DANIEL'S PRAYER

It has been a long time since I have been able to have some quiet time to sit down and post on this blog.  I have many, many things to share but before I do that I want to use this post exclusively for a lesson on prayer. 

I have an army of friends praying for me continually and I certainly feel the presence of those prayer warriors going with me everywhere that I go.  I am most grateful for those whom the Lord has praying for me.  As a missionary in Juarez, Mexico it is wonderful to have the confidence to come and go with that army of warriors covering me in prayer. But I must have a strong prayer life of my own to be able to accomplish the tasks that the Lord sets before me.  I want to share with you a prayer that I have been using for a long time that has been a great blessing to God's Kingdom and to myself.  

Many years ago Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book called, THE PRAYER OF JABEZ.  The prayer of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10, and it is hardly one verse long.  The book blessed many people and it became a New York Times bestseller. 

But prayer that I want to share with you was uttered by a man simply know as Abraham's chief servant.  As far as I can see there is no name given to the man.  But since it is a prayer that I use very frequently I will call it  DANIEL'S PRAYER.

Before we get into the prayer I want to first say that a prayer that is repeated as if it had magical powers is of no value.  That is just religion.  The prayer must come from the heart and the spirit of man, and it must be fueled with faith.  I want to share the idea of the prayer only.

The story of Abraham's chief servant is found in the Book of Genesis, chapter 24.  (I encourage you to read the entire chapter.)  Apparently Abraham knew of his upcoming death and he wanted his son Isaac to have a wife before he passed away.  Abraham calls his chief servant and makes him promise that he will go to his old country to get a wife for Isaac.  Abraham promised his chief servant that God will send an angel before him (verse 7) to lead him on his mission.  The chief servant immediately loads up ten camels and heads out on his journey to Nahor.  And now here is the chief servant's prayer when he arrives:

                            Oh, Lord  God of my master Abraham, give me

                            success today, and show kindness to my master

                            Abraham.  See, I am standing beside this spring,

                            and the daughters of the townspeople are coming

                            out to draw water.  May it be that when I say to a

                            girl, 'Please lay down your jar that I may have a

                            drink,' and she says,' Drink, and I'll water your

                            camels too'---let her be the one you have chosen

                            for your servant Isaac. By this will I know that

                            you have shown kindness to my servant."

The very next verse states that before the chief servant had finished praying that Rebekah came out with a jar on her shoulders.  He asked her for a drink and she immediately gave him some water.  Then she offered to water the camels, too.  Verse 20 states that she ran from the well to the trough.  She had to have done this many times.  I've never owned any camels but probably few land animals drink as much water as camels do...and there were ten of them.  The important thing is that we know that the chief servant was blessed of God and he completely and successfully accomplished the mission that he was sent on.  Rebekah was to be Isaac's wife.

I'm sure that there are different ways to look at this prayer but I want to share with you how I see it.  I see the chief servant as anyone of God's servants.  God (here seen as Abraham) sends us out on a mission.  He promises that His angel(s) will always accompany us as we seek to do His will.  But we need to always pray that He will give us success in everything that we do for Him.  The success is not for our sake, but that we will be successful in accomplishing His will and purposes.  In other words, we do not want success so that we accomplish our will, but we want success in accomplishing His will and that the end result will be that He, and only He, will get the Glory and Honor.  We are seeking God's success, not ours.  Sometimes we define success as accomplishing the task that we had in mind, but as His servants the success comes when we accomplish what God had in mind.  After the success of the mission the servant bowed down and worshiped the Lord for His kindness, faithfulness, and for leading him on his journey (verse 26).  It is very important that we are grateful for the success that we experience in bringing Him success and that we testify to it as the servant does later on. 

For months my prayer has been that the Lord will give me success in bringing Him success, which means bringing Him Glory in everything that I do.  I recognize that my mission is to have His will accomplished through me.  I desire none of the Glory nor do I seek it. I just want to be a vessel through which His name is Glorified as His will is successfully completed.  In prayer I even remind the enemy that he will not steal God's success.  He has no right to it because I have united myself to my Master and His success is a sure thing.  I have seen the Lord's hands move mightily as I surrender myself to accomplish nothing but to bring Him Glory and honor as His will is successfully accomplished through me. 

Now my prayer is that many others will join in and ask God to give them success in accomplishing His will so that only He will be Glorified and honored.  I believe that this prayer surrenders us to be used for His purposes and for His Glory.  Seeking our own glory is a very dangerous thing and God's plan will fail if we try to do so.  God will not share His Glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).  Jesus tells us to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and Glorify our Father in Heaven (we take none of the Glory).  We are instruments through which God receives Glory.  When we pray and ask God to give us the honor to bring Him Glory He will give our journey success.  God will hear and answer that prayer!!!  Glory and honor to His name.

 

 

Daniel

 

 

 

P.S.  Please note that I have an address change.  I will no longer be using the Post Office Box in El Paso, but I will be using the Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries (S.A.E.M.) address to receive mail on the U.S. side.  Blessings to all...and keep praying. 

