God Grows a Church

Issue 14
God Grows
a Church
A sprout matures
Sum 10
Let It Shine!
Bob Kracht
God is at work at Calvary en Español,
and former RGBI student (2001-04)
Rolando Aguirre is excited. As pastor
of the Spanish congregation at Calvary
Baptist Church in McAllen, Texas,
Rolando has seen it grow from a Bible
study with eight people three years ago, to
the more than two hundred who now attend the Sunday service. Hurting people
are finding new hope for their troubled
lives by putting their faith in Christ.
Cover: Pastor Rolando doing what he
loves best. This page: from left, Dave
Love, RGBI faculty; Pastor Rolando
Aguirre; and worship leader Benjamin
Aguirre (no relation), current student at
RGBI.
Cover photo - Bob Kracht
I
President’s
Column
Larry Windle – President
Bob Kracht – Managing Editor
Summer 2010
In This Issue
President’s Column....................................................3
An Unexpected Harvest in an Unlikely Place.............4
The Story Teller . .......................................................6
Becoming a Royal Ambassador.................................8
The Winds, His Messengers.....................................10
Honor and Memorial Gifts ......................................12
Dottie Medlin – Copy Editor, Writer
Enid Sanford – Editorial Assistant, Writer
Julie Ahumada – Editorial Assistant
Doug Roeglin – Art Director
Purpose: To make God’s people aware of the needs of the
Hispanic World and the role that Rio Grande Bible Institute
serves to provide godly Christian leadership.
Subscriptions: This publication is sent without charge
and is sustained by voluntary contributions. Send requests,
cancellations, and address changes to Development Department, Rio Grande Bible Institute, 4300 South US Hwy. 281,
Edinburg, TX 78539, U.S.A., E-mail: rgbimail@riogrande.
edu, phone: 956-380-8100, fax: 956-380-8256.
Permission: Written permission is required for reproduction in whole or in part. Address inquiries to: Rio Grande
Editor, at the above address.
© 2010 Rio Grande Bible Institute. All rights reserved.
The Latest...............................................................13
Printed in USA
God’s Sabbath Rest . ...............................................14
Rio Grande Bible Institute
www.riogrande.edu Rio Grande Magazine
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About the cover
RGBI Canada
103-2005 St. Mary’s Rd.
Winnipeg, MB R2N 4P1
God sends
forth His
light into
an everdarkening
world.
opened the door and looked down the long
stairway into the blackness. I could smell
the damp odor of the root cellar, wafting up
from the unseen area below, and my five-yearold heart began to beat heavily in my chest. I
gripped my flashlight and pushed its switch.
Somehow, watching the light penetrate the
darkness made the steps look less scary. Taking
a deep breath and clutching the small bucket
in my left hand, I began the tremulous descent.
Grandma had sent me into the cellar to get
some potatoes for dinner, but for a five-year-old,
the unfamiliar darkness was the stuff of nightmares. Until . . .there was light. Ah, the light!
It illuminated the darkness and told the truth
about what was in it.
Our world has been frighteningly darkened by sin. But—“God . . .has shone in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.” And— “No one, when
he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it
under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those
who enter may see the light.”
In Jesus’ day, lamps were made from clay.
They were simple, resembling a tiny, flat teapot,
with a reservoir for the olive oil and a spout
where the flax wick would rest. When it was
dark enough to need light, a lamp would be lit
and set high in order to illuminate everything
around—normally on a wooden lampstand or
candlestick in the center of the room, allowing
360-degree illumination.
chooses places of particular darkness and carefully sets up a candlestick for His lights to illumine that darkness. Usually the best places
to shine lights are the dark places where there
is little light. History shows us that God may
even use drastic means to lighten the darkest
spots. From the coliseums of the Roman world
to the public burnings of the British Empire,
the light of the truth was broadcast in a very
public and far-reaching fashion!
I invite you to join me in the pages of this
issue of the Rio Grande Magazine as we look at a
few of the amazing candlesticks of opportunity
that He has set up.
Now hold up your pointing finger, and let’s
sing together:
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it
shine!
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it
shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I’m going to let it shine . . .
1 II Corinthians 4:6, NKJV.
2 Luke 8:16, NKJV.
3 Matthew 5:14, 16, NKJV.
Now listen to Jesus’ commission: “ You are
the light of the world . . . Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.” You and I, by our
lives, our values, our conduct, and our words,
bear God’s light into this world of darkness.
