I would like to wish you a happy and joyful New Year 2017. May the Lord fill you “. . . with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10) I want to deeply thank you for your prayers and your support all these past years. The main prayer that we covet from you is the same prayer that I pray for you: that we will be filled with the knowledge of His will that we can walk worthy of Him.
In the almost seven years of laboring together on the mission field of Mexico, God has allowed us to start two ministries (one in Apaseo el Alto Guanajuanto and one in Apaseo el Grande Guanajuanto) and also a work with my home pastor, helping to train more laborers for this His harvest. Under the ministry of my home pastor, I have helped to start these two local churches not too far from the main city of Celaya. We have counted it an honor to represent you on the mission field of Mexico for all these years, and we will forever be thankful to the Lord and all of our supporting churches for allowing us to labor together in the greatest task of reaching people with the Gospel.
The year of 2016 was one of the most productive years on the mission field, the busiest year without a doubt, laboring for Him. It was also an exhausting year serving through health problems.
In the year 2016, I started a brand-new ministry of soul winning and visitation to give discipleship lessons of Christian growth. Many families have been added to the church since then. This past year I was given responsibilities to help with the church growth. In November I organized the Fall Program of our Bus Ministry; we saw over 1,200 people come to church and hear the Gospel for the first time. The theme of the campaign was “Fruit That Remains.” Then at the end of 2016, I oversaw our annual end-of-year church service, where we played a 45-minute Bible skit on the life of Joseph, a picture of Christ with forgiveness and reconciliation. It is all about Jesus!! That is how we ended 2016, trying extremely to do much for Him.
It is always a great time of rejoicing when we meditate and summarize all the blessings of the year 2016. All the people we preached to, all the converts who were saved and baptized, all the new people who were added to the church, all the people who were trained to be sent to do the very same thing we are doing: preaching the Gospel to every creature and trying to influence many converts to live to please the Lord. All of this is because of Him.
At the end of the year 2016, it became obvious to me that the Lord was leading us to return home from the mission field to work on my main ministry—my family and my marriage. Since we arrived on the field in 2010, we have lost 40% of our support, and we have been struggling with our health. I had planned a long furlough to take care of these needs; but we literally have been attacked by Satan, and the attack has been severe. With the advice of our sending-church pastor, our missions director, and my home pastor, I have decided to return home and work on some issues in my marriage.
We do covet your prayers at this time while we are working on my most important ministry—my family. As for now, it appears to me that we will have to stay home in the USA permanently for the situation with my marriage. In the months of February and March 2017, we will begin the transition to come back to the United States from Mexico.
Once again, I plead with you to pray for us in this very difficult time in our ministry. The ministries in Mexico have already been delegated to the very same people we trained and have worked together with all these past years. My dad will be overseeing the ministry in Apaseo el Grande, and all the responsibilities and duties I had in the main church in Celaya have been delegated by my home pastor. Please pray for much wisdom in this matter, provision for the transition to come home, and mainly for my marriage. If any pastor has a question, please email me or call me on my cellular phone at 011524612300485.
Words will be not be enough to express my gratitude to you for faithfully helping us financially to stay on the field these many years, laboring together. May God continue blessing you as you continue investing in the greatest endeavor on the face of the earth—missions.
For the kingdom of God,
Bro. Sergio Robles