 

 

Daniel Torres

650 Linwood Drive

El Paso, Texas 79928

1-501-827-7679

 

 

For tax-credit:

Covenant Fellowship

P.O. Box 8126

Searcy, Ar 72145

 

 

 

SAMARITAN'S PURSE: THE OTHER END OF THE RAINBOW



TAKING A HEAD COUNT

LOADING UP THE BUS AT THE CHURCH

Have you ever prepared a Christmas shoe box or boxes for Samaritan's Purse and wondered where in the world it would end up?

First, let me say a hearty thanks to you for touching the life of a child.  And secondly, I want to share my experiences at a Samaritan's Purse distribution area last Saturday in Juarez, Mexico, where I serve as a missionary.

BEACH BALLS FLYING IN THE TENT

THE CLOWN ACT

Pastor Roberto Nuñez, who pastors the church where we have one of Saturday lunch rooms, signed our kids up for gifts from Samaritan's Purse and we were selected to receive gifts. There are not enough gifts to supply the needs of the entire City of Juarez.

Pastor Roberto had been preparing the children for several weeks for this wonderful event. This past Saturday the kids eagerly arrived at the church. Excitement was in the air, but so were the freezing temperatures. We had a total of 74 kids who had to be transported to the site, about 40 minutes away. We only had four vehicles so I decided to rent a bus. It was only 500 pesos ($42) round trip and we would be at the distribution center a little over 2 hours. The bus ride over made the day even more special for the children. Several adults rode the bus with the kids and the rest of the adults followed in our cars.

When we arrived there were over 300 children from another church who had arrived in 4 buses. We were the second wave of groups that day. We were received with all the warmth and love that anyone could possibly give. 

 I met an incredible group of Christians who were helping with the event. They were the ones who handed the children their Christmas presents. The group came for The Simple Church in Bossier City, Louisiana (This church of 5,000 people has an incredible history).

When we first arrived I was expecting to get the kids off the bus, file them in, pick up the Christmas presents, file them back unto the bus, and return home. But there was a special service planned for the children before gifts were given out. It was another major excitement to make this Christmas all the more meaningful. The kids were welcomed with animal balloons and bead necklaces. Then they had them all to stand up and then big and huge beach balls were bounced around the 450 seat capacity tent for about 15 minutes with upbeat music. Then 2 clowns entertained us with side-splitting comedy. And after that the gospel message was presented by Lion King characters. This lasted about 40 minutes. Mufasa, the head lion led the kids in prayer. Then we were filed out for the main event: The Christmas presents!!!



I watched the children's faces as they passed by to receive a box. I thought that I would see happier faces but there was so much excitement, wonder, and awe that they were in a dream. It was as if they couldn't grasp the moment. They were afraid to get too outwardly excited because maybe they would...wake up. Once they got back on the bus the emotions flowed.

We drove back to the church and once the bus doors open the race was on to get home in a hurry and open the Christmas gifts. Some couldn't wait so they went inside the church and open their gifts there. The faces were classic. The place was quiet. Each item was studied carefully.

As I looked at the happy faces on these children I thought about the many millions of people who had sacrificed to make this possible. I wanted to be able to thank them all personally and individually.

And as I looked at the happy faces I was reminded of many, many years ago when someone donated a beautiful little candy-apple red Volkswagen. I was the fortunate one to receive it. There has never a greater gift given to a child. Yet I'm sure that every child last Saturday would say the same about their gifts.

Thanks so much to all who gave. A million thanks!!! And many thanks also to Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries and Missionary Susan Kirk (Thru His Mercy Ministries) who donated presents and other items so that I may distribute them to kids at the other lunch room and a few other places.

 

 

AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY. A MILLION THANKS.

(Double click on the pictures for enlargement.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano

Ste. G, Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679

For tax receipts:

Covenant Fellowship

P.O. Box 8126

Searcy, AR 72145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



PASTOR TINA'S MIRACLE

PASTORS WHO RECENTLY  RECEIVED A NEW STUDY BIBLE. PASTOR TINA IS IN THE CENTER.
 

The more stories that I write the more I realize that this blog has the perfect name. It's amazing that a city with as bad a reputation as Juarez, Mexico can be so full of miracles. Romans 5:20 says, "...where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound". The power of God that we witness so much in Juarez proves that His presence is here and He has not forsaken this city. And once again I am writing about God's supernatural presence in the lives of His people and in the history of Juarez.

I met Pastor Tina a few months ago. Not very long ago Tina's husband (who was a pastor), herself, and a few others were caught in the middle of a shoot-out. Tina was the only survivor. Pastor Tina has metal screws in the middle of her back as a reminder of the horrible ordeal.

