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Cornerstone Communications
Mexico
July 31, 2005

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Mexico City, Mexico! This is truly a HUGE city. In fact, it's the biggest city in the world, with over 35 million people living here. Wow! The climate is just glorious, as the temperature has been around 20 Celsius or 75 Fahrenheit. It's wonderful! However, I've spent most of my time inside, getting ready for the show this week.

Production Update

Can you believe that we have ALREADY OPENED? Last night we opened "El Trono del Juicio" here in Mexico City to an audience of over 1,000? I just arrived on Sunday! It's been a busy week, to say the least. I always send all the plans well ahead of time, and Ileana Noel, a good friend of mine, was faithful to send them everything they needed months ago.

This production is a wonderful arrangement with my church in Dallas, Covenant Church's Mission's Department, the Spanish church, Mundo de Fe in Dallas, and sister church Mundo de Fe here in Mexico City. When you get three great churches working together, everything will always go right………. Right?

Arriving Sunday afternoon from Romania, this is the church (which was an old movie theatre) where we would present "The Judgment Seat"

Sunday

Imagine my shock when I arrived on Sunday, and I asked to see the sets, as I was here to tweak the scenery, to rehearse with half of the cast that will be from here (the other half would come from Dallas) . Nothing was ready! They had just moved into an old abandoned movie theatre, and had thrown some tarps on top of the roof in case of rain. I'm used to more humane facilities, and even third world conditions are better than this. Still, this is missions!

Monday

I asked to see the sets, there weren't any. I asked to see the stage, there isn't one. Nor are there lights, or carpenters, or workers. Nothing! I quickly accessed the situation, and had to decide between jumping off the nearest cliff and trying to make this show happen in 5 days. The cliff seemed the most probable, but I decided to go for the harder of the two choices.

Tuesday

It began with having to remove chairs, hundreds that were bolted to the floor. We had to create a space for a platform we'd have to build, buy, or rent. We couldn't find anyone who would help us at such a late date for such a low price. The pastor is the kindest man, but the most laid back you could ever meet. For months they've had the plans, but nothing was ever done. Now, we were days away, and thousands of people are planning to come see ……………. Nothing.

Wednesday

Two days before the show, we still had nothing. However, God, being the wonderful God He is, provided a saint. One of my actors from Dallas, Julio, has a brother who lives in Mexico City. When I called Julio, he gave me his brother Pedro's number, and can you believe (of course you can!) that he works for a theatre company? Praise God! Pedro came and accessed the situation in incredible unbelief that we would attempt to do the show in two days. Being the humble, kind man he is, he agreed to help us… for an unbelievably low price. This was a miracle!

BEFORE: On Wednesday, this is what the stage looked like for Friday's performance. Not a very assuring sight!

Thursday

I spent part of Wednesday and Thursday buying supplies for all the artwork. I found a young man, Enrique, who was a gifted artist. I quickly employed him, and together we build the Book of Life, decorations for the set, and other artwork. In the afternoon, the American half of the cast would arrive, and when they did, they too were shocked to see that NOTHING was on stage! However, Pedro and his crew showed up, and started installing the stage, and the woodwork, the frames, the lighting trusses, the lights, and well they worked into the night, while I worked with the actors preparing them in rehearsal. Needless to say, we were in earnest prayer for a miracle!

Friday

Day of the Show. I woke up at 5 a.m. and made up pages of things that still needed to be done. Both the cast and I could NOT see how we could be ready by tonight, but we have FAITH! We met at 10 a.m., prayed, and I had a team meeting of who'd do what. Away they all went, and began to work diligently. We took a quick lunch break, and continued to work, and build, and paint, and glue, and staple, etc.! By 5 p.m., we were light years away. Curtains still needed to be hung, and frames built for other curtains. By 6 p.m., we were 1.5 hours away from opening, but 5 hours away from being ready.

Showtime

By 7, the audience was gathering in the lobby, and horror of horrors! It begins to POUR RAIN! The tarp held most of the rain, but it poured rain INSIDE! In the auditorium, and on the stage! We put buckets everywhere, and the people who had gathered were packing into the lobby. By 7:30 we were close to ready, but still working on the set. The audience wanted IN! We told the ushers to keep the doors closed, and by 7:45, we finished the set! I shooed the actors away to change into their costumes, while I finished last minute details on the stage. By 8 p.m. the audience had filled the very wet and cold auditorium.

