Category: A Note From the Field

Dear Friends in Christ, 
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.   James 4:13-14

Mission Conference: The first of February I preached in a mission’s conference at the Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer in Dodge City Kansas.  We had a great time, and it was a special blessing to present Faith Promise Missions to them for the first time, though they already supported some missionaries.  I knew some of the folks there which were originally from Camargo, where we started the last church.  They were a special encouragement to me!
    On my way to the conference, I went on to Colorado to visit my brother and sister and their families. I reported to the Calvary Baptist church in Sterling, CO where I was saved in 1976.  It was also good to reconnect with the church and the first person I led to the Lord!

Recovery: I had a hernia surgery the end of December, and it is pretty much healed, and I’m back to lifting 100%!  Praise the Lord!

Hands to the Work: I’m working to get the “Hands to the Work” ministry better organized. We’re setting up the warehouse and shop at the First Baptist Church in Del City, OK, where I can store the supplies and work on my equipment.  Several of the men of the church help me.
    I continue getting more materials, but I’m still not keeping up with the requests from Mexican churches for pews, doors, windows and etc.  Please inform me of pews, tables, chairs, a source for doors and windows, etc.
We plan to take up to 4 pianos at a time to Bro Eduardo, the pastor of the first church we started, in Anáhuac, Chihuahua, who will recondition and tune them, and I’ll pick them up and take them on to the churches.    
    Please pray for the support that I need to pick up and deliver the materials.  Also pray for the organization and planning of trips, as well as picking up materials, etc.!
    I need men, retired couples, families, students, etc. to come on a one week to 16 day trip, to help me drive, and be a blessing to Mexican churches. Please email me if you can help me, or would allow God to challenge you on a short-term mission trip to Mexico!

Praise: Opportunities to preach; Recovered from surgery, overall good health; The Lord’s provision and blessings to the “Hands to the Work” ministry; Partners who help me!

Prayer: Organization of trips, supply of materials and all the logistics for this ministry; Help to drive and deliver them to Mexico; Supply of materials in the US; Souls to be saved and Mexican churches to be helped because of the “Hands to the Work” ministry!

Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico

Dear Friends in Christ,
 
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day…  Nehemiah 1:11
 
Happy New Year!  When I first got saved in 1976, I heard several messages assuring us that the Lord was coming back way before 2024.  I’m thankful to have opportunities to serve my Lord in another New Year!
    A special thank you to those who sent special Christmas offerings!  They were such a blessing, as I have so many expenses getting relocated.
 
Furlough:  I drove almost 8,000 miles on my furlough out east, from Arkansas, Alabama, on up into Canada!  It was a blessing that Caleb, my oldest grandson came along to help me!  I was encouraged by my supporting churches, even a couple without a pastor and one changing pastors, staying the course, still seeking to see souls saved through various outreaches.  It was a blessing to get to know them better and to minister to them!  I’m so thankful for churches that faithfully support the “Hands to the Work” ministry! 
Please pray that my support base would increase, so I can make more trips!
 
“Hands to the Work”:  In December I picked up pews in Missouri, then later that month took them on a 3,200 mile trip to Chihuahua with a piano, pulpit, tables, etc.; final destination Ruiz, Nayarit Mexico.  We took them 45 pews, a piano, pulpit, gospel tracts and several other things, for which they were very thankful.  The young men in the Bible institute jumped in and helped assemble the pews in 2 days!  It was also a blessing to preach in their midweek service!
    Leaving Nayarit, just after passing the city of Durango, Durango, a spring on the trailer broke.  Since the trailer was empty, I disabled that axle and came on to the border.  When the axle broke, it damaged 2 tires, so I’ll need to replace them.  On the way to Oklahoma I bought a spring in Odessa, TX and they let me change it out in their parking lot!  From there, I stopped in Weatherford, TX to pick up some pews and take them to the warehouse in OKC to disassemble and get them ready to haul them to Mexico.
    I gave a ride up to OKC to a man who had hit bottom, and he called on the Lord to save him!
 
