TenBrink June Update

Jay and Faith TenBrink are missionaries with us at Alternative Missions Cofradía.  They did an excellent job sharing about our ministry and more specifically of things they are directly involved in.  Please enjoy their informative update!  You can click on the page to zoom in.  At the bottom are links to slide shows to different activities we've had.

Mojocuautla Outreach Slideshow
Agua Aceda Outreach Slideshow
Cobblestone Road Project Slideshow
Paver Stone Project Slideshow
Roof Project Slideshow

A Lesson from a Chihuahua

As Geña left the house this morning to go on her walk, our Chihuahua, “Pony,” wanted to go with her.  Without a leash, they started to walk.  Two blocks from the house some bigger dogs started to chase him.  Immediately, Pony races back to the house faster than he’s ever ran leaving a trail of dust behind as the dogs take off after him.  Geña returned to the house to find Pony frightened and scared for his life.  Grabbing the leash to venture out once more, Pony willingly let her put it on him and at once felt safely connected to his protector.  Off they went walking together back into the dangerously scary world where the enemy awaited to attack.  When they came closer to the threat of trouble, Pony looks up at Geña with humble eyes that would say, “Help me.”  She reaches down to cradle her hand under his belly and gently picks him up and carries him through his fear.

What a picture of how being connected to our Protector creates a sense of security and faith that He will carry us through our fear!

Cobblestone Street for Church

The neighbor in front of the church has contracted some men to lay cobblestone on the streets surrounding his house.  The men are getting ready to set the rocks on the street that passes the front of the church soon.  That means that we need to come up with $1,200 dollars to pay our half.  We have been taking up special offerings in the church for a month, but we are a long ways away from our goal.  Will you help us with a generous donation?

Click here to safely give an online tax-deductible donation.  Designate the donation to the ministry location "Cofradía" and make a special note for "Church Street."

Thank you for your partnership with this ministry!

Blessings to all!

Grading the street in preparation.

Neighbor's house with his front street finished.  Our church is on the street to the right.

Almost ready with the loads of rock waiting.

MAY UPDATE

Greetings, from Cofradía, Mexico!  The weather has been getting a lot warmer lately; that’s usually what May brings.  Things are going well and there continues to be lots of activities.  Please keep us in your prayers as we serve the Lord here in Mexico.  We pray for you often.

Last month, we asked for your prayers concerning:

• Baby Thank you for your prayers!  The Doctor continues to say that everything is going well and the ultrasounds are showing good health.  We had hoped to go to Washington to have the baby, but it looks like we’ll stay here in Mexico for the birth.  
• “It Is Finished” A great evening of remembering what Christ has done for us.  Not only did he die for us, but God raised him from the dead!  Many people came forward to be ministered to that night.  Click here for more.
• Emma Rose She was so excited to turn six!  We had a great time with her and her friends on April 10.  Click here to see pictures.
• Mom and Dad Silberman 44 years and doing great!
• Cora Indian Outreach  Our local body of believers went on an Evangelism Outreach to the Cora Indian village, Mojocuautla.  A lot of the town came out to the center of town to see the dramas, music, testimonies and be prayed for.  Click here to see more.
• Leadership Classes Martin is doing a great job sharing with the Leadership some things he learned in Oaxaca.
• I preached on April 29 and May 6 It went really well and I had a lot of fun.  Click here for the short report.
• Marriage Class Leaders Abraham Aguilar and his wife, Graciela, have been doing a great job.
• Evangelism Outreach Our students had the opportunity to participate in a mini youth conference.  The original plan was an evangelistic outreach, but it turned into a youth conference with other surrounding churches in this region.  Click here for more.
  

Links to other news:

• Upper Room Project We are still in need of finances to finish.  Please check out the link in order to see how you can help either by a one time gift or a donation spread out among six months: 
• Praying for Our Children  Each Sunday parents and teachers come forward to lay hands on the children before they go to their classes.
  