After she lost her husband she asked God for guidance and direction. She felt that God wanted her to continue pastoring. But she struggled with her small church. She always wanted to have a lunch room in her church. Pastor Tina spends hours a day in prayer. She asked the Lord about a lunch room many times and one day the Lord showed her a vision of a man who would make her desire a reality. And one day not too long ago I showed up at her church door asking her if she would be willing to open up a lunch room in her church. The kids in the neighborhood were going hungry and we needed to do something. Of course she was delighted about the answer to her prayers and her tears showed it. She's had the lunchroom for almost 2 months now. All I do is supply the food and other material things.  

Last Saturday morning, before feeding time started, I payed Pastor Tina a visit and brought her some supplies. She shared with me these incredible events that happened to her while I was away from Juarez visiting friends and family during the Christmas holidays.

A couple of women, whom she had never seen before, came to her church door wanting to speak her. She escorted them through the church and into her small house. She asked them to sit down while she prepared something to drink. But as she turned around they tackled her down, quickly tied her arms behind her back, threw her inside the bathroom floor, pounded her with their fists, and told her that they were going to kill her. Then two more men joined in with the two women.

Pastor Tina's back was hurting from her recent surgery. But she still had the strength to make a statement to them from the bathroom floor. She told them that in as much as she was a child of God and that Jesus was her Lord and King they had no authority over her life. She told them that if they killed her, it would only be because He authorized it, not them.

The team of four proceeded to collect things from Pastor Tina's small house to carry off. She mentioned the microwave, the 5 gallon water dispenser, her T.V. set, a large mirror in the living room, drinking glasses, and other items of value. They carried these into the church and put them by the front door. By this time Pastor Tina crawled out of the bathroom and into the living room  to see what they were doing.

They started to take the items out of the church door but they were unable to. One by one they would pick up the items they had collected but when they got to the church door an invisible force would not allow them to get them past the door. Pastor Tina witnessed how they would have a tug-of-war with the items taken from her house. They picked up the microwave but it wouldn't go past the door. They would pull and then push but it would not go beyond the threshold. Someone was pulling the items back inside the church. Someone who they could not see. Finally they set the last item down and took off running. Pastor Tina set herself free and eventually carried everything back into the house. Not one thing was broken.

I was reminded about the two times that someone came into my house property and things were stolen from me. The second time they broke my car window and took what I had in my car. It is not a good feeling to know that someone has done this to you. I remember standing there and telling the angels who were supposed to be watching over me that they were fired. Of course, I was teasing...trying to find humor in a bad situation.

Was the Lord late? Were our angels asleep or off somewhere else? Did God forget us for a few minutes and the enemy took advantage of it? NEVER!!!

Pastor Tina and I both know that the Lord was just as present with us while I was being robbed and she was being beaten as He ever has been.

I reminded Pastor Tina about Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They were severely beaten because Paul had cast out a spirit of divination. Later, after they were thrown in prison, they are miraculously set free by the power of God. Was God late? Was He unaware that they had been severely flogged? No, He was there the whole time. God has His purposes and His divine plans.

Do you feel that God has departed from you? He is closer than you can possibly imagine. Faith! It's all about faith.

It doesn't matter what the circumstances are. As a child of God He is all around you and in you.

In Joshua chapter 1, the Lord continually tells Joshua to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. That is what we must be. Pastor Tina told her assailants that they had no authority over her. We are children of the King. He has authority over us and no one else. And He allows things to happen to us for a purpose. Let that purpose have its perfect way. Faith...it's all about faith.

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano

Ste. G, Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679

For tax-deductible gifts:

Covenant Fellowship

P.O. Box 8126

Searcy, Arkansas 72145

P.S. To enlarge picture just double click on it.

TRAGIC EVENTS

Christians are the salt of the Earth. The light of the world. And no other nation comes to the aid of those who have been hit by catastrophic events like the United States of America, especially the Christians in America. The United States has been called the 911 of the world.

 

Last month I was in Oklahoma City visiting my daughter Melissa during the Christmas holidays. While I was there we decided to visit the site of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

 

On April 19, 1995 at 9:02am, 2 terrorists with 4,000 pounds of explosives in a rental truck destroyed the building. The death toll was 169 lives. There was a day care inside the building. I believe that 19 of the children perished. It only took the clean-up crew 150 pounds of explosives to bring down what remained of the building. The site where the Murrah building once stood and its surroundings are now a National Monument and a Memorial Museum. It is impossible to walk through the grounds and the museum and not weep over the events of that day. Every inch of the site is filled with history, stories, pictures, videos, remnants, and memories. My heart was squeezed as with a vice grip as I toured that place. Your heart will be moved beyond comprehension at the stories of heroes who came to the rescue and the response from millions around the Nation and the world. The entire Nation poured out to help in ways that cannot be expressed in words. Professionals from every area showed up immediately to assist.

 

My heart was already heavy and grieved before I arrived in Oklahoma City. I arrived there just days after the school massacre in Newton, Connecticut, where 28 were killed, about 20 of them were children. Once again a grieved nation responded only as Americans can. The assistance that the City of Newton has received is a testimony of the greatness and love of our nation and those who are the Salt and the Light. 