We may fear, but in simple obedience we hold it
high so that it will reveal the truth in the midst
of the darkness.
Where would God place a light? The
answer is obvious: wherever it is dark. God
Rio Grande Magazine Bob Kracht
aN Unexpected
harvest in an
unlikely place
David Love, Bible Institute Professor
Rio Grande Magazine
As the service drew to a close, an
awesome sense of the Lord’s presence filled the sanctuary. No music
was heard. Just a simple invitation to trust Christ. Nineteen people
quickly walked down the aisle and
lined up facing the audience. Soon
35 others knelt at the altar and, in
tears, placed their burdens before the
Lord.
Although it was Easter
Sunday, the scene was a rather
familiar one, played out week
after week. An unusual work
of God—a new church plant—
had suddenly started in a most
unlikely location and without
any announcement. How had
this happened?
It all began three years ago
in the hearts of the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church at
the time, Rev. Ellis Orozco, and
Rolando Aguirre, a former student at RGBI. They could no longer ignore the demanding needs
in the predominately Hispanic
community around them. Their vision was to open the doors of the
English-speaking church to start
a Bible study class in Spanish that
would eventually grow into the
“fourth Sunday” morning worship
service.
Ten years earlier, at age
18, Rolando left his country of
Colombia, South America, to answer the call of God upon his life
and begin his training for the pastorate. As he was growing up, his godly
mother would read the Bible and pray
with him each night. His father was a
busy pastor and encouraged his son to serve the
Lord. Rolando’s preaching debut was at age 11!
When he was only thirteen, tragedy struck their
home when his mother died of cancer. Working
through suffering, God was forming the servant
whom He would need for a difficult and challenging ministry.
The Spanish Bible study began with only
eight people. Pastor Rolando, along with his dear
wife Janet, taught the small class and ministered
to the needs of those attending; within eighteen
months they moved into the main sanctuary.
RGBI student Benjamin Aguirre joined Rolando
to lead the praise and worship team each Sunday.
His talented wife Nancy and their two children
minister beside him. Now the Spanish service,
called Calvary en Español (Calvary in Spanish), is
held at 12:45 p.m. and has more than 230 people
attending regularly.
I’ll never forget the first time I attended
one of the services there. Pastor Rolando’s style
of expository preaching easily held my attention
throughout the whole sermon, but what impressed me more was his steadfast faith and gift
of encouragement. There were no fluffy words
with empty promises to make the listeners feel
better. Instead, Rolando preached with genuine
conviction. Over and over again I heard him
say, “Jesus Christ is the only solution to all our
problems. Do you believe that?” This wise shepherd understands the trials and difficulties facing
his growing congregation, and he points them
continually to the Source of all their hope and
strength.
The Lord certainly knew what He was doing
when He brought a young man from far-away
Colombia to the Texas/Mexico border. He was
planning a harvest!
Professor Dave Love keeps very busy
teaching Bible Institute classes, making
semi-annual trips to Colombia to train and
encourage pastors, and giving pastoral
leadership to a local, fast-growing Hispanic
mission. He and his wife Denise are proud
parents of five and grandparents of one.
Their two sons are both in the military and
stationed in Iraq.
Rio Grande Magazine A wise
shepherd
understands
the trials and
difficulties
facing his
flock.
Enid Sanford from an interview with Jerrih Silva
“Jerrih! Jerrih! Come on; let’s go!” one of his pals was calling. But
this time, Jerrih didn’t want to hang out with his friends; he had a big
problem. He—the storyteller—had run out of stories!
J
oserrie Silva, known to everyone as Jerrih,
was born in 1958 in the Philippines, the
third of ten children. Although his parents
were Catholic in name, their roots were in
animism, the belief that natural objects, phenomena, and the universe possess souls. In fact,
his father would request annually that the witch
doctor offer a thanksgiving sacrifice for a good
harvest.
He left home at age fourteen after an altercation with his angry father. Setting out on his
own, he ended up in a little fishing village on a
small island where a good-hearted elderly couple
took him into their home. In exchange for food
and lodging, Jerrih helped out by fishing, gathering firewood, and doing other chores.