This Month’s requests:

• Baby Thank you for your continued prayers for a healthy baby.  The due date is +/- Aug.29
• Mother’s Day The Women’s ministry will be holding a breakfast for all the mothers that can come on the Mexican Mother’s Day, May 10 (It’s always on May 10 here).
• Cora Indian Outreach  Our church will be kicking off another outreach to the Cora Indian village, Agua Aceda.  The purpose is to maintain a consistent presence in the towns of Mojocuautla and Agua Aceda.  Please pray for open and receptive hearts to the good news of Jesus. (May 19)
• EL RETO We are beginning our planning for our major Survivor, Amazing Race, Fear Factor Youth Outreach called, “The Challenge.”  We need $2000 for this event.  Please help.  Click here to see how.
• Missionary Staff Retreat Please pray for continued guidance as we seek the Lord for this ministry (May 25, 26)
• Quick trip to the United States We will be heading for Arizona on May 30 and will be away for about 10 days.  Please pray for travelling safety and an opportunity to rest.
  

Thank you very much for partnering with us through your prayers and financial support.
Click here to donate to our personal support.

Blessings,
Steve, Geña, Rebecka and Emma Rose Silberman
Missionaries to Mexico
Alternative Missions Cofradia
Area Director
Facebook
SKYPE: “srsilberman”

Healthy Growth

I had the opportunity to speak the last two Sundays in church.  As I'm normally leading worship, this was the first time in a really long time that I was able to preach to the congregation.  This year Pastor Gollo has been focusing on our Spiritual Growth and I thought it appropriate to share "Signs of Healthy Growth" inspired by my late Pastor Marc Pearson's messages of 25 Signs of A Healthy Christian.

I've never before felt the excitement of not being able to wait through the Worship time to be able to speak.  It was pretty exciting and I had fun.  Most importantly, the people I prayed with at the end came forward because of doubts and hurts.  One gave his life to the Lord!

Unteaching Marriage

Unteaching Marriage is the title of our Marriage class that Abraham and Graciela have been teaching on the first Sunday of every month.  It has been a great time and an excellent opportunity for the married couples to receive some correct teaching on Marriage.  "Unteaching" because some of us have been taught incorrectly and we need to relearn some things.

Student Ministry to El Tigre

On May 5, our student ministry had the opportunity to participate in a mini-youth conference in the church at El Tigre about 20 minutes north of here.  There were many youth there from Pescadero, Tuxpan, El Tigre, Cofradía, and Arrayanes.  It was a really fun time as our youth opened up with worship, there was a special song from a local, an excellent message from the Tuxpan Pastor, and a lively closing with Worship from the El Tigre band.  Many of the students went forward and it was evident that they were receiving a touch from the Lord.

"Templo Cristiano" in El Tigre, Nayarit

Our youth getting ready for worship.

Ministry in Mojocuautla

Mojocuautla is one of the closest Cora Indian villages that we have spent over 15 years visiting and ministering to on and off as the Lord directs us.  The ministry has fluctuated in the past ranging from a really great response to a dry lack of interest.  Missionaries Jay and Faith TenBrink lived there for a while and are the Indigenous Ministry Leaders for this ministry.  They have recently formed a team of leaders who are dedicated to visiting and evangelizing this town and another one called Agua Aceda.

In April, our local church body in Cofradía took the gospel message to this village after months of not having the opportunity to visit as the Student Ministry shared a drama and music along with some special testimonies and music from others.  At the end of our time there, we had the opportunity to pray with many villagers.  Horacio will be be leading the evangelism along with Angel "Niko" after this "kick-off" event.  Next month, we do the same in Agua Aceda.

Missionaries Jay and Faith TenBrink.  Indigenous Ministry Leaders.

Horacio our greeting and inviting people to the center of town. 

Students and adults inviting the people of Mojocuautla

Angel "Niko" getting ready to start everything.

Prayer

Prayer

Praying for Our Children

Months ago we started to take a little more interest in the children of the church as we call them up after worship time and the parents and teachers come forward to pray over them each Sunday before they head off to class.  It was been a wonderful time for all of us to remind us that while we're receiving the Word of God in the service, there are children that are being nurtured by God through their teachers in the classrooms.  This has also made a better connection with the congregation and children. Thank you Sunday-School Teachers for all you do!

