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CENTRAL
MEXICO
BAJIO CHRISTIAN
from
&
MISSION
BILLHOFFw FAMILY
APARTADO POSTAL 57
QUERETARO, QRO.
76000 MEXICO
Summer 1989
Published Quarterly
DEATHS
BIRTHS
On May 19, 1989, a young couple with whom we have been having Bible
studies tor quite some time, died. However, it was not the type of death that
you might expect. The type of death that took place was a death to sin. Lole
and Anna Rodriguez were both burled in a watery grave. On that day at 4:45,
this young couple accepted Jesus as Lord and was baptized.
Some of you reading this newsletter will recall that we have mentioned Lole
and Anna before. For those of you who don't, this young couple live in a
nearby village named "TLACOTE." They are friends of a young Christian
couple named Lupe and Luz (Luz was baptized approximately 3 years ago).
Lole and Anna were having marital problems when they were introduced to us.
It was then that Tom and Humberto Ramirez (a national preacher) began to
meet with them on a weekly basis. Through several months of studies with
them, we began to see their marriage improving. The Lord was really
beginning to work in their lives. They desired to know more and more about
what God had to say to them by way of His Word.
After one of our studies on Friday, May 19, Loleand Anna told Tom that they
wanted to be baptized and wanted to know when would be a good time. Since
Lole was working on the weekends, he wanted to know if it had to take place on
a Sunday. Tom told them that there was no better time than the present. So,
we all headed over to the camp's water tank. It was there that this young
couple, Lole and Anna, died to sin and was born again. We ask that you please
pray for them in their new life in Christ. Tom
WHAT
IS
MOLE?
the
Toni
STEP BY STEP
The ground breaking for the Christian Church of Jardines de la Hacienda was held on April 30th. This ceremony marked an
important step forward. As readers of Saludos will recall, this congregation purchased property four years ago. and was defrauded
by the seller. After years of legal maneuvering, it became apparent that while the court case will eventually be decided Intheir favor,
the congregation had become apathetic and ceased to grow, This was due to a lack of an adequate meeting place. Therefore, the
believers decided to invest the building fund in the purchaseof other property. Suitable lots were found near the previous ones and
purchased.
The drafting of plans was begun. In April a ground breaking ceremony was held. Al Gonzalez and Bill Hoff turned the symbolic
first spade of earth. The congregation participated in song and prayer and a picnic. It was a great first step.
A good beginning does not, however, mean
rapid progress. With plans in hand, the archi
tect applied for a "use of soil" permit (a kind of
zoning) from the federal government. (All land
ultimately belongs to the nation.) He was told
that he must have a letter of consent from the
Bill
members
to
see and
of
the
convince
executive
each
of the
committee
and
TWO
1
Church Ground Breaking
DIFFERENT WORLDS
Come in, sit down, and join in. The study is in the living room of an upper middle class home. If you do not have a Bible we can
find one. Would you prefer English, Spanish or German? It this sounds like an unlikely Bible study, you must understand that it
does exist. Bill teaches such a multi-national group. After a few minutes of sharing, the study begins in earnest.
Bill was surprised that the two American women in the group have very little Bible knowledge. The Mexican Catholic women can
find Scriptures with greater ease than they. Bill tries to follow in best tradition of the Restoration Movement: letting the Bible speak
and exegete itself. That treatment, and a willingness to say "I don't know" keeps communication open with people from seven
different church backgrounds. This is true even when the Scriptures and the doctrine of a particular church do not agree.
The two women who organized the studies are knowledgeable in the Scriptures and are very helpful in keeping the study moving
and citing pertinent Scriptures. After about 50 minutes, the study winds down and one of the ladies serves coffee and a small des
sert (Bill's speciality). Bill is concerned that the study goes beyond intellectual discussion and changes hearts and lives.
Bill holds a different style Bible study in the village of San Juan del Llanito. The group there is also composed of women, but the
socio-economic level is very different. There are no sofas, only hard chairs. Spanish is everyone's native tongue, and a couple of
those present are illiterate. Here the need is for an authoritative stance. The Bible studies right now are devoted to showing the
errors of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Trying to appear as Christians, that sect has suddenly attacked the church. So far they have had
no progress with church members. The studies are designed to "inoculate" against them. They include topics such as the deity of
Christ, heaven, hell, the resurrection, the old and new covenant compared, etc. With each study Bill hands out a list of Scriptures to
help the believer confront the false witnesses.
Two very different Bible studies with very different groups of people, but one underlying principle: teaching unadulterated Word
of God.
Bill
MOVING
ON
PERSONAL GLIMPSES
For quite some time, Tom and Toni have felt the Lord
leading them to move on from the work in the city of
Queretaro and begin looking towards starting a new work in
another area. They have been serving the Lord in the city of
Queretaro for four years, and they feel that they have
accomplished the original goals they set before they came to
the city. Now, they believe that it is time to set new goals,
both short and long range.
