Disciples Multiplying Rapidly in Baja
“…Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings. Remember…in a race everyone runs, but only one gets the prize,… run in such a way that you win… do it for an eternal prize…run straight to the goal with purpose in every step…(1Cor 9:22-26-NLT) “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47) “…pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (2 Thes 3:1-NIV) And… the number of the disciples was multiplied … (Acts 6:1)
Dear Prayer Partner,
We are in exciting times, for the harvest is truly ripe and plentiful in Baja! The gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading rapidly and His disciples in Baja are multiplying! Thanks for your prayers! Thanks for your partnership! Over the years we have watched our Lord add to His church in Baja through this work! We have also hoped and prayed that God would build in the multiplier! He has done it! Like a heavenly turn-key stimulus plan, or as righteous leaven being inserted into the Baja loaf to expand it, or as a growing net spanning both sides of the border woven as “one big net” to sweep the Baja seas of humanity. Along with the BCM home building and the BCM TUMI Bible School, the BCM Bible/Purple Book Discipleship movement is growing like an ever expanding net of leaders who are growing in commitment to make disciples and go after the harvest in Baja.
These Bible/Purple Book Program tools, coupled with leadership-motivation and accountability, and the prayers of many, are serving to unite many pastors and leaders and empower them to further pursue the great commission of Jesus Christ in Baja! This BCM ministry program doesn’t ask for anything in return, like joining a church or denomination. All it asks is for the participating leaders to receive the Bibles and Purple Books, free of charge, and for each of them and their group to agree to finish the books, and allow us to check in once a month to track their progress. Like health producing leaven it works with and expands the efforts of those willing to do the work of the gospel for Jesus Christ in Baja!
Since August of 2007 through March 28.2009, 5 full-time BCM staff members have targeted and enrolled 24,580 students in greater Tijuana and Tecate to do the Purple Book through a network of 700 plus recruited pastors and leaders who have established 759 bible study cell groups. 361 of these groups have finished. 8,897 students have completed this 12 chapter, 58 lessons, Purple Discipleship workbook using the Bible, and have been documented as completed. And this is quite a task! Some groups are larger than 25 people. Some are in the hundreds. Our goal is to establish 40,000 cell groups in the next 20 years to reach 1 million disciples.
I want to share some of the testimonies that have come from the field which I believe will encourage you. But first, since some of you might not be familiar with this BCM Discipleship ministry rogram, I’m enclosing a link to an article in the Christian Post that helps describe it, though the article is from last year and the figures have increased significantly:
I’m also including a link to a video that shows the PB Program is action. Again, this video was shot earlier so the numbers are increased. Also we were not able to continue to do a fiesta and graduation ceremony after groups have completed, though we do still provide personal diplomas to each student through the PB pastor or leader who oversees their group. These leaders often put together a graduation ceremony:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm_ESqPrroc
Now allow me to share some short field reports from two of our BCM regional field Directors:
Victor Vasquez is one of five full time Purple Regional Directors. He oversees more than a hundred pastors and leaders who oversee groups of 25 or more people signed up to do the Purple Book along with the Bible. Each one of the following is a report he has given which has been translated so you can get a peek into how this ministry program is working on the field in Baja. Allow me to give a short forward to each report:
Often in evangelistic crusades new believers have no or little follow up or invitation to access the ability to have a Biblical foundation laid in their life. Victor expresses his relief of now having access to the Bible and Purple Book to help ground new believers in the faith:
Victor states, “As the leader of group #311 I testify that I have been involved in many outreach campaigns and after ministering to the lost I have seen how many have fallen broken at the feet of Jesus and then accepted Jesus as Lord, but then never to see them again, and I believe many of these new converts become stillborn spiritual sons and daughters. But today I have seen how the Biblical Foundations workbook has caused a revolution with new believers, discipling them and causing them to seek out fellowship in various congregations. For me this has been a great blessing and I thank God for this valuable study material.
