The Silbermans

A Need for Pastors Ruben and Valeria of Las Varas, Nayarit

2026-10-23T12:25:33.593-07:00

Pastor Ruben and his wife, Valeria, have been without a vehicle for two years. They took their Chevrolet Traverse to the mechanic and overnight someone threw a fire-lit bottle over the wall which found it's way under their car. It burned as you can see in the photo. The mechanic promised to supply them with a vehicle, at least something to be able to move around in, but to this day has not yet come through with his promise. One of their sons in the states had some money saved up, but Ruben had an emergency surgery that exhausted their savings.

They are still in need of a vehicle. We want to help them find something that they can move around in. Ruben's sister has been loaning them her car when they need, but it's not always available. Each week, they go to a couple different towns 30 and 60 minutes (Mesillas and Mazatan) away to lead home groups and a vehicle is essential for them.

We are asking for one-time tax-deductible donations to help Pastor Ruben and his wife buy another vehicle. They need a minimum of $4,000 to get a semi-decent vehicle, Geña and I are going to match the first $2,000 that comes in. Let's try to get $15,000 so they can get something more reliable by the end of November.

Online Donations:

Click on the "Donate Here" button below.

Please indicate the specific designation to "Ruben's car"

where it says "add a note" under the amount.

Mail-in Donations:

Make checks payable to "Cofradia United USA"

and be sure to indicate the designation for "Ruben's car".

Cofradia United USA

PO Box 91

Tracyton, WA 98393

Thank you so much in advance for partnering with us as we help Raise Up Leaders in Rural Mexico.

Santifíquense

2026-10-23T11:14:19.366-07:00

David dijo a los principales padres de las familias de los Levitas: "santifíquense, ustedes y sus hermanos, y traen el arca del Señor Dios de Israel al lugar que yo he preparado para él" (1 Crónicas 15:12).

Esta era una orden del Rey a los Levitas. Dos capítulos antes, estaban llevando el arca del Señor a Jerusalén y los bueyes que tiraban el nuevo carro en el que estaba el arca, tropezaron. Esto hizo que Uza, uno de los hombres que conducían los bueyes, estirara instintivamente la mano y agarrara el arca, algo que estaba prohibido (eso también es otra enseñanza sobre cómo nuestras reacciones son fruto de nuestros pensamientos). Allí Dios hirió a Uzza; una acción severa por parte del Señor (1 Crónicas 13:9-10). Era para mostrar a los Israelitas que Dios quiere que las cosas se hagan de cierta manera. En el Nuevo Testamento, Jesús dijo: "Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida; nadie viene al Padre sino por mí" (Juan 14:6).

Ese es el trasfondo de por qué David dijo a los Levitas que se santificaran en preparación para llevar el arca a Jerusalén. Solo los Levitas estaban permitidos a llevar el arca (Números 4:15).

¿Cómo se ve "santificarse" hoy? Podemos interpretar fácilmente hoy a través de los ojos del Antiguo Testamento, pero estaríamos equivocados al hacerlo. A la luz del Nuevo Testamento, vemos que Cristo es quien nos santifica. En Cristo, estamos santificados (1 Corintios 1:30). Mientras preparamos nuestros corazones y renovamos nuestras mentes para alinearnos con lo que dice la Palabra, "santificamos" o nos preparamos para "llevar el arca a Jerusalén". Algunos lo llaman "Santificación Progresiva". También está la "Santificación Última" de cuando vamos a estar con el Señor. Es entonces cuando nuestro alma será completamente renovada y recibiremos un cuerpo glorificado. En este momento, tenemos la plenitud de Cristo (Col. 2:9-10) en nuestros espíritus, el mismo Espíritu que resucitó a Jesús de entre los muertos vive dentro de nosotros (Romanos 8:11), un pago inicial para nuestra herencia prometida (Efesios 1:13-14).

¿Dónde habita el Señor hoy? ¡En nosotros! ¿Dónde habitó Él en el Antiguo Testamento? En el arca del Pacto. El arca fue llevado a Jerusalén por los Levitas, el pueblo elegido que representaría el sacerdocio de Cristo en la tierra... del que todos (en Cristo) somos parte ahora (Mateo 28:18-20). Nuestro trabajo ahora es llevar el arca (presencia del Señor; Su cuerpo) a la Nueva Jerusalén.

Mientras recorremos todo nuestro día, ya sea misioneros, pastores, líderes, conductores de camiones, albañiles, amas de casa, profesores, ingenieros, etc., les animo como David, Santifícense en preparación para llevar el arca del Señor a Jerusalén. No es una ceremonia para santificarse, es una preparación del corazón mientras renuevamos nuestra mente para alinearnos con las Escrituras, de modo que estaremos preparados para formar parte de llevar el cuerpo de Cristo (el arca) a la eternidad (la Nueva Jerusalén).

Santifícense.

Sanctify Yourselves

2026-10-23T11:07:16.318-07:00

David told the chief of the fathers of the Levites, "sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it." (1 Chronicles 15:12)

This was an order from the King to the Levites. Two chapters previous, they were taking the ark of the Lord up to Jerusalem and the oxen who were pulling the new cart it was on stumbled. This caused Uzza, one of the men driving the oxen, to instinctively stretch out his hand and grab the ark--something that was forbidden (that alone is a whole other teaching regarding how our reactions are fruit of our thought life). Uzza was struck dead; a stern action by the Lord (1 Chr. 13:9-10). It was to show the Israelites that God wants things done a certain way. In the New Testament, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father except by me" (John 14:6).

That is the background of why David told the Levites to sanctify themselves in preparation for taking the ark to Jerusalem. It was only the Levites who were permitted to carry the ark (Numbers 4:15).

What does "sanctify yourself" look like today? We may easily interpret today through the eyes of the Old Testament, but we would be incorrect in doing so. In the light of the New Testament, we see that Christ is the one who sanctifies us. In Christ, we are sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:30). As we prepare our hearts and renew our minds to line up with what the Word says, we "sanctify" or prepare ourselves to "take the ark up to Jerusalem". Some call that "Progressive Sanctification". There's also the "Ultimate Sanctification" of when we go to be with the Lord. That is when our Soul will be completely renewed and we will receive a glorified body. At this point in time, we have the fullness of Christ (Col. 2:9-10) in our spirits, the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead lives inside of us (Romans 8:11), a down-payment for our promised inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14).

Where does the Lord dwell today? In us! Where did He dwell in the Old Testament? In the ark of the Covenant. The ark was carried into Jerusalem by the Levites, the chosen people who would represent the priesthood of Christ on earth...which we all (in Christ) are a part of now (Matthew 28:18-20). Our job now is to carry the ark (presence of the Lord; His body) to the New Jerusalem.

As we go throughout our day whether we are missionaries, pastors, leaders, truck drivers, masonry workers, homemakers, teachers, engineers, etc., I charge you as David charged the Levites, Sanctify Yourselves in preparation for taking the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem. It is not a ceremony to sanctify yourself, it is a preparation of the heart as you renew your mind to line up with Scripture so you will be prepared to be part of taking the body of Christ (the ark) into eternity (the New Jerusalem).

Sanctify Yourselves.

Cofradia Kitchen Kids 2026-09

2026-10-01T16:33:00.424-07:00

The Children's Soup Kitchen is back in service. As many of you know, the one who had the original vision and burden for this ministry went to be with the Lord in May. There was a pause in the feeding of the kids, but a daughter-in-law has agreed to continue feeding the kids each morning Monday through Friday. We do not know how long this commitment will be, but for the time being, it's active again. Thank you all for your help and contributions towards the kids.

Here are some pictures of this month...

Pastor Gregorio Hernández

2026-10-01T16:23:38.980-07:00

Pastor Gregorio (Goyo) Hernández is the main pastor of Centro Cristiano Cofradía United in Cofradía. He has been ministering for over 25 years as the pastor. We recently featured his late wife in a previous update.

After over 6 years of waiting, we are finally able to take one of our pastors up to the States. Pastor Goyo of Cofradía is our main pastor here and our co-laborer of leading Pastors who have become part of Cofradía United in Mexico.

We began our trip on Wednesday, September 23, as we flew into LA to participate in a few activities over the next few days. On day one, we directed a Christening ceremony of a friend's boat in San Diego, Pastor Goyo spoke at Ebenezer Church in Riverside, we visited our friend and Cofradía United Board Member, Frank Jimenize, and we spoke at Templo Calvario (Calvary Bakersfield) bilingual church on Sunday. It has been a huge blessing to have him with us.