 

While I walked through the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum I had flashbacks of another event.

 

It was Tuesday September 1, 2001. The world watched in horror as the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City came tumbling down as a result of 2 airplanes in the hands of terrorists. The death toll there was almost 3,000. The heart of the Nation and of the World sank in disbelief as those images came across the television screen. We all know where we were when we first heard the news of this horrific event. I grew up in New York City and for a few years I saw the construction of the massive buildings until they literately disappeared into the clouds. To think that they were now in the streets of the city was more than my mind could capture. Again, a loving nation with a huge heart responds to the catastrophe as only America can.

 

These are just three tragic moments in history that have changed the lives of those who were immediately present and many more millions who were affected as a result. Sad to say but in today's modern world we expect more of these things in our future.

 

In Oklahoma it only took from 9:01am to 9:03am to completely change those lives. Just two minutes!!! In New York City and in Newton, Conn. it was a matter of minutes.

 

I live in a City that has been hit by tragic events. But they haven't stopped yet. The attacks have not lasted for minutes, but years. For several years now, Juarez, Mexico has been attacked like few cities in history of the world have been attacked. In May of last year the death toll in Juarez, Mexico reached 10,000 people since 2008. As a result many factories and businesses closed down causing unemployment. The families that could afford to leave and wanted to leave have left. Missionaries were called back by their supporters. Today the City is filled with widows and orphans. Many of the families of the murdered were forced to see the criminal act. Their lives and minds have been shattered.

 

What remains? I see a desperate City. A City with little hope. Most of the people here are very poor with many needs. Not just financial. Not just for food. I give out food and sometimes medicine. But I'm just one. Yes, there are more. But what are we with such great needs? There is a generation of widows and orphans who need serious counseling. The type of counseling that shows up in the U.S. hours after a major tragic event.

 

I have had many people in Juarez ask me a tough question. They want to know why their brothers and sisters from America, who spoke of faith, deserted them in their time of greatest need because they became fearful.  

 

The good news is the dust is beginning to settle down in Juarez. The number of murders continues to decline. People are coming out at night again. Hope is on the rise. The time to come to the aid of Juarez is now.

 

Yes, we want to bring food, clothing, finances, and counseling. But if we give them those things and fail to give them Jesus we have not given them anything. When we give them Jesus we give them everything. We need bold people to come and love these who have suffered for so long. They are distraught, in a state of shock, emotionally hurting, bleeding on the inside, lonely, feeling rejected, looking for more hope, wondering what happened to their lives, looking for normalcy, trying to get back up on their knees, needing a hug, needing a friend, wanting to know that someone actually cares for them.

 

There is poem inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty. In part it reads:

 

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

 

The people of Juarez can't come to America. America must come to Juarez. Let's make 2013 the year of Juarez. 

 

Come on, America. It's time. Let's roll!!

 

 

 

 

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano

Ste. G, Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WIDOWS, ORPHANS, THE ELDERLY, AND THE NEEDY

MARIA, 96 YEARS OLD, WITH HER HUSBAND OF 72 YEARS JUAN, 87.



Christmas time was fast approaching and I wanted to do something special for some very special people.  Many times in Scripture the Word admonishes us to look after the widows and orphans.  In Juarez, Mexico you don't have to look very hard to find plenty of them.  After several years of violence the City is filled with widows and orphans. There are so many that the thought of reaching all of them is mind boggling but that should not stop us from doing something.  So I asked Pastor Roberto and Pastor Lourdes to help me reach out to a few families that I knew. We would prepare something very special for these families. Something that they will never forget.

HAPPY FACES

PASTOR LOURDES AND HER 2 GIRLS

I know of two widows who are 31 and 34 years old.  Between the two they have 13 kids.  One of them is Celestina, who lives in a borrowed house that was big enough for a great outreach. I visited her and planned the event. She also knew of another widow, also very young, who had 4 girls.  I asked her to invite her. We set a date and I began to prepare with the help of Pastor Roberto and his family.  Missionary Susan Kirk, of Thru His Mercy Ministries, serving in the Cities of Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico had given me more than enough presents to give to all the orphan children and the widows. Pastor Roberto and his family prepared all the gifts by separating them into the appropriate ages and gender.  They also wrapped them beautifully.

So we had three full hours packed with singing, Bible stories, face painting, animal balloons, hot food, hot chocolate, soft drinks, a clown, games, gifts for all, and haircuts.   



CELESTINA AND PART OF HER FAMILY

SWEET MOMENTS

Pastor Lourdes works as a beautician, so I asked her if she would be willing to cut hair.  Even though she has many financial difficulties she was willing to take a Saturday off, her busiest day, to go with us to cut hair.  The event was set to start at 2pm but I dropped off Pastor Lourdes off at Celestina's house at 10am because she had more than 20 haircuts to do.