YOU can participate with us each Sunday by remembering to pray for the Children's Ministry in Cofradía led by Antonia Franco.

Emma's Birthday

Emma Rose turned 6 years old on April 10.  We celebrated her birthday as she invited many of her friends over for hotdogs and tamales.  She was dressed in her stylish butterfly outfit as all the kids enjoyed hitting three different piñatas and eating cake.  Emma was soooo excited!

It Is Finished

"It Is Finished" was a special service on Good Friday.  We had a special speaker, Pastor José from Rosamorada, a drama performed by the youth group and a special video edited by Jay.  It was a great time and many people came forward for prayer in the end.

APRIL UPDATE

Greetings, from Cofradía, Mexico!  We’re in the first week of a two-week Spring Break here in Mexico.  The girls are home so we’ve been doing home school in the mornings.  Monday we went to the beach; Rebecka and I had an extremely fun time riding the waves on boogie boards, Emma and I had a great time jumping the smaller waves near the shore, and Geña visited with the friends that went with us.  The weather is getting warmer during the day, but it still stays around 60 in the early morning--burr! Thank you for your prayers this past month as there has been lots of activity.

Last month, we asked for your prayers concerning:

• Homeschool Thank you for your prayers. We are almost all caught up with projection to finish in June.  The girls are doing well.  Please keep this in your prayers as you pray for our family.
• Baby Each month we’ve gone to the doctor for an ultrasound.  This past month the Doctor continues to say that everything is going very well; the baby is healthy and active.  Our next visit is in a couple of weeks.
• Pastor Gollo’s Son Gollito has been recovering very well.  If you were to see him, you wouldn’t know that anything happened.  Four of the five teeth that need to be replaced have yet been supplied, he’s had some provisional teeth in the meantime.  Thank you for your prayers.
• Youth Ministry Awards Night This was an incredible night that brings the students together.  Inspired and started by a short-term missions team, our student ministry decided to keep the tradition in the team’s absence this year.  This has become one of the most influential annual events we have for the students as we honor those who have stood out in leadership and growth.  Read the report here.
  

Links to other news:

• Upper Room Project If you’ve been following our updates, you know we’ve been working on finishing our house.  With what have have saved and raised, we are over half way to reaching our goal.  Please continue to keep this in your prayers and if you can help, we’d appreciate it.  We’d like to have it ready for when the baby arrives in late August.  Please check out the link in order to see how you can help.
• Xtreme Kids We took 12 of our children to a concert in Tepic with the Xtreme Kids band.  All of them loved it!
• Vision Juvenil 20 of our youth were at a youth conference in Tepic where over 1,000 people attended.  Many people were saved and touched by God.
• Pastors Unite Some Pastors in the area are saying, “Let’s set aside our denominational differences and Praise God together.”
• March Newsletter 

This Month’s requests:

• Baby Thank you for your continued prayers for a healthy baby.  The due date is +/- Aug.29
• “It Is Finished” is the title of Good Friday’s service as we have invited other churches to attend and be part of what God is doing here.  Please pray for open hearts and freedom through the cross. (April 6)
• Emma Rose will turn 6 on April 10!
• Mom and Dad Silberman will celebrate 44 years of marriage on April 12!
• Cora Indian Outreach  Our church will be kicking off another season of outreach into the Cora Indian villages that are in our backyard.  We are planning an evangelistic outreach with the purpose of maintaining a consistent presence in the towns of Mojocuautla and Agua Aceda.  On Saturday, April 14, we will be visiting Mojocuautla.
• Leadership Classes In working towards the goal of giving a healthy structure to the church body, Pastor Gollo has been meeting with his leaders once a month.  One of the young adults who has been to two years of bible school will be starting a Leadership class for our leaders on April 15.  We are looking forward to Martin’s teaching. (3rd Sunday of each month)
• I will be preaching on April 29 and again on May 6 for the first time in the new church building during a Sunday Service (I’m usually leading worship).  I’ll be continuing with Pastor Gollo’s theme of “Growth” as I speak on Signs of Healthy Growth.
• Marriage Class Leaders Abraham Aguilar and his wife, Graciela, have been leading a Marriage class on the first Sunday of each month.  This month we watched the movie, “Courageous.”  Please pray for wisdom as they continue to teach and for the marriages of the brothers and sisters in Centro Cristiano Cofradía. (1st Sunday of each month)
• Evangelism Outreach in a nearby town called El Tigre.  Our youth band has been invited to participate in an evangelistic outreach with our friends/brothers in El Tigre.  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to touch our band as they have been performing lately.  (May 5)
  

