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Overcome Evil By Doing Good in 2012 Through Christ! 

Hello BCM friends,

God graced BCM with  a very fruitful year of ministry in 2011, and a wonderful year end!  In the final week we were blessed with nearly 300 volunteers serving with us, building houses and lives for Jesus in Baja!  Emmie Harper and her team from Global Expeditions brought a group of nearly 200 missionaries from all over the nation.  

John and Gwynne Houston served with their team from Covenant Community Church of El Cajon to build two houses and do the works of evangelism! 

Doug Miller and Joe Ross mobilized a team from Carlsbad/Encinitas area to build one house.  One of the team members, Tommy Wehsener, filmed and produced a very unique and beautiful video of their experience. Don't want to miss this one. Enjoy!

 http://vimeo.com/34641946

Chris and Andrew Laubach from the Los Angeles area rallied another father and son team, called the "Cub Construction Company",  to build a beautiful house and dog house for a needy family and their dog! Enjoy this inspiring video produced by Chris Laubach:

 http://vimeo.com/34380851 

No doubt we are in perilous, evil times!  When evil seems to be overcoming the earth what does the Eternal God  give as a solution? He says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  (Romans 12:21--NIV) "Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good." (Roman 12:21-NLT)"

Edmund Burke said, "All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing".  Let 2012 be the year that we excel in being part of the solution rather than part of the problem, not allowing  ourselves to atrophy into omission!  Let's follow our King to overcome evil by doing good through His grace and faith,  excelling in the grace of giving...

Please stand with us and Baja in 2012, even more than ever, to build more houses, churches and lives in fields where the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are you! Let's make 2012 the year that we excel in Christ's Great Commission rather than be conformed to this world's neglect and omission.  

When Jesus gave us His Great Commission he told us to make disciples of all nations.  In our role as BCM we have approached that command by building houses and churches while doing the work of evangelism and supporting the church through helping to make disciples through providing the tools of Bibles and Purple Books (discipleship workbooks) to build the solid Biblical foundations in the lives of many.  As of last month BCM has distributed more than 77,000 bibles and purple books of which 37,000 plus Bible courses have been completed.  Before yearend 2012 we hope to distribute 100,000 plus and build more than 200 houses/churches. Please mobilize and multiply with us the calling we share. 

Please join our roster of teams again and share a part of overcoming evil by doing good along with us!

For the glory of our King!

Bob Sanders  

www.bajachristian.org 

Miraculous Story of God's Justice and Compassion Moving to Set the Captives Free Both Spiritually and Physically from Baja Prison!

Alot of wonderful things and miracle's are springing from God's move through the Baja Bible and Purple Book ministry! This is recent story of how our powerful God and His compassionate justice moved on behalf 57 prisoners from El Hongo prison, (where the Bible and Purple Book ministry is spreading.) It also reflects God's timing which got each of them saved and prayed for by one of our BCM Purple Book regional directors, Lalo Meza, before their release!  OUR GOD REIGNS!   Enjoy this inspiring story which recently happened in this Baja prison!   Bob Sanders 

God’s Justice, Timing and Release of  Prisoners from El Hongo  Prison in Baja

  A while back the Mexican army discovered a 120 acre Marijuana plantation, on the road between San Quintin and Guerrero Negro in Baja, six hours south of the city of Tijuana. Some of the plants measured 2.5 meters in height and were hidden among tomato orchards in a farm located about 60 kilometers south of the city of San Quintin in the municipality of Ensenada.  A total of 58 persons were arrested when the discovery was made, and according to the authorities it is the biggest crop of marijuana discovered by authorities in recent times in the history of Mexico. The men who were arrested were taken to El Hongo prison. The news of this event made the National headlines in the country of Mexico not long ago, and I want to share a testimony that has something to do with this, to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has given me the privilege to go and minister the word of God and introduce Bibles and Purple Books in two prisons in the state of Baja: La Mesa prison and El Hongo penitentiary. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go into El Hongo and when we arrived there two of the brothers who usually go in with me to building H1 inside the prison, did not show up, so I had to go into that building alone on that day. I was a little apprehensive because it would be the first time that I would be going in there alone, when I arrived at the cell-building I was informed that I would be going into hall #3 and this would also be the first time that I would be going into that particular hall, so yes, I was a little nervous.  As I entered the hall I began shouting out: Glory to God! Hallelujah!  He lives!! ? I tried to encourage the prisoners as I did in the other halls, but no one answered back.  Everyone was silent. You could feel the tension in that place.  In that moment I thought, God has to do something here!  I asked God to give me grace and the words to encourage and minister to these prisoners. I did not know who these prisoners were or what they had done to be there, so I began to sing worship songs as I walked the length of the hall, and I could only hear one or two prisoners singing along with me.  After I finished singing I began to preach the word of God!  I told them that God loved them very much and that there was hope for them! God began to move powerfully I could sense His presence in that place, something supernatural was happening!  The truth is that the majority of them were behaving very indifferent in the beginning,  but after hearing the message of love they began to open up their hearts, and then I made a call to share the plan of Salvation. I told them: If you want to open up your hearts I want to see your hands outside the prison bars, and to God's glory almost all of them stuck their hands out of the bars, so I began to pray for them and they came to the feet of Christ!  Finally I told them, that before I left,  I wanted to go to every cell and pray for them.  So I began going from cell to cell and they would come to the front of the cell up against the bars so I could pray for them. That's how God gave me the privilege to pray for these men.

