Manna in Maneadero

MEXICO – Just outside the main area of Maneadero, Mexico, along a dusty road, sits a small building with an attached porch—a humble place that brings healing and hope to some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. That small building is “Torre de Salvación,” an AC church started by Pastor Jaime. Although Pastor Jaime passed away a couple of years ago, the church continues to thrive as it is led by his wife, Pastora Theresa, and their son Omar. The church’s heart has always been to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the fieldworker families in their community, specifically those who have left their villages, extended families, and everything familiar behind in mainland Mexico to move to Baja California in search of modest fieldwork.

These are the families who, because of their tribal descent, aren’t always invited to live on the farmland or in the fieldworkers’ housing. Instead, they find shelter in small shacks on the hills at the outskirts of the community.  These fieldworkers, whose home villages are considered unreached people groups where missionaries are not welcome, are walking by our church where Pastor Theresa and the church family have the privilege of loving them, helping to meet their needs, and presenting the good news of Jesus Christ. News that many are hearing for the first time in their lives.

The attached porch serves as a covering for a few tables alongside a simple kitchen where Pastora Theresa has led her church members by example to sacrificially provide and serve a modest lunch six days a week for fieldworkers who need it. Beginning at noon, the mealtime starts with a bible session and prayer. Today’s attendance is higher than most days since it is raining. The food will need to be spread a little thinner. When the workers work in the field, they are allowed to take home a cucumber or tomato for each of their family members, but today marks the sixth day of rain and therefore the sixth day without work.

Poncho, a local blind man who began attending the meal gathering when it first started, has now been discipled to teach the Bible lesson and pray over people at the tables. Poncho expressed to me the privilege, sense of duty and identity he now has to fulfill this call from God. He passionately shares that, for him and the others eating here today, the food feels like manna in their little desert. Then, with a smile, he jokes that the only difference is they don’t get double portions for the Sabbath.

The funds that you sacrificially give to the Bread of Life program through the WHFMS help support this ministry. It is these ministries, these local grassroots ministries run by nationals helping nationals, that we look to support with our funds. Ministries that are mostly self-funded but need just a little extra help on the rainy days. Your support encourages, enhances and enlarges the ministry of a local church in their calling of reaching the lost in their community. Thank you!