Thank you very much for partnering with us through your prayers and financial support.
Click here to donate to our personal support

Blessings,
Steve, Geña, Rebecka and Emma Rose Silberman
Missionaries to Mexico
Alternative Missions Cofradia
Area Director
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/srsilberman
SKYPE: “srsilberman”

written 4/6/2012

Student Ministry Awards Night

Since 2006, our student ministry has had an awards night inspired by and with the help of the student ministry at Cy-Fair Christian Church from Houston, Texas.  This is a great evening where we can honor students who have stood out as potential leaders, encouragers, servants, and a willingness to grow.  Unfortunately, this year the Short-Term Mission team was unable to come.  However, our student ministry leaders continued with the tradition of holding the awards night as they worked very hard to raise the money needed in order to accomplish the task.  In the end, it was a successful event that once again brought the students together.  Each year has a theme, this year it was "Professionals."

There are four awards we give out:
1.  NUEVA GENERACION (New Generation) - "New Generation" refers to students who are in their first year of Secondary School (7th grade).  The student awarded this is someone who has shown an ability to lead.
2.  ENTUSIASMO (Spirit) - This is awarded to the student that has portrayed enthusiasm in anything he does, participates in activities, and encourages others to participate as well.
3.  SERVIR (Servant) - This is awarded to the student who has shown leadership qualities by serving others before themselves; seeing a need and fulfilling it.
4.  CORAZON VALIENTE (Brave Heart) - This is awarded to the student who has shown extreme spiritual growth as they take on challenges they wouldn't normally attempt.

Here is a video of the past few years.  The commentary is in Spanish, but it should speak for itself.



This year's winners were:

Anahí Díaz for NEW GENERATION AWARD

Cecilio Rodriguez for SPIRIT AWARD

Guillermo Orozco for SERVANT AWARD

Jesús Orozco for BRAVE HEART AWARD

This is the full presentation including all the nominees as it was presented in Power Point:

Pastors Unite; "Let's Praise God Together"

This week Centro Cristiano's Lead Pastor, Gollo, and Youth Pastor, Luis, and I went to visit another Pastor, Israel, in a small town called, El Tigre (The Tiger).  Both Gollo and Luis have met him before.  It was my first time to visit this town and meet Pastor Israel.  We spent over three hours just talking about our ministries, personal lives, and God.  It was a really good time.

One of the things that we've been praying about here is the possibility of extending our ministry presence as a church and also as a mission base.  This meeting confirmed our prayers as doors were opened to help Pastor Israel and his congregation reach his town.  He has invited our youth to do an open-air evangelistic outreach in the center of the town and is eager for help in other aspects as well.  We are eager to help.  He is a Pastor that has a lot of work as he also preaches in two other towns where there are no churches.  Jesus said it perfectly, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."  In the future, we hope to be able to work together and see God's Kingdom advanced.

As we were stepping out the front door of Pastor Israel's house, another local Pastor rode by on his motorcycle as he was helping the government with a short seasonal job.  When we called to him and greeted him, he said to us that he was about to go visit us in Cofradía.  Pastor Samuel has been to Cofradía on two occasions to preach; one time during our huge Youth Event "EL RETO."  We, as well, have taken a Short-Term Mission team to do an open-air evangelism in the town he pastors, San Vicente.  When he came to speak at EL RETO, he was so impressed with the impact it has in youth's lives that he started one with a bit of a different twist in purpose with his youth.  He will be meeting with us here next week to talk about ideas and where to go now that he's started it.  Pastor Samuel is another who would like to work together and we are eager to help!