Last Wednesday I returned to El Hongo to minister there again, and before going in,  (as I was talking with a pastor who goes in there with me), he told me: “Do you remember the 57 men you ministered to in Hall #3?”  “I said yes, I remember them,” then he told me: “That day you went in there to preach and pray for them, on that same evening, 56 of them were set free,”  The pastor told me that he saw them as they were leaving the prison and that many of them were asking for me and were thanking God because I had gone there to pray for them.  They were convinced that a miracle had happened in that hall on that day and because on that same evening they were set free after I had prayed with them. It was then that the pastor informed me that these prisoners were the same ones that had been arrested by the military at the marijuana plantation south of Ensenada.

In truth these prisoners were men from very humble families who lived in extreme poverty, and who were taken to work in these plantations with lies and threats, so God carried out His justice and manifested Himself in a miraculous way in the lives of these prisoners, they were able to experience the fact that God is real and heard their prayers, and I thank God for giving me the privilege to serve Him at the prison and to be able to experience the miracles He does.    Blessings!  Lalo Meza

…Let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:24)

…Let us encourage one another--and all the more

as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:24)

Dear Friends and Partners,

Encouragement! How important is it to you and to others?  Hebrews 10:24-25 states to not forsake meeting together. Why? Among other vital things like worship, fellowship and teaching the verse states, 1) to consider how to stir one another into love and good deeds and 2)  to encourage one another and all the more as we see the Day approaching.  

Surely with all the chaos, evil and corruption spinning out of control in this country and in the world it makes us mindful that the day of the Lord's coming is approaching! Along with evangelism, prayer and discipleship,  I believe that the ministry of encouragement is desperately needed more than ever! At least in my lifetime! Perhaps some more than others, I believe we all need encouragement!    Since I see encouragement being so valuable, I have written two poems I wanted to share with you! They are poetic and devotional in nature. One is based David's life from 1Samuel 30:1-19, before he was King of Israel.  The passage relates Davids'  suffering of one of the most distressing times in his life. David's solution! He encouraged himself in the Lord! As a result, God moved powerfully to respond to His overwhelming distress. The poem is called "Encourage Yourself in the Lord as David Did" 

The second poem is about the Apostle Barnabas' life from the book of acts  whose surnames means "Son of Encouragement". His name was actually Joseph. Encouragement seemed to race through his veins! This poem is entitled, "Barnabas, a Model of the Power of Encouragement."  

In the days ahead I believe encouragement is going be needed even more vitally to keep the faith and run the race with courage. I hope you are blessed and do benefit from these poetic pieces.  

They are titled and link below:

Encourage Yourself In the Lord As David Did: Poem By Bob Sanders 

http://www.bajachristian.org/home/2011/12/3/encouraging-yourself-in-the-lord-as-king-david-did-poem-by-b.html

Barnabas, A Model of the Powerful Ministry of Encouragement:

 Poem by Bob Sanders

http://www.bajachristian.org/home/2011/12/3/barnabas-a-model-of-the-powerful-ministry-of-encouragement-p.html

May God bless you with an abundance of encouragement so you can encourage yourself and others!

Blessings to you!