After driving over night from Bakersfield to Woodland Park, Colorado, we made it to the Global Minister's Conference at Charis Bible College where Emma is attending. We have extremely enjoyed our time here meeting other ministers around the globe and being fed the Word of God during the week; every message has been so applicable and challenging. I can't wait to share what we've learned with the pastors of Cofradía United.

We will be heading to Washington State on Saturday, October 3rd, and look forward to visiting with everyone there. We will be attending Gateway Poulsbo on Sunday the 4th, and Pastor Goyo will be visiting his brother one day who lives in Seattle, yep, I was surprised, too.

This is a great opportunity for many to get to personally meet Pastor Goyo and maybe see him again if you've been to Cofradía and have already met him. We trust the conference will continue to be a blessing and our time in Washington as well.

Your partnership with us through Cofradía United USA or our personal support is helping us expand our pastors' worldview and Raise Up Leaders in Rural Mexico. Pastor Goyo has thoroughly enjoyed this week and has mentioned to me that it feels like a new beginning for him. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

If you would like to send a special gift to Pastor Goyo, you can do so here by putting in the note section "Pastor Goyo".

The Credits

2026-09-15T09:30:08.628-07:00

How many of us stay seated at the movie theater or keep the DVD rolling after a movie just to watch the credits? My guess is there is a high percentage of us who do not make that a common practice. I admit, I have done it from time to time mostly just to look and see if there is a Silberman mentioned, but they go so fast it’s impossible to read all the names.

I’ve been reading 1 Chronicles lately and what comes to my mind is this very thing, credits after a movie. How many of us just skim over all those names that no one can pronounce except ones like, “David”. We skim over them so fast, there would me no time to even try to pronounce them. Just like the credits after a movie.

What’s interesting is that each one of those names that scroll up the screen after the movie are important. Everyone played a part in the making of that movie. Some people contributed more than others, but each one is important. That is what comes to mind when I read through the list of the geneologies of the Israelites. Each one is important. Everyone played a part in the making of the “movie” of the history of Israel. Some people contributed more than others, but each one is important.

What would it be like to be mentined in the credits of a movie? Maybe some of you have…I don’t know. But, I imagine that it comes with a little sense of pride knowing that your name is there because you had something to do with making that movie possible. You contributed to the success of that movie. Maybe not as much as others, maybe more than others, but you contributed and there’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with it.

Then, all pride withers away knowing that not many people care or will ever see your name there. You just have to come to grips with knowing that your contribution meant something and you’ve accomplished your purpose in that role.

God has chosen each one of us for a special purpose. Many of us have read Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (KVJ). The NIV version says, “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God’s desire for us is only good and He has thoughts and plans for us. We may not all have the same level of contribution to His Kingdom, but we are all important to Him. If you know Jesus, that verse is for you!

We can have peace knowing that our name is in The Crediis of Kingdom history because God chose us to be there. No need to be prideful of it, all He asks for is our faithfulness to Him and what He has called us to do, walking in His rest. And some day, when The Credits of life have begun, we will hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Mission Dispatch Features the Silbermans

2026-09-02T09:59:24.311-07:00

Mission Dispatch is a ministry set up to help missionaries and ministries by providing a support hub for them, prayer, and for us...mentorship (Thank you Ted and Linda and the rest of the Mission Dispatch Team!)

They have recently been featuring our ministry on their facebook page. I know many of you are not on facebook and would probably appreciate what they have been posting. They have done a great job! Here are their most recent posts:

Post #1

Some ministries are measured only by what is built; others are measured by the people whose lives have been changed and equipped to keep building God's Kingdom — Meet Steve and Efigenia Silberman of La Cofradía United Ministries.

Since 1996, Steve and Efigenia have faithfully served in Nayarit, Mexico, investing in people, churches, and communities with a vision that extends far beyond themselves.

As directors of La Cofradía United Ministries, their passion is to raise up Christian leaders who are confident in their faith and equipped to disciple others. Their desire is not simply to grow a ministry, but to see generations of leaders carrying the gospel into their own communities.

Mission Dispatch is grateful to partner with Steve, Efigenia, and their daughters as they faithfully serve the people of Mexico.

Please join us in praying for the Silbermans and all the lives they invest in on a regular basis!

Post #2

Since 1996, La Cofradía United Ministries has been investing in the people of Nayarit, Mexico, with one clear vision: to raise up Christian leaders who are confident in Christ and equipped to raise up others.

That vision takes many forms.

It looks like pastors being encouraged and mentored. It looks like churches being planted and strengthened. It looks like leadership training, Bible studies, and Freedom in Christ conferences. It looks like children receiving meals, families finding restoration, men overcoming addiction, homes being built, and mission teams serving alongside local believers.

Every ministry they are involved in exists to help people discover the truth of Jesus Christ and become faithful disciples who will impact their own communities for generations to come.

Would you consider partnering financially with Steve and Efigenia through Mission Dispatch?

Your prayers and support help strengthen churches, equip leaders, serve families, and extend the hope of the gospel throughout western Mexico.

Post #3

PRAY FOR NAYARIT, MEXICO

Located on Mexico's Pacific coast, Nayarit is home to beautiful mountains, fertile valleys, coastal fishing communities, and growing cities. It is also home to people from many backgrounds and cultures, including several indigenous communities with rich histories and traditions.

While many churches faithfully serve throughout the region, there are still communities that need strong biblical discipleship, trained Christian leaders, and opportunities to hear the hope of the gospel.

This week, join us in praying for Nayarit:

Pray for pastors and church leaders to faithfully teach God's Word and disciple the next generation.

Pray for local churches to grow in unity, spiritual maturity, and love for their communities.

Pray for families to experience healing, hope, and the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

Pray for missionaries, including Steve and Efigenia Silberman of Cofradía United Ministries, as they equip leaders who will continue multiplying disciples throughout Mexico.

God often changes a nation by strengthening local churches and raising up faithful leaders who will invest in others.

How can we pray for your community this week? Comment below.

Post #4

Did you know?

Nayarit is home to the Wixárika (Huichol) people, one of Mexico's best-preserved indigenous cultures.

The Wixárika are known around the world for their breathtaking yarn art and intricate beadwork. Many of their designs tell stories through colorful symbols inspired by nature, family, and their spiritual traditions.

For generations, art has been a way of preserving their history, identity, and beliefs.

The Bible also tells God's story. Not through yarn or beads, but through His Word.

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals God's love, His plan of redemption, and His invitation for every people and every nation to know Him.

As missionaries serve throughout Nayarit, they seek to honor the people and culture while faithfully sharing the greatest story ever told: the good news of Jesus Christ.

"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!" ~ Psalm 96:3

What is one way you've seen God use culture to open doors for the gospel?

To make a contribution to the Silbermans,

Cordero y Leon Church

2026-09-02T09:25:59.509-07:00

Pastor Rodrigo and his wife Annel are the pastors of Cordero y Leon (The Lion and the Lamb) church in La Cruz de Elota, Sinaloa. Rodrigo is a native of Argentina and came to Mexico as a Missionary and worked with a ministry where he met Annel. They recently relocated from Culiacán, Sinaloa, to La Cruz after feeling led by the Lord to minister to some friends and individuals who needed restoration. Their pastoral hearts and compassion for the people have been a cool refreshment in the desert of these peoples' lives.

This November, they will be celebrating 10 years of marriage. For those ten years, they have been praying for a baby. Last month, after having tried many forms of help with no success, they became pregnant without any of the medical help they had received. It was a joyous moment until they found out a week later that the baby never formed, but her body thought it was pregnant, thus giving a false test. Through all of this, they are rejoicing in the fact that they were able to get pregnant and are expecting the Lord will bless them with a baby in the near future. Please join us as we pray for them. Pray for life and strength in both of them.

One of the things they love to do is to go up into the mountains with the indigenous people group called Los Kuares who, when they started going, was an unreached people group. They led their interpreter to the Lord who was the first of his community to meet Jesus. Since then, that young man has been leading Bible studies and was baptized as well. It has been a couple of years since they've been able to go, but here is a post from their last visit up there. Some of you donated towards this trip. Thank you!

Rodrigo has not been back to Argentina for almost 15 years. One of their desires is to go visit again and spend some time with his family and meet up with some of his old friends and mentors. This will incur extra expenses for them, but is very needed. I know what it is like to be away from family and friends, but not for that long. When we took our sabbatical in 2019, it changed my life. I trust this will be the same for them as they rest and reflect.

