UPDATE FROM CHURCH MEXICO AND THE CHURCH AT SAN LUIS DEC 2023
December 21, 2023
When you give to Church Mexico, this is what you're giving to.
The following is a story of Alexia, written by Brock Blasdell, a Phoenix Gazette writer who heard her story and decided to investigate and do an interview with her. Alexia is one of 34 children and teens that we are investing our lives into, and the result is: their lives are being Forever changed!
It's not just an education we're helping to provide through sponsorships and our after school ministry, it's not just teaching them about Jesus every day of the week, it's not just about making sure they're fed and have clothes and are warm in the winter.
It is all of these components working together, through the local Churches we support, that is changing Lives, changing families, changing a culture and the communities we are working in.
Thank You for Your Love and Prayers and Support! We hope you are as blessed as we were to read Alexia's story, much of it in her own words.
Church Mexico Organization Fostering Education for the Youth of Rural Mexico
(Brock Blasdell, September 2023) In the hazy late summer afternoon, nine miles south of the Mexican border, a teenage girl named Alexia Castro recounts the biblical story of Job after being asked to give advice on schooling. Her youthful timidity quickly changed to determination as she spoke. She was seriously considering dropping out of junior high just a little over a year ago, but today she celebrates being awarded one of the highest grades she’s ever had, on this year’s high school report card.
“We need to be like Job because no matter what happens we must not give up our faith, and in the end we will overcome,” Castro said. “Job had faith that God was never going to leave him… that something new and better would come out the other side. I would encourage you to believe that. To believe in the book of Job because I have and it's helped me a lot.”
Just 16-years-old, Castro has had her life irrefutably changed by the works of a budding organization dedicated to church planting and discipleship named Church Mexico operating out of Sonora, Mexico. The ministry has built her family a home, created an education program, supported her growth in academia through scholarships, and guided her into young adulthood through community programs founded for just one purpose: to serve an area struck by poverty in the name of Jesus Christ.
Sitting alongside Alexia is her pastor, mentor and friend, David Power. After being called to Christ shortly after graduating college, Power returned to his home town in Yuma, Arizona where he joined a local church and became a pastor after a few years. Part of his ministry was preaching the gospel to those in poverty across the Mexican border while also delivering food and supplies. Little did he know at the time that this ministry was the seed of something that would grow much larger and much more influential over the course of the next twelve years.
“That led to us starting an outreach ministry from the church in Yuma where we would take things down and build homes for people,” Power said. “Those people asked to do a Bible study, that Bible study grew, then we were holding services and baptizing people, and that’s when we knew the Lord was calling us to plant a church in Mexico.”
In coordination with his church in Yuma, Power was sent to Mexico in January 2012 and began a journey of service in Christ’s name lasting to this day. Funding much of their journey through charity, Power works to create a lasting organization that helps local communities with supplies, seeds new churches, and trains locals to take positions in clergy and start their own organizations.
“We decided that, whatever the Lord gave us, we were going to utilize every single day to be a light in the darkness,” Power said. “So we built these facilities from the beginning through Church Mexico with the intention of impacting the community – to build up the community every single day as the church. We believed that that was what we were supposed to do.”
These new facilities were equipped with classrooms ready to host a budding education program, dubbed King’s Kids, that has helped young women like Castro. Through donations and volunteers from their first church plant, La Iglesia de San Luis, these classrooms provide electricity, air conditioning, internet, laptops, printers, and tutors to students – almost all of whom would go without if not for the ministry.
“These kids normally wouldn’t have these in their homes because they are living in poverty. Most of them don’t have electricity and those that do, don’t have an A/C in their house. They don’t have the internet. They don’t have laptops. So they wouldn’t be able to do their schoolwork if Church Mexico didn’t provide this,” Power said.
Power met Castro when she was just a little girl. Her family was one of the first to receive a home from his group's services. To this day, Power fondly remembers sitting and studying with Castro and her family on a small table outside their family home. Her family was large, and had little they could give to their newest generation. Still, with consistent aid and guidance from her church and her family, Castro has grown into a capable young woman with big aspirations.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do after school yet, and that's one of the things I am praying about. But I can say today that maybe I want to be a paramedic. Whatever it is that I do, I just want to have a good career to have enough financial resources to help other people that are struggling,” Castro said. “Two other options are working in human rights or as a dentist. I’d like to help people in a situation or environment similar to what I grew up in and am living in currently. If they have a basic need for food or water, I just want to help them.”
The difficulties of obtaining an education while in poverty are not new for those living along the Mexican-American border. Her family story is filled, like many others, with crime, drug abuse, poverty, and a generalized lack of resources. While Mexico is not a particularly impoverished nation, corruption has left those living in rural areas with a lack of infrastructure and the support necessary to foster a healthy life. These limitations, all of which create tension when studying in school, can lead young women down the wrong path.
“I can relate to other girls in my situation. I understand how difficult and how hurtful things can be sometimes. I know what it feels like to have a knife or something sharp poking through your heart. You’re desperate because you don’t know how to get out of that situation. You feel like everything should just end,” Castro said. “Even though it doesn’t seem like there’s a solution. There is one. His name is Jesus, and what they need to do is believe. Believe that there’s a big God who can do all things.”
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reports that just 54% of women make up all upper secondary education graduates. Moreover, young women in Mexico who don’t receive a secondary education face a variety of difficult life circumstances stemming from their lower socio-economic status such as lower participation in the general labor market, higher risk of violence and discrimination, and higher rates of unpaid work and household duties in adult life.
