Saludos Hermanos!I pray the Lord would continue to bless you all.
I returned from Chiapas, Mexico on the 10th of July and I am enjoying
my family ones again. I want to thank you for your prayers and share
with you how the Lord has answered to our prayers for this trip. It is such a blessing to see the Lord orchestrating every event with that
singular touch that only God can put.
CHIAPAS June 2010
I would like to share the great things the Lord has done during my
last trip to Chiapas, Mexico. June 31st to the 10th of July.On the 2nd of June I started the first of 5 Marriage Conferences,
taught on the eight chapters of the Songs of Solomon, each conference
takes 10 hours spread over three days. I also, conducted 6 InductiveBible Seminars that takes twelve hours each. These events took place
in different cities of Chiapas.
Towards the end of the trip on the 27th of June, pastor Larry Sanchez
of New Song Calvary Chapel in Lake El Senor, California, joined me for
the last two weeks of the trip and together conducted the last two IBS
and one Marriage Conference.
TESTIMONIES:
1) Spreading the Good News
I would like to share with you one of the testimonies that touched me
on this trip. A school teacher who happens to have a masters degree in
education, that works in a very reputable school in Tuxtla Gutierrez,
was invited to the last Inductive Bible Study Seminar among 150
people. This teacher testifies that she has never heard that Bible
being taught in an inductive manner. Now she is inviting friends and
relatives to take a course with the Seminario Teologico Seguidores De
Cristo extension in Tuxtla. It never stops amazing me how God's Word
effects our lives! Praise the Lord!2) Putting An End To Wrong Teachings
During one of the Seminars a pastor asked about one of the doctrines
taught in the churches, which is contrary to Biblical doctrine. I
asked them what scripture this doctrine was based on, and proceeded to
teach that passage using Inductive Bible study. The teaching was
conducted allowing them to respond to questions I formulated from the
scripture. The end result was that everyone agreed that for years they
had been teaching contrary to what God's Word says. Causing them to
repent and leave with a goal to teach the Word properly. These
brothers learned that a bad observation leads to bad interpretation
and consequently bad application of God's Word.
3) Restoring The Broken
In all the marriage conference's couples that were separated with the
intention to file for divorce, were touched by God's love taught
through the eight chapters of the Songs of Solomon. It was very joyous
to see couples reconcile, presenting their marriage before the Lord,
and rededicating their vows. Also single people attended to these
conferences, that were in unequally yoked relationships, were touched
by God's Word realizing the mistake they were about to commit.
4) Getting To Know You!
Many non-Christian couples were invited to the marriage conferences
and it was amazing to see couples receiving the Lord as their Savior
and second wanting to get married in obedience to God's Word.
My wife and I are very thankful to the Lord for allowing us to be at
His service and thank the Lord as well for your partnership in prayer
and financial support. Below I am incorporating a letter written by my
friend pastor Larry Sanchez in which he shares his experience and
appreciation of the trip.
God bless you hermanos!
Here is pastor Larry Sanchez letter:
From June 27th to July 8th I had the privilege of accompanying Carlos
Casco on the last leg of his two month trip to Chiapas, Mexico. I saw
the Lord use him to equip the pastors and church workers at four-day
Inductive Bible Study Conferences in Tuxtla Gutierrez and San
Cristobal de Las Casas. I also witnessed couples restored at the
three-day marriage conference in San Fernando, where Carlos shared a
powerful verse by verse study through the book of Song of Solomon.
With a sprinkle of humor and the determination of a man on a mission,
he shared the word of God and the Word did its work in the hearts of
the hearers.
As many of you know, Carlos and his family were missionaries to
Chiapas for 6 years, a little over two decades ago. During that time
he did what so many dedicated missionaries do…empty their lives into
others as they seek to reach them with the Gospel. There were
similarities with our trip to Chiapas and last year’s trip to Bolivia.
However, this trip was somewhat different. It was a homecoming for
Carlos, and not one day passed that I didn’t feel like an observer at
someone else’s family reunion.
After a busy day in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Carlos was invited to
the home of an elderly lady named Luisa, for a meal of tamales de
elote (sweet corn tamales). When Carlos entered her home, she
embraced him with tears streaming down her cheeks. All she could say
was, “I never thought I’d see you again. I can now go home to be with
the Lord.” It was a very moving moment. As we sat around the table,
she and her children recounted how Carlos had touched their lives in
so many ways two decades earlier. She reminded them how Carlos would
arrive in the wee hours of the morning to help her and her children
knead the dough she would later bake to keep a roof over their heads
and food on their table. Today her grandson Manuel (who was only 8
years old when Carlos left Chiapas) is a youth pastor in Tuxtla.
The following day, we visited another family who two decades earlier
were headed for divorce. Cecilia had informed her husband Paco that
if he didn’t get a skill and go to work, she was going to leave him.