You can read their latest "Pastors' Perspectives" update near the bottom of this page for more information on their ministry. They also keep pretty active on Facebook.

If you would like to contribute to their ministry in La Cruz or their visit back to Argentina, you can do so by making a note "Rodrigo" at the Cofradia United giving page.

Thank you for helping us Raise up Leaders in Rural Mexico.

Lost I.D.

2026-08-21T15:54:32.423-07:00

I have to admit that one of my favorite movies is not a healthy family movie. It is Jason Bourne. I like it because of the action and suspense, but the message behind it also intrigues me. He has lived a number of years of his life as someone who he thought he was, but wasn’t. Throughout the first movie, The Bourne Identity, he is searching for his true identity. He gets glimpses of who he really is, but he just can’t put it all together.

I’m not promoting the movie for people to watch, but I wonder if we struggle with the same concept as Christians today—living from an identity that is not who we really are or searching for our true identity in Christ. My concern is that our true identity in Christ has become a hidden truth in the church. Do we have a Lost I.D.?

Statistics show that most Christians do not know who they are in Christ. Many times we think our identity lies in what we do or how we feel, but it’s the opposite; who we are determines what we do, how we feel comes from our thoughts. We can only fake it for so long. The focus is not our behavior, it’s our being.

Once we are in Christ, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our identity changes. Just like marriage, once you’re married, you’re married and no longer single, your identity has changed. The problem with some is that they still want to live like they’re single. Similarly in the Christian community, once we have given our life to Christ, we are no longer sinners, we are saints (1 Corinthians 1:2) and we have become children of God (John 1:12). The problem isn’t really that we want to continue to be sinners, but it's that we still see ourselves as sinners and our behavior bleeds through our perception of ourself.

If we could understand who we are as a child of God and learn all of the character traits we already have in Christ, our behavior will automatically change because of our perception of ourself. The point is not to behave well, the point is be more like Christ.

We are loved, forgiven, free, sanctified, justified, indwelt by the Spirit, and the list goes on. What an exciting revelation to know that we are free from sin and no longer slaves to it.

Maybe you are like I was; living not knowing who I really am in Christ. Maybe you’re searching to understand what that means and getting only glimpses like Jason Bourne. I challenge you to read the scriptures (Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and more) and BELIEVE what they say about you even though you may not “feel” it yet. We do not base our identity on our behavior nor our feelings.

We love you all and pray that your journey continues to reveal the truth about who God is and who you are in Christ.

May your Lost I.D. be found.

Silberman Support Link

2026-08-02T10:03:58.258-07:00

We now have a direct link to our personal financial support page through Mission Dispatch. You no longer have to scroll down to find our name. Just click on this link and it will take you straight there. We also have a new QR Code you can use.

Thank you Mission Dispatch!

If you would rather send a check, make it out to:

MISSION DISPATCH

(Checks made out to us will not be processed)

MAKE A NOTE INDICATING THE DESIGNATION IS FOR STEVEN SILBERMAN

SEND TO:

MISSION DISPATCH

PO BOX 641

EDMONDS, WA 98020

Thank you so much for being part of our team as we

Raise Up Leaders in Rural Mexico.

Casa de Gracia, Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit

2026-07-25T13:18:55.926-07:00

Pastors Jimmy and Perla joined our ministry in 2019 when they were going through a difficult time in their marriage and family life. After having been in ministry almost a decade as soon as they got married, the ministry became a higher priority than it should have which led to a number of issues they needed to deal with. At the beginning of 2022, they handed their church over to their leaders and decided to take some time off to reorganize their priorities and nurture their relationship with each other, their children, and the Lord.

In January of 2025 after leading bible studies for a couple of years in their own neighborhood, they opened "Casa de Gracia" (House of Grace) by the request of those they had been teaching. By this time, they had learned to follow the leading of the Spirit and maintain healthy priorities in their marriage and family. Both of them felt like it was time to return to pastoring.

Jimmy and Perla have three children and one older young man that is married who was an orphan that they raised since he was an adolescent. I cannot say enough good things about Jimmy and Perla. They are an example to follow. Their love for God, for each other, their children, and people is genuinely authentic. They are a pleasure to be around and an enormous blessing and encouragement in our team of pastors.

Their church is located in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, just minutes from Puerto Vallarta. It is a vibrant, alive church where everyone makes you feel welcome. Apart from their Sunday services, they meet mid-week for a dicsipleship class where they are currently learning about "Freedom in Christ" and they also speak at a home-group in Nuevo Vallarta made up of people from different congregations.

At the moment, they are renting a walled open space for their meetings. Their desire is to have their own property and own building in the near future. They have their eyes on some property, but are waiting for God's provision to move forward.

You can read more about their ministry when you scroll down at this link.

If you would like more information or just want to follow them, they are pretty good about keeping people updated on Facebook.

As you pray for them, if the Lord leads you to partner with them either with a one time gift or a continuous donation, click here and specify it is for Jimmy and Perla in the note section.

Impeding Pride

2026-07-22T09:23:55.306-07:00

As much as I hate to admit it just like in last month's Perilous Presumptions post, pride is something that seems to seep in to my life unexpectedly and uninvited. In fact, whenever I hear someone speak about pride or read about it, I seldom stop to think that what they're saying could apply to me. Author Neil Anderson said, "Pride is like bad breath, everyone knows you have it except for you." There is truth in that funny phrase!

In the past couple of "Manna" posts, I have camped out in 2 Kings 5 and the story of Naaman's healing. I talked about the courage of the Jewish servant girl he kidnapped and how she was able to see the value of Living Victoriously in an Upside Down Life and last time looking at how the King of Israel misunderstood the reasoning why the King of Syria sent Naaman to him. That presumption could have ended in peril; he was ready to make war until Elisha came to clear up the misunderstanding.

Naaman's "bad breath" was impeding him from his healing until his servants explained to him another perspective.

The story goes with Elisha calling Naaman to his house. When he arrived, Elisha sent his servant out to tell him to dip in the Jordan River 7 times and he would receive his healing. This did not set well with the Army Captain, he was the right hand man of the King of Syria, he "deserved better" than to have a servant come out and tell him how to be healed. And, on top of that, to go to a river that belonged to the Israelites??? Well, their rivers were much better in Syria! (see 2 Kings 5:9-12).

As Naaman stormed off in disgust with Elisha, his own servants asked him, "If Elisha himself would have come out, wouldn't you go down to the River Jordan?" The fact his, Naaman was offended that Elisha sent to him a servant instead of coming out to him himself and telling him to go to a river against which he had his prejudices. If it was not for his own servants speaking sense into him, his pride would have impeded him from being healed.

It looks like to me from this passage that the best way to receive healing (in this context) or instructions from a godly leader is to humble ourself, recognize our prejudices, and simply follow the instructions of the Word. We will find rest, peace, health and healing in believing that it's for us. Our obedient belief will bring blessings and rest which God has promised.

Hebrews 3:19 says, "they were unable to enter (the rest) because of their unbelief". It was when Naaman finally humbled himself and believed, or obeyed what Elisha said, that he finally received his healing.

Pride can prevent the promises of God from becoming a reality in our life.

I used to think that because of my circumstances certain promises weren't for me. But, I have learned to believe the promises despite my circumstances. The promises of God are Truth. But, the Grace of God can only be accessed through Faith (Romans 5:2).

In a recent devotion time, the reality of how our thoughts take us into our future became even more clear. If we believe our life is a mess and that's just the cards we've been dealt, then we will continue have a messy life and our circumstances will reflect that. But, if we can see that Jesus came to give us ABUNDANT LIFE (John 10:10), we will begin to see changes in our life as we believe for that blessing.

Impeding Pride puts a wall up between us and the blessing.

Perilous Presumptions

2026-06-30T16:31:10.920-07:00

Have you ever assumed something was true, but later found out that it wasn't true? I have, and I have to say that it has happened to me more times than I'd like to admit. Growing up, my poor self-image and insecurities fueled my misunderstanding of other people's motives. I became overly sensitive and easily offended. Knowing who I am in Christ has revolutionized my perspective on life. What others think about me does not dictate who I am; who I am is dictated by what God says about me. That goes for all of us.

Misunderstanding other peoples' motives can be dangerous. It fractures families, finishes friendships, wages wars, and isolates individuals.

