The Messenger :: Missions Department Newsletter    •    October 2005

In This Issue Mexico Spotlight George Rodela Mantle Ministries Fort Worth Spotlight Feed By Grace Mexico Spotlight: George Rodella VBS In August George Rodela took a team of eleven people to Acuna, Mexico to conduct a VBS. The team members distributed Spanish Bibles, school supplies, toothbrushes, toys and candy to several hundred children from seven churches.          Walk For Jesus During September 30 - October 2, George Rodela and nine members of Bethesda joined a crowd of five thousand people in the awesome "Walk For Jesus" in Acuna, Mexico. the churches that took part in the walk marched behind banners that reflected the theme and/or name of their church. many dressed in identical tee shirts, some had a band that accompanied them, and others rode on a float. The walk ended at the plaza where the people danced, sang, clapped, and praised God exuberantly. Several musical groups performed, an evangelist preached the Word, and many Spanish Bibles were given out.                   Mexico Spotlight: George Mantle Ministries An Introduction Psalm 2:8 says, "Ask of me and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for your possession." This scripture shows that we should covet nations as well as individuals for God's kingdom. Based upon this, Dale and Linda Hood founded Mantle Ministries and have been dedicated to spreading the Gospel since 1977. In the last two years they have distributed over a half a million dollars worth of medicine and other gifts for the needy. As a result, they have served 536 medical patients and 45 dental patients, taught 465 children in VBS, and have led 308 people to the Lord. You can join them! Plans are already in the works for a construction trip to the Texas valley, a medical mission to Morocco during the winter of 2006, a medical trip to Piedras Negras in both April and June, 2006, and a medical trip to Indonesia in 2007. George Mueller of Mexico George Mueller was a nineteenth century Englishman whom God called to start an orphanage to house the countless orphans created by diseases and war. He was a man of great faith, as orphans were often miraculously fed. Even if there was no food in the orphanage, Mueller would have the children sit at the table and wait. Someone always rang the bell and brought food for their meal. Paulino Esquivel has a faith similar to Mueller. He, too, runs an orphanage. Many times he has been without the money to pay his staff, but when he would go to the mailbox, the amount he needed to keep his special needs orphanage open was there. To this day they have never turned away a child! Two years ago, an Odessa church came and built a steel clinic and furnished it with medical furniture and equipment. Now, they have a school building, but need glass in the windows and walls to be plastered to finish out the project. Paulino Esquivel also serves as a local pastor. They met in homes for many years and today have a lovely building that seats three hundred. May the Lord continue to bless this most phenomenal man. Fort Worth Spotlight: Feed by Grace Started by Neale Mansfield in 2004, Feed by Grace grew out of a prison aftercare ministry. As a landscaper, Neale realized he could teach people the skills necessary to make a living. Neale secured a long-term lease on a half acre of land a block from two homeless shelters near downtown Fort Worth, and created a neighborhood park called Unity Park. The park contains trees, picnic tables, a basketball court, a 1200 square foot building, and twenty raised beds where vegetables are grown for the homeless as well as for local, low-income families. Every Saturday eight to ten Bethesda volunteers show up at the park to minister to the homeless. The city has given Feed by Grace a federal grant to buy plant materials for their training program. The materials are also used to landscape projects such as Habitat for Humanity, elementary schools, and more. You can contact Neale for more information at feedbygrace@sbcglobal.net Coming up in the November Issue of "The Messenger": Testimonies from recent trips to Columbia, Mexico, and Honduras