Along with the food that we ate at Celestina's I left 100 pounds of rice, 100 pounds of beans, and 50 pounds of potatoes to divide up between the families. I also took plenty group and individual pictures to develop in El Paso, place in frames, and return to each family as another gift. 

Before we started at 2pm Celestina asked me if she could invite an elderly couple who lived close to her.  I fell in love with them the moment I saw them.  Their names are Juan and Maria.  When I first met them I asked how long they had been married.  Maria answered me. She said 72 years.  I thought that she misunderstood me so I repeated the question. I told them that I didn't mean how old she was, but how long they had been married.  Juan answered me this time.  He said that they had been married for 72 years.  My next question immediately was about their age.  Juan said that the "old lady" was 96 but he was only 87.  He accused her of robbing the cradle.  Later Juan danced with the children.  Maria clapped and smiled.  What an incredible couple!!

It was a very memorable day for the kids and the moms.  It was exactly what we wanted to do.  Thanks to the Lord and to all who support the work in Juarez. 



ELVIA AND HER 4 DAUGHTERS

SUSANA AND HER FAMILY

Almost 2 weeks later Celestina borrows a phone and calls me.  She asked me to please come over.  A man just up the street was having epileptic seizures and no one had money to buy his medicine.  I quickly got the medicine and brought it to Celestina.  But she wanted me to go with her to the man's house and pray for him.  I met and prayed for Armando, a worship leader at a church.  Then Celestina also wanted me to pray for another member of the family.  She was in the room when I prayed for Armando.  Her name is Conchita.  I asked them what Conchita's problem was.  They said that no one knew because she doesn't speak and there was no money to take her to the doctor.  Conchita stays in bed most of the day and sometimes she ventures out into the living room and just sits there staring at the floor.  Conchita's son is married to Armando's daughter but she lives with Armando and his wife.  No one knew Conchita's age or even her last name, because...Conchita does not speak.  

CELESTINA WITH HER OLDEST DAUGHTER

I went over and sat by Conchita.  She didn't look at me.  I put my right hand over her shoulder and prayed a simple prayer.  Then I took her by the chin and looked at her face.  Her eyes looked well.  I asked her for her age.  She clearly said that she was 52 as she turned to look at me.  I turned around to look at the ones who had just told me that Conchita did not speak and their mouths were hanging open.  I turned back to Conchita and asked her last name.  Clearly she said that it was Hernandez.  I turned around again.  This time the group behind me was crying.  I asked Conchita if she would go outside with me for a walk.  She agreed and so we went.  The group cried more as we headed out the door.  Conchita and I spoke of many things as I held her by the hand and walked slowly.  I asked her what her favorite food was.  She told me and I made arrangements to get it for her that day.  I told her that I wanted to bring her a gift next time I came.  She asked for a pair of sneakers and gave me the size.  We returned inside the house and the teary mob was still...crying.

Celestina got back in the car so that I could take her back home.  She stared at me with tears still in her eyes and asked me if I realized what happened back there.  I really wasn't sure but I knew that the Lord had worked a miracle in Conchita's life.  She wiped her tears and soon she was getting down off my car.  But I remembered that I had all the pictures of party we had at her house about two weeks earlier.  Many of them were framed and I gave her many extras.  She saw them and fell apart all over again.  Through her tears and with loss of breath all she could say over and over again was, "Oh, my brother, my brother, my brother..."  Her kids came out and found their mom weeping almost uncontrollably.  The became worried.  I reassured them that their mom would be just fine in a few minutes.  I left and went back to what I was doing before the phone call.  I drove very slowly trying to put all the pieces together and give thanks to our great God who cares about the poorest of the poor and the neediest of the needy.

A few days later I returned with a brand new pair of white and blue sneakers for Conchita.  She put them on and we went out for our second walk together.  This time I let her do most of the speaking.



AND FINALLY.....CONCHITA.

Many people feel sorry for me because I live in Juarez.  Two weeks ago I visited a friend who was visibly shocked that I was back in Arkansas.  He was very frank and told me that he thought that I would never return alive.  But I have not given up anything to be in Juarez.  I have gained so much!  Meeting people like Maria and Juan, seeing the happy faces of children who have been traumatized by life, seeing widows smile again, walking with Conchita and holding her hand, knowing that I have a team of prayer warriors behind me, and walking hand in hand with Jesus makes my life nothing but a pure joy. 

A great many thanks to all who make it possible for me to serve in Juarez, Mexico.  My prayer is that 2013 will be another great year for all as we experience God's blessings on our lives so that we may keep bringing the gospel message to the ends of the Earth. 

Happy New Year to all.


Daniel



P.S. Double click on the pictures for enlargement.




Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679


For tax deductible contributions:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, Arkansas 72145









 




























 

 

 

 

 



WHEN THE SUPERNATURAL MEETS THE NATURAL

 

                   This will not be a course on casting out demons. I merely want to share another face to face encounter that I had with the powers of darkness this week. I have had these confrontations in the past and no two of them has been exactly the same. I will share some observations and personal opinions on the subject. But for now it is imperative that the reader understand that these things are real TODAY and they are to be taken very seriously.

 

Some people argue that demonic possession only happened during Bible times. We ARE still in Bible times (see also Mark 16:15). The book of Acts is still being written. It is in Chapter 19 of that same book that we read the account of the 7 sons of Sceva (verses 13-16). They attempted to cast out a demon from a man but they were unable to because they did not have the power of the Lord in their lives, nor did they know Him. The demon jumped on them and left them wounded and naked. So actually the demon did come out of the man but only temporarily and only to do harm to these 7 brothers. Rule 1: you must know the Lord, His promises, and be able to act in faith.

 

Today, it is fashionable, especially for young adults to dabble in the occult. Hollywood has helped to stitch this subject into the fabric of everyday life. The occult is portrayed as exciting, fun, new age, unharmful, and stylish. But it is real and it is not a game.

The Devil is recorded right at the onset of the Scriptures, but he was around long before that. He and his demons are out for destruction, while Jesus' desire is to bring us abundant life (see John 10:10).

Ephesians 6:10 teaches that our struggles and battles are of a spiritual nature and origin. Therefore the flesh and blood (the people, or the visible things) that bring these things on our lives are being used as the vehicles that bring on these spiritual wars. So as we understand that our "wrestling" is spiritual, we must know how to go into combat in a spiritual sense, not physical. Entire libraries can be written on this subject. For now here are the details of this week.

 

 

I was at Pastor Roberto Nuñez church working on some last minute

details for an outreach that I had planned for that afternoon. Just before I left we heard some screaming outside. We also heard many dogs barking. We went outside to check and just a few houses away there was a young girl laying on the sidewalk.

She was screaming. Her mom was with her. She also was screaming and crying. All around them there were about 6 or 7 dogs barking. The girl's 7 year old brother, Carlito, was also standing over his sister. Carlito was crying and very confused. Pastor Roberto and I went over and immediately knew that the girl was demon possessed. She was on the ground like a fish out of water. Her step dad came and helped us hold her down. We immediately began to rebuke the demon in Jesus' name but I began to realize that this one was not going to be an easy one. It was taking 3 men to hold her down and we were having a difficult time doing that. At one point she coughed up a centipede-looking animal about 4 inches long, about 3/4 inch wide and flat. It began to crawl away but the step dad put on end to it's life with his shoe. The demon spoke to us in a hideous and loud voice as white foam filled the girls mouth and she continued to bounce and squirm.

 

To the mom: "Why are you crying for her, you don't even love her"?

 

To all of us: "I am taking all of you to hell with me."

 

My response: "I am a child of God. You are not taking us anywhere, you are a liar."

 

To me, as the girl's finger pointed to me: "I am not a liar, Jesus is the liar."

 

Me: "So you admit that He exists. You are defeated. You have already lost".

 

To me, again pointing at me: "I have not lost. She is mine. She gave herself to me. She is mine. Jesus is the one who lost".

 

Me: "We will see who lost. You are defeated". He growls back.

 

We kept up with the struggle, the streets are filled with neighbors, and we decided to carry the girl inside the church. As soon as she crosses the threshold into the church she passes out. We continued to command the demon to leave, more squirming, more foam. After about an hour her face is filled with the look of peace, she is relaxed, and she smiles a bit. She sits up. Her hair is a mess. She looks slightly embarrassed. She wonders where she is at. We begin to speak to her and her family. Soon we are leading her to the Lord in prayer. She informs us that she can see Jesus standing inside the church. Her words: "Jesus loves me so much, oh, how He loves me. I will serve Him all my life". He voice was very tender and sweet. Just the opposite of when she had the demon.

 

In time I have to leave to get ready for the 5pm outreach along with Pastor Roberto and his family. The girl, her name is Yahaira, leaves with her family.

 

As it turned out when we got to the neighborhood where I was doing the outreach I find out that the President of that particular Colonia, neighborhood, had forgotten to announce to the people that I was coming that afternoon. I decided to head back to the Pastor's church. I was a bit disappointed but I also knew that God had everything under control.

 

Ironically we got back to the church at the same time that Yahaira's family were bringing back her home. As they began to approach their house Yahaira began screaming again. This time she was able to see demons in the house. We brought her to the church so she could rest. She was exhausted from the fight she had earlier. Again, as she crossed the threshold into the church she passed out. I felt that her spirit at this time was very sensitive to the spiritual world and the presence of God in the church was enough for her to fall under the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

The pastor and I went to her house to look it over and pray for it. The house was filled with idols. Idols are doors for demonic forces to operate. I showed all of them to the step father and told him that those things must leave. Later he started to remove them.

 

The next morning, Wednesday,  I had a busy day planned. But at the end of the day I received a call from the Pastor. Trouble was brewing again and he wanted me to come. I was on the other side of town and it would be a while before I could be there.