Surgery:  I had a much needed hernia surgery on December 26.  It was supposed to be laparoscopic, but they had to open it up and remove scar tissue, etc. from a previous surgery, so it took over twice as long.  I’m thankful the doctor was thorough, but I can’t lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 6 weeks!
 
Praise: Good Christmas and a New Year with new opportunities to serve; Uneventful furlough; Very good trip to Nayarit; Souls saved; God’s provision and protection; Hernia fixed
Prayer: Souls to be saved and God to be glorified through this ministry; Complete recovery
 
Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico

Dear Friends in Christ,
 
Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church…that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. -3 John 1:6a, 8b

   25^th Anniversary: My son Josh and his family of 6 went with me to Mexico to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the first church we started, the Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa in Anáhuac, Chihuahua.  My son Andrew also came down to preach at the celebration.  It was a great time to reminisce and fellowship with the church, old members and new! 
    The day before the anniversary, José Luis, a pastor friend from Jimenez, Chihuahua married a young lady from the church in Anáhuac! 
    “Hands to the Work” ministry: After the anniversary celebrations on Sunday, we went 2 hours to Delicias, Chihuahua and unloaded a set of pews to their new church home that night.  On Monday, we left pews at the church in Camargo for another church in the area.  Then drove 2 days south to deliver a set of pews to Zamora, Michoacán.  Heading north, I preached Wednesday night in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, then left some windows in Los Mochis, Sinaloa.  We unloaded pews, doors, windows and 50 boxes of school uniforms in Navojoa, Sonora for the children’s home and Bible Institute there and for other churches in the area.  I preached in Navojoa on Sunday morning and 3 adults trusted Christ as their Saviour!  Sunday afternoon, we left the last set of pews in Los Hornos, Sonora, on the way to preach in Guasave, Sonora where another man was saved!
    It was a long, hard 14 day, 4,200 mile trip, but a big blessing to at least 7 churches!
    We had 3 breakdowns on the trip, but all were where we could get replacement parts, so we weren’t stranded by the highway, and the Lord provided for the parts!  Praise the Lord!                         
Furlough:  I’m currently on a furlough to report to supporting churches out East and North to inform them in person, that I’m changing my base of operations for the “Hands to the Work” ministry from Mexico to Oklahoma.  I also need to raise more ministry support!
    My 11 year-old grandson, Caleb came along to help me and is seeing many educational sites and beautiful scenery, and is making new friends at every church!  It has been great to spend some time with him, as I’ve never had much time with him or any of my grandchildren.
    We’ve also had numerous opportunities to witness and pass out gospel tracts in barber shops, laundromats, filling stations, etc.!  We find a person here and there that is very thankful we shared the gospel with them!  Some still want to know the truth!
    Community Baptist in Siler City, NC took the ministry on for support!  Praise the Lord!
    It’s been a blessing to update the churches as to my change of ministry, to renew old acquaintances and meet new people as far north as Aylmer, Ontario, Canada!
Praise: 25 years of 1^st church; Safety, 7 Mexican states, materials to 7 churches, preached 6 times with 4 saved!  Supporting churches still holding the ropes in spite of adversities!
Prayer: Safety on furlough; Opportunities to witness, souls to be saved; Churches challenged
 
Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico

The Lord is surely coming back in my life-time! I just turned sixty and realize that if I should die or the Lord would  come for all of us, whatever I will do for Christ I had better do now! I do not have time to feel sorry for myself, or to lose a single day mired in self-pity over missing Connie, though I do miss her so much!

All who are close to the ministry of First Baptist Church of Milford Ohio (FBCM) likely know that my life’s partner Connie went home to be with the Lord on September 6th of last year. I was asked to write a testimonial article about continuing the mission work after losing my mate. I am so blessed that I have not lost my mate; I know exactly where she is! The knowledge and hope (expectation) that she is with our Lord brings me such comfort and peace, and a sense of anxious anticipation. You see, in a little while I too can put off this house of clay and look full in His wonderful face! Having this peace helps keep me determined and motivated while I am still able. Letting up or doing less is just not an option.

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