Church of Christ Pharr, Texas

2008 Missions Report

Missions Coordinator Craig Cooper

Elder

Construction Worker

Job Description  Bookkeeper

 Photographer

 Finance/budgeting

 Correspondent

director  Purchasing agent  Personel Director  PR/Advertising  Fundraiser  Booking agent/group coordinator  Tour Guide

 Real Estate

procurement  Insurance  Vehicle procurement  Write and publish newsletters, brochures and video presentations  Supervising Randy

The Goals of our Ministries  Reaching the population of the Valley 

Emphasis on Hidalgo County   

City of Pharr Rural population Colonias

 Planting churches here and in Northern Mexico  Providing benevolent help as needed

Our Demographics require an emphasis on

Reaching Hispanics

Hispanics in the Valley Today: • • •

The population is 85% Hispanic. Hidalgo County: 88% Hispanic. The population of the city of Pharr is 90% Hispanic.

By 2020: •

The population of the Valley will double.

By 2030: •

Hidalgo County will be 96% Hispanic!

Proximity to Mexico  Over one million (1,000,000) people living in

Mexico within a twenty mile Radius of our church.  Immigration provides opportunities for sharing the gospel both north and south of the border

Hidalgo County Land of Contrast

• Fastest-growing Metropolitan Area in Texas • Third fastest-growing Metropolitan Area in the U. S.

• Among the highest unemployment in U. S. • Among the highest poverty levels in U. S. • Among the highest percentage of Hispanic population.

Demographics (U. S. Statistics)  Lowest median household income

 Highest percentage of people living in poverty  Highest percentage of children living in poverty  2nd lowest percentage of people with high school

education  4th highest percentage of people speaking Spanish as 1st language

Colonias of South Texas  By definition a colonia is a “substandard

subdivision.”  In Hidalgo county: over 200,000 living in substandard conditions.  Among the nation’s highest unemployment.  Among the nation’s highest poverty levels.  High incidence of third world diseases.  Ethnicity: 98% Hispanic population.  Scarcity of Churches of Christ.

How Do We Share God’s Love with the Colonias? Identify target

communities

New

Iowa Rd Alton

Rio Grande City Palmview

Edinburg_PSJA McAllen Mission Pharr

Las Milpas

Las Flores

Monterrey

Reynosa 2 Churches Rio Bravo

Allende To Matamoros

How Do We Share God’s Love with the Colonias?  Identify target communities

Plant churches

Churches planted in:  Rio Grande Valley   

  

Pharr Las Milpas Alton Rio Grande City PSJA North Palmview Iowa Road

 Mexico  Reynosa-two churches  Rio Bravo  Allende  Monterrey  Matamoros  Las Flores (north of Monterrey)

How Do We Share God’s Love with the Colonias?  Identify target communities  Plant Churches

Provide Special

Educational Opportunities

Educational Opportunities

 School of Preaching

and Biblical Studies  Established 1995

 Vacation Bible Schools 

7 VBS in 2008

Teacher Training Classes

How Do We Share God’s Love with the Colonias?  Identify target communities  Plant Churches  Provide Special Educational Opportunities

Assist in building church

facilities

New church buildings          

Las Milpas-1987 and 1999 Alton-1991-97 Rio Grande City-1998 Reynosa/Lampasitos—1997-2007 Rio Bravo-1999 Allende-2000 Palmview-2002-2005 Monterrey-2003-2007 Iowa Rd---2006-2008 Reynosa/Balcones-2008-New church bld begun

How Do We Share God’s Love with the Colonias?    

Identify target communities Plant Churches Provide Special Educational Opportunities Assist in building church facilities

Provide benevolent

assistance     

Food and Clothing Housing Medical and Dental Clinics Holiday gift projects Christian Relief Fund

How Do We Share God’s Love with the Colonias?  Identify target communities  Plant Churches  Provide Special Educational Opportunities

 Assist in building church facilities  Provide benevolent assistance

Partner with other

Christians

Partners in Ministry  40 Individuals  36 Churches  2 faith-based Organizations

An Update On Our Spanish-Speaking Churches and Ministries

Spanish-Speaking Churches Hidalgo County

Pharr (1968) Las Milpas (1986) Alton (1991) Palmview (2001) Iowa Road (2006)

Northern Mexico

Reynosa-Lampasitos (1996) Allende (1997) Rio Bravo (1998) Reynosa-Balcones De Alcala (2003) Monterrey-Colinas de San Miguel (2004) Matamoros-Quinta Campestre (2006) Las Flores/Monterrey (2008)

Other Missions  Moskitia, Honduras  Recife, Brazil

Pharr Iglesia de Cristo

Phil and Shonie Castaneda

Pharr Iglesia de Cristo

13 Baptisms

Las Milpas Iglesia De Cristo Established 1986

Ramiro and Nohemi Serna

Las Milpas Iglesia De Cristo  Five baptisms  Ten Wonderful Meals  2009 Retirement  New Home under construction

Alton Iglesia De Cristo Established 1991

Gilbert and Mary Galdiano

Ruben and Marisol Gomez Personal Evangelist

Alton Iglesia De Cristo Established 1991    

Our largest congregation Has its own elders and deacons 22 baptisms in 2008 New Classroom begun