 

When I finally got there I was told that Yahaira had visited an 18 year old young lady who lived with her parents right next door to the church. Before long both of them began to manifest demonic activity. Yahaira was brought to the church and the 18 year-old stayed home.

 

Pastor Roberto found himself in a fix. He had two demon-possessed girls and he was alone. He stayed with the 18 year-old for a while but when he got back to the church Yahaira was dead. He mother was standing over her screaming and weeping. Yahaira was blue, she was getting cold very fast, there was no pulse, and had no breath in her lungs. But Pastor Roberto decided that no demon was going to do this in his watch. He got on his knees and breathed the breath of life back into her lungs. He blew into her nostrils... "In the mighty name of Jesus...arise".  Yahaira came back to life immediately. When I got there she was sitting with her family waiting for the Wednesday night services to begin.

 

The family next door got desperate and called in a professional exorcist, some people call the witches, to work with their 18 year-old daughter, but she just made things worse. And they are there to make a profit. Eventually Pastor Roberto was asked to visit them so that their daughter may be free from the demonic presence. And she was delivered.

 

Pastor Roberto has struggled recently with his church. One of the men in his church was killed and most of his 70 members left the church for fear. About a dozen of the 70 remain. I believe that this experience, that most of the neighborhood saw, will be used of God to restore his church. Pastor Roberto is close to my heart and he is a wonderful man and Pastor. It is in his church that I started the second lunchroom in Juarez. Last week 74 people were fed there.  

 

I will continue to visit with Yahaira and her family. They plan on coming to church when the doors are open and even when they are not. The Pastor told them that the doors are always open.

 

Pray for Yahaira, her family, and the other 18 year-old and her family. Also pray for Pastor Roberto Nuñez and his work in this community. And, of course, I always covet your prayers.

 

 

 

 

In closing I want to share another remarkable story that also happened this week: I had a 38 year old Christian woman on the fast to pass her gall stones. She was about to go into surgery but when I found out about it I offered her the treatment for the stones. Eventually she passed a few hundred stones, but she continued with abdominal pains. Her Doctor couldn't come up with an answer for the pain. Exploratory surgery would be an option. But then one day at work she had to go to the restroom and, after an extended stay in the restroom, she got up and was shocked to see what she had passed. It was a long animal. She called her mom, who works at the same place, and they decided to retrieve it and take it to the Doctor. The Doctor told her that the 1 inch in diameter and 32 inch long "thing" would have eventually killed her. But her fast for the gall stones caused it to be passed. He stated that it eats up the intestinal walls until the person dies. She has intestinal damage but with about a year of medication she should be fine.

 

 

 

I can't thank those who support me enough for keeping me in this ripe field. There is no greater blessing than seeing changed lives by the power of God. A million thanks to all.

 

 

 

 

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano 

Ste. G. Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

d_torres53@yahoo.com

1-501-827-7679

 

 

I want to continue to stress that there are various work opportunities for those who wish to come down for a few days or a few weeks. If you prefer to stay on the U.S. side and not go into Juarez there is plenty of work in El Paso to be done. We really need a lot of help to continue to bless and reach out to the City of Juarez and the rest of Mexico. I can help accommodate a small team or a family in very nice facilities in El Paso. Give me a call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOUCHING HUNDREDS OF LIVES...ONE AT A TIME.

We only met a few times to prepare for a major outdoor event in Juarez, Mexico. There were 10 such events throughout the City of Juarez, Mexico last Saturday, November 17th. I could only be part of one of them. Pastors from the area around where we held the campaign, one of the ministerial alliances, and myself planned on a few thousand coming out to this outreach. Little by little, more and more things were added to make this event as special and productive for God's kingdom as possible.

We had a special program for children, free haircuts given by volunteers, free food to take home(out of my budget 100 lbs. of beans, 100 lbs. of rice, and 100 lbs. of potatoes were donated), free food to eat on the premises, a large table was set up for free legal counsel, free New Testaments and Gospel of John booklets, and free dental check-ups. We had face painting, which is a kid's favorite (before we left, the place looked like an old Indian movie).

