This year, I had the privilege of joining Pastor Candido Rojas in prayer as Bertin was consecrated as the principal pastor of the church in Cerro Iglesias, a Chatino indigenous community in Oaxaca. More than a formal ceremony, it marked a powerful reminder that the gospel is not only taking root in these towns—it is growing, enduring, and multiplying through faithful leadership across generations.
The story in Cerro Iglesias began in 1994, when the gospel first reached the community and twelve people came to Christ. Nearly three decades later, some of those first believers were still present as we prayed over Bertin. He now continues the work his father, Pastor Raymundo, carried faithfully for fifteen years before the Lord called him home. Today, that small beginning has grown into a church community of around seventy believers—a testimony to the patience, power, and grace of God.
That same gospel momentum led regional pastors in 2024 to pray and fast together for unreached communities. Out of that burden came an evangelistic campaign in La Matraca, a place known for deep spiritual resistance where over 300 witches work and locals go regularly to offer sacrifices. During that gathering, the Holy Spirit moved powerfully. As regional worship music drew people in, ten individuals surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. What seemed like hard ground became a place of breakthrough, showing that the light of Christ is advancing even in places long marked by darkness.
Now, in 2026, there is already a congregation of fifteen people in La Matraca. Pastor Clemente has taken responsibility for the mission there following Pastor Raymundo’s passing, and his leadership is another sign that God not only opens doors for the gospel but also sustains the work through faithful transitions.
After that campaign, I began surveying the surrounding region and saw that many hidden communities remain without a gospel witness. Yet what once seemed unreachable now appears increasingly possible. Churches in Juquila are extending toward Las Trancas and Arroyo Triste, while believers in Atotonilco are advancing from the opposite side. At the same time, disciples in training from the Roca Blanca Missionary Base have been laboring in El Armadillo, where God is also opening doors through their sacrificial service.
We believe this is a defining moment for church planting in Oaxaca and beyond. The need now is for prayer, discernment, and continued partnership. Jesus told His disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field, and that prayer remains urgent today. Thank you for standing with us—through prayer, encouragement, and generosity—as the gospel continues to advance into places where Christ is not yet known.