THURSDAY: The day before the show, the platforms are finally being put in.

Results

The light man, the sound man, and crew, the actors. NO ONE had a rehearsal, so we had to "wing it". I was going to call the show personally. I would cue lights, sound, sets, special effects, etc. We opened, and the show went off beautifully. As the show unfolded, the actors were anointed, and the set was so beautiful, I started to cry. I never cease to be amazed at how, God, once more, came through for us. After the show, we had the altar call, and the people streamed down the aisle to receive Jesus. Altogether, over 100 people accepted Jesus Chris, and I just looked on in absolute humility. God wanted this show, because God wants His people saved. He helped us achieve what was literally the impossible. We have 3 more shows this weekend, and we will do 4 more shows next weekend in southern Mexico City. Please pray for a tremendous harvest of souls.

Disciplined Disciples

The last two weeks, this message has slowly grown, that I have had to divide it into sections, so I conclude with the third part this week.

In my walk with the Lord, especially as a missionary, I have found that the challenge in living a Christian life is to let Jesus be Lord. I have seen when I have lived my life without asking for God's help, everything turns out to be such a mess. I have found that without God's help, it's impossible to live a life that is pleasing to God.

God's wonderful plan of salvation wasn't just for Jesus to die on the cross for us, but also to give us a power to live as victorious Christians. He gives us the power to love others, to forgive, and to accomplish His will and purpose for us. We don't have that power on our own. Yet, how do we get it that power? It comes through Discipline.

I know that for me to accomplish world changing projects, I have to be physically able to perform what the Lord has given me. The objective to spiritual discipline is actually the same. Keep your soul, like your body, fit and well fed, if you want to accomplish great things.

1. Read God's Word Feed your spirit man, and you'll walk in the Spirit. It takes great discipline to "eat right".

2. Pray Simply put, it's speaking to God. He loves to communicate with us, and it's a discipline that yields great rewards.

AFTER: On Friday night, this is what the stage looked like! What a difference! Here, Pastor Sergio and I challenge the audience for the curtain call. Over 150 have come to Christ so far!

3. Tame the Tongue This, I might dare to say, is the litmus test of our spiritual maturity. He gave us the tongue to use to build, to edify, but it often is used to tear down and destroy. Proverbs 6:16-19 says that there are 7 things that God "hates". Did you know that three of them refer to the tongue? He hates "a lying tongue", "a false witness who speaks lies" and "one who sows discord among brethren".

There are many, many verses regarding the use of the tongue. Proverbs 13:3 says, "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction." Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat the fruit thereof."

For more research on the tongue, no one covers it better than the Book of James. He says, "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless." James 1:26

James goes on to point out that the tongue needs discipline, much like a horse needs a bit, in order to direct it. We can "turn the whole body" when we bridle the tongue. James 3:3. A large ship is easily guided by a small rudder. James 3:4. It's amazing how much discipline a small member like our tongue takes!

The tongue has the power to destroy. In James, he reminds us that "the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity." James 3:5, 6 An undisciplined tongue can do so much damage in a church, a family, and among friends.

The beautiful thing about the tongue, when it's disciplined, is its power to bless. "With it we bless our God and Father, and out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing." James 3:9, 10 Our tongue can bring wonderful praise to God. It can edify someone who is down, and encourage someone who feels they can't go on. It can instruct, and comfort, exhort, and correct. It's indeed a "fountain that produces both fresh and salt water."

The discipline of the tongue. It's a lifetime of taming, but what wonderful results it yields when we finally submit that little member to the purposes of God! Discipline is never something that we enjoy, but when we exercise spiritual discipline, we are able to see our Lord do more through us than we could've ever imagined!

Adios!

This is Spanish for "goodbye" or more beautifully put, it literally means "to God". Isn't that a great way to part with someone? To give them over to God? I do the same with you, my friend. I pray for you. But ultimately, the best thing I can do is to put you in God's hands, and let Him work out in you what He knows will bring about your overall good. Thank you for your prayers and your gifts to Cornerstone. This outreach to Mexico is made possible because of you! May you be greatly blessed. Adios!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez