April 2006

After John was put into prison, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the good news. The time has come, the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news.
Mark 1:14,15

Friends,

On a recent weekend, my family and I were blessed to be a part of a group of 11 people from Frontera de Cristo, the Lily of the Valley Church of Agua Prieta, and the First Presbyterian Church of Douglas who facilitated a workshop on immigration and churches’ responses to immigration for about 50 people in Santa Fe, N.M. On Sunday, we preached (all of us, in a dialogue sermon) at two Presbyterian Churches in Santa Fe.

The text we preached on was Mark 1. What strikes me about the text is that Jesus begins proclaiming good news after John, the one who had baptized him, is put in prison. Jesus proclaims good news in the face of the bad news that John, his cousin and leader of a renewal movement, is facing the death penalty.

There is a lot of bad news that fills the newspapers and the airwaves about the border. It is precisely into the midst of that bad news that God has called us to follow Jesus in proclaiming and living good news.

In the face of the bad news that many have a spiritual void in their lives, sin and brokenness tear apart lives of individuals and families, and life seems empty, we partner with churches and help plant new churches that proclaim the good news that Jesus has come to give abundant life and eternal life.

Olga and Gerardo had been addicted to alcohol and had lost their children. Through the ministry of the Lily of the Valley Presbyterian Church in Agua Prieta, they have come to faith in Jesus Christ and are experiencing abundant life together with their children.

In the face of the bad news of division and fear that exist on the border, Frontera partners with churches and organizations on both sides of the border to proclaim and live out the good news that “Jesus Christ is our peace; who has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility that is between us and has made of the two groups one new humanity.” Each year, more than 500 people cross the border with Frontera de Cristo to participate in our mission education ministry of building relationships and understanding across borders—to experience the reality of what Jesus has done.

Upon returning from an immersion experience, Roy was amazed that he was no longer afraid of the Mexicans in his community. “I used to try to avoid making contact with them at all costs, now I go out of my way to greet them and to help them feel welcome.”

Jesús, an agricultural engineer, had worked with a coffee farming community and crossed the border to work for six months to earn capital to help his community with a project to increase their earnings. He was found in the desert in a coma and at death’s door. He was taken to the hospital and, upon release, the hospital contacted a church to help him in his recovery. The church, hearing his story, contacted us and he is exactly the person that the Just Trade Center needed to spread the good news of this economic model. By October, with God’s continued help, another coffee farming community will be experiencing the good news of being able to provide for their families without migrating.

Once again thanks for your partnership! May God grant us all the courage to proclaim the good news in midst of the bad!

Mark S. Adams

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 66