Evangelism On The Edge in Mexico, part 2

After spending the Easter weekend in Reynosa, Mexico on a mission trip, James Guerra (Area Director for North Texas for Bill Glass Behind the Walls) returned to Mexico on June 29th to do more evangelism. This time, he went to the city of Monterrey, just southeast of Laredo, Texas. This is his account of his most recent trip:

"My mother-in-law (Petra Carrera) and I left for Monterrey from Dallas, Texas on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. After driving all night, we arrived in Monterrey at 10am on June 29th. It ended up being a 14+ hour drive, and I was died tired upon arrival. Along the way, we encountered Marine, Federal, and State check points in Mexico. Could make for a shock for those unprepared to deal with this culture, but we were not fazed. 

"On Thursday, we had the opportunity to put on a Gospel service at Topo Chico prison, one of the most infamous prisons in the country. It's known for violence and gang presence. In fact, just over a year ago, there was a gang-initiated riot at Topo Chico that left 52 inmates dead and 12 more injured. It's an unsafe place for ministry, to say the least. By God's grace, the service inside the prison went very well, with 50 men in attendance, not letting the 100 degree heat stop them. Men worshiped, were touched by the Holy Spirit through testimony, and nine men were saved after the Gospel message was preached! To God be the glory! Afterwards, all were prayed for and we left rejoicing.

"The next day, we visited the prison called Cadereyta. This prison is known for the presence of the Gulf Cartel, a Mexican organized crime group with a hand in international drug trafficking. We had the privilege of attending an ordination ceremony where an inmate (Roberto) became the pastor of the church behind the walls. It was a wonderful, Spirit-filled service--souls were saved and lives were changed. The wind of the Holy Ghost came by--praise God!

"That night, we went to Alcance Victoria church for a service. German Diaz shared a poem, I gave my testimony, and Arturo Corpus preached the message. Pastor Rafael Martinez is always nice enough to allow us to service his congregation. 

"We took Saturday as a day of rest, filled with family and food.

"On Sunday, we visited Apodaca prison. I am pleased to report that the church inside the prison, 'Island of Patmos,' is alive and well. While there, I was told of a recent story where an inmate named Edward was left for dead with 4 stab wounds and 68 bat hits. He was left in a pool of blood, wrapped in a blanket and dropped in a ditch. God spared his life, someone found him, took him to the hospital and to this day he doesn't know who the "good Samaritan" was who rescued him from the ditch. He is a former Zeta Cartel gang member with the tattoos to prove it, but he now lives in prison and lives for the Lord Jesus Christ. His story touched me and others with us.

"The Gospel service went well that morning, with 200 in attendance including families. We worshiped, testified, and preached the Gospel. God did the rest: again, souls were saved and men were healed and delivered. We opened the altar for men who desired to repent and it was full. The presence of God met the men there, just as they were. Thank you Jesus!

"I am looking forward to making more trips to Mexico, and I would love for Bill Glass Behind the Walls to eventually be able to have events south of the border. If you feel so led, please pray that there will be an opportunity for an international Bill Glass Behind the Walls event in the near future. There is much work still to be done in Monterrey and in all of Mexico, and BGBTW could have a huge part in bringing the Gospel to those who are hurting and in need in Mexican prisons."

If you want to sponsor a potential international BGBTW event, contact James Guerra at 214-883-3601. True to his dedication to minister in Mexico, James is going back in September and over Thanksgiving as well. Pray for safety and blessing as he does God's work and brings evangelism on the edge to places where many others aren't.