Bob Sanders

www.bajachristian.org

Encouraging Yourself in the Lord as King David Did: Poem By Bob Sanders

When Israel's future King, David, was greatly distressed

desperately needing God's rescue, assurance and rest

he encouraged himself in the Lord

the Father then faithfully brought him the needed reward

HE promises to all who diligently seek Him

which in David's case

was a life-changing remedy to a gigantic problem

a desperate need for tangible encouragement

to flow from heaven with transforming grace

radiating brightly from his Father's face

changing David's unrest

and overwhelming distress

that drove his face to the ground

to be hopelessly cast down

but then when David earnestly prayed

he experienced a miraculous turn around

as God's encouragement forged the way 

God through His tender loving care

answered David’s desperate prayer

overturning his impossibility

into a triumphant victory

that manifested more abundantly

than he could ask or think

God not only buffered

what David suffered

He consoled, assured, and rescued him

from his deep distressing problem

of saving him from being stoned

and also rescuing and bringing

loved ones and possessions back home

God did this gigantic feat

as He bound the enemy,

strengthened David and his team,

restored, redeemed

and protected every family

not one person or thing was harmed or missing

David's team brought back everything

our God worked powerfully

behind the scenes

bringing a miraculous victory

then to top off everything

shortly afterward God Almighty

exalted David as Israel’s King

God is truly the Master Encourager

the Faithful Holy Spirit Comforter

the Generous, Ever Present Helper

Who richly supplies encouragement plentifully 

The Father has invited us to drink deeply

from this heavenly spring

so when we’re lonely,

troubled and insecure

dear Lord, compel us to draw near

to drink rather than to sink

to soothe and console our wounds

to repair our breaches and bridge the gaps

to cure us with Your healing salve

help us remember, that when we water others

that we will be also be watered ourselves

give us a heart to encourage our sisters and brothers

Lord, teach us how to refill our cup

with  persistence and faith that won't give up

by filling ourselves with YOU

to be refreshed and renewed

(1Samuel 30:1-19, Heb 11:6, John 14:16, Proverbs 11:25)

By Bob Sanders -©- copyright-1/26/2011

http://www.bajachristian.org/

Barnabas, A Model of the Powerful Ministry of Encouragement! Poem by Bob Sanders

Barnabas was called the “Son of Encouragement”

he freely dispensed God's heavenly remedy

to overturn fear and discouragement

to raise faith levels that would diffuse anxiety

a healing balm that would buffer what we suffer

and ignite courage in us to carry on

when the light of hope seems to be gone

Barnabas didn't hold back for fear of the future

rather he road Christ's wave of faith filled adventure

renewing courage that Christ can always be trusted

to repair the corrosion that corruption has rusted

Barnabas gave generously and significantly

not just a cookie and a pat on the head

in word and deed he gave tangibly instead

abundantly and sacrificially

he was a rare gem indeed

when evil was triumphing

rather than putting his head in the sand

through Christ, he chose to do something grand

set to make difference, this righteous man

on the Rock of Christ he took His stand

saw the need

and readied himself to do what he can

he excelled in the grace of giving

and lived a fearless life of abundant living

Barnabas instilled optimism and enthusiasm

into his sisters and brothers

to run the race and stay the course

continually refueling to fuel many others

the Heavenly Father was His abundant Source

He was Holy Spirit equipped to build up Saul

training him through Christ

to become the new man Paul

he helped the church to see God’s approval

that Paul was truly God's chosen vessel

and called by HIM to be an apostle

his encouragement enabled Paul

to start running well in his heavenly call

Christ's kingdom mightily moved his spirit

he was truly sold out, pressing the limits

going so far as to sell his land

then giving the proceeds into the Apostles hands

to be distributed to the poor and those in need

is it any wonder why then with such faith filled deeds

that God's kingdom spread so rapidly?

when it comes to high standards

 and reaching for the stars

it appears that we the church have lowered the bar

Into God's will,  Barnabas chose to align

for him, there was no out of sight, out of mind

He refused to be one who was abundantly able

who would only give the crumbs off his table

Could compassionate Isaiah 58 giving ignite a revival?

will we the church settle for mere survival

or will we rise up courageously to give our all?

Like Barnabas, let us drink deeply

from God’s refreshing springs

engaging in both sowing and reaping,

giving and receiving,

that we may console the suffering

strengthen and uplift the weary

and be engaged gladly

in reinforcing, comforting, and cheering

the downcast and weary

also refreshing our brethren in the journey

not putting these opportunities on the shelf

but wholeheartedly heeding and believing,

“that he who waters others will be watered himself”

God’s encouragement brings sweet affirmation

It engrains inner approval and confirmation

It affirms that we belong to Him

that we too are His beloved kin

it confirms and reinforces that we can now stand

because we are engraved on the palms of His hand

like with Jesus the Father’s beloved Son

it reverberates that we also are His beloved ones

echoing that through Jesus the Prince of Peace

His wrath against us has fully ceased

with us also He is now well pleased

because of glorious shed blood of Christ Jesus

nothing will then separate us

His encouragement seals a warm welcome

into His Heavenly Kingdom

According to God's Word

we are His ambassadors

given the ministry to reconcile others

to uplift and strengthen our sisters and brothers

Father dissolve our resistance and selfish barriers

forge Holy Spirit breakthrough

make us  effective water carriers

as vessels that refresh and renew

receiving and giving Living Water from You

by Your in-couraging tender loving care

shape us into vessels of service and prayer

who are eager to joyfully share

Father, we seem to have so far to go

fill us abundantly, cause us to grow

raise within us prolific overflow

grow us to be proactive

ones who generously give

and abundantly live

we have so much opportunity along the way

Lord help us to be fervent to seize the day

through God our Glorious Father

the God of all comfort

help us refresh and exhort

stirring one another

into love and good deeds

while encouraging each other

to excel in the grace of giving

and abundant living

especially now as we see

the Day of our Lord approaching

(Acts 4:36-37, Isa.49:16, Luke 3:22, Prov 11:23, 2Cor 1:3-7, Heb 10:24-25)

By Bob Sanders -© copyright-1/26/2011

www.bajachristian.org