He reluctantly enrolled at a computer school near his home. Carlos,
very familiar with computers, also had enrolled but for a very
different reason…he saw it as an opportunity to win someone to Christ!
Because of the lack of computers, students were required to pair up.
All other students may have complained, but not Carlos. By the end of
the computer course, Carlos had lead Paco to Christ! His wife,
Cecilia eventually gave her life to Christ as well. Today, they both
are serving in a local church with their son David.
Before we left San Cristobal, I met Jose Gomez. He recalled how
Carlos, twenty years earlier, had felt led to start a bible school in
San Cristobal, opening his home to anyone who wanted to learn God’s
word. Several students had enrolled including Jose. When this 16
year old indigenous youth from the little town of Chamula was
introduced to the group, two students told Carlos that if he was
allowed to attend, they would disenroll. Carlos didn’t back down.
Jose stayed. They left. It was quite a memorable moment to see Jose
and Carlos embrace after so many years. Jose overcame the sting of
racial prejudice and followed his dream to become a teacher of God’s
word. Today Jose is a pastor with a congregation of 500+ members. He
is also blessed with a radio program that blankets the airwaves of the
entire city of San Cristobal.
When we arrived to Tuxtla, I learned that three brothers were busy
organizing the Inductive Bible Study Conference where Carlos would be
speaking: Josue, Yoniel and Abian Santiago. Over breakfast, they
shared how, two decades earlier, their father (a pastor in Tuxtla) had
been praying for a car to be able to earn a living for his family.
Carlos shared the need with friends in the U.S. and when a supporter
responded, Carlos gave the financial gift to the Santiago family. It
was just enough to purchase an old beat up car that helped their
father feed the family. His three sons never forgot that gesture and
over a meal of sincronizadas (a meat and vegetable filled quesadilla)
they told Carlos what a difference that much needed gift made in their
lives. Today, Josue is a pastor, Yoniel recently graduated from Bible
college, and Abian is the worship leader at his father’s church.
Many centuries before Carlos’ missionary tenure in Chiapas, the
Apostle John penned his second of three letters with these words in
chapter 1 verse 4: I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your
children walking in the truth. John couldn’t help but rejoice when he
learned that a handful of believers, in a world that was becoming more
and more hostile to toward Christianity, were still walking in the
truth. Carlos would be the first to tell you that he is no Apostle
John. Nevertheless, the law of the harvest is a sure thing…when you
sow abundantly, you reap abundantly. You won’t find one church
building in Chiapas with a plaque inscribed with Carlos’ name. But
you will find several “children” walking in the truth of God’s Word,
generously sowed in their hearts two decades ago.
Larry Sánchez
Spanish Ministry Pastor
New Song Calvary Chapel
Lake Elsinore, California
last trip to Chiapas, Mexico. June 31st to the 10th of July.On the 2nd of June I started the first of 5 Marriage Conferences,
taught on the eight chapters of the Songs of Solomon, each conference
takes 10 hours spread over three days. I also, conducted 6 InductiveBible Seminars that takes twelve hours each. These events took place
in different cities of Chiapas.
Towards the end of the trip on the 27th of June, pastor Larry Sanchez
of New Song Calvary Chapel in Lake El Senor, California, joined me for
the last two weeks of the trip and together conducted the last two IBS
and one Marriage Conference.
TESTIMONIES:1) Spreading the Good News
I would like to share with you one of the testimonies that touched me
on this trip. A school teacher who happens to have a masters degree in
education, that works in a very reputable school in Tuxtla Gutierrez,
was invited to the last Inductive Bible Study Seminar among 150
people. This teacher testifies that she has never heard that Bible
being taught in an inductive manner. Now she is inviting friends and
relatives to take a course with the Seminario Teologico Seguidores De
Cristo extension in Tuxtla. It never stops amazing me how God's Word
effects our lives! Praise the Lord!2) Putting An End To Wrong Teachings
During one of the Seminars a pastor asked about one of the doctrines
taught in the churches, which is contrary to Biblical doctrine. I
asked them what scripture this doctrine was based on, and proceeded to
teach that passage using Inductive Bible study. The teaching was
conducted allowing them to respond to questions I formulated from the
scripture. The end result was that everyone agreed that for years they
had been teaching contrary to what God's Word says. Causing them to
repent and leave with a goal to teach the Word properly. These
brothers learned that a bad observation leads to bad interpretation
and consequently bad application of God's Word.
3) Restoring The BrokenIn all the marriage conference's couples that were separated with the
intention to file for divorce, were touched by God's love taught
through the eight chapters of the Songs of Solomon. It was very joyous
to see couples reconcile, presenting their marriage before the Lord,
and rededicating their vows. Also single people attended to these
conferences, that were in unequally yoked relationships, were touched
by God's Word realizing the mistake they were about to commit.
4) Getting To Know You!Many non-Christian couples were invited to the marriage conferences
and it was amazing to see couples receiving the Lord as their Savior
and second wanting to get married in obedience to God's Word.