On our way home, we stopped by Pastor José's church in Rosamorada to talk about his invitation to speak in Cofradía on April 6, Good Friday.  As we talked with Pastor José, he mentioned that in his conversations with other pastors in the region, there is a mutual agreement to unite.  Pastors from different denominations are wanting to set aside their doctrinal differences and come together united to what we have in common, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and "Praise God Together."  This is something that really excites me as we've been praying for the same.  We want to extend the Kingdom of God, help the churches that need help, and Praise God Together!

Please join us in prayer for Cofradía and this region.  "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:37-38)

Vision Juvenil in Tepic

Some of our students had the opportunity to be part of a Youth Conference put on by La Fuente Ministries in Tepic, Nayarit.  It was an incredible time with great teaching.  There were over 1,000 people there mostly from Nayarit, Jalisco, and Sinaloa, but there were another 1,000 watching on the internet.  Vision Juvenil is a ministry out of El Paso, Texas.  This event charged everyone from here that went.  Thank you La Fuente Ministries.

Here is a quick video update by Pastor Jesse Hanson in Tepic:

Vision Juvenil Tepic from Jesiah Hansen on Vimeo.

Xtreme Kids in Tepic, Nayarit

On March 3, Rebecka and Emma invited 10 of their friends to a concert in Tepic at La Fuente Ministries put on by Xtreme Kids from El Paso, Texas.  It was an excellent time and all the children that went had a huge blast.  One of Rebecka's friends who went is not a Christian.  Rebecka was really excited she went because she prays for her every night.

Here is a quick video update by La Fuente's Children's Ministries:

XTREME KIDS  EN TEPIC from La Fuente Niños on Vimeo.

March Newsletter

We continue to make a hardcopy newsletter for those who do not have neither internet nor emails.  Here is a link to the semi-quarterly newsletter.

MARCH UPDATE

Greetings, from Cofradía, Mexico!  We really appreciate your prayers and involvement in this ministry and in our family.

Last month, we asked for your prayers concerning:

• Administration.   Thank you for your prayers as I was able to accomplish a lot this month.
• Homeschool.  As I work with Emma in the mornings and Rebecka in the afternoons,  there are days in which it’s a struggle for all of us.  They are doing really well; please keep this in your prayers.  
• Marriage and Family Conference.  We had a great visit with Doug and Jan Taylor, former Cofradía Missionaries now in Mazatlán, as they shared on Leadership, Marriage, and Family.  It was a very refreshing time to have them back for the weekend and everyone here misses them.  I have written a report on our blog with pics here.
• Inauguration Anniversary.  WOW is the word that describes our celebration of one year in the new building.  We invited some Pastor friends, Noe and Martha, from Mazatlan and many lives were impacted.  I’ve written a report on our blog with pics here.
• New Baby.  Things are going well.  It was a rough beginning, but Geña is doing a lot better.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers as the baby is due in late August.
  

Links to other news:

• Operation Christmas Child Operation Christmas Child sent boxes for our children for the first time in the new building and a team from the Cofradía church went up into the mountains to hand out over 100 boxes to a Cora Indian village called “Cofradía Uno”.
• Upper Room Project If you’ve been following our updates, you know we’ve been working on finishing our house.  With what have have saved and raised, we are over half way to reaching our goal.  Please continue to keep this in your prayers and if you can help, we’d appreciate it.  We’d like to have it ready for when the baby arrives in late August.  Please check out the link in order to see how you can help. 
  

