My New Mission Congregation.

After trying to cheer myself up today, I feel I should put out a SERIOUS note of what God is doing and HAS been doing in my life. I CERTAINLY have a life beyond surgery and recuperation. One of the great things was the LARGEST Graduation Fellowship in our history for our Bible College in Rosarito, Mexico and the opening of new missions.
I now have a new mission congregation different than any I have EVER HAD! I have about 30 in my new congregation. I'll explain later. A lot of you know we have been missionaries in MX for over 3 decades now and have never taken a regular furlough, only being gone from the field for 3 - 4 months at a time being close to the U.S. Then, 2 years ago God decided to force a different type of rest for our family. Remember, different is often rest.
First, God allowed a real upset in our ministry. I will not say a TRAGEDY because with God, nothing is tragedy except in those that refuse Him. We were forced to get Beatriz and kids stateside for their safety and the kids education. I had to be here at that time to get them settled in and it was a time of rest for me, going back and forth to the field. Then another challenge came when Beatriz was diagnosed with cancer and was in Mexico for treatments, surgery, etc. It was then NECESSARY for me to be stateside. But, I could not just rest and sit on my hands and keep the kids in school and church. So, I attended churches and got involved in a Bible Study group where I met a director of a prison ministry connected with the Chuck Colson prison ministry. He was asking for Pen Pals for prisoners. Since I enjoy writing I thought it would be a way to pass time. LITTLE DID I KNOW what God was doing.
First I took a couple of names and read their letters BEGGING for someone to write them so I started writing them. Still there were scores of others waiting at times for months for a Pen Pal.. Soon I agreed to write to more. There were nights before my own surgery when I would have sleepless nights due to pain or, honestly, worry. I began to read the letters coming back to me. MY HEART WAS MOVED when I read the different wasted lives or of those sincerely reaching out for help.
Soon I had more and more and was more and more into counseling, giving the plan of salvation and encouraging their spiritual lives.
THEN, there were those prisoners that only speak Spanish so I was writing them also. I was dealing with a man ON DEATH ROW that has come to know Christ as his Savior and was asking how he can make his life count for God while awaiting his execution. NO ONE in his family is in contact with him for the shame. He never knew his father and his mother died when he was 7.He BEGGED me to NEVER desert him because I am his ONLY contact on the outside. He recently wrote and told me he now feels sorry for those on DEATH ROW SPIRITUALLY instead of those like him. He said his death would land him in the arms of Jesus. Death for the lost lands them in Hell.
Then, there is the man in "the hole" (in solitary) that told me he had received Christ as His Savior but was begging God to send SOMEONE into his life that could show him FROM THE BIBLE that God really could love someone like him. He was surprised when a guard brought him my letter telling him God loved him and giving Him Scriptures to read, etc Then, there is a pastor's son, raised in a Christian home and educated in Christian schools which has a life-time without parole sentence whose family had turned him over to God. (WAIT, before you judge his family. Be certain you've been there! I HAVE!)
For my last example there is the man from Guatemala who eventually made it to the U.S. illegally and became involved in crime and has now spent several months in prison with years to go and doesn't speak a word of English. His family doesn't even know he is still alive. He has NO ONE and feels God has left him. He said in Guatemala prisons are called cemeteries of the living dead. He asked what could I tell him to give him hope.
Okay, I can answer some of the questions in your mind. No, I don't know how many are sincere NOR do I know that in our churches. Are some just trying to use me? Sure! I've been used all my life. Do you know what terrible crimes they've committed to be there? NO, that's between them and the state. Are you going to try to get some out? Not my business. I have just become the ONLY pastor they have in this world. Am I really doing any good?
Well, let me tell you what happened recently -- I was asked to give a testimony at a meeting that was a prayer meeting OF PRISONER PEN PALS because I have the largest number of pals in the nation and have developed it into a "congregation". Although my congregation is scattered from New York to Florida to New Mexico to Texas, to Arizona to Idaho to Oregon to California we DO have a service. Every morning at 7a.m. Pacific coast time we ALL meet in the throne room of God in prayer. I could not tell you the testimonies of those that attend these meetings.
Well, after my testimony a big, tattooed. brawny man stood up and told us HE WAS THE RESULT OF A PEN PAL! Thru a pen pal he was saved in prison and turned his life around so much so he got an early released and had convinced his wife to give him another chance. Now they are a Christian family actively serving in a local church and writing THEIR pen pals.
I am eagerly awaiting the day soon when the doctors and therapists release me to return to my ministry in Mexico; but, I can assure you I will not leave my Prison Congregation without a pastor. While you click on the news or whatever you do when you can't sleep I know you won't criticize me for writing to my prisoners I need to be serving wherever and however GOD deems. I have had and AM HAVING a wonderful and bountiful life.
So, you that support the Kisers as missionaries just understand you are supporting a VERY varied ministry. Have to close now to e-mail a sermon outline and a Bible study to some of our Mexican workers and finish a couple of pen pal letters. Bro Don

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A NEW OUTREACH!

