Colossians 1:4 -6 - "Because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is producing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth."
From its small beginnings the church at Southwest, Pueblo has been opening its doors to the lost and believers since Sunday morning, November 26, 1967. Many good works have developed from this inauguration.
Casa de la Esperanza
One such work is Casa de la Esperanza, an orphan's home in Anahuac, Mexico. Southwest has had the home for 12 years. Gil and Becky Sanchez have worked there for he last 8 years. When they took over hte home, it was in very poor condition. It has now become recognized by the brotherhood and by the local officialsin Chihuahua as one of the best children's homes. They have 65 children.
On an average, 24 different congregations visit regularly. Various groups of youth and adults come throughout the year with the purpose of aiding and helping in any capacity needed.
The CASA ministry is underlined with a strong emphasis on Christian education. Lalo and Jamie Rocha fill many of he needs in this and many other categories. Daniel and Tiffany Province are two new additions to this work with an emphasis on education.
There is a growing church in Anahuac with 20 members plus the children from the home. Presently 22 children have been baptized.
Casa had had medical missions over the last 9 years, serving over 600 people in the last mission. Areas include medical, dental and eye.
Casa has distributed 58 tons of food to needy communities in the area. One house was built for a woman with three children. They previously lived in a hut with a dirt floor and no running water. They now live in a modest two-bedroom home. Gils says that they have plans to build 9 more homes in the near future. They also plan to have a local clinic in town with x-ray and dental labs.
Operation Ecuador
Another outreach program is the one called, OPERATION ECUADOR. Kent Marcum, graduate of Lubbock Christian University and Sunset International Bible Institute, Lubbock, Texas serves as athe Director of the Quito School of Biblical Studies in Quito. Kent and his family arrived in Quito, Ecuador under the oversight of the Southwest church of Christ, Pueblo, CO in 1989. He and his wife, Sharla Sikes Marcum, along with their adopted son, James, continue to serve under the oversight of the Pueblo church. His children, all now married, Joshua living in Bolivia, Jauna living in the USA, and Jenny living in Ecuador withe hopes of moving to Bolivia once the sufficient amount of support is acquired.
God has blessed this work with over 900 baptisms in its short 17 year history. Most are still faithful with attendance over 500. Quito School of Biblical Studies began in 1997 with 14 full time students. Presently it has enrolled 35 students from 6 Latin American Nations with a goal to enroll 15 students in each year's class.
Ecuador Medical Missions began through churches of Christ in 1998. Since that time several thousand Ecuadorians have been treated without charge and thousands of dollars worth of medicines have been distributed. With each effort to heal broken bodies there is always the offering of the GOSPEL to heal the soul so that the complete person is served. The mission is a cooperative effort of North American doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other medical personnel and hard workers who man the many support responsibilities along with the students of Quito School of Biblical Studies who do the outreach with the GOSPEL. The campaign is conducted in January each year for one week and serves different towns and villages throughout Ecuador. They are always looking for medical personnel who will donate their time to this effort as well as tranlators in Spanish and other workers from the USA. Contact qsobs@cox.net if you have an interest in helping. The Southwest church has also been involved in the work in Portoviejo for the last six years. The membership in Portoviejo is now over 60 souls. Recently a new work has begun in Los Chillos, a suburb southwest in Quito. The first meeting of the church was Sunday, September 10, with 80 people in attendance.
The little group that began worship in a house on the south side of Pueblo, CO on November 26, 1967 became the Southwest church of Christ as we know it today. Vaughn Graham, Bob Diller, Marshall Cowan and Greg Dwyer are the elders who serve and shepard the flock. There are eighteen deacons who oversee various programs of work. Gary Aragon is the evangelist/minister and leads a vigorous program of evangelism. Southwest employs two regular secretaries who keep everything running smoothly. Jan Leenerts has been with the congregation many years, and Brenda Medina is a recent addition as a secretary. Rheta Allen sees to the attendance adn keeps the library running in an efficient manner. Joe Albrecht works with benevolence adn drives the van to pick up shut ins for services. Southwest is a congregation that is known for its love and care for family. You are always welcome.
I Thessalonians 1:3 - "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Pat Graves - for Southwest
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