Friday, March 15, 2024

Kingdom Stories


In October 2023, I decided to write a few stories of what God is doing in peoples' lives here. Some are short and small, but big for those who have experienced them. This is a result of your investing in God's Kingdom through prayer and giving. We thank you so much for your partnership!

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Healing in Boca de Camichin, Nayarit

Prayer for healing
Testimony of Healing
A few weeks ago when my mom and Rebecka were visiting, we accompanied Pastor Amado to the coastal town of Boca de Camichin that he visits and ministers at every two weeks. When we were there, Pastor Amado had prayed for a lady named Teresa. She had a tumor in her neck next to her jaw. The doctors told her it was malignant and cancerous. Just recently, we received word that the malignant tumor near her jaw had changed to benign. No cancer any more! Praise the Lord!

Thank you for your partnership with this ministry as you pray for each of the pastors as they go about their ministries. Their ability to travel and preach in different places is provided by your financial help. Thank you for being a blessing to not only the pastors and this ministry, but the people who get ministered to as well. Teamwork!

Saturday, March 02, 2024

Cofradia Kitchen Kids 2024-02

A special thank you to House of Hope who provides the large majority of support to feed the kids of Cofradia each morning. Mati and her helpers have been doing a great job and this is opening doors into the lives of the children in order to minister to them. Pastor Goyo shares with them a devotional each morning and they are learning how to pray for the meals. One parent said their little girl stopped them at home before eating and said, "We need to pray!". Great stuff!

Help participate in not only feeding the children physically, but spiritually as well by contributing to the Cofradia Kitchen. Make sure your donation is marked for "Cofradia Kitchen".













Tuesday, February 06, 2024

Christmas Gifts for God

We recently travelled to the Riviera, Nayarit, to visit Pastors Jimmy and Perla at their rental home where they host an informal Bible Study on Tuesday evenings. This was the first opportunity we had to attend and participate with them. It was a special night as it was at the beginning of the year and each one came with a testimony of what God has done in their lives since joining the group and a "New Year's Resolution" or a plan for what they feel like God is calling them to change in their lives.

This was one of the most special things I've been able to witness. As we listened to each one share what God is doing, what they've learned, and how they want to change, it was like they were opening up Christmas Gifts for God and they were the gift. It was one of the most God Glorifying meetings I've been a part of. It was awesome! 

Most of the people are friends and neighbors who have never heard the gospel of Christ. Some of them are family members who have either never given their lives to Jesus or they have been distant from him for a while. In short, all 20 of the people who attend are pretty much new believers.

Their testimonies included realizing God's love, recognizing a need for him, and making a decision to give their life to Him. Some are seeing attitudes and customs in their lives that aren't in line with scripture and some want to get married (it is typical here that couples are not officially married). It was really neat to see how the Holy Spirit is speaking directly to them.

Pastors Jimmy and Perla have just been sharing the Word of God without telling them "what they should do" as to not be the Holy Spirit in their life. They are letting the Holy Spirit speak to them individually and it's amazing the fruit they're seeing. This is something new for Jimmy and Perla. They are "resting" in God's promises and allowing the Holy Spirit to not only work in these people's lives, but their own lives as well. They are not fretting over people who have issues they need to work on. They're just loving them and God is working in their hearts.

Just recently, Perla had the opportunity to have a "girl's night out" with the younger ladies and one of them out of nowhere said she wanted to be baptized. Also, after speaking to them how liberating the Freedom in Christ course is, they all want to take it. 

Pastors Jimmy and Perla are doing an EXCELLENT job in Riviera, Nayarit! Thank you for your prayers for them and their ministry. If you would like to help them with some of their expenses such as materials and traveling, please consider it and make a contribution to Pastor Jimmy with Cofradia United here.


Thursday, February 01, 2024

Cofradia Kitchen Kids 2024-01

2024 is here! The Cofradia Kitchen is in service and kids are getting fed each morning. Mati is still doing a great job along with the helpers she has. Hopes are for the future of opening more "Kitchens" in other towns once this one is fully established with help. Thank you so much for taking part in helping feed the children of Cofradia.















Saturday, December 30, 2023

Pastors' Perspectives 2024-1

These are bi-anual updates through the eyes of the Cofradia United Pastors. Here they share what is going on in their ministries, needs they may have, and prayer requests. Thank you for your partnership with this ministry. Your contributions help them to succeed. If you would like to make a special donation to one or more, please follow the instructions here, and if you would like to send them a note, please feel free to do so here.

