The mayor heard the gospel preached for the first time. The local dentist came forward to seek the Lord during the evangelistic outreach.  A city of over 20,000 people with less than 150 Christians saw four evangelical churches work together for the first time. It was a week of firsts in Cuitlahuac, Mexico.

 

From June 13-19, 2010 I traveled with a team to Cuitlahuac in the state of Veracruz. The team was from First United Methodist Church in Clanton, Alabama.  This church established an outreach to Hispanic people in Clanton eleven years ago called San Juan Mission.  Two years ago San Juan Mission sent one of its members back to Cuitlahuac to plant a church. 

 

This partnership led Larry Anderson, Pastor of Clanton First Methodist and German Gomez, a native of Cuitlahuac and pastor of San Juan Mission, to dream of taking a team to Cuitlahuac. The hope was to support the new church and meet the medical needs of the people in the region.  Because of Pastor Anderson's experience with GO InterNational over the years, he contacted us to see if we could help oversee the medical component of this trip. 
 
The team was a blessing to the people of Cuitlahuac, the members of Clanton FUMC, and to me.  We were able to provide medical and dental care to 867 people during our week there.  This opened many doors to the gospel.  Pastors of four Mexican evangelical churches worked together to support the project, a first for that community. 

 

There is great need for cooperation because the number of churches and those attending is quite small compared to the population of over 20,000 in the region.  We heard stories of the persecution than some of the pastors had experienced, so any encouragement we can bring is vital to their perseverance in bringing the gospel to the community. 

 

We were able to secure the cooperation of local doctors and dentists and the mayor as well.   This led to the project being seen as a true community partnership, which is just the type of ministry we strive for at GO InterNational. 

 

By Wednesday evening, our team had made such an impact that many patients returned that night for an evangelistic service that the pastors had planned.  At the end of that service, the front of the municipal auditorium was filled with people seeking the Lord for salvation, healing, and help in their lives.  One of those who came forward was Dr. Adriana, the local dentist who we had been working with and praying for during the week. 
 
Our experience in Cuitlahuac this past week clearly demonstrated the value of partnerships in ministry.  When GO InterNational helps US churches partner with indigenous pastors and churches overseas, great things can happen.

 

When US medical teams worked together with local medical personnel and local government officials we saw physical needs met, new souls added to the kingdom, and pastors and churches strengthened for even greater ministry in the days ahead.   
 
Will you help support the medical ministry of GO InterNational? Most of the people that our medical teams minister to have no access to regular medical care. Your gifts can literally save lives and souls! Thank you!