Rio Grande Magazine
This little island was quite primitive, without cars or telephones, so the favorite pastime
was listening to the stories of a designated storyteller. When someone died, Jerrih would go to
the wake to listen to the old timers tell stories
through the night to those who came to pay their
respects. He also made friends with some teenage boys who spent their free time together, and
since he was “the new kid on the block,” they
begged him to tell stories about life back home
on Mindanao. Soon, whenever he wasn’t busy
with chores, Jerrih was telling stories and became
the recognized storyteller of the village.
Now, Jerrih was frustrated because he had no
more stories to tell. But his buddy excitedly explained, “You don’t have to tell any more stories.
A newcomer was taking over his position as storyteller?
He’d have to go see what was going on! When he got to their
usual hangout, sure enough, there was a boy his age in the
middle of his group of friends, and every eye was glued on
him. Jerrih was surprised to see something written in ink on
the back of the storyteller’s white shirt. “God is love,” it said
in bold letters. Who was this kid, anyway?
His name was Eddie. Eddie loved Jesus, and he knew
how to tell a story. But his stories were different; they were
the parables of Jesus. Every day he would tell the boys another parable from the New Testament. One day he said to
Jerrih, “If you want to hear some new stories, you can come
to my house and read the Bible.”
Since those days, Jerrih Silva has followed God’s leading around the world—from his home country, where he
attended Bible school and planted churches; to serving on
Operation Mobilization’s ship, the Logos; to the language
school at RGBI (where he met Ercilia, now his wife); to
Ecuador and Spain as an Avant missionary; and finally back
to RGBI in Texas last summer to join its staff.
Everywhere he has gone, the storyteller has told the old,
old story of Jesus and His love—the same story that Eddie
told him so many years ago.
Jerrih was reluctant to go because his mother had told
him never to touch the Bible or he would go crazy. But
Eddie didn’t seem crazy, and Jerrih wanted to hear more stories, so he went. His new friend pulled out an old Bible that
was falling apart and handed him one of its pages. “Here.
Sit down and read this. When you finish, we’ll put that page
back and I’ll give you another one.” And so it went. Soon
God’s Word was working changes in young Jerrih’s heart, and
he put his faith in Christ.
Jerrih and Eddie became co-storytellers, relating all the
details of the parables to their buddies. One Sunday Eddie
took the whole gang to an evangelical church on the other side of the island. It was Jerrih’s first time inside such a
church, and he was impressed. His faith was growing, and
Jesus was becoming more real to him.
After about a year of studying God’s Word with Eddie,
Jerrih felt it was time to go home and be reconciled with
his father. Eddie’s parting words contained unusual wisdom
from a fifteen-year-old: “Jerrih, wherever you go, look for a
church that teaches the Word of God.” He never saw
Eddie again, but he never forgot
his words.
Young Jerrih
(right) and some
of his family.
Rio Grande Magazine Photo: Bob Kracht / Collage: Lynnessa Dick
and their
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There’s this new guy here and he’s telling the stories now!”
B
reakfast with officials from the Mexican Consular
office is not a frequent occurrence for me! However,
one day in 2007, as director of Radio Esperanza
(Radio Hope), I had welcomed to our campus
the Consul General—who was moving up in the
Mexican political world—and the Alternate Consul. The purpose was to discuss their programs on our station, in which they
update our listeners on immigration laws.
After our enjoyable breakfast and friendly, relaxing conversation together, they mentioned how impressed they were with
our efforts to help get immigration information out to the community. As they talked about our programs and music, I could
tell that they had been listening to Radio Esperanza themselves
and were enjoying it!
Then they asked me to tell them more about myself. How
had I come to work at Radio Esperanza? Why was I investing
myself in this type of work?
Anthony LeTourneau
“When I was a teenager, my life changed radically,” I responded. “God saved my life when I took an overdose of antidepression medication and almost died. Before that, I had
dreamed of getting a good job, a nice house, a fancy car, a good
family, etc.”
I explained that God had allowed me to live, and later to
study and graduate from the University of Tampico, Mexico,
Gerardo Lorenzo with Staff Writer Enid Sanford
Rio Grande Magazine
“God led me to give up my career,” I continued, “but then
to use that training to serve Him instead. Within a year and
a half, He had opened the doors for me to study here at Rio
as Ambassador to Belize in Central America. And a year later,
we found out “the rest of the story.”
President Windle asked me to relate in a staff meeting
what had happened to these two men. When I finished talking, Abe Giesbrecht, a board member of RGBI Canada who
“just happened” to attend our meeting that day, asked if he
could add some information of which we were not
aware.
