PACTO

Over Labor Day weekend the Memphis and Tennessee Conference appointive cabinets traveled together to Piedra Angular Campamento (Cornerstone Camp) just outside of Reynosa, Tamaulipas State, Mexico.  The purpose of our trip was to continue in conversation about the PACTO that was signed at annual conference three years ago between the resident bishops from the Nashville Area and the bishop from Northeast Mexico Conference (CAO).  The conference borders the Rio Grande River in Texas and is made up of 13 districts.  The resident bishop is Raul Garciade Ochoa.  Our time together was spent in worship, much prayer, good meals and a time for each district superintendent from all three conferences to share information about our districts that would enable us to determine what districts could be matched across the border to begin a relationship of ministry sharing.   The final day we were all asked to find someone that we felt would be a good partner for ministry.  District #1 Jabes is partnering with the Jackson District.  The District Superintendent is Rev. David Villanueva Garza.  David and I spent some time on that final day developing two possible ways that we might connect and work together to be in mission both in the Jabes and Jackson Districts.

After hearing his presentation and presenting mine, David and I met for about an hour on our task of finding ways to connect.  After some discussion we decided that he would get with his pastors and develop a list of a couple of the churches missional needs to send me so that I might share this information with you.  That list is forthcoming.  In looking at how David and the Jabes District might help our ministry we decided that there could be a visit from he and some of his pastors to offer some teaching of the Hispanic Culture and to help us with language barriers that we often meet in our attempts at reaching Hispanic people in our own neighborhoods.  I hope that we will have them coming to the Jackson District soon after the first of the year for our first visit and connection.  I hope to put together a trip to the Jabes District for one of our district mission teams in order to get some first hand information and make the connection there.  We departed from our time together with hope that we will be in ministry together in creative ways in the future.  David shared with me that when we help Hispanic people in the USA we are helping the Hispanic people in Mexico.

I look forward to continuing to develop this important relationship with David and with the people of the Jabes District.  I will keep you informed about where we are in this process.  If you have some need at your local church that you believe this team coming in January could provide, please let me know so we can begin putting an itinerary together for their stay here.

Hasta Luego!!

Gracia y paz,

 

Richard Clark, Superintendente del distrito de Jackson