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Pastors Gregorio (Goyo) Hernández and Matilde (Mati)
Lead Pastors of Centro Cristiano la Cofradía United
Cofradia de Cuyutlán, Nayarit

Hello to all of you who have been interested in the recent activities of the church of Centro Cristiano Cofradia United. It is our pleasure to extend our greetings and gratitude for all the blessings you share with us. It is a big support to the ministry. Through this ministry, a young man who was lost in alcoholism and whose life was a difficult one is now six months sober and regularly attends the Sunday church services, glory be to God. His mother, who saw her struggling son and wanted to help, is now joyful seeing the transformation of her son and is at peace after the many anxiety-inducing experiences. Apart from attending church, he is currently going to the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings where we get the chance to encourage him in his walk of healing. 

With respect to the ministry for the children’s breakfast, the Cofradia Kitchen, that takes place here in the church, as of last week there are many children who come to have a meal before going to school. Before serving breakfast, we are able to give them a bible story and devotional. This has been a blessing because it has led the children who did not regularly attend church to come to the Sunday services where they are able to grow their knowledge of Christ. 

Last year, the annual theme of the church was “Passionate for God.” With this focus, we have seen many changes with respect to said theme. Many individuals who have attended church for a long time have now stepped in to serve in the ministry. In order to support these brothers and sisters for the growth in their heart to serve, every Tuesday there are evangelical courses of “Freedom in Christ” that focus on the development of being disciples as well as being discipled. This is one of the many things God is doing in the life of His church. 

For this upcoming year of 2024, the theme that we will focus on is “Identity”. With this theme, we hope to grow the church in the knowledge of who they are and to stand firm in their walk towards spiritual maturity. One of the main reasons for this is because as followers of Christ, we need to learn not to be shaken by the lies of Satan, and by knowing the truth, the lies become also noticeable and can be dismissed (John 8:31-32). There will also be activities for couples, marriages, and ladies to attend for this aspect of their walk with Christ. 

God has so much in store for this next year, and we want to reiterate our gratitude for all the support you give and for what you do for this ministry both spiritually and financially. Thank you for all that you have done for us and for the ministry. May God bless you in the spirit. 

Me and my wife Maty and our family also thank you for everything. Be blessed, and thank you for the love you give. 1 Corinthians 13:13, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 
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Pastors Horacio Garzón and María
Indigenous Ministries
Centro Cristiano Arrayanes Facilitators
Cofradia de Cuyutlán, Nayarit

Hello esteemed brothers and sisters. It is with great pleasure that I send you greetings wishing you all the joy and good health. First and foremost, thank you for your financial generosity, prayers, and your hearts for the LORD. 

In the recent discipleship courses, I have learned and given thought to the goals and dreams that I have for my own walk with Christ. The current goal God has for me is to grow in Him and mold to the character of Jesus. For this next year, the goals at hand will help me grow in the love for others and through Christ share with others the salvation God has given us. My prayer is that God will provide for the finances in order for my daughter, Kenia, to finish her journey in the studying of the profession of nursing. Along with this, I want to thank God for the healing in my wife, Maria, who’s health was struggling for an extended period of time. Since she has been better, there has been more peace and joy in the household, and as a family. 

With regards to the work in the mountains, there are two or three individuals who have embraced the Word of God. However, I believe that there is a necessity of reinforcing their learning through the indispensable tool of discipleship. For this reason, I pray that soon there will be more resources for bigger events of evangelism and discipleship in order to establish more strong leaders for the purpose of teaching in places like Mojocuautla and the surrounding areas. 

As for here in Los Arrayanes, my prayers consist of the equipping of the church property we have to pursue the calling of Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. (Steve's input here: Our desire is to make it a Retreat Center for our churches of Cofradia United and other churches as well to utilize as a place of "Refuge" for the purpose of growing as a family and individual brothers and sisters in the Lord.)

As of now, these are some of the many things that I am grateful for, and I hope to write to you all soon again. We send you blessings and gratitude. 

Thank you from Kenia, Maria, and myself Horacio Garzón Orozco. 
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Pastor Amado Verdin and Lourdes
Lead Pastors of Casa de Oración, La Hermosa
Director of Restoration Center, El Faro de Esperanza
Rosamorada, Nayarit

God bless my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ says the word of God in Mark 16:17-18. 

One day on my way to fix a vehicle in a different town, my phone rang, and the owner of the vehicle asked if I could pray for his wife. I said yes. When I arrived at the man’s house, the mother asked if I could please pray for her daughter. I asked what the matter was, and the mother explained that the daughter had gone many months without being able to sleep through the entire night. The daughter then emerged from one of the rooms with an unkempt appearance, disheveled hair, and tired eyes. Once we greeted each other I assured her that everything would be alright. I asked where the best place to talk was, and I was led to a room where my presence was met with the main pastor and four ladies of the church. This caught me by surprise, knowing that their pastor was here and had already prayed for her without success meant that this would be a more challenging mission than I thought. I asked the woman to sit and told her to hold eye contact with me. The reason for this was that in Acts 3:4, Peter and John healed a lame individual, but for this they asked him to keep his eyes on theirs. Like them, after making eye contact, I helped her to renounce any conscious or unconscious pact with Satan she had made from viewing pornography. She explained that some nights there would be a spirit in the shape of a dark shadow that would cover her as she lie in bed unable to sleep.