Last month I shared about Naaman's servant girl who offered valuable information that led to Naaman's healing. Her life must have turned upside down when she was taken away. Despite what happened to her, she decided to not live as a victim. She knew the value of Living Victoriously in an Upside Down Life.

The King of Syria sent his Military Captain Naaman to the King of Israel asking for him to heal his servant. The King of Israel, Joram at the time, became furious. He assumed that the King of Syria was setting him up for failure and was looking for an opportunity to accuse and take advantage of Joram. Joram assumed the King of Syria's intentions were of war and deception. He said, "What!?! Am I God, to kill and to make alive?...I see how he seeketh a quarrel against me."

Elisha heard about what was going on and intervened. Otherwise, this story could have taken a very different turn. Who knows what could have happened? Elisha "delivered" the King of his perilous presumption and provided understanding and healing.

I am so thankful that Christ intervened on our behalf. He provides forgiveness and healing. When we listen to Him, He will help us see things from a proper truthful perspective. If we receive the correction with humility, we will begin to understand the truth, be able to forgive, and be healed emotionally.

Think of how many families that didn't need to be fractured. Think of how many friendships were not meant to be finished. Think of the wars that didn't need to be waged. Think of the Individuals who have Isolated themselves into loneliness. We live in a fallen world and because of that, we find ourselves in these situations. Jesus is the Answer.

Are you someone who assumes others have wrong motives towards you? Are you easily offended by what others say? The next time we assume something about someone, let's take it to Jesus first. The Prophet Elisha came to the King of Israel; Jesus came to us.

Granted, there are people who do have selfish ambitions and only think of themselves, but the Perilous Presumptions will cause us to incorrectly believe that about everyone and become overly sensitive and easily offended...I know, I've been there.

Maybe this concept is foreign to you. Praise the Lord! But, it is real for many people. My prayer is that those who do have these Perilous Presumptions would be able to humbly recognize it and seek the Lord for help.

If you have been offended by anything in this post, I would urge you to honestly consider yourself in this area. You are loved! God has such a great plan for your life! He thinks so highly of you and always wants the best for you.

I'm so glad that God is Love and He loves us. That truth makes the idea of Perilous Presumptions seem silly.

Pastors' Perspectives 2026-2

2026-06-30T13:15:18.571-07:00

These are bi-annual updates through the eyes of the Cofradía United Pastors. Here they share what is going on in their ministries, needs they may have, and prayer requests. Thank you for your partnership with this ministry. Your contributions help them to succeed. To make a special donation to one or more, please follow the instructions here, and if you would like to send them a note, please feel free to do so here.

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Pastor Gregorio (Goyo) Hernández
Lead Pastor of Centro Cristiano la Cofradía United

Cofradia de Cuyutlán, Nayarit

Report: 6.25.26

Hello friends,

I'm glad to greet you.

I want to share with you that my wife recently passed away after three years of fighting a terminal illness. It was a very difficult time, but through the prayers and support of God and our friends, we were able to go through this situation. Throughout this journey, we saw God's miracles manifested in many ways.

I will be brief about what happened because I would not be able to tell you everything.

At first, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, after an inguinal lymph node that had been removed was examined. She was then treated by a hematologist who specializes in blood disorders. After many tests, they discovered that she actually had malignant melanoma. A CT scan revealed a tumor that had never been detected before. It was treated surgically, removed, and analyzed again, but the results were not good.

After the surgery, the doctor spoke with me and said that someone would need to tell her that this type of cancer was very aggressive. I asked him how much time she had left, and he told me that she had about five months to live.

Throughout all of this, despite everything, I kept my faith in God. I believed Gods' promises more than what the doctors were saying, although we continued to follow all of their instructions. Of course, there were times when doubt came upon me. But glory to God, those five months the doctor predicted became almost three years of life. I truly believe God performed a wonderful miracle by giving my wife nearly three additional years. During that time, she was able to enjoy watching our grandsons and granddaughters grow.

She passed away on May 14 at 9:30 a.m. A little earlier that morning, I anointed her body and hair with oil. She looked so beautiful, and her face became peaceful and full of a smile. Glory to God for the miracle of life.

Financially, we ended up with a very large deficit, but thank God we have come through victoriously in Christ.

Regarding the ministry, we continue our Tuesday Bible study at 4:30 p.m., using The War Is Over by Andrew Wommack. We are seeing very encouraging results, especially in the development of our leaders.

Another ministry I began is teaching music. I first started with a young man named Francisco, who is now ministering during our Sunday services. I am also teaching two young youth girls. One may soon begin participating with the church worship group, and the other is also looking forward to serving. We meet on Mondays and Fridays at 4:30 p.m., and afterward we study The New You and the Holy Spirit.

In November, on the 26th, 27th, and 28th, we will be offering the Grace Course by Neil T. Anderson.

Thank you very much for your continued support of the ministry and for your faithful prayers.

Pastor Gregorio Hernández

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Pastors Horacio Garzón and María

Indigenous Ministries

Centro Cristiano Arrayanes Facilitators

Cofradia de Cuyutlán, Nayarit

Report: 6.2.26

Dear beloved brothers,

It is always a pleasure to write to you and express my warmest greetings. I pray that when you read this letter, you are enjoying good health. Thank God, we are doing well.

Beloved brothers, thank you for keeping us in your prayers and for your faithful financial support in helping provide for our needs. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and for the love you have shown us. I thank God for working in your hearts through His Word and inspiring such kindness. Thank you, dear brothers.

I am happy to share with you that we recently celebrated 15 years since moving into our new congregation building. Thank God, it is larger and better equipped than our previous location. Even more important, the pastors have come together in unity, forming a strong brotherhood that is committed to working together to share Christ and His Word with new believers.

At this time, I spend much of my time caring for my wife, María, due to some health limitations she is experiencing. We trust that, according to God's will, she will recover. In the meantime, God gives me the patience and strength to care for her with joy and love, which is my privilege in Christ.

I also devote time to caring for my mother. Because of her age, she has become more affected by loneliness, especially after the recent passing of her last surviving brother. I try to spend time with her, serving her needs and encouraging her with God's Word.

Beloved brothers, María and Kenya send you their warm greetings. I continue praying that God will use Kenya as she serves others through her nursing profession, blessing many people with the gifts He has given her.

Thank you again, dear brothers, for your love, prayers, and faithful support. Please extend our greetings to everyone.

May God bless you richly, and until next time.

HORACIO GARZÓN OROZCO

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Pastor Amado Verdin and Lourdes

Lead Pastors of Casa de Oración, La Hermosa

Director of Restoration Center, El Faro de Esperanza

Rosamorada, Nayarit

Report: 6.25.26

Pastor Amado has shared a general report of his ministry for you by video this month...

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Pastors Ruben Perez and Karla Valeria

Lead Pastors of Community of Wonder

Church Plant Pastor in Mazatan, Nayarit

Las Varas, Nayarit

Most Recent Report: 6.16.25

Hello, and blessings to you all.

We are Iglesia Comunidad de Asombro (Community of Wonder Church). We have been experiencing these last 6 months the power and the grace of God in our lives with the full recovery of our two sons who had cancer; God has totally healed them.

My wife Karla and I share the word in Mazatan, Mesillas, and in our local congregation in Las Varas with the conviction that God has shown us His faithfulness in these times of personal anguish. This has brought us to depend solely on God in everything we do.

Our outreaches in Mazatlán and Mesillas along with our local congregation in Las Varas have also been experiencing the power of the Word as it restores and changes lives. We all have seen evidence that the Word has power and transforms hearts. I believe there is still a lot to do and that this has barely started, but this work will He perfect in us. Although it has not been easy, the victory is ours. We have understood that God always takes care of those who believe in Him and He has upheld our lives every day teaching us that if we put Him first, all things work in our favor because God is faithful.

We are pastors Ruben and Karla. From the Las Varas, Nayarit. We thank you for your friendship and prayers. Thanks for your unconditional support!!

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Pastors Jimmy Orozco and Perla

Casa de Gracia (House of Grace)

Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit

Report: 6.27.26

Casa De Gracia (House of Grace) Report

Our family continues to grow in the knowledge of Christ each day. My wife, our children, and I are committed to knowing Him more, and that relationship brings us true fulfillment.

Over the past six months, our congregation has grown stronger and become more established in God's grace and love.

We celebrated our first anniversary, and we were blessed to have our pastors, Steve and Geña Silberman, join us. It was a very special and memorable time!

We have also welcomed several new people who are hungry for God's Word. It has been a joy to receive them with love and serve them as they grow in their faith.