I finally asked, “Are you
prepared for eternity?”
They both readily replied,
“No.”
Some time afterward, the Consul General was appointed as Ambassador to Belize in Central America.
Later I learned from one of his former co-workers that
he is now hosting a Bible study at his home in Belize.
For me it is a great joy to know how God is using
our friend as he continues to follow Christ. Through
the radio ministry, another life has been greatly
changed by the grace of God. Praise the Lord!
Grande Bible Institute to prepare for full-time Christian service.”
Looking at me intently, the Consul shared a personal
problem. “Gerardo,” he stated, “I’m afraid of making a bad decision, because bad decisions produce bad consequences, and I
know that at times in my life I have made poor ones.”
“Well,” I answered, “the only way to avoid making big
mistakes is to find the will of God. If we read His Word and
pray to Him, God will give us the wisdom to make good decisions.”
After listening very closely to what I said, they asked more
questions, such as, “What does it mean for you to work with
passion? What do you think ‘forgiveness’ means?”
As I answered their questions, I gave more details about
my own conversion to Christ. At last I said, “Isn’t it strange
that most people are careful to prepare to have a good life, but
very few prepare themselves for death and eternity?”
“And you--” I finally asked, “are you prepared for eternity?” They both readily replied, “No. Tell us how we can be
prepared.”
After I explained in detail the plan of salvation, they both
gave their hearts to Christ. Several months later, they told me
that their lives had changed dramatically; they couldn’t explain
it, but everything was different now!
Anthony LeTourneau
Becoming
a Royal
Ambassador
with a degree in public accounting. However, when He entered my life I gave up my dreams in exchange for the better
purposes that He had planned for me.
Some time afterward, the Consul General was appointed
Rio Grande Magazine Dottie Medlin, from an interview
with Gerardo and Idalia Lorenzo
In Concord, California
—almost 2000 miles from Rio Grande Bible
Institute (RGBI)—lives eleven-year-old Abiel
Ramirez, whose heart’s desire is to someday
be a student at this institute. But for now, he is
content to participate in the children’s program
each weekday afternoon on Radio Esperanza
(Radio Hope) by means of the Internet!
Prayer is the key to reaching that goal—
prayer by staff, volunteer workers, and faithful listeners. Two special programs are broadcast daily, titled “Unidos en Oración” (United
in Prayer), during which local pastors receive
and lead prayer for close to 5000 requests a
month. The phone calls, cards, letters, and emails originate from an average of 60 communities.
Lorenzo praises God that the people of
the community have responded excellently to
the Christ-centered programming. “Through
God’s grace,” he says, “we have maintained
a good reputation and wonderful relationship with local authorities.” An official staff
of eight people and a support staff of some
24 volunteers, including five students, work
diligently to maintain that “good reputation.”
Volunteers often serve ten or more years.
The Ramirezes are not the station’s only
long-distance fans. In recent months the radio
staff has received responses from throughout
the US, Mexico, Central and South America,
and Spain. More than 1100 Facebook “friends”
Biblical direction
are exchanging prayer requests and testimoSpiritual counseling has been a vital asnies and learning of upcoming radio/RGBI
pect of Radio Esperanza’s ministry. Regular
activities.
10 Rio Grande Magazine
The addition of the latest station is an excellent example of the
need for “waiting patiently on the
Lord.” Some time ago, radio personnel had prayed for wisdom in how
best to expand its ministry. Knowing
that reaching the metropolitan area
around Monterrey would be of
paramount significance, they had
attempted to rent suitable facilities,
but the cost was prohibitive. Several
years later, an unexpected call came
from a corporation desiring to sell
its radio station in Roma, a Texas
city in the vicinity of Monterrey.
There followed a flurry of activities, undergirded by intense prayer
and promotion. Donations poured
in from churches, individuals—including children sharing their full
piggy banks—and organizations. In
record time, on January 10, 2008,
the new station, KBMI-FM, was on
the air, making the gospel available
to a million new listeners. It was
obvious that the timing was God’s,
not man’s, and the glory went to
Him! Each month brings more responses to programs, contributions,
and contacts from the new listening
area. Special concerts sponsored in
Roma and nearby Mexican towns
have produced at least 80 professions of faith in Jesus Christ.