“If we didn’t have the child sponsorships and financial assistance for education to keep these girls in school, she would have been out a long time ago,” Power said. “Way too often, what happens when an adolescent or teenage girl drops out of school in this area of poverty – they often find a boyfriend, get married at a young age, get pregnant at a young age – and that continues the cycle of poverty.”
Still, Castro, in conjunction with the aid provided by her church, has grown into a vibrant and intelligent young woman showing no signs of such an outcome. She attributes the majority of her academic success to the female mentorship she receives from the sisters in her church who meet and work with her weekly on her studies. Additionally, she thanked all those who’ve provided the funding for the scholarships that make her schoolwork possible.
Castro’s latest victory is just one of many stories of success brought about by church community organizations within these rural Mexican communities. Power, who has already been working within the area for over a decade, says the Church Mexico organization has big plans to help more people by expanding and seeding more organizations throughout the nation. As a local 501c3 nonprofit organization, these programs depend on volunteers and charity to expand and continue. For those who feel called to help, visit churchmexico.org.
[All quotes from Alexia Castro were translated from Spanish to English.]
We ask and invite you to help us with either a Year-end Donation, or a monthly commitment to invest in this Gospel work over the next year. We are now working with 4 Churches in Mexico, and the needs continue to present themselves as Opportunities to help change more lives in Jesus Mighty Name!
Merry Christmas
David and the Board of Church Mexico
At the heart of everything we do is a simple but profound mission: to lead others to saving faith in Jesus and help them grow in their relationship with Him. Discipleship begins with sharing the Good News, and through the Local Churches we support, this mission is woven into every ministry. Every outreach program we undertake, from building a Medical Clinic to evangelism on the soccer field, is a step toward this goal. Whether it’s training pastors to share the Gospel, equipping leaders to disciple youth, or creating safe spaces for vulnerable children, every ministry is designed to embody the spirit of lifestyle evangelism—being ready to share the Good News everywhere we go. The work of Church Mexico in 2024 reflects the power of being firmly rooted in faith. This year, we witnessed God’s transformative power across Northern Mexico through church planting, discipleship, and holistic community support. His harvest was plentiful, and the seeds you helped plant in previous years are flourishing into thriving ministries and transformed lives. Here’s what God accomplished through your prayers and support this year: The Launch of Cristo Vive in Ejido Pachuca: Under Pastor Juan’s leadership, a thriving new congregation is bringing hope to a once-overlooked community. Weekly Bible studies, small groups, and Sunday services have sparked spiritual renewal, with families finding salvation and lives transformed. Expansion of Rescuing Girls & Men of Valor: Through impactful events like “Baking, Boyfriends, and Boundaries” and “Hombres de Valor,” we equipped over 150 youth with tools to build Godly relationships, resist abuse, and embrace their identity in Christ. Completion of the San Luis Security Fence: This project has made our Discipleship Training Base a safe, welcoming haven for ministry, youth programs, and missionary teams, offering protection and peace for all who gather there. Construction of New Eye Exam Room and Supplying New Dental Clinic: With the help of U.S. medical professionals, we provided free healthcare to dozens of families, demonstrating the love of Christ in practical, life-changing ways. New Church Plants & Faith Leaders: O ur Biblical Relational Discipleship program continues to equip pastors and leaders in Baja California and Sonora, strengthening the foundation of each church we plant. Continued Education Access Vulnerable Youth: Programs like King’s Kids provide a safe space for children to learn, grow, and thrive. With your support, we supplied school sponsorships, educational materials, computer access, and mentorship that helped dozens of students succeed this year. These milestones remind us that every ministry matters, and every mile traveled brings us closer to spreading God’s Kingdom. Every ministry we run, every moment to share Christ’s word, and every church we plant represents a step of faith in God’s mission. But the work doesn’t stop with planting; it requires nurturing, tending, and watering to help these churches thrive. Your ongoing support enables us to reach even more communities, share the love of Christ, and plant churches that serve as beacons of hope. Together, we can grow His Kingdom in Northern Mexico and beyond. Will you join us in making an eternal difference? Be part of a mission rooted in faith and flourishing in Christ. Join us today as a recurring donor and make an eternal impact. With your prayers and partnership, we are confident that God will lead us to even greater victories in the year ahead. May you and your loved ones be blessed this holiday season and always. With heartfelt thanks and blessings, The Church Mexico Team
From intern to Full-time Missionary, Keele is back to do The Lord's work!
We are in the final stages of constructing a wall around our property to ensure the safety of everyone who steps onto our campus. This wall isn't just about protecting buildings and grounds; it's about safeguarding the children, families, and congregation members who visit us. With every service, community event, and outreach initiative, their safety is our top priority.
If you're interested in helping to Expand the work Church Mexico is undertaking to fight sexual abuse, please share or give through the links below to join us in this Gospel work.
Check out how our Kids Kingdom Ministry and your support helped bring 3 young students across the graduation stage.
We’re excited to share some wonderful news and updates with our Church Mexico community!
You can now read our latest newsletter on the refreshed Church Mexico website. We have so much to share with you from the last few months - you can find a preview of our latest updates below!
Spreading the Good News and building a strong community for Christ one street corner at a time.
Through the work of our hands and the sweat from our brows, we're anchoring the The Lord's Kingdom in Northern Mexico.
Bringing refuge and release to the energetic youth of Northern Mexico.
Witness a powerful testimonial from one of our members!
Contact Us
Church Mexico
Church Mexico
PO Box 13582
San Luis, AZ 85349
928-328-9817
Email: david@ChurchMexico.org