Our worship ministry has also grown, with a strong team coming together to serve in all of our ministry activities.

We continue with our PRIMICIA plan, gathering Monday through Friday at 6:00 a.m. to listen to Scripture together and allow the Holy Spirit to nourish us through God's Word. So far, we have listened to the Bible from Genesis through Ezekiel.

We also began our Freedom in Christ discipleship course. Our church members and new attendees are learning about their identity in Christ, and we are currently on Session 5. God is truly at work!

This month, we will also be hosting an outdoor movie night as an outreach event to invite new people from our community.

Finally, we continue to pray for God's provision of land or a permanent building for our church. We know our Heavenly Father already has the perfect place prepared, and we trust that He will provide it in His perfect timing.

Pastor Jimmy and Perla

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Pastors Rodrigo Romero and Annel

Cordero y Leon

Culiacán, Sinaloa

La Cruz, Sinaloa

Report: 6.27.26

Greetings to everyone reading this report.

We are Pastors Rodrigo Romero and Annel Sánchez. We are approaching our tenth year of a blessed marriage and continue to pray with hope for the opportunity to become parents. Since our youth, we have served the Lord with joy and dedication.

For the past six years, we have pastored in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, and for more than a year we have also been leading a church called Cordero y León (Lion and the Lamb) in La Cruz, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Throughout these years, we have shared the Gospel in different areas of the city of Culiacán. One of our primary ministries has been serving in local hospitals by providing food and drinks to patients and their families, while also praying with them and sharing the message of the Gospel.

Each year, we organize a mission trip to the mountains of Nayarit, where we minister in an Indigenous community called Cuare. Many of the people there had never heard the message of Jesus before. During these trips, we provide clothing, food, toys and candy for the children, as well as medical care and medications.

Our vision is to plant churches in the major cities of the state of Sinaloa. From these churches, we desire to raise up leaders and missionaries who will go on to plant congregations in the surrounding towns, so that the entire state may be reached with the Gospel.

Just over a year ago, we planted another Cordero y León church in La Cruz, Sinaloa. We have been amazed by God's grace as He continues to bless this new congregation. We have had the privilege of ministering to believers who had been away from church for many years, as well as new believers who have come to faith through the preaching of God's Word. We believe this new mission will continue to grow in the months ahead.

We are grateful to have the opportunity to meet in a building that has been generously made available to us. At the same time, we continue to work and pray for the provision of a permanent church building.

We are confident in the mission God has given His Church. Therefore, we will continue joyfully preaching the Gospel in every season and at every opportunity. There is never a wrong time for people to come to know Jesus.

Every area of ministry—including our children's ministry, youth ministry, marriage events, and women's coffee gatherings—is centered on evangelism. We are currently in our church's "Evangelism and Outreach" planning season, during which every activity is intentionally focused on reaching people who have never attended church before.

Each month, we also prepare and distribute food and hygiene packages to families in need within our community.

For the past six years, we have been part of Cofradía United. We are deeply thankful to have mentors and a church family who continually bless us with their love, encouragement, support, and wise counsel.

We have great expectations for what God has planned, and we pray that we will faithfully fulfill His purposes. Serving Christ is our life's calling.

Thank you for partnering with us. The Cordero y León congregation is here to serve you in whatever the Gospel calls us to do together. (2 Timothy 4:1–8)

Mission

To take the Gospel to the ends of the earth by planting, strengthening, and preserving the Church of Christ—for the glory of God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Vision

To establish churches in the largest cities of the state, equipping missionaries who will go out from those congregations to preach the Gospel in the surrounding towns, so that the message of Christ is proclaimed throughout the entire region.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with each one of you.

Blessings!

Cordero y León Culiacán:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080729973184

https://www.instagram.com/corderoyleoncln?igsh=bDYwc3lpN2tva2N3
Cordero y León La Cruz:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575636399389
https://www.instagram.com/corderoyleonlacruz?igsh=MXZzZndvOW9wemRibA

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Pastors Ramon Ruíz and Zaida

Iglesia Libertad en Cristo

Tamarindo, Nayarit

Report: 6.25.26

During these past six months, we received financial support to begin the construction of restroom facilities. Together with the members of the church, we cleared and leveled the land where the construction would take place, preparing it for the project. We then began the construction by laying the foundation and installing the plumbing for the water supply and drainage system.

Our vision continues to be the construction of a church building where we can gather for worship services. We trust that God will continue to touch hearts and provide the financial support needed to complete this work for His glory.

In the ministry, we continue faithfully serving the Lord by sharing His Word, evangelizing in surrounding communities, and holding weekly Bible studies.

On a personal level, I have been strengthened by God and have received tremendous emotional, moral, and spiritual support from my leaders. In February, we attended a pastors' retreat, which was a great blessing. It was a time of encouragement, biblical teaching, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.

Thank you for taking the time to read this ministry report. May God richly bless you, multiply His blessings in your life, and continue to touch the hearts of all those who faithfully support His work.

Pastor Ramon Ruiz

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Donate here and make a note for: "Cofradía Pastors"

2025 Ministry Updates

2026-06-01T07:36:57.542-07:00

If you have missed any of our updates, please click on the different months below to access them.

Thank you so much for your partnership with us as we Raise Up Leaders in Rural Mexico TOGETHER!

If you have not had the opportunity to join us, please pray about getting involved by:

Giving to Cofradia Ministries
Giving to the Silberman's Personal Budget
Short or long-term missions trips (contact us for details)
Prayer

Thank you so much!

Matilde "Mati" Espinoza de Hernández

2026-06-01T07:21:26.658-07:00

Matilde "Mati' Espinoza de Hernández

October 12, 1963 - May 14, 2026

On the morning of May 14, 2026, Mati went to be with the Lord and is in the arms of her Savior now. Just moments before she passed, Pastor Goyo sensed the Lord telling him to go and anoint her whole body. As he did, he prayed for her and said her face and hair shined brightly and she had a smile on her face. He left the room and after receiving a phone call from a friend, he went back in and noticed that she was no longer there.

Mati and Pastor Goyo were very quiet about any details, and at her request, no one new what was really going on. A little over three years ago, doctors diagnosed her with cancer and gave her only five months to live. We believe prayer helped her make it for three years!

During the past couple of months, her health began to go downhill quickly. After spending most of April in the hospital and returning for a few days in May, Pastor Goyo brought her home at her request and she passed just a few days later. The doctors said they could keep doing things, but when asked if those things would help, the answer was no. She was ready and everyone was at peace.

She leaves behind her husband, Pastor Goyo, four grown married boys Jesús, Ricardo, Julio, and Goyito. Also, four granddaughters and two grandsons.

Over 20 years ago, the Lord gave Mati a vision for children to have an opportunity to eat breakfast before they went to school. An obvious need for many children. This vision came alive in 2020 with the help of House of Hope Ministries and is now known as our "Cofradía Kitchen".

Mati was a polite blessing and fun to be with. She will be missed.

Thank you for your prayers for Pastor Goyo and the Hernández family. Pastor Goyo is doing well.

Living Victoriously in an Upside Down Life

2026-05-31T15:39:56.606-07:00

In 2 Kings 5 is the story about a very respected and honorable military captain to the King of Syria named Naaman. He was an extremely valiant warrior, but he had leprosy. In one of his victories over Israel that the Lord gave him (v.1), he kidnapped a young girl from Israel to be a slave to his wife.

Through that young slave girl, Naaman found his healing and freedom. If you read and meditate on the whole story, you will find plenty to learn. It always amazes me how much the Bible can teach us, but we just look over it superficially and call it reading. I have had that experience, but since I started to read, meditate, pray, and constantly think about the passages I read, the Lord has shown me so many things.

For example, in this passage you'll find topics such as: a good reputation, sharing your faith (in the New Testament, we call that evangelism), misunderstandings, pride, prejudices, faith in action that produces healing, humility, lying, selfishness, greed, judgement, supernatural knowledge, and a focus on the One who gave us life in the first place, God.

Although all of these topics are very interesting and I could probably write about each one, none of them would even be in the Bible through this story if it weren't for the young slave girl. If she had not spoken up, we would have probably never heard of Naaman; he would have died a leper.

The life of that young slave girl had to have been a difficult one. We know nothing about her parents, but can you imagine what went through their minds when their daughter was taken from them? Heartbreaking to say the least! She was stripped from her parents, from her homeland, from her community, from the comfort of home to a place that, in her mind, was the enemy camp. Yet, though her life turned upside down, she held on to her faith. Her faith in Almighty God. She knew about Elisha the Prophet; she knew he could heal her master.