The station’s listening audience
consists of all ages. Outstanding
preachers like David Hormachea, an
ex-student of RGBI, speaking from
California; world-renowned pastor
Luis Palau, from various cities; and
Cesar Isunza, from Mexico City, attract both youth and adults. The afternoon children’s program, regularly utilizing the talents of RGBI students, has had tremendous response.
One ten-year-old from across the
border has begun using a local public pay phone in his neighborhood
during the program, allowing other
children to participate in the call-in
feature. An orphanage in Honduras
allows many of its 300 residents to
take turns calling.
One cannot overestimate the
superb value of such a ministry as
Radio Esperanza! The large number
of souls brought to saving faith in
Christ is just the beginning. (See
related article, “Becoming a Royal
Ambassador,” page 8). Innumerable
lives are brought to spiritual maturity and active Christian service.
One effect—perhaps unnoticed by
many—is the influence on potential future Rio Grande students like
Abiel Ramirez. Who knows how
many more Abiels are considering
training to serve the Lord because
God has made the air waves of Radio
Esperanza “His messengers”?
Bob Kracht
Abiel’s father is a pastor and his computer-savvy mother, Juana, regularly places
in their church bulletin an enthusiastic promotion piece for RGBI’s radio ministry. She
has discovered the joy of listening to Radio
Esperanza, and wants others to benefit from
that which is, as the logo says, “bueno para el
corazón” (good for the heart).
Prayer and integrity
“In God’s time”
Director Lorenzo notes that
radio personnel and listeners alike
have contributed to the outstanding
quality of Esperanza’s ministry. In
addition, the close relationship and
cooperation of the radio with the
Bible institute has greatly enhanced
the effectiveness of both.
Top two photos: 2009 radio staff and volunteers; Sharon Harder engaged in biblical
counseling.
Radio Esperanza archives
God
continues
to touch
hearts
through
the
ministry
of Radio
Hope.
No one could be happier about such
global developments than Gerardo Lorenzo,
Radio Esperanza’s general manager, and his
wife and working partner Idalia. Since their
student days at RGBI in the 90s, Gerardo has
had as his main objective for radio ministry
the winning of people to Christ and edifying
them through the Word. Little did he realize
years ago how far that evangelization and edification might reach.
Team effort
Bob Kracht
Anthony LeTourneau
THE WINDS, HIS MESSENGERS
features such as “Dialogando en
Tiempos Dificiles” (Dialoguing in
Difficult Times) and “Consejería en
Linea” (Online Counseling) provide
much general guidance, but one-onone counseling has been a supportive outgrowth of that programming.
Sharon Harder, Fran Nicol, and
Pastor Oswaldo Gutiérrez regularly
offer biblical advice and assistance to
hurting persons. Director Lorenzo
estimates that station personnel
counsel as many as 250 individuals
each month.
Bottom two photos: Several accepted Christ
during an outreach near Roma, Texas; David
Hormachea teaching the Word of God at a
recent conference.
Rio Grande Magazine 11
Art Explosion
The Latest
Art Explosion
Honor & Memorial Gifts
(In memory of:)
Phyllis Beadles
Dottie Tucker
George Chamberlain
Gale & Marie Nelson
George & Edna Chamberlain
Fred & Charlotte Dobraska
Glen & Verna Dobraska & family
David & Eileen Olson & girls
Deverle Cooper
Casa del Sol Church, Donna TX
Rose M. Kreis
Don & Sonja Walter
Ron Dalzell
Roger & Nola Pierce
Della Earhart
Roger & Nola Pierce
John Gault
Roger & Nola Pierce
Jerry and Letha Gingerich
The Mennonite Foundation, Inc.,
Jerry and Letha Gingerich Endow-
ment Fund
12 Rio Grande Magazine
Jerald & Margery Ryks
Loarn & Rose Schwartz
Dr. Robert E. Nordby
Mrs. Nordby, daughters, & families
Ray Pasquale
John & Shirley Webb
Paul Patchin
Roger & Nola Pierce
Donna Sarver
Anonymous
Mae Seim
Eldon & Mildred Root
James C. Sjordahl
Svea C. May
Mervyn Swanson
Curt & Joyce Larsen
Dick & Donna Payfer
Gordon & Nancy Robinson
Eldon & Mildred Root
