Vincent Family July 2010 Missions Update

Church in the City!

Over the past few months we have been mentioning the “Church in the City” project that our church has undertaken in several of our updates. We based this project on the book of Nehemiah. As we were studying and reading about how Nehemiah and his friends rebuilt the city of Jerusalem, our church applied this by going out into our community where we did a number of service projects to clean, support, and bless our city.

The culmination of this project occurred this past month as we closed the doors of the church building and went out into the city to hold our services in the public square.

CCR Church at the Beach!

Our summer began with what we called “The church in the Street!” This was a Wednesday evening where we closed down a major street near our church to hold an outdoor evangelistic service along with a free concert and desert.

The focus of our “Church in the city” campaign occurred a few weeks later as we closed the church on a Sunday morning.  We combined all three of our normal Sunday services in order to hold one giant outdoor “church at the Beach” service. The focus of this service was to share the Gospel with the many visitors that joined us for the first time.

Worshipping the Lord!

That morning the weather was beautiful and our 500 chairs quickly filled up as our worship team did a wonderful job leading us all in song. At the same time, our children’s ministry workers had set up shop about 100 yards down the beach where they were having the beach Olympics for the children.

Since this was a special Sunday, we had a couple of special events planned for this service and both of them included our family members. To celebrate Father’s day, Sarah and a few of her friends entertained us all with a traditional Mexican dance. They not only did folkloric dance, but sang an original funny song about the joys of fatherhood. The dance number brought everyone to their feet.

Sarah and her friends singing about Fatherhood!

Later on during the service our new children’s worship band made their public debut. Grace and Daniel both played the piano and sang, while other children (all 10 years and under) played the bass, drums, and electric guitar. It was such a blessing to see our children praising Jesus unashamedly in front of this large crowd of adults.

I was blessed to share that Sunday on “The love of a Father” as we looked at the story of the Prodigal son from Luke chapter 15. At the end of the message I shared the Gospel and several visitors came forward to make first time professions of faith!

Traditional Mexican Dance Presentation

Following the message we walked 50 yards through the sand over to the ocean’s edge where we invited the new believers in the church to be publically baptized. We were amazed and blessed as person after person stepped forward to be baptized. We ended up baptizing over 20 people that Sunday including many older children.

When our church baptizes older children, we ask their parents to first discuss the Christian faith with their children at home. Later at the beach I have the father of the child join me in baptizing their child. It is powerful and uplifting to see these Fathers fulfill the God given role of spiritual leadership in the lives of their children.

Daniel and the children's band leading the church in worship!

The highlight of the entire day for our family occurred towards the end of the baptisms as our 10 year old daughter Grace stepped forward and asked to be baptized. Grace has professed faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and it was an honor and a privilege to baptize her as a Christian. It was the best Father’s day present I could ever receive and I will never forget that wonderful moment we were able to share together.

The afternoon continued with everyone enjoying an all-you-can-eat fish taco bbq and then a worship concert right there on the beach! God blessed our “church at the beach” service far beyond what we could have ever asked or thought.

Presenting the Gospel!

And as God was once again moving and blessing, it reminded us once again that we aren’t working here alone. We are thankful for each one of you for partnering with us.  We couldn’t do any of this work without your love, prayers, and support. We love you!

Prayer Requests:

1.Please pray for our church planters, Ricardo and Luci Vicencio in Southern Mexico. They are going through some difficult times right now adjusting, and we are sending down an assistant pastor in July to visit and encourage them.

Grace was baptized on Father's Day!

2.That God would continue to provide support for our family, the church, and the families in the church during these difficult economic times.

Con amor de Mexico, (With love from Mexico)
Mike, Sarah, Grace, and Daniel

Email: calvarychapelrosarito@yahoo.com

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Sarah and her friends enjoying the beach after church!

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