What an amazing picture of someone who was forced to live in a situation for which she did not ask. Instead of feeling sorry for herself and living a life as a "victim", she decided to live a life from a victorious position. She knew the Truth and where to find it. She had God-given compassion for the very one who kidnapped her.

A lot of our problems can be resolved when we change the way we think. Jesus said, "The Truth will make you free" (John 8:32). We just need to know what that Truth is.

It does not matter what we've gone through. Some of us may have gone through worse situations, but we can still take the position of being victorious. If you have made Jesus Lord of your life, you are victorious (Romans 8:37). You can live a victorious life if you make Him Lord. This doesn't mean everything is going to turn out perfectly, but in the imperfections of life, we can trust in Him because He said he would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

You can Live Victoriously in an Upside Down Life. You never know the impact of a Word the Lord can speak through you.

"What is Pentecost?" by Javan Smith

2026-05-30T19:28:44.094-07:00

While we were in Colorado, I had the privilege of sitting down over coffee with one of Emma's teachers who has become a good friend. He teaches on the Old Testament and since I was about to preach about Pentecost the next Sunday, I wanted to pick his brain about the relationship of Pentecost in the Old Testament.

He recently wrote about Pentecost and I asked his permission to share it in our message. These photos are what he posted as well. Enjoy what he wrote...

What is Pentecost?

Fifty days after Passover, is the biblical feast known as Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks). Through Church history, Shavuot has commonly been called “Pentecost,” a name derived from the Greek word for “fiftieth.” Because most of the world follows the Gregorian calendar, rather than the lunar Hebrew calendar, churches observe “Pentecost Sunday” on a day that may not correspond with the biblical Feast of Shavuot, but regardless of what some scholars may argue, Pentecost and Shavuot are the same holiday.

Of the seven feasts of Israel, Pentecost is the final spring feast. Four feasts occur during the Spring and three occur during the Fall. When studied as a complete panorama, the seven feasts tell the story of the betrothal and marriage of the Messiah with His Bride. In the four spring feasts, we see a portrayal of the betrothal or ‘kiddushin.’ At the betrothal stage, the bridegroom offers the cup of wine to his beloved, and she has the choice of whether to accept. Once she accepts, then the marriage contract, known as the ‘ketubah’ is drawn up, specifying the bride price, or “mohar.” Yeshua the Messiah fulfilled the four spring feasts in His first coming, when He came as the suffering servant. In the first Pentecost that followed His crucifixion, Jesus sent the bride price (“mohar”) of the Holy Spirit, whom Ephesians 1:13-14 refers to as the down payment of our promised redemption.

During Passover, the Lord offered the cup of wine, revealing His intent to betroth us to Himself. Recall that the very first Passover was the night that the Lord led the armies of Israel out of Egypt. Most scholars believe that the Law was given at Mt. Sinai fifty days after the very first Passover, which would have been the very first Feast of Shavuot. In a sense, the Law represented the marriage contract (the ketubah) between the Lord and His Bride. Of course, Israel broke the marriage contract (see Jeremiah 31:32), but when Jesus came, He paid the price of the broken contract. In fact, when He was in the wilderness, He responded to each temptation by saying “it is written.” The Hebrew word for “marriage contract” (“ketubah”) literally means “written.” Though the New Testament is recorded in Greek, Jesus would have spoken Aramaic or Hebrew, and the word that He would have used to say “it is written” would have been a direct reference to the marriage contract that was given at the first Shavuot, namely the Law. Even though the bride had broken the contract, the Bridegroom came to keep that which had been “written.”

Pentecost represents a season of waiting. After Passover, the people of God are to count fifty days, from barley harvest to wheat harvest. Recall that the Holy Spirit came “when the Day of Pentecost had fully come,” according to Acts 2:1-4. Why did it happen when Pentecost had fully come? Fulfillment of the Promise had to happen on the fiftieth day, corresponding to the time frame God had prearranged millennia earlier. Between the Resurrection and the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit, what did Jesus instruct His disciples to do? He told them to wait! (see Luke 24:49). Sometimes, waiting can seem maddening, but we know that He is working in the waiting.

Befitting to the theme of waiting, the story of Ruth is generally associated with the holiday of Shavuot. Orthodox Jews traditionally read the Book of Ruth during the Shavuot season. Ruth’s redemptive story is a story of waiting, trusting that her redeemer was working on her behalf. From the time of barley harvest, corresponding to Passover, to the time of wheat harvest, corresponding to Pentecost, Ruth patiently continued to glean in the field of Boaz. After waiting for nearly seven weeks, she received an instruction from her mother-in-law, Naomi. What was that instruction? Essentially, Naomi instructed her to wait some more! In Ruth 3:18, Naomi told Ruth, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” Meanwhile, while Ruth waited, Boaz was acting as her kinsman-redeemer, working out the details of her redemption!

And so, as Pentecost season is upon us, we are reminded that we are in a time of waiting. Our season of waiting is not a time to sit idle, just as Ruth continued to serve in the field while she waited. Likewise, we remain about the King’s business while we await the return of our Redeemer. The three fall feasts which are yet to be fulfilled remind us of the reason why we are waiting. During the three fall feasts, namely the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles, we look ahead to the wedding phase of our marriage to the Messiah, known in Hebrew as the “nissuin.” One day the trumpet will sound, and He will carry away His Bride to dwell with Him in His Tabernacle! For this reason, the Fall Feasts symbolize the phase of when He will marry us once and for all and carry us away to abide with Him eternally. The etymology of the “nissuin” phase comes from a Hebrew word meaning to “lift away” or to “carry away.” Praise the Lord!

So let us wait for Him, and let us be about the King’s business as we wait. Whether you observe Pentecost according to the Gregorian calendar or the Hebrew calendar, or whether you have never observed the feast at all, remember to thank Him for the marriage contract that He upheld for you and the down payment of the Holy Spirit that He gave to you as a bride price. Most importantly, remember to look up, for your redemption draws nigh!

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If you would like more information about Javan, he and his wife have a ministry called Javareg Ministries.

Thoughtful Decisions

2026-04-29T12:17:00.002-07:00

The very last chapter of the book of 1 Kings has a story about Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, going down to visit Ahab, the King of Israel. There was finally peace between the two divided Kingdoms and it had been three years since any war against Syria.. While he was visiting there, Ahab invited Jehoshaphat to go and take back some land that the Syrians had not returned to them. Jehoshaphat said, "I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses". Basically, he said, "I'm with you, buddy".

Then, Jehoshaphat suggests to inquire of the Lord first. Ahab proceeds to gather 400 of the prophets to ask them if he should go up against Ramoth-Gilead to battle. They all said yes, "go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king."

Something didn't settle right with Jehoshaphat; there was not a complete peace about going. The power of great numbers and the persuasion of the prophets was not enough to calm the lack of peace in Jehoshaphat's heart. Something just didn't seem right. Everyone said yes to the plan, why should he be doubting? Jehoshaphat asks if there were any other prophets besides these. Ahab replies, "Yes, there is Micaiah, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good concerning me, but evil."

This is a red flag! Ahab was taking advise from people who would agree with him. He was avoiding the one who he knew would probably disagree with him. How many of us are guilty of this? I know I have been. If you have kids, you know this is true. We grow up with this human instinct of wanting our own way and it being approved by others. How many kids go to mom because they know dad would say no? How many kids go to dad because they know mom will say no? How many people search for friends or leaders or pastors who will agree with them and their side of the story - or their own moral standard of living? How many people will avoid the person they know might question their choice of the one they want to marry? Maybe there's differences in a political position? Do we seek approval from only the people we know will agree with us? Or do we really want to know what God has to say? Maybe God is in agreement with some of our decisions, but a lot of times, we make decisions on our own and seek council from whom we want to receive it. These are some very, very heavy questions that force us to make Thoughtful Decisions.

The story goes on and it does not turn out favorable for Ahab. What stood out to me most here is the red flag I just raised. This definitely challenges me to make wise decisions; to make Thoughtful Decisions. It challenges me to seek God's council even though I may not like it; even though it might mean I'll have to sacrifice my "desire". God is love and he wants us to experience the Abundant Life Jesus came to give us. To be able to have that, it includes listening to His voice.