Purple Book Bible Study has a “built in” capacity to lead people like Gordillo’s brother-in-law to Holy Spirit conviction, repentance, and relationship with Jesus:
Victor writes, “One day while at home, my cell phone rang, it was Brother Cesar Gordillo leader of group #291. He wanted to share with me about his brother in law whom he had asked me to pray for a while back. He was excited to tell me that he gave his brother in law a Bible and Purple Book and he had accepted the challenge of doing the Purple Book which he said eventually brought his brother in law to repentance and into accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Today, he said, he is attending a church. Brother Gordillo said to me that he has another group of new believers and asked if he could have more books and Bibles and may God bless this ministry.”
Women in church finish Purple Book study which equips and motivates them to now go out door to door (Acts 20:20). Pastor of church encouraged:
Victor states, “When I arrived to do follow for group #439 Sister Gloria testified to me that the Bibles and purple books have been a great study tool for the congregation. All of the women have finished it and today they are involved in evangelism and working with new believers house to house. The pastor of this church seeing the good results asked Sister Gloria if it would be possible for her to get more books and bibles for men and women alike for his churches.”
Through Divine Arrangement God leads Victor to be the answer to leader’s prayer:
As I was on my way to do follow up on group # 443 led by sisters Jessica and Rocio, I noticed that down the corner from where they live there was a large sign for an Evangelical church in that building. I thought to myself that I would stop there, but felt I should go do the follow up first. But then I was prompted by the Lord to go into that building where the sign was. As I approached, someone came out to greet me and said God bless you and invited me in. Once inside I proceeded to present them with the opportunity of joining the discipleship plan using bibles and purple books which we are sharing with all who are willing. They told me then that they had been praying for the Lord to provide, and the Lord answered saying, “I will provide”, and they then said, “now you are here… may God bless this ministry.”
God allows one door to close and opens another so Bible Study can continue in a place of employment:
Victor stated, “When I went to the church called “Tabernacle” to give Jose Lopez leader of group #433 diplomas for his group which recently finished, he shared with me that a few days before they had told him at the company where he works that he would no longer be able to use a room which they had allowed him to use there at his place of employment to conduct biblical studies during the employees breaks. He went home saddened by this and began speaking with the Lord and asking Him, Lord what is happening? In that room I was conducting purple book lessons and many people have started attending churches because of that? Later he got a call from the company where he is employed, they said to him “Jose we have a surprise for you, we purchased a small tent building, with chairs and a blackboard so that you can continue to hold your biblical studies at our company.” Jose told me, the Lord continues to open doors. May God bless this ministry?”
Woman never read Bible before doing Bible with Purple Book and is touched deeply by the Lord:
Victor writes, “As I arrived to do follow up for group # 433, brother Jose Lopez testified that the study cell group that he began at his place of employment has been a great success thanks to the Biblical Foundations workbook. He commented that he gave a Bible and Purple Book to one of his coworkers who said to him that she
had never read the Bible. Sometime later as he was at a prayer meeting at the church he attends, that same coworker came in to the meeting tearfully and joyfully crying out and proclaiming with great passion, saying to everyone there, “CAN YOU NOT SENSE GOD IS IN THIS PLACE”! Brother Jose said to me that his whole body shuddered and shook because of the great conviction in her words. She later said that chapter eight of the purple book speaks about prayer and that she did what it said there, and that she sensed and felt something extraordinary and wonderful, something she never thought she would.”
Victor becomes answer to prayer for leader who wants to equip and disciple new believers to be able to persevere:
Victor states, “As I was walking the streets of Tijuana, fulfilling my duties as a Regional Director, I came upon a church holding a powerful worship service in which you could feel the flames of the presence of God. I asked the usher who was at the entrance if the pastor was present, instantly he went to look for him and he came out to meet with me. I presented myself and explained to him about the discipleship course which was the purpose of my visit. He said, “Glory to God! This is the blessing we were praying for since we want to equip the new congregants who we must disciple so that they can persevere. This coming Sunday we will begin with the study of the scriptures with the purple book.”
We can truly make a difference in the lives so many. I would like to close with a short video excerpt from a very great movie, “Schindler’s List”, that I think is one of best sermons I have heard on “redeeming the time” and “making the most of every opportunity” on earth:
Thanks for standing with us in this ministry quest to reach as many as we can with the gospel and make disciples. Thanks for your prayers, giving, and service!
Harvesting Baja for our King together with you,
Bob Sanders