 I was volunteered to do animal balloons for the kids. But before leaving the house that day I decided to take the reading glasses that I bring to churches to help those people whose eyes have become too weak to read the scriptures. The reading glasses also help some kids whose eyes have already began to fail and who are also failing in school due to poor eyesight. I brought the small table that I carry with the reading glasses and I set up immediately. But before the 2pm hour when we were due to start a line began forming for the glasses. I failed to think that I was not going to a church where 30 or 40 people would need glasses. This outreach was for a few thousand people. Suddenly I realized that I could not do the "promised" balloons for kids and the distribution of glasses. I needed help! I asked for assistance and immediately had 3 Pastors come to my aid. I gave them the basic pointers in handing out glasses and started with the balloons since no one else knew how to make animal balloons (I will hold a training session before the next outreach). It turned out that the longest line was the one for glasses. The line for food was the second longest. No less than 50 people remained on the line for glasses the whole 3 hours we were serving the community. I estimated that we gave out 500 to 600 pairs of glasses. One of the Pastors who worked the "glasses line" told me that he estimated about 1,000 glasses were given away. (I get the glasses at less than $1 each). If we gave out 1,000 glasses, then the Lord multiplied them because I did not have that many. I have witnessed the Lord multiply food before, this is a first for glasses. I always get watery eyes when I see a happy child with his new glasses and the contentment they feel to know that their school grades will soon change. I did the animal balloons right next to the reading glasses station, so I witnessed the blessings of the glasses. I was speechless when a lady, probably 40 years old, told me that she would not have to give up her factory job now because she could see the small parts she has to work with. Jobs in Juarez are very hard to get. Her joy reminded me of 84 year-old Maria who received a used pair of bi-focal glasses last year. Maria went to her daughter, then her grand kids. She would hold their faces in her hands as if she had never seen them before. She would tell them that she had forgotten how beautiful they were. Maria's world opened up in front of her, again.

BEFORE WE ACTUALLY STARTED KIDS WERE WAITING

CROWD BEGINS TO ARRIVE

I couldn't believe the excitement of many just to be getting a free haircut. We know that many go to bed hungry so it was specially wonderful to give out food. The smiles on children's faces who were getting a puppy balloon was priceless. Once in a while I would spot a teenager and hand them a balloon. They would be too embarrassed to get on line for a balloon. When I approached them with a balloon their whole face would light up.

THE FRONT OF THE LINE FOR GLASSES. I HAD MORE IN THE CAR

BROTHERS DECIDE OWNERSHIP OF THE BALLOONS

I witnessed many blessings that day. I was over-joyed to see Pastors from many different churches and denominations come together and work side by side. Love was the glue that held that wonderful day together(I am planning a re-union of those Pastors with a real nice meal on December 8th). Many children's lives were changed by the kids program. We had 39 people offer their lives to the Lord. And we had 600 people who registered for someone to visit them at their homes to tell them more about Jesus. Oh, My!!!

This is what the gospel is all about. Reaching lives for Christ and His eternal Kingdom. The church MUST get out of its four walls. How can we let our lights shine if we lock ourselves up? How can the world taste the salt of the earth if we remain inside the salt shaker? The Apostle Paul said, "I am not ASHAMED of the Gospel, because it is the POWER of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16).



LINE TO REGISTER TO HAVE MINISTERS VISIT THEM

LINE FOR GLASSES

The last blog entry that I sent out was about the impact that a small gift had on my life. We are trying to impact the lives of children as well as adults here in Juarez. We are harvesting many souls, in others we are planting seeds of love. A person, especially a child, who is blessed by our work will have a strong seed of the love of Jesus planted in their hearts. Nothing we do for Jesus is ever wasted, even if NO immediate results are seen. Maybe someday that child will will end up in jail as an adult, or walk down the street thinking about how destroyed their lives are. Suddenly the Holy Spirit will bring back a memory. A memory of when someone blessed them in the name of Jesus. They will see a church and remember that years before someone from a church blessed them to tears. They will remember a minister who simply gave them a penny balloon with a big smile. Or a plate of food, or a hug, or....whatever!!! 

SIDE OF THE TRAILER FOLDS DOWN TO A STAGE

WE LOST COUNT OF THE HAIRCUTS. ONE LADY DID 39.

This is the Power of the Gospel. We may or may not see fruits now, but the wheels of the Gospel have begun to turn. And fruit is always guaranteed wherever there is love shared in His name.

Many thanks to everyone who sacrifices to make all this happen. I can't thank you properly or enough. But there is One who promises that He will reward a cup of water given in His name. So how much more will He reward a greater sacrifice than water?

VERY HANDY STAGE. TRAILER BELONGS TO THE MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE. SEE THE DENTIST, FAR BACK.

Some say that Juarez is where the Devil abides. Hell itself. I live in Juarez. I am not ruled by fear because I serve The lord of Hosts, who is much more powerful than the Devil. Goliath walked towards David, but David ran to Goliath. Everyone thought that David's victory would be impossible. Yet, within minutes Goliath was on his back because a little boy believed in a big God. David said that the battle was not his, but that it was God's. The battle in Juarez is not mine. The victory is NOT impossible. We will be victorious here. We need fearless warriors to take part in this dream that God has given me to annihilate this little gi-ant. 

I want to close with a theme song that I have for Juarez. It is titled THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM. But the dream is only impossible to those who do not know my Lord and His promises. We need more men and women to become part of that dream. That Possible Dream.


God's richest blessings on all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGsYrpejAYw&feature=related

If the site does not open go to youtube looking for The Impossible Dream by Luther Vandross.




Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679
d_torres53@yahoo.com




Double click on the pictures to enlarge.