tax credited contributions:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, Arkansas 72145
One of the most exciting events has been the four day fast with Pastors, their wives, and a few other souls who wanted to join in. We had a total of 25 initial 'fasters'. It took me a number of trips to El Paso to gather all the things needed for this particular fast. The supplies are not easily found in Juarez and, if found, cost almost twice as much. The total cost of this fast was about $500. We met on Saturday June 16 so that I may give instructions for the fast, plus hand out all the liquids needed. The Spiritual re-awakening and cleansing is the most important part of any fast but, as an added benefit, this fast also totally empties out the kidneys and gall bladder of any stones. A good fast also helps to detoxify our bodies. It serves as a great tune-up for out physical as well as our spiritual being. If Jesus fasted, how much more should we? It is a certainty that all individuals who still have a gall bladder and who have not done this fast before have gall stones. A few also have kidney stones. During the meeting I stressed the importance of the Spiritual fast. We know that the believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and what affects the body also affects the Spirit of man. The Pastors wanted to start the fast the following Monday, the 18th of June. I called another meeting the following Saturday, to share testimonies of the fast and to enjoy Communion together. Before the second Saturday came around I was already hearing of some amazing stories. Here are some of the fast results:
Everyone who fasted prayed for everyone else who fasted. Everyone involved in the fast experienced Spiritual renewal including words from the Lord, wisdom, knowledge, direction, and guidance, along with renewed hope. One Pastor was told by the Spirit of God about a wolf in sheep's clothing in his church, whom he thought was a great servant of God. The Pastor did some investigating and, sure enough, he was very alarmed to find some disturbing truths of things going on in his church, right under his nose. This surfaced before the fast even ended. The pastor corrected the problem even though he lost a few members in his small congregation. He was very happy with the way things unfolded, though he was also saddened by the events. That same Pastor spoke about how "grossed out" he was when he passed parasites on the third day of the fast. He passed them though his urine and they were still alive. He asked his wife to come see them as they swam in the commode. They said that they looked like tiny octopuses bobbing up and down in the water. The Pastor had been suffering with severe back pain prior to the fast, but not after. This same Pastor's wife, in her early 40's, testified about some physical problems that she had experienced in the past two years. Two months before the fast she felt that she couldn't go on any more. Before she finished the fast she felt 100% better. She wept uncontrollably as she testified about her experiences during the four days. She was extremely thankful for her new life. Another lady passed about 200 stones along along chili seeds from her gall bladder. She also had been suffering physically for 2 years. During the last 12 months she has been in constant 24 hour-a-day pain from head to toe. After the fast the only pain that she had left was a slight headache. We prayed for her to get total relief from her headache. Another incredible testimony was the one given by an evangelist couple. I wrote a story in this blog about them titled THE SHOES OF THE HAIRSTYLIST. Daniel pumped his body several times a day with hormones. He did this for 20 years to become a woman physically. He gave his life to the Lord and was instantly set free from homosexuality, however, ten years later, he still felt that his body was filled with the toxins from all the hormones. During the fast he was totally cleaned and he no longer felt the affects in his body. His wife, Irene, had body aches for the past two months, including swelling of the feet. She was also set free from the toxins that were causing all her troubles. Some couples testified about how much younger their mates looked after the fast.
Everyone passed gall stones. The number of stones ranged from approximately 100 to 200. Everyone got up to the microphone to testify. They ALL thanked me and their American brothers and sisters for this huge blessing. We had communion, celebrated, laughed, cried, and prayed. The fast brought the Pastors and leaders closer together.
Before the fast ended I was called to visit a few people who are on the list for gall bladder surgery. One particular 20 year old woman had traveled 2 hours (with her 4 month old) by bus to come to Juarez for Father's Day. She started having gall bladder problems a year ago. While in Juarez she became very ill, was hospitalized, and told that she needed gall bladder surgery. She refused surgery for several reasons. I went to visit her. I took her everything that she needed and started her on a fast immediately. Today she is back home with her baby and husband and is free of stones in her gall bladder. Currently, I have 3 others with severe gall bladder problems on the fast. I always stress to them the importance of prayer and Bible study during the fast. I also have a list of 10 people who need the fast. I have had to increase my trips to El Paso from one to two and three a week. I have to bring what I need from El Paso a little at a time.
I sense that people here are getting excited about fasting, which was something that they rarely did. Most people spoke about only fasting a half a day in the past, but even that had been years ago. I have asked church leaders that we must make fasting part of the Christian lifestyle and to teach their people about fasting.
In the near future I will be introducing many leaders to a 10 day fast. Prayer and fasting is what the Lord wants so that He may change lives. I have also been told by a medical Doctor that he may call on me to speak before a group of Doctors about this fast.
Moving on to other FAST RESULTS... I now have seven baby rabbits living in my back yard. I started with four adult rabbits on May 22. They all seem to be doing well. However, on the other side of town we started with a dozen rabbits and we are down to only one. The rest have died. I suspect that there are several causes for this. When I visit that place I often find the rabbits without water (temperatures are now above 100 almost daily), and cages not cleaned properly. I also suspect that too many children are allowed to play with the rabbits without adult supervision and they are being mishandled. I have spoken to them about this before. I decided not to bring any more rabbits to that area and to just raise chickens there. The chickens are doing well there. Recently they had 9 eggs hatch. I also plan to bring the remaining rabbit to my back yard until I can move them to another place where I know they will be taken proper care of.
 |
 Add caption |
I plan on writing more about current events very shortly.
Thanks to all for your continued prayers, support, and words of love and encouragement. As usual, you are free to share these stories.
Daniel
Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936
For tax credited contributions:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, Arkansas 72145
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)