Cornerstone Arts :: Newsletters

Greetings once again from Mexico City. What a week this has been, but in a great way! You'll recall that last week was a fright realizing that absolutely nothing had been done on the set. Well, this week, Pastor Enrique Cardenas was so organized, that the set up for the new show in the south of Mexico City went great, but wait until you hear what the Lord did!

1000 in 1 Day

We spent the week taking down the set from the north, and transporting it to the south. I met with light men from the theatre that was rented, and the sound people, the workers and many others. Thursday, we set up the stage, and by Friday, the American cast arrived. Saturday would be our only day of performances, so we wanted to have as big an impact as we could.

After Saturday afternoon?s show, we were surprised at the enormous response to the Altar Call. Over 500 came to the Lord in each of the 2 performances! Pastor Enrique leads the prayer.

Pastor was planning for 1,000 people per performance, but I encouraged him to believe for more. He agreed, and we put out 2,000 chairs. Good thing we did! We had over 2500 people attend the 5:00 p.m. show! The sound was scary, but it was because the receivers were in the wrong place, and were later moved for better reception, and thus, better sound. I've taught the cast that regardless of the performance, this is God's show, and we're here to help Him accomplish what He wants to do. We're just here to help Him. Well, God proved Himself!

After the first show, the altar call came, and to everyone's surprise, the aisles jammed with people coming forward! We had so many rushing forward, I thought maybe they misunderstood the call! However, many were weeping and were greatly touched. We saw them come to the Lord, and I was so grateful for the almost 500 that got saved.

After the Altar Call, I challenge the audience to let the production be a "wakeup call". That the time is short, and that we must tell our loved ones about Jesus Christ.

We finished late, almost 7:15 p.m. We were supposed to begin the new show at 7:00 p.m.! The new audience was lined up outside for about a block! We let them in at 7:15, and by 7:40, we were ready for the new show. There were even more people, as many decided to stay for the second show. We had almost 3,000 in attendance! Wow! The altar call came, and again, over 500 accepted the challenge, and came forward to receive Jesus Christ as Savior! We were dumbfounded, and just watched as people flooded the altar area for prayer.

Pastor Enrique, Pastor Stephen Holland (from my home church in the U.S.) , the cast and I were speechless, and were touched by God's sovereign move. No one had expected this. Last week, we did 4 shows, and saw almost 500 saved altogether. This week, we did half the shows, and saw double the results! I give God all the glory for what He did, and most especially for allowing us to be around when He moved. Altogether, we have seen more that 1500 come to Jesus Christ in Mexico. What a great way to wrap up my stay in Mexico.

Taking a short break, friends Raul and Gabo took me to Teotihuacan, a breathtaking ancient community of pyramids, built long before the Aztecs, that date back to the same time as the pyramids in Egypt.

Notes from Here and There

I'm sure you're just like me: I read something interesting, and put it aside, although I don't know what to do with it. Below are some interesting short "blurps" I have found (truth was that I was planning on building a message out of each one) . Although it's not a message, I still think you'll find the pieces interesting as well.

HOLLYWOOD

Christians are impacting Hollwood! Ted Baehr, film critic and found of the Christian and Television Commission says that in movies with positive Christian content increased from 95 in 1999 to 118 in 2000. These movies earned $42.9 million on average, trouncing films that preached humanism, paganism or occultism. Christian movies buried films depicting sex, which earned $12.5 million on average; those with no sex scenes averaged $33.8 million. Source: "This ‘G' Rating Stands for God", USA Today, August 15, 2001

BIBLE SALES IN IRAQ

"Shadowed by threats of a widening war against terrorism, Arab Christian booksellers report record sales of Bibles and Christian books at international book fairs held in Baghdad and Damascus. According to representatives of the Bible Societies of Lebanon and Jordan, well over 35,000… were sold at Christian bookstands…. For Christians in the Arab world, international book fairs provide a unique access each year to buy new Christian titles published in Arabic, as well as their own copy of a Bible or New Testament." Source: "October Bible Sales Set Record" Compass Direct News Summaries, February, 2002

A rare sight! An ancient Mexican Indian costume, and tribal dance performed by this Mexican dancer.

COLLEGE CHRISTIAN LIFE

A study of Seniors at more than 100 colleges and universities revealed a high regard for family and religion. They regard their elders quite highly compared to their own generation. Whom do they trust a lot?

SHARING YOUR FAITH

The Barna Organization conducted research to compare the core beliefs of lay people in major American religious groups. Not surprisingly, the most significant gaps were discovered concerning views of salvation. The vast majority of Catholics believe that good deeds are necessary in order to earn salvation. So, how many other religions believe it is important to personally share their faith with others? Here they are in order:

Deus Te Abencoe!

That's "God Bless You" in Portuguese! My host, Denise, and her son, Gabriel, are Brazilian, and have been wonderful hosts. She also has plans to "open" doors for Brazil for next year! What a blessing that will be! I'm waiting for the Lord to open the doors to Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and China. Then I feel that I will have reached the majority of the world. Lord, give me the nations, that I may bring them closer to you. Amen. Next week, I'll write you again, from Istanbul, Turkey! Please pray for traveling mercies. God bless you, my friend!