My wife and I are very thankful to the Lord for allowing us to be at
His service and thank the Lord as well for your partnership in prayer
and financial support. Below I am incorporating a letter written by my
friend pastor Larry Sanchez in which he shares his experience and
appreciation of the trip.
God bless you hermanos!
Here is pastor Larry Sanchez letter:
From June 27th to July 8th I had the privilege of accompanying Carlos
Casco on the last leg of his two month trip to Chiapas, Mexico. I saw
the Lord use him to equip the pastors and church workers at four-day
Inductive Bible Study Conferences in Tuxtla Gutierrez and San
Cristobal de Las Casas. I also witnessed couples restored at the
three-day marriage conference in San Fernando, where Carlos shared a
powerful verse by verse study through the book of Song of Solomon.
With a sprinkle of humor and the determination of a man on a mission,
he shared the word of God and the Word did its work in the hearts of
the hearers.
As many of you know, Carlos and his family were missionaries to
Chiapas for 6 years, a little over two decades ago. During that time
he did what so many dedicated missionaries do…empty their lives into
others as they seek to reach them with the Gospel. There were
similarities with our trip to Chiapas and last year’s trip to Bolivia.
However, this trip was somewhat different. It was a homecoming for
Carlos, and not one day passed that I didn’t feel like an observer at
someone else’s family reunion.
After a busy day in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Carlos was invited to
the home of an elderly lady named Luisa, for a meal of tamales de
elote (sweet corn tamales). When Carlos entered her home, she
embraced him with tears streaming down her cheeks. All she could say
was, “I never thought I’d see you again. I can now go home to be with
the Lord.” It was a very moving moment. As we sat around the table,
she and her children recounted how Carlos had touched their lives in
so many ways two decades earlier. She reminded them how Carlos would
arrive in the wee hours of the morning to help her and her children
knead the dough she would later bake to keep a roof over their heads
and food on their table. Today her grandson Manuel (who was only 8
years old when Carlos left Chiapas) is a youth pastor in Tuxtla.
The following day, we visited another family who two decades earlier
were headed for divorce. Cecilia had informed her husband Paco that
if he didn’t get a skill and go to work, she was going to leave him.
He reluctantly enrolled at a computer school near his home. Carlos,
very familiar with computers, also had enrolled but for a very
different reason…he saw it as an opportunity to win someone to Christ!
Because of the lack of computers, students were required to pair up.
All other students may have complained, but not Carlos. By the end of
the computer course, Carlos had lead Paco to Christ! His wife,
Cecilia eventually gave her life to Christ as well. Today, they both
are serving in a local church with their son David.
Before we left San Cristobal, I met Jose Gomez. He recalled how
Carlos, twenty years earlier, had felt led to start a bible school in
San Cristobal, opening his home to anyone who wanted to learn God’s
word. Several students had enrolled including Jose. When this 16
year old indigenous youth from the little town of Chamula was
introduced to the group, two students told Carlos that if he was
allowed to attend, they would disenroll. Carlos didn’t back down.
Jose stayed. They left. It was quite a memorable moment to see Jose
and Carlos embrace after so many years. Jose overcame the sting of
racial prejudice and followed his dream to become a teacher of God’s
word. Today Jose is a pastor with a congregation of 500+ members. He
is also blessed with a radio program that blankets the airwaves of the
entire city of San Cristobal.
When we arrived to Tuxtla, I learned that three brothers were busy
organizing the Inductive Bible Study Conference where Carlos would be
speaking: Josue, Yoniel and Abian Santiago. Over breakfast, they
shared how, two decades earlier, their father (a pastor in Tuxtla) had
been praying for a car to be able to earn a living for his family.
Carlos shared the need with friends in the U.S. and when a supporter
responded, Carlos gave the financial gift to the Santiago family. It
was just enough to purchase an old beat up car that helped their
father feed the family. His three sons never forgot that gesture and
over a meal of sincronizadas (a meat and vegetable filled quesadilla)
they told Carlos what a difference that much needed gift made in their
lives. Today, Josue is a pastor, Yoniel recently graduated from Bible
college, and Abian is the worship leader at his father’s church.
Many centuries before Carlos’ missionary tenure in Chiapas, the
Apostle John penned his second of three letters with these words in
chapter 1 verse 4: I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your
children walking in the truth. John couldn’t help but rejoice when he
learned that a handful of believers, in a world that was becoming more
and more hostile to toward Christianity, were still walking in the
truth. Carlos would be the first to tell you that he is no Apostle
John. Nevertheless, the law of the harvest is a sure thing…when you
sow abundantly, you reap abundantly. You won’t find one church
building in Chiapas with a plaque inscribed with Carlos’ name. But
you will find several “children” walking in the truth of God’s Word,
generously sowed in their hearts two decades ago.
Larry Sánchez
Spanish Ministry Pastor
New Song Calvary Chapel
Lake Elsinore, California
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