     I would like for anyone reading this to pray for a new ministry that we will be launching in Baja California, Mexico.  In Mexico we have a large number of INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.  Some call them "Indians".  They are scattered all over Mexico and they speak many different dialects.  They tend to basically to stay to themselves and are not at all open to outsiders because of the persecution and exploitation they have suffered.  BUT, they have souls that will spend eternity SOMEWHERE.
     Many of the tribes have been evangelized.  Others have become very Mexicanized.  But, there are others that still hold to their own culture and live very much to themselves,
     Missionary Jon Nelms, a friend of MANY years, founded FINAL FRONTIERS on the basis that the real future of missions in many countries will be the NATIONAL PASTORS.  He has been in scores of countries around the world and has a special burden for the indigenous people (tribes) .
     Some years ago, at Christmastime, we showed a Bible film in a couple of tribes but we did not follow through.  When Jon agreed to come to the Graduation Fellowship in June he asked that we try to set up a visit with one of our nearby tribes.  Pastor Daniel from the Rosarito church made inquiries and visited one of the tribes about three hours from our base in Rosarito.  
     It is not our desire to go where the Gospel is established.  ALL my ministry on the mission field I have PRACTICED taking the Gospel to establish Bible-preaching Independent Baptist churches where there is a REAL need.  I have NEVER built a work from members of other churches, while many around us have built from our ministry.  But, to God be the glory!  We did not want to go to a tribe that is basically  evangelized.  So, Pastor Daniel investigated various tribes and found a group called the CUMIAY tribe.
     They live in the mountains about two hours from any large city.  They are 20 minutes back in the mountains from even a small village called OJOS NEGROS.   Someone built a small chapel there but, there are only TWO CHRISTIAN FAMILIES in the tribe and they suffer greatly for their faith!
     We now have permission to enter the tribe, pass out tracts AND preach the Gospel!  At least, those two families will be encouraged and we trust souls will be saved.  The family that furnish our Gospel tracts have made an emergency order to have on hand.
     BUT, here is my request for SPECIAL prayer -- we do NOT just want to have one service there!  We want to be so kind and respectful to them that they will allow us to come on a regular basis.  However, that will require more gas expenses and more workers.  Yes, we are getting spread kind of  thin; but, HOW CAN WE REJECT SUCH AN OPEN DOOR?  I don't believe God would call us to do something that He does not already have planned out.  It's called WALKING BY FAITH.  PRAY FOR US.  

PRISONER PEN PAL

    Recently I got involved with a Pen Pal ministry through a Prison Ministry.  Since I have always liked to write I volunteered to take that on in my free time.  (What free time?  I have to make time.)
     I had NO idea what I was getting into!  I first took 4 prisoners and began communicating with them.  Soon, the director of the ministry told me I was having some of the best results he had seen.  Little by little I took on more and more until I had a whopping 28.  Then I got a notice there were two prisoners that only speak Spanish so I took them on also.  So, now I have an even 30.  I average writing only 5 - 8 letters per week.
     I have heard many comments about this new ministry I have taken on and a lot of them have been negative as if I am wasting my time.  But, I remember Matt 25:41 and they may be the LEAST in our sight, they may be criminals of the worst state, some are even on death row, but, that is between them and the law enforcement officials.  I see them as SOULS -- many are lost souls who need the Gospel.. Others are Christians trying to get their lives right.  Some are even developing ministries in the prisons by now having Bible studies and services.  (I have shared sermon outlines for some.)  Some are big fakes, just using spiritual things to try to get out or whatever.  BUT, I am NOT God!  I am just willing to be a witness for Christ!  Today, as I read my latest 5 letters my heart was broken at their cries for assurance that God could REALLY love someone like them!  When I read how some even hesitated to pray because they had turned their back on God!  Some were raised in Christian homes.  Some went to Christian Schools.  Some have life sentences and see NO hope for their future.  BUT, almost ALL beg me to not give up on them.  Some have told me that they had not received any mail for years until I started writing them.
     To several I have given the plan of salvation.  To those on death row I have tried to help them prepare for eternity.  To some who are   confused about the Word I have explained what I could.  To those that have been deserted by their families I have just been a friend.  To some that have been ready to give up, I have given them Scriptures to encourage them to keep on.
     I am writing to prisoners from California to Florida with, WI, IL, IN, NM, TX and other places in between.  Tonight, after church, I spent two hours writing 5 letters answering questions and praying for them.
     If I am wasting time, the Lord will have to forgive me because I feel my ministry has been enlarged without neglecting my other responsibilities.
     I learned a LONG TIME AGO in my ministry that results are God's business, NOT MINE.  If just ONE receives Christ as Savior' if just ONE turns his life around, it will be worth it in eternity.
Bro Don