Robert & Beverly Voss
Lawrence & Ester Terveen
John & Merry McKean
Irene Thomann
Don & Sonja Walter
Jim Trowbridge
Eldon & Mildred Root
Jack Wilson
Don & Sonja Walter
John & Shirley Webb
Gary & Verla Williams
Lilly Wiseman
Don & Virginia Elliott
Richard Hooge
Jerry & Reita Owen
Karl & Helen Place
Mary Reed
Dan & Annabelle Unternahrer
Al & Kathy Van Dorp
Don & Sonja Walter
John & Shirley Webb
Gary & Verla Williams
Honoring or
Bob Kracht
Isabell Graf (Bill Graf’s mother)
Mary Reed
Lila Hartman
Gordon & Betty Ehmke
Helen M. Michaelson
Gale & Marie Nelson
Eldon & Mildred Root
Jerald & Margery Ryks
Loarn & Rose Schwartz
Viola Willie
Jacob & Elizabeth Hooge
Richard Hooge
Helen Hopkins
Jerry & Reita Owen
Marlin & Lonna Rasmussen
Mary Reed
Gary & Verla Williams
Wally Hultstrand
Roger & Nola Pierce
Marie Imm
Don & Sonja Walter
Daniel Kendal
Harold & Jackie Brown
Robert E. Maki
Gordon Food Service
Jim Marsh
Jerald & Margery Ryks
Viola Willie
Daniel Milekich
Eldon & Mildred Root
Otis W. Myers
Pat & Harv Stremler
Dr. Frank F. McKean & Charl
John & Merry McKean
Doris Nelson
David & Phyllis Adams
Jerry & Claudia Axvig
Harold & Jackie Brown
Bill & Kathy Hultgren
Clara J. Johnson
Phil & Olivia Lemen
Gale & Marie Nelson
Roger & Nola Pierce
Eldon & Mildred Root
remembering
your loved
Summer provides another opportunity for two student music groups to travel, representing the King of kings as well as Rio Grande Bible Institute
(RGBI). The King’s Trio (Edson Lara, Rogelio Noguera, and
José Belen Arizoca) is using their wide variety of guitar-performing abilities and singing to present concerts in numerous Canadian
locations. Full schedules in churches of central and Midwestern United
States precede and follow the Canada tour. The Ambassadors
(Obed De La Cruz, David Puerto, Reynaldo Quintanilla,
and Luis Romero) are blending their vocal and instrumental skills
to present Christ in churches of the southeastern part of our nation,
including several areas where former RGBI students serve.
one results
in furthering
the spreading
of the gospel
through
preparing
more leaders.
Lynnessa Dick
(In honor of:)
Friends of Sendero Wealth
Management
Sendero Wealth Management, San
Antonio
Isaac Friesen
Karl & Helen Place
John & Marilyn Rice
Aaron & Imageyne Juett
Dr. & Mrs. B. Pearce
Tony & Helen Lim
Mrs. Ruth Ann Homan
Dorothy Porter
Michael & Linda Skaggs
Al & Kathy Van Dorp
Albert & Amy Van Dorp Jr.
Jan Whisler
Rev. Stephen A. Maczko
Bob Kracht
January 1 through March 31, 2010
God has answered the many prayers offered in the last few years
for assistance in the area of RGBI publishing and graphic arts as the
increased demand for printed material inundated Doug Roeglin’s department. Help arrived this semester in the form of Tony LeTourneau
(MLS’01), illustrator and graphic designer; Micah Buennagel, production manager, now raising support; and a short-term graphic arts volunteer, Lynnessa Dick. Karina (Cañete, BI’01) LeTourneau, Tony’s wife,
is Assistant Webmaster in addition to being mother to their active fiveyear-old, Nolan. Here Tony (seated) and Lynnessa pose with veteran
Print Ministries staffers Larry Saylors (back row) and Doug Roeglin.
Changes made on campus by our
maintenance/construction crews
of Winter Volunteers aren’t always
obvious to the casual observer, but
they are extremely important and
appreciated! This year new roofs
have been added on one staff house,
the clinic, and the administration
building, in spite of the abnormal
rainy days! Four other staff homes
received extensive remodeling jobs
before the new residents moved in.
Changes more noticeable to visitors
include the beautifying of the landscape by newly-planted palm and
live oak trees. Again, our gratitude
goes out to ALL the volunteers who
put in almost 27,000 hours of hard
but willing work this season!
Rio Grande Magazine 13
In six days God made the world from nothing.
U
God’s
Sabbath
Rest
Dr. Gordon E. Johnson,
President Emeritus and
Bible Professor
pon surveying the breadth of His creation, He
exclaimed that “indeed it was very good.”
