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The 24th Anniversary of the Mexican Evangelistic Mission
On November 4 of this year, the Mexican Evangelistic Mission celebrated its 24th anniversary. The author of these lines will never forget the force that made this advent possible, nor the cradle where it first saw light. “A voice, like coming from heaven spoke to my heart ordering me to leave the church that I loved more than my life: to separate myself from people that were part of my own existence. Abandon privileges and prerogatives that had been mine, thanks to the kindness of my superiors, the welcome that the people of God had given to my work and, above all. to the intervention of a Providence that manifests Its power through weakness and that uses the vilest instruments to carry out its inscrutable designs. Eleven of us formed that group and counting the Lord, whose presence was so real, there were twelve of us. My own mother, Mrs. Aurelia C. de Vargas, Sister Juanita de Hernández, her daughter Miss Rebeca Hernández, Ezequiel B Vargas Jr, Rubén V Austin, Lolita Orozco, Miss Herminia Bustamante, Miss Carolina Sepúlveda. Sister Merceditas A. de Aguirre, Miss Blanche Gilbert. And the one who writes¨. This small group of delusions, according to the world, undertook an undertaking that, due to its stupendous nature, surpassed the mental capacity of those present. Its cradle was the room of the parsonage adjoining the temple.
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As known, it is silent that the omens were all contrary to the company that was going to start. The most mournful failures and even horrifying tragedies were predicted. The demon focused its darts on the director of the play and specialized in torturing and causing bitter pain to the founding members. Some lost their placements, others the affection of their loved ones. There was no shortage of people who had to leave the city and face situations that were more difficult. But the Lord. did not leave any of His own. After 24 years of struggle we can raise our Ebenezer and without fear of being wrong we can say: “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” The devil has not lost hope of destroying the work. With his proverbial subtlety, he even uses those who have been conduits for so many blessings to come to the Mission, to hinder the victorious march of the Gospel. In many cases these instruments do not understand it, thus: discrepancies arise as between Paul and Barnabas whose justice only the Holy Spirit can elucidate
By Dr. E. B. Vargas.
and settle. However, we can say: ¨one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”¨. Or, “However, I consider my life wort nothing to me: my only aim is to fi nish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God´s grace.” To deny the blessings that the Lord has given us would be to deny the light of day. He has given us much more abundantly than we ask for or understand by the power that works in us. His hand has reached out for us and has removed all stumbling blocks and defeated all our enemies. He has given us beautiful temples, very faithful brothers, dedicated workers, a mission among the Tarahumara, a newspaper, a printing press still in the making, a Bible School for Laymen, etc. We started with about 45 few members and at present, we have about 1500. Above all, we have a nucleus of Christians who are willing to continue in the struggle, even if life is involved.
Among our values that form the asset of the Mission, we count on the prayers of many brothers and sisters that in diff erent parts of the world are taking us to the Th rone of Grace. Recently an African wrote to one of our workers, announcing that he was going to make her the special object of his prayers. An immense number of faithful people in the United States, from the East to the West, are constantly praying for us. If it is true that the devil has used invective to hurt us, it is also true that the faithful have been used by Him to pour balm on the wounds of our hearts.My most fervent prayer is that he will give us such grace that we may be joyful to be counted worthy to suff er outrage for the unequaled Name of Christ. Th anks to Him, our pulpits continue to preach the Gospel in its purity and we are determined to lose everything, even life itself, rather than add or add not a jot or a tittle of God’s Word. We will continue to insist that Christianity is Christ in the heart of the individual and that it is necessary to be doers of the Word and not just hearers of it. With the help of the Lord we will never neglect a single of its doctrines and we will preach them in time and out of time no matter who opposes it, or the cost, or the sacrifi ce that this implies. Our desire is to dwindle so that Christ may increase and that His coming will fi nd us diligently busy carrying out His designs and fulfi lling His sovereign will.
Pastor Ezequiel Vargas was the superintendent of the Mexican Evangelistic Mission, becoming a part of the EMC in 1948.