PEACE

I don't know if you have heard about the pastor that asked a famous painter to paint a mural for the lobby of a new church building.  The theme was to be PEACE.  The painter worked long and hard; but, finally the day came for the unveiling of the mural. Everyone stood breathless, all with their own vision of what the mural would look like.  It was very important because it would be the first impression people would have entering the church.  A large plaque hung over the veil with the one word PEACE. When the veil dropped there was a gasp as the people saw a wall covered with a huge storm.  The people had thought about a beautiful stream, or maybe a cow lying in a pasture, or even a baby sleeping.  The pastor told the painter he had COMPLETELY missed the concept.  The painter assured the pastor he understood the concept very well.  He then pointed to a ledge under an overhang of the cliff.  Under the overhand, safe from the storm, sat a mother bird on her nest.  He told the pastor that his painting was the REALITY of PEACE.  Life is not s cute sleeping baby or a beautiful stream or a contented cow laying in a lushes pasture -- it is PEACE in the midst of the storms of life.  It is safety FROM the storm in THE ROCK.

ANOTHER SOUL SAVED

     At our Rosarito, Mexico church we started a unique soul-winning campaign.  We are now taking the count each week of how many times the plan of salvation has been presented.  Last Sunday the count was taken and then there was a powerful testimony of a young married man that received Christ as his personal Savior.
     Pastor Daniel walked out of the church last Saturday on his way to find someone to whom he could present the Gospel.  He saw a young man sitting in his car with his head down and seemed to be asleep.  Pastor Daniel didn't want to disturb him so he took a few steps and the Lord seemed to stop him.  So, he turned around and went back to the car and gently tapped on the window.  When the young man looked up, Pastor Daniel apologized for waking him whereupon the young man replied, "I wasn't sleeping.  I was just asking God how I could solve all the problems in my life."  His wife was in the computer store next door to the church.
     Pastor Daniel had plenty of time to fully explain to the young man how he could have eternal life, even if he did have a rough life here.  He also explained how He could find direction in his life.
     The young man bowed his head and received Christ as his personal Savior.  He lives about 100 miles away; but, he gave Pastor Daniel his address and phone number and promised he would look for a good Bible-centered church.  He had traveled a long way for a purpose he didn't even know -- to receive Christ.
     When we decide to witness to someone, sometimes God brings them right to us!  Thank God there was a pastor that was in tune with the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
     By the way, how many times have YOU presented the Gospel to someone recently?  About the only time most Christians present the Gospel is when someone comes to the altar during the invitation at the end of the preaching.  Amen, Bro Don!  Thanks, Bro Don

He nearly had a stroke!

     Several years ago a groups of our Bible College students in Rosarito and I traveled to the interior of Mexico to the state of Nyarit.  There we met up with another missionary and went from village to village showing a Gospel film and putting on services.  At times we were in parks or town squares or public halls or wherever we could.  In one village we met in the home of a Mexican preacher that wanted to start a church there.
     While I was passing out tracts in that small village I was accosted by the local priest.  He wanted to know what we were doing in that village.  When I told him we were sharing the Gospel he informed me that HE had already brought the Gospel to the village.  I told him what he had was what was called ANOTHER Gospel and that we had brought the FAITH once delivered unto the saints.  He then asked me what was our religious denomination.  When I told him we were Baptists he said, "OH, you claim to go back to John, the Baptist."  I answered, "And you claim to go back to Peter" to which he answered in the affirmative.  He became furious when I told him I preferred my roots because John, the BAPTIST had baptized his originator, Peter and that his had denied the Lord THREE times and that he seemed to be following his example.  He then turned nearly purple and told me I had to admit that the keys of the kingdom had been given by our Lord to Peter.  I told him that didn't bother me -- we have the DOOR and HIS key wasn't any good without MY Door.  Then, I asked if I could ask him a personal question.  He begrudgingly agreed.  I asked him how he felt about being called, "father" when he wasn't even married.  That was all he could take so he stormed off.
     I know!  I know it was mean; but, it was FUN!!  Bro Don

God does have a sense of humor!

Some years ago I was volunteering in the emergency room at the little Rosarito, MX Red Cross hospital.  An elderly Mexican lady was brought into the E.R. and I began preparing her chart and STARTED to take her vitals.  She yelled at a Mexican doctor nearby saying (in Spanish), "Do you think I am about to let this GRINGO touch me.!"  I assured her (in Spanish) that the Mexican doctor would be glad to take care of her.  She turned to the Mexican doctor and asked, "So, I'm supposed to know he speaks Spanish?"  I took a lot of ribbing for awhile But, as I said, GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR.
     A short time after that the same Mexican doctor and I were again working together in the E.R. when a middle-aged American man was brought in with a severe dog bite on his leg.  In fact, it was torn open.  The Mexican doctor started to attend to him when the American yelled at me, "Hey, doc, I don't want this Mexican touching my leg!"
     The Mexican doctor told him in perfect English that I was not a doctor but, I certainly knew what to do.  The American said ALMOST the same identical thing as the Mexican lady had.  "How was I supposed to know he spoke English?"
     No one but the doctor and I understood why we both nearly fell in the floor laughing..   Bro Don