Even though we may have made an "unthoughtful decision" in the past, God still speaks to us through the stormy weather we got ourselves into. John 10:4 says, "the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out." It doesn't matter what situation we find ourselves in, if Jesus is our Shepherd, he will help us get through the storm. In some cases, our decision may have bound us to someone. When we listen to the Lord with a humble heart and follow His leading, he will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding. He will guide us through the storm. He will lead us out of the turbulence we've brought upon ourselves. God did not cause the storm we got ourselves into, but he will help us through it if we listen to Him because "all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

It is our responsibility to listen to His voice in order to make Thoughtful Decisions that will allow us to live the Abundant Life and free us from having to experience some of the storms we sometimes put ourselves in.

Let's stop, listen, and make Thoughtful Decisions.

Comunidad de Asombro, Las Varas, Nayarit

2026-04-28T14:28:00.003-07:00

Pastor Ruben and Valeria have been part of our ministry for over a decade. He, along with two other of his leaders, came to us (Pastor Goyo, Pastor Luis, and myself) for friendship, mentorship, and connection. Their former leaders were retiring from ministry and they found themselves alone, looking for accountability and a place to belong. We had met them a few years prior to this and our relationship with them has been a joy to be a part of.

Pastor Ruben is an amazing worship leader with extraordinary talent. It is not uncommon for Valeria to bring the Word on Sundays at their congregation in Las Varas, Nayarit; "Comunidad de Asombro".

Every other week they travel to a couple different towns to preach and share the Word with friends and family members who form their own House Groups in Mesillas and Mazatán, Nayarit.

Mazatán Home Group

Pastor Ruben and Valeria have a young daughter who lives with them and two grown boys who live in Michigan, United States. The two boys (Ruben and Hector) are married and have children of their own. One of Pastor Ruben and Valeria's deepest desire is to be close to their kids; whether it be them returning to Mexico or the Lord opening doors for them to go back to Michigan and serve in the church they attended over two decades ago.

One of the biggest needs they have is a vehicle. A couple years ago their Chevrolet Traverse was in the mechanic shop in Tepic and fell victim to a fire. They had not yet acquired any insurance on the vehicle so they lost everything. A vehicle is extremely important for them as they travel to and from Tepic (a little over an hour) almost every week and their trips to the other two towns (Mesillas - 20 minutes; Mazatán - 1 hour) to preach the gospel. If the Lord leads you to help in some way, please let us know.

This is what was left of their vehicle.

Please pray for:

A vehicle for them and their ministry.
The work they are doing in Las Varas with their church.
The two House Group Missions in Mesillas and Mazatán.
The Lord to work out a reuniting with their boys and their families.

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If you would like to support Pastor Ruben and Valeria, follow the instructions below:

Online Donations:

Click on the "Donate Here" button and you will be taken to a form to fill out.

Please indicate the specific designation to "Pastor Ruben" where it says "add a note" under the amount.

Check by Mail:

Make checks payable to "Cofradia United USA"

and be sure to indicate the designation for "Pastor Ruben".

Cofradia United USA

PO Box 91

Tracyton, WA 98393

Cofradia Kitchen Kids 2026-03

2026-04-01T09:58:00.001-07:00

Thank you all for your continued support. Her are some pics from March...

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Donate here and make a note for: "Cofradia Kitchen"

A Word from the Past

2026-03-27T16:20:00.004-07:00

About three weeks ago I was reading in 1 Kings chapter 13 and could not continue. Has that ever happened to you? There was something there that triggered my spirit and whispered, "Stop, wait, I have something to teach you!"

For two weeks I read the whole context of Chapters 11 through 14 about Jeroboam's life over and over agian. There were many verses and passages that jumped out at me, but one in particular I could identify with more than the others at that moment. It was 1 Kings 13:33,

"After this thing, Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places; whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places."

It's a sobering thought to have the life of Jeroboam speak to you. eek! There were a couple of things in this verse alone that stood out, but I will focus on the first one where it says, "...Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again..."

The context of this story starts in 1 Kings 11:38 where he received a Word from the Lord through a prophet. He was to become King over 10 tribes of Israel and if he followed God the way David did, he would be with him and, in a sense, make his name great.

Through a series of events and years later after not following God's instructions at all, a Man of God came to Jeroboam's worship place (ch. 13) and prophesied against the altar that Jeroboam had built. This offended Jeroboam and he ordered the Man of God to be taken away. As he "put forth his hand against [the Man of God]", it "dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him" (v.4) and the altar fell apart just as the Man of God had prophesied.

Now, desperate and recognizing the truth, Jeroboam pleaded to the Man of God to pray for him to be healed. He was, and out of what I see as gratitude, he invited the Man of God to his house and offered to reward him. The Man of God refused the invitation because of the Word he received from the Lord himself (another teaching for later), and went on his way back home.

The story in Chapter 13 continues about the Man of God and how he dies. The Man of God is no longer present; he no longer has any influence on Jeroboam; he has left and is no longer part of Jeroboam's life. Here is where it says,

"After this thing, Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places..."

Once the Man of God was no longer present in Jeroboam's life, he went back to what he had been doing before. He realized what he was doing was wrong, but now there was no spiritual guidance in his life.

I can remember a time in my life when one of my mentors was no longer present; he had gone on to be with the Lord and I thought, "What am I going to do now? Who will I be able to receive guidance from?". Very valid questions for someone who is growing and learning that he cannot depend on a mentor, a pastor, a teacher, his leaders, or his parents to be the ones to continually guide him and help him make decisions. We need to learn that we have everything we need in order to develop that personal, intimate relationship with Jesus.

How many times have we received a Word from the Lord or a conviction about something and the impact of that Word wears away? Maybe that impact came from someone in authority over us. What is a Word from the Lord we have received that has now become A Word from the Past?

Jeroboam's Word from the Lord through the Man of God quickly became A Word from the Past after the Man of God disappeared.

How do we prevent a Word from the Lord from becoming a Word from the Past?

I believe it starts with humility. Recognizing that we need Jesus and to develop an intimate, personal relationship with Him that leads to a genuine friendship. His Word is powerful and relevant for today. His Word is powerful and relevant for tomorrow. It is so exciting to open the Word and have the Lord show us what he wants to say each day. As our love for our friend Jesus grows, we will want to spend more and more time with Him. Someone once said, "The Bible is the only book in History where the Author shows up when you read it."

If I could throw another angle at this and say it is an important principle for us not only as individuals who receive a Word, but as disciplers as well. What are we teaching? Are we giving people truths only or are we helping them find those truths in the Word on their own with the help of the Holy Spirit? If we continue to neglect teaching how to "eat" the Word, we will be forming followers of ourselves who, when we're gone and no longer around, will go hungry.

Many of us have heard the famous proverb: "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." While this proverb is not in the Bible, the concept is still biblical.

Let's not let the Word of the Lord we receive today become A Word from the Past.

Freedom in Christ Church of Tamarindo, Nayarit, Building Project

2026-03-27T13:45:00.011-07:00

UPDATE 4/27/26: Thank you for your generosity and prayers. Yesterday, I took Pastor Ramon to town to buy most of the material they need for the bathroom. When he told his congregation that Cofradia United was going to help, he said many of them began to cry with gratitude. What a blessing you all are for helping! Thank you for supporting the ministry of Cofradía United!

There is still a real need for them to build their church building. If you're interested in forming a team to come help, contact us.

UPDATE 3/27/26: Last night we had Pastor Ramon and Zaida over for the evening. As we finished up our time together, we asked them how we could pray for them. Pastor Ramon paused and with a deeply heartfelt request he looked in my eyes and said, "the construction of our church." The town recently started to charge them rent in the old tavern they have been meeting in. The completion of this project is urgent for them. If they could at least get the bathroom finished, they could build a temporary shelter to meet in. They estimate the bathroom to cost $3,000 US Dollars. Please consider helping them with this project. They have about $700 saved up at this moment. See below at the bottom of this post for information on how to give. Thank you in advance.

UPDATE 6/30/25: Thanks to your generosity to the Ministry of Cofradía United, we were able to participate financially to help the Freedom in Christ Congregation in Tamarindo finish their septic tank to the bathroom before the rains began! See the process of the pictures below.

UPDATE 5/27/25: They have dug the septic for the bathroom and have prepared the ground to build the septic tank. The goal is to have the septic tank built and covered before the rain...this weekend! They have reached $1,400 of their $3,000 budget and a word of mouth donation of some blocks to build with. Thank you for continuing to help with this project. We'll keep you updated here.