(Gen. 1:31) Then on the seventh day God
rested—not from weariness, but to contemplate the perfection of His creation. We read this as
a matter of fact, as if that is all it says. But in reality God was establishing a divine principle for the
Christian life, yours and mine—a rest of faith in the
work of the Cross.
The inspired writer to the Hebrews applies this
principle: “‘And God rested on the seventh day from
all His works’ . . . There remains therefore a rest for
the people of God. For he who has entered His rest
has himself ceased from his works as God did from
His.” (Hebrews 4:4, 9, 10) God’s original Sabbath
rest was in anticipation of a full rest of faith in the
GOD’S REST
Let us trace the principle of Sabbath rest. Even
before there was the Mosaic law, which ordained the
seventh day as a day of rest, God was saying in effect:
“Nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever be added to
My work, be it creation or salvation.” God’s people,
the Jews, added multiple requirements to their version of the Sabbath day; they even sought to kill Jesus
because He healed on that day.
Anthony LeTourneau
The Sabbath rest is God’s work at the Cross, His
doing and His alone—not ours. Our responsibility
is only to “not harden (our) hearts,” but to believe
and not doubt the sufficiency of Christ’s power to annul sin’s dominion in our lives. He died for us, and
in Him we died to the sin principle, the authority of
which was cancelled once and for all at
the Cross. (Rom. 6:6) “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest
anyone fall after the same example of
disobedience.” (Heb. 4:11)
He died for us, and in Him we died
to the sin principle, the authority of
which was cancelled once and for all
at the Cross.
consummate work of the Cross—forgiveness of our
sins and establishing our union with Christ. His call
is to enter His Sabbath rest by simple faith in Christ’s
finished work.
14 Rio Grande Magazine
When Joshua led the children of Israel into the
Promised Land, he said, “Remember the word which
Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and is
giving you this land.’ ” (Josh. 1:13) But Israel failed
to believe God and never truly entered the Sabbath
rest, “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did
not enter because of disobedience.’’ (Heb. 4:6) Years
later, David tried to warn God’s people not to make
the same mistake: “Today, if you will hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts.” (Ps. 95:7, 8 and quoted in
Heb. 4:7) These repetitions of the rest principle only
foreshadowed the Sabbath rest of Christ’s saving and
sanctifying work.
The irony of so much that ministers
preach to believers is that this impression is left: Christ died for us and in
grace forgave all our sins. But now that
we are saved, we must imitate Him. . .
do the best we can. . . do, do, and do
some more. The unintended result is so
much hypocrisy and frustration!
We cannot add to the finished work of Christ, but
we can receive it, believe it, and obey it by the power
of the Holy Spirit given to us. Then we will experience true Sabbath rest.
*All Scripture is taken from the New King James Version.
In addition to his full schedule at RGBI, Dr. Johnson and his wife Grace
minister in a local RV park every Sunday and Wednesday from November
through March. This is the tenth year in which they have shared God’s Word
with several hundred Winter Texans and led them in mission ministries.Trailer
Park in Alamo, Texas, for nine years. From November to March he and his
wife Grace have a large Sunday morning service there plus a Bible class on
weekdays.
Rio Grande Magazine 15
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Telling the Story
Have you ever paused to ponder the mysterious ways of
God? What appears to be a puzzling dilemma to us turns out
to be His application of Romans 8:28.
Four student outreach teams were ready to go into Mexico
this Easter. The U.S. State Department advised all Easter travelers to stay out of Mexico this year. With a week before departure, the teams began to make the shift.
On Palm Sunday a friend in a mobile home park gave RGBI
2600 bilingual tracts. They would be useful tools with which
to “arm” students for evangelism in bilingual communities.
Professor Morocho reports: “Our teams distributed 34
Bibles, 29 New Testaments, and 800 tracts. There were 358
adults and children who came to services because of the invitations and 50 professions of faith were made.”
God gets the glory by using His people. Would you like to
have a part in His work at RGBI? Here are some ideas:
• Pray for us.
• Consider including RGBI in your will.
• Call about a gift annuity.
You can be a part of God’s great work here!
Dr. Robert Crane
Director of Ministerial Advancement
Rio Grande Bible Institute
4300 S. US Hwy 281
Edinburg, TX 78539-9650
Phone: 956-380-8114
[email protected]
Israel Villavicencio
www.riogrande.edu