Palmview Iglesia de Cristo Established 2001

Jose and Marilu Cabello

Palmview Iglesia de Cristo 

25% growth in attendance  12 Baptisms  Cornelius Project

Cornelius Project

Iowa Road Iglesia de Cristo Established 2006

Rodrigo and Rafaela Palomares

Iowa Road Iglesia de Cristo

 New Building completed in February 2008  5 Baptisms

 Presently looking for a new missionary family

Iglesia de Cristo-Colonia Lampasitos Established in 1996-Reynosa

Mateo and Elizabeth Dimas

Lampasitos Iglesia de Cristo  7 Baptisms  New prison ministry  Tentative new church planting  New (used) van  Participating in Christian Relief fund (8 kids)

Iglesia de Cristo-Allende Established 1997

Nicandro and Reina Martinez

Allende Iglesia de Cristo  6 baptisms (through August)  1st VBS  Dental and eye clinic  New flooring/fence  Hosted regional fellowship meeting  Sergio and Juani Martinez (preaching school

and speaking in Womens’ seminars)

Colinas de San Miguel Established 2004

Sergio and Maria Hernandez

Iglesia de Cristo Colinas de San Miguel  Most productive year: 12 baptisms  Dental and Eye clinic  New home bible studies

 Preacher and teacher training  New (used) van

Home Bible studies

Homiletics Class School of Preaching

New Van

Quinta Campestre Iglesia de Cristo

Ramon and Juana Chavez

Quinta Campestre Iglesia de Cristo  6 baptisms  Prison ministry continues  Ramon serves an instructor at School of

Preaching  Congregation begins construction of home for poor church family

Prison

Preacher School Graduation

Iglesia de Cristo-Balcones de Alcala Reynosa, Mexico-est. 2006

Jesus and Socorro Barrios, Missionary

Balcones Iglesia de Cristo  8 baptisms  Brother Barrios battling rectal cancer  Alejandro Barrios to attend Preacher’s School in

fall  Participating in Christian Relief Fund (14 kids)  New building almost complete

Chuy and Lupita Mar Personal evangelist

Alejandro Barrios

New Building

Las Flores Iglesia de Cristo 2008

Gabriel and Carmen Juarez

Las Flores Iglesia de Cristo  Located just north of Monterrey, Mexico

 Church begun as an outreach of School of

Preaching in Monterrey  Brother Juarez graduated in June 2008  2 baptisms  Average attendance 40

Las Flores Iglesia de Cristo

Brecha 109 Iglesia de Cristo Rio Bravo-Established 1998

Justino and Domitila Leyva

Rio Bravo  Located 10 miles east of Reynosa (population

150,000)  Church begun in 1998 by Church of Christ North in partnership with New Braunfels Church  New Braunfels asks Pharr church to assume oversight in Nov 2008  Brother Leyva has been missionary in Rio Bravo for one year  7 baptisms  Attendance: 40-50

South America Recife, Brazil

Dennis and Germana Downing, Missionaries

Recife, Brazil  Dennis and Germana work with two

congregations (180 in membership)  Recife has 20 congregations (totaling 1300 in membership)  9 baptisms in 2008  Priority: focus on community outreach through adult literacy training and food drives for the poor

Moskitia, Honduras Central America

Fidel Cobos

Moskitia, Honduras  Fidel Cobos has worked 12 years in this region

 In 2008 he held 14 campaigns in 9 native

villages  11 baptisms  28 restorations

South Texas School of Preaching Established 1995

Carrol and Eunice Robertson Director

School of Preaching  Presently instructing 40 students at three

campuses  Carrol preached 4 campaigns in Honduras and 9 meetings in Mexico  22 baptisms resulted from these campaigns  Correspondence ministry  

Over 1000 students in 18 states, Mexico and 16 countries in Central and South America Provided materials to over 600 students in 2008

Reynosa

Alton

Las Milpas

Carrol Preaching to 1500 teenagers at Saltillo, Mexico

2008 Baptisms  Mission Churches:  School of Preaching:  Pharr-English Speaking:

TOTAL

126 22 9

157

Ministers we Fully Support

 Phil Castaneda: Pharr Iglesia de

 Jesus Barrios: Balcones (Reynosa)

Cristo  Craig Cooper: Missions Coordinator

Iglesia de Cristo  Jesus Mar: Balcones (Reynosa) Iglesia de Cristo

 Randal Adcock: Projects Coordinator

 Ramiro Serna: Las Milpas Iglesia de    

Cristo Gilbert Galdiano: Alton Iglesia de Cristo Ruben Gomez: Alton Iglesia de Cristo Jose Cabello: Palmview Iglesia de Cristo Carrol Robertson: Director, School of Preaching

 Sergio Hernandez: Monterrey    

Iglesia de Cristo Ramon Chavez: Quinta Compestre Iglesia de Cristo Rodrigo Palomares: Iowa Rd Iglesia de Cristo Gabriel Juarez: Las Flores (Monterrey) Iglesia de Cristo Justino Leyva: Rio Bravo Iglesia de Cristo

Ministers to whom we provide partial support:  Mateo Dimas: Lampasitos (Reynosa) Iglesia de Cristo  Nicandro Martinez: Allende Iglesia de Cristo  Fidel Cobos: Honduras Iglesia de Cristo  Dennis Downing: Brazil Iglesia de Cristo

Last year’s special contribution: Over $18,000.00

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