This Month’s requests:

• Homeschool Please continue to make this a priority when you pray for us.
• Baby Thank you for your continued prayers for a healthy baby.  The due date is +/- Aug.29
• Pastor Gollo’s Son Please keep in your prayers Pastor Gollo’s son, Gollito, as he was in a motorcycle accident just over a week ago.  He is recovering well, however, there will be some dental issues to take care of as he knocked out a few teeth.
• Youth Ministry Awards Night One of the many ways that Short Term Missions has impacted this ministry is helping us start a tradition in the youth ministry of recognizing and honoring students who have stood out this past year in their growth of leadership and service.  Thank you for your prayers over this ministry led by Pastor Luis Vazquez (Mar. 10).
  

Thank you very much for partnering with us through your prayers and financial support.
Click here to donate to our personal support.

Blessings,
Steve, Geña, Rebecka and Emma Rose Silberman
Missionaries to Mexico
Alternative Missions Cofradia
Area Director
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/srsilberman
SKYPE: “srsilberman”

WOW!!

WOW!!

This one word sums up our Church building's One Year Anniversary that we celebrated this past weekend.  There were many factors that showed us the Lords hand working in order for this day to turn out the way it did.

One year ago on February 27, we inaugurated the new church facilities, dedicating it to the Lord.  We wanted to celebrate this event and Honor God for his provision and protection over this ministry.  Our church is growing and taking ownership as each member participated in providing food, donations, and serving others.  It was a well-oiled machine.

We were excited to have Pastors Noé and Martha from Mazatlan with us to share the event.  While they were here, as we were taking them to tacos the first night for dinner, we ended up praying for the sick as we unexpectedly had come across them.  As we visited about how the Lord directed them to come, Martha told us that she had a dream they came to preach just before the invitation.  Also, from the moment of the invitation, the Lord had given Noe a message, but he struggled with it thinking that it was inappropriate.  As he continued to not understand why this message, he never had peace about anything else.  When I sent him the vision of the church, he said it was confirmation.  It fit right inside what he felt the Lord speaking to him.  His message was about God's Opportune Time; a message that challenged us to step up and step out in our spiritual growth as we take ownership of what has been established already. The message was sent to us in perfect timing!  The message and prayer time at the end went a little longer than usual, but no one really noticed; everything was perfect.  As I was playing my guitar during the ministry time, I couldn't help but think about God's goodness.  He is such a wonderful God and plans things in perfect timing.  We couldn't have planned a better Anniversary party for the church.  It was an incredible blessing from the Lord!

Pastor Noé preaching

Pastor Noé praying

After the service, a few church members shared testimonies and some songs.  Then, we all had lunch together.

Church members preparing to serve the "birria."  (The lady on the right is Geña's mother).

A little history about Noe and Martha...

Martha, Noé, Esteban, Geña

In 1988, I went on my first missions trip to Mexico with our youth group.  I was 16 years old and the only male on our small team not counting our Youth Pastor, Ron McClung.  It was an unforgettable, life-changing trip for me.  It was during that trip that I met Martha and some of her brothers and sisters as we worked along side her church.  Her and her youngest siblings were all about my age and we kept in contact for a long time.  I remember seeing the fervent power of God and dedication to the Lord in their lives and I wanted to do the same.  It was also during that trip that God called me to missions.  A few years later I met Noe and we have been good friends ever since.  

Operation Christmas Child

Once again Operation Christmas Child arrived in our region this year.  Thanks to Jay and Faith TenBrink for their work on organizing this opportunity, we were able to realize Operation Christmas Child for the first time in the new church on January 6 as well as in the mountains this past weekend with the Cora Indians in a village called "Cofradía Uno."

Listening to the Bible Story in Centro Cristiano

Opening presents in Centro Cristiano

Ready to open presents in the Cora Village

Opening presents in the Cora Village

 Check here to see the slide show of the Cora Indian Village, Cofradía Uno.

This is always an incredible event.  Most of these children never receive a Christmas gift.  The oversized smile that stretched across their faces and the sparkle in their eyes as they received these gifts were priceless!

Thank you for your prayers, as these gifts were doors in order to share with each child the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

Support the "Cofradía Children's Ministry"

Support the "Cofradía Indigenous Ministry"