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We recently had an additional Pastor join our Cofradia United network. Pastor Ramon and his wife, Zaida, are the pastors of Freedom in Christ Church (Templo Libertad en Cristo) of Tamarindo, Nayarit. Tamarindo is less than one-half hour from Cofradía and they have been meeting each Sunday evening for the past 5 years in a vacant tavern on the edge of town.

This is a very similar situation to our House Build ministry. Teams have come down to build 25 homes for people in Cofradia and the surrounding areas. Many of those families are in borrowed homes and need housing. This is a similar situation in that this church family of Tamarindo needs to relocate in order to have the peace of mind of meeting together without the concern of not knowing how long they will be able to use the facilities.

Recently, someone donated land to them in order to build a church facility to meet in. Now, Pastor Ramon and his congregation are in need of finances to build their facilities. They will be starting with digging and making a septic tank for the restroom. Their goal is to finish this before the rainy season (mid-June). The total cost for the restroom which will include Men's and Women's bathrooms is $3,000 US dollars. They have already raised $300 US dollars and have had a few donated materials for this immediate project.

Once they are finished with the septic tank, they will work on the restroom building and main facilities. If you would like to contribute and help this church family with their facilities, you can either donate online here or send a check (payable to Cofradia United USA) to:

Cofradia United USA

PO Box 91

Tracyton, WA 98393

Please make sure to designate your gifts to "Tamarindo".

Another option is to put together a construction team and come on down to help. The Lord does special things in the hearts of the people here and of those who participate on a team while on mission trips. This is a great opportunity to tangibly fulfill the Great Commission. Contact us here to get things started.

Thank you so much for partnering with us to Raise Up Leaders in Rural Mexico!

The future site of Tamarindo's Freedom in Christ Church

Breaking ground - April 30, 2025

The digging is complete.

Working on the forms for the septic.

Almost ready for the lid.

the lid being poured.

Pastor Ramon helping with the finishing touches of the lid.

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Thank you for your generosity. If you would like to make a special donation towards the rest of the bathroom and the church building, follow the instructions below:

Online Donations:

Click on the "Donate Here" button and you will be taken to a form to fill out.

Please indicate the specific designation to "Tamarindo" where it says "add a note" under the amount.

Check by Mail:

Make checks payable to "Cofradia United USA"

and be sure to indicate the designation for "Tamarindo".

Cofradia United USA

PO Box 91

Tracyton, WA 98393

And, contact us about bringing a team to help build the church and build relationships in the process!

CENTRO CRISTIANO COFRADIA CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

2026-03-26T14:21:00.002-07:00

In 1991, the first missionaries arrived in Cofradía through YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for their DTS (Discipleship Training School). Within a few months, the began to establish the ministry location with a Medical Doctor and leading bible studies for those who would listen. Some things changed in 1994 and the ministry evolved from a Humanitarian Evangelistic Outreach to a focus of Planting a local Church. That vision continued into what we recognized during this anniversary celebration.

In 2006, we broke ground to begin construction of a church building that the locals could call theirs. February 27, 2011, we inaugurated the new building; 15 years ago. As we celebrated God's faithfulness over the past 15 years in this location, we also recognized some of those who invested their time and resources as missionaries; long-term and short-term. While not everyone was able to attend, we had a few share a greeting by video which was very special to everyone.

There have been so many missionaries come through on Short-term mission trips throughout the years. I would have no idea how to count how many teams or individuals who dedicated time to the locals, made relationships, played with the kids, prayed with people, participated in "light construction", and went home with a powerful memory the Lord planted in their hearts. Some even returned as long-term staff members.

While we mentioned by name a number of those who spent time here, we specifically focused on three couples:

Tom and Linnea Hackett - if it was not for Tom's obedience to the call of the Lord on his life, none of this would be happening. He started as the Director of the YWAM ministry, was the founder of the ministry in Cofradia, and has pioneered many other projects in his life. We are very grateful for Tom and Linnea.
Dave and Kathy Elias - through their dedication and faithfulness, a lot of what we have experienced in Cofradia is due to their obedience to the Lord as well. They were the Directors of this ministry location up until 2011 when the church building was finished. Dave is an amazing mechanic and did a phenomenal job with heading up the construction of the new building as well as so many structures at the Mission Base and the Houses and projects we've built for the locals. Kathy is a mastermind with the children's ministry and organization skills. Her expertise in those areas have been missed.
Jay and Faith TenBrink - they spent a number of years evangelizing and discipleing new believers in the Indigenous Village of Mojocuautla and played a major role in the Arrayanes church. They even spent a while up in the Sierra Madre Mountains living among the Korah Indians, learning their language and teaching them about what the Bible says about Christ.

This was a grand celebration. Since 2011, we have been focusing on Raising Up Leaders in Rural Mexico and have developed a number of healthy relationships with local pastors in the area. Some of those pastors have asked to join our ministry in order to be part of what we're doing and have a loving community in which to belong.

At the end of the service, we had all the Lead Pastors of the Cofradía United churches come up and share a quick word before we had everyone pray over them. It was a beautiful picture of the unity in the body. We are not in competition, we don't compare each other's work, we just "...receive one another as Christ also received us..." (Romans 15:7)

We thank everyone who has participated in this ministry whether it was a long-term commitment, short-term mission team, special visits, finances, prayers, and the list can go on.

We look forward to the next many years of God's faithfulness manifest in the lives of the people of Cofradía United and in whatever part of the world they encounter themselves in.

Here are a few videos of the event (the first two are a slide-show like presentation of photos)...

This final video shows the beginning years of the ministry in Cofradía until the inauguration of the new building in 2011.

In 1991, the first groups of YWAM Mazatlán arrived in Cofradia.
On April 12, 1992, the town officials donated a piece of land that nos is the Mission Base.
In February of 2006, we broke ground for the construction of a large building for the local brothers and sisters could have their own place to worship the Lord.
On February 27, 2011, we inaugurated the new building and we began to experience God's faithfulness there.
On March 8, 2026, we celebrated 15 years in the new building and 35 years of ministry presence in Cofradía.

Online Donations:

Click on the "Donate Here" button and you will be taken to a form to fill out.

Please indicate any specific designations where it says "add a note" under the amount .

Check by Mail:

Make checks payable to "Cofradia United USA"

and be sure to indicate your designation.

Cofradia United USA

PO Box 91

Tracyton, WA 98393

The Secret Place

2026-02-28T13:05:00.004-07:00

At the beginning of January when we were in Puerto Vallarta sending off family that had visited during Christmas and New Year's, I went to a café in the morning to have some coffee and sit and read. That is my secret place, coffee and the Word! I get excited every time I open the Word because I'm constantly hearing the Lord's voice speaking to me.

That January 7 morning, I went to the coffee shop a couple blocks from the hotel and sat down in an enclosed side room where people can sit and read. I was looking forward to some quiet time to listen to the voice of the Lord as I read. Quietness was nowhere to be found in that room. The music was loud, the fans made lots of noise, and the three Americans at the table next to me were talking as if I was part of the conversation. They were having a good old time talking about their apartments, their kids, when they were going back to the states, and their dogs...their dogs that were with them in the cafe. Yes, and they were barking sharply as other dogs walked by outside the glass wall and door. All three of them had their dogs with them. I was tempted to leave, but I thought, "No, I'm going to stay and see what the Lord shows me."

I sat there reading 1 Kings 6:1-10 about Solomon building the temple. Most of the passage deals with the measurements of the rooms, windows, etc. When I cannot see anything that jumps out to me right away, I ask the Lord, "How is this information so important that it made the pages of scripture?". Every time I've asked that, He shows me something. This time, it was in verse 7...

"And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building."

How ironic! I was in an obnoxiously loud cafe with sounds I've never heard in any other cafe and this is the verse that jumped out at me. Solomon did not allow the noise of "neither hammers nor axe nor any tool of iron" be heard inside the temple area.

The Lord showed me that it doesn't necessarily have to be quiet "outside" for Him to speak to you on the "inside". Our temple (body) can be "quiet" on the inside no matter what kind of noise is surrounding us.

That spoke volumes to me.

Don't allow the "noise" of this world (actual noise, circumstances, people, worries, job, etc.) to distract you from spending time with him in The Secret Place. What the enemy wants is for us to not have quality time to spend with our Lord. He knows that if we do, He's in trouble. He's already been defeated, but he wants us to believe he's not. Unfortunately, I think he's convicted many of us of that in the church today.

It is in The Secret Place that the Lord speaks to our quiet hearts.