When praying for her deliverance from the spirit, the demon manifested itself and began to choke me and repeatedly told me to be quiet. While I wrestled with the demon, the pastor sang songs on his guitar and the ladies of the church prayed for the deliverance of the demon and the freeing of the woman. Once the demon in the woman's body was off me, she ran off like a dog on all fours. The demon made its way to the pastor and balanced itself over him and demanded him to be silent. The demon proceeded to try to bite the pastor and I commanded the demon in the name of Jesus to stop, and it stopped. The demon tried to run and escape, but I stopped it and demanded it to leave her body in the name of Jesus. The woman fell to the ground in a faint manner, and she was freed from the demon. Today, her and her husband live normal lives, are attending church, and have become part of the church family.

We had an event at church where an evangelist visited, and I invited a woman who said that she was having demonic appearances. She tried to consult the priest about her situation only to be told that it was an issue she had to deal with on her own. She also looked for help with a pastor, and for some reason he was unable to help her. Her family arrived at the church event, and when they all exited the taxi, they entered the church. However, the woman mentioned that she was afraid of entering the building. I told her there was nothing to worry about. I prayed for her and rebuked any sort of impediment from the enemy, and she was able to enter the place with peace, and she sat down with a tranquil spirit. During the event, the evangelist prayed for her, and she was freed from the evil entity that controlled her and her family. To this day, this is great news to the town they are from.

Pastor Amado thanks all of you for your prayers over his ministry.

(Here is Pastor Amado's most recent update as he asks for help with Room and Board Scholarships for the Interns at the Restoration House.)


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Pastors Ruben Perez and Valeria 

Lead Pastors of Restauración y Vida

Church Plant Pastor in Mazatan, Nayarit
Las Varas, Nayarit

No report available yet.







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Pastors Jimmy Orozco and Perla
Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit

We all have a very special relationship with our Father, and it will keep growing because it is the most important thing forever and always.❤️‍🔥

With my wife and I’s marriage, every day we are learning to love like our Lord. The kind of love that never ends, that forgives, and gives one confidence. ðŸ˜Œ Our kids have grown to know the Lord, the one who has known us since the beginning, and they are learning through reading the Bible and spending time in prayer. We have become stronger, and we venture toward getting closer to the goal!🙌✨ 

We give thanks to God for our pastors Steve and Geña Silberman for they have become an inspiration in our lives moving forward.


We are currently congregating in an incredible area in the Bay, San Juan de Abajo, Nayarit. The people are wonderful, and the pastor is a great teacher and mentor. He mentors us with our marriage. Ernesto and Katy are attentive to detail, and they have so much love towards us, which had been such a gift! 


We are also currently in contact with our church family in Tepic. Alan and Carito are taking their time in their walk in what needs to be taken charge of.😊 


We are currently living in Bahia de Banderas, Nayarit, and God, being faithful to his promises, has opened the doors for us to open our carport this past May for gatherings. Currently, there have been seventeen people saved and today they walk in new life. They have accepted the life of a beautiful relationship with the Lord. This is one of the many things that has been occurring in our place. 


We also finished a project we call Scoop.❤️‍🔥 This project entails that at the beginning of the day from 6AM to 7AM through Zoom; we pray and indulge ourselves in the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. We were able to finish this project on December 29th of this past year, and it has changed our hearts. 


Be faithful to His word and glory be to God!🙌✨ We are expecting great things from God this upcoming year of 2024 and we are excited to see how the year unfolds. We are prepared to know Him more and help others know Him through us.❤️‍🔥🙌 


Blessings to all! 

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Pastors Alan Contreras and Carolina
Tepic, Nayarit

No report available yet.


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Pastors Rodrigo Romero and Annel
Cordero y Leon
Culiacán, Sinaloa

(A need we see for this couple is a vehicle to help them get around. Culiacán is a big city and there is a lot of time spent trying to get from one place to the next by using the buses. Please prayerfully consider how you can help.)





During the Christmas season, their congregation got together for a special dinner.

Here is a video of their most recent update from last summer:



Wednesday, December 27, 2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!


This year we had some family and friends over for a small gathering over Geña's deliciously cooked Turkey, fireworks, and games after a quick thought from the Word out of Philippians 2:5-8:
"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."
Christmas is so much more deeper than a baby in a manger, the celebration of our King's birth. It's God, coming in human flesh, so that he could die on the cross for the payment of our sins and give us salvation and ultimately being raised from the dead taking victory over death and the grave in order to destroy the works of  the devil in our lives. This is a great reason to celebrate!

Blessings to you all and have a wonderful NEW YEAR!