Olive Tree Branches
We are about sending and supporting folks in full-time ministry. Meet some of our "offshoots"...
Oliver y Gissel
Porvenir Church, Valle de Guadalupe
The Iocal Porvenir church is a vibrant group of folks, committed to community and committed to the Great Commission. After 31 years as pastor, I (Marcos) passed the pulpit on to our son Oliver. Porvenir continues to be a church that desires to do life with a pure heart, dirty hands, and beautiful feet. As a church, we have seen many of our own go out to live with and serve amongst needy communities.
Rey y Lidia
Huichol People, Sierra Madre
A couple of decades ago, Rey was part of a small team from the Porvenir church who traveled 1,000 miles south to the Sierra Madre highlands for a short-term mission to the Huichol. On his return, he passionately shared, “I was there and said, ‘Someone needs to come here, learn the language, and share the Gospel with these people!’ Then I said, ‘I am SOMEONE!’” Since then, Rey and Lidia have been living the missionary life we only read about in books: riding donkeys, walking for miles, sleeping on floors, facing danger, and reaching unreached people with a message of salvation.
Kevin y Emily
Mixteco People, Oaxaca
The Mixteco people are a large and diverse native group in Mexico who’ve retained their centuries-long traditions and nearly 40 language dialects. They are cautious of outsiders, but this is where a young couple from the Porvenir church is living. Kevin and Emily are learning the language, embracing the culture, sharing the Gospel, and making disciples in this previously unreached native community.
Mauri y Migda
Circle of Silence, Central Mexico
One of the areas in Mexico most resistant to the Gospel is what we call the Circle of Silence. It takes special folks to stick it out in this hostile environment, but Mauricio and Migda from the Porvenir church are holding strong. They work to foster personal relationships with the people in their community, a relationship that opens even the most resistant to listening, and perhaps hearing, and even embracing the Good News.
Donato y Margarita
Mam People, Chiapas
When the church thinks of missions they tend to look to the back pews where the “young people” are scrolling on social media. But Donato and Margarita aren’t in the back row, they aren’t on social media, and they aren’t young. They came to Christ in Porvenir during their forties and soon heard a call to go to the mission field. Most people doubted they could do it. Donato barely finished third grade, but thinks they can be missionaries? Yes. In the middle of the global pandemic, they went. They are a stone’s throw from the Guatemalan border, bringing the Gospel to unreached Mam communities in southern Mexico.
Alas
Church for Everyone, Ensenada
José Luis and Nora have unstoppable energy, and vision to match it. In 2019 they were blessed to go from the Porvenir church to launch a new ministry for families with otherly-abled members. Alas is unlike any other church in Mexico, embracing individuals ostracized because of physical or mental limitations. Alas is both a church plant and a support community for these families to find help with life challenges, and hope and freedom in Jesus.
El Roble
Ensenada, Baja California
In many cities across Mexico, poor families will grab land on the rocky hills or other forlorn outskirts of the formal city lines. El Roble is one such neighborhood on the eastern edge of Ensenada. This is where Fabian, a young man from the Porvenir church, and a handful of fellow Bible school graduates began a church plant. Ministry in El Roble hasn’t come easy, but Fabian and the team have grit. They pray, they preach, and they practice patience as God builds the church in El Roble.
Ebenezer
San Vicente, Baja California
The cracks. Who catches those who fall through the cracks? Who wants the dregs of society? Who has a heart to deal with the unwanted, unloved, “useless” people? Alfredo and Maria Luisa were sent by the Porvenir to launch Ebenezer, a place for those people, about an hour south of Ensenada. Their door is always open, their arms are spread wide, and their hearts always have room for whomever stumbles in. They care for and minister to people who would have otherwise fallen through the cracks, and God’s love does amazing transformative work in their lives.
Alfonso y Mariana
Mercy, Ensenada
Our son Alfonso met his bride, Mariana, at Bible school. They served in full-time ministry in other parts of Mexico before moving back to Ensenada as a young family. After several years building up a successful business venture, they heard from God that it was time for the next phase of ministry. They raised a team and opened the doors of Mercy, a new church plant, in 2023. God is doing a marvelous work with Mercy!
Jason y Rigel
Agua Viva, Ensenada
Our son Jason is director of Agua Viva, a ministry with a rich history of influence in Mexico. They do many things, including running teen camps and hosting teams from the US, and they have a Bible school and ministry training school. Following a decade of ministry elsewhere, Jason and Rigel joined Agua Viva in 2015 and are doing wonderful work to continue the legacy of influence to bring people to Christ, equip people in ministry, and train Mexican nationals for the mission field. Jason and Rigel are part of the local Porvenir church.