As a short range goal, they have
been praying about continued
education and preparation at a
graduate school. After investi
gating several seminaries, Tom
applied at Fuller Theological
Seminary (World School of Mis
sions) in Pasadena, California. He
was accepted and will be in school from the last of Septem
ber 1989 to the last of March 1990. He will be studying
in the Master of Arts program with a concentration in Missiology. He especially hopes to advance in the area of
leadership training which will help tremendously with the
achievement of their long range goals. Toni is also hoping to
take two or more courses at Fuller that are offered free of
March 18 at 4 a.m.,
Mark left our house
He was
"adopted" by the 31
adults on the tour. He
the
Great
He was actu
About two weeks later, Mark got quite sick and came down
with the mumps (Chinese mumps?). Keeping him in bed for
a week was very difficult on the whole family; but we all
rejoiced that he had this tremendous experience which
would be impossible now due to the political situation in
China.
CHEVRG
PRAYER -n-
I was able to
a
wheelchair for
U.S.)
the new members in God's family; Annalilia (Anna) and
Dolores (Lole)!
a new location for the Bible-by-correspondence course
time.
to
have
fun
from
MISSIONARY REUNION
have ever attended." "We
past
Honduras!
tion.
this
that
PRAISE
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CENTRAL
BAJIO
MEXICO
CHRISTIAN
from
&
MISSION
POSTAL 57
Published Quarterly
BLESSING
UPON
Tom and Toni Schneller. The most exciting news was that
Tom had immersed Daniel Obregon into the Lord Jesus. This
came as somewhat of a surprise considering his father has
not made the decision to become a Christian. But Dan has
Fall 1989
BLESSING
a minister who would immerse her. What a joy it was for the
congregation to know her and her sincere faith even though
it was only three short weeks before her departure.
Just two weeks after that, Bill received a call from a young
woman
who
said
that
her sisters
wanted
to
make a
while the church went to use the pool at the orphanage for
baptisms. Monica is presently replacing Areli (see prayer
request) as Bible school teacher while the latter recovers
from cancer surgery. It is wonderful to see these new
Christians witness and work for the Lord.
Bill
SUMMER CAMP
As is the case with almost every camp director before
camp starts, I had butterflies in my stomach each time I
thought of the week that was ahead of me.
Had 1
remembered to take care of every detail? Would all the
teachers, cooks, and evangelist remember the tight dates?
Would we have enough shelter if it rained continually?
Would there be any campers? Could we handle a medical
emergency so far from civilization? Then the moment of
YOUTH
It is often said that, "the youth are the future of the church,"
but in the Jardines de la Hacienda congregation in
Queretaro, they are a very real part of the present. Their joy
and youthful vigor and witness are daily strengthening the
congregation. One example is to be found when they,
realizing that neither the Schnellers nor the Hoffs would have
time to run a Daily Vacation Bible School, took over the
whole operation and taught 42 children for a week. After
wards, they also helped visit the families of the children.
They did a great job as can be attested to by the excitement
of the children who Bill visited weeks later.
ALIVE
In Mexico, a person is a "joven" (youth) until he or she is
married. Some of the youth in the church are in their 20's.
But the real leader is a 26-year-old young man named Hugo.
About a year ago he quit his studies in accounting and went
to San Jose, CA, to find a job. Somewhat like the "prodigal
son," he found himself often without food, living in a
crowded room, and bathing in a bug-infested bathroom. A
Christian brother tried to help him, but he was resistant.
Finally, he repented and asked himself, "What am 1 doing
here when my family has a nice house in Queretaro with
plenty of food and my family loves me and needs me." He
returned a changed person. Now he leads the regular youth
meetings on Saturdays and participates In the Sunday
service In any way possible. In answer to Tom and Toni's
prayers, the Lord changed one person in their own group to
become the leader they were seeking.
Bill & Margy
life in the Lord's service has been much more satisfying than
living for himself.
The Hoffs also visited two former Mexican missionaries.
Margy
there and had been praying for the Lord to send "someone"
to help them, when we finally admitted we could be that
"someone." Lord willing, we will begin filling that need in
JUNE of 1990.
Right now, we are preparing for the job God has set before
us. Tom is studying techniques for planting new churches
and training leaders at Fuller Theological Seminary. I am
working part-time for a professor at Fuller and soaking up all
I can from the lectures Tom has taped and the innovating
It was
Toni
PERSONAL GLIMPSES
from the hospital in a clean truck. In less than three years
Mark will probably be leaving home and it seems like the time
has gone so rapidly. My prayer for him is that he will remain a
PEACE TREATY
PRAYER -n-
PRAISE
Obregon and Monica and Olga Avila are active in the youth
group and faithful in other services. Hilda Catalina Cruz is
Published by the
Rossville Christian Church
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ROSSVILLE. KS
PERMIT NO, 6