What is that? Look confusing? A mess? No, that’s my desk. It kind of represents what’s happening; the old and the new; blessings and opportunities; Christ and His death on the cross being in the center of it all.

How often do we say, "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow?"

This month is another of those times. We, Lois Wolf, Marty (my beloved and faithful wife), and myself just returned from a 2 day trip to visit SLM's churches (Lutheran Synod of Mexico) that KIMA supports near the border.

The trip was a very enriching one and very exciting to hear and see God's handwork in these churches. The leaders and members are very excited and dedicated to do God's work in these communities. Work being done on the completion of expanding the church building area in Rio Rico, to the work being done at the Colonial, worshiping with and then feeding nearly 100 homeless men every Thursday evening at the church in Matamoros, weekly Friday evening Bible lessons with children at a home in one of the poorer areas of Matamoros are just some of the examples we witnessed and heard about.

We were also blessed to be challenged once again by God to join our Mexican brothers and sisters in Christ to step up and join our Lord on His mission of reaching out to those who have strayed or never been in our "Father's House, the Heavenly Kingdom." We heard of the need of $2700 for completing the church building at Mesias (Messiah). There is a need of $3000 to help members of the churches in the Rio Bravo/Matamoros area to go on a mission trip and build a small church in Las Moras, served by Pastor Jose Reyes, clear across on the other side of Mexico. Betania would like $2000 to expand their kitchen/ meeting area and move the restrooms to the front of the building. There is talk of trying to resurrect the church in Mexicali or start a new mission in Tijuana at a cost of about $7000.

Accomplishments, blessings, challenges!
 
We would like to ask if you would, after you have read it, post this Newsletter (click here - pdf) somewhere where others could take and read it; talk about it with others; pray about the challenges; search your heart to see what God may be asking you to do; and then step out from behind the four walls that surround us and get involved.

I pray that you are all in the midst of celebrating the gift of God's Son so that we all may be saved and spend eternal life with God in heaven.

God wants us to celebrate and to share that Good News with others. 

May you have a blessed Christmas.

Please open the attached newsletter (pdf) and share it with the appropriate people. There is so much work to be done and we need your help in spreading the word about this ministry.  This is not a Waxahachie thing, or a Texas thing, but God's thing!

Rev. Norman Finke
Executive Director of KIMA

This particular church is in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico. No it is not in
Colorado. It is in Mexico about 30 miles south of Yuma, Arizona.

This is the congregation where Job Jimenez was serving as Lay-pastor
until he went to the Seminary in Argentina this last March.  It is being
served by Saul Silva who happens to be a brother-in-law of Job Jimenez.  
Saul lives and works in San Luis, Arizona but is now also serving San
Mateo. He is kind of like a worker-priest.

My wife, Marty, and my sister Lois, and I were there in January. It is
exciting to us to see what has been happening there.

Click here for the report (pdf) that Saul sent me today.

Blessings,
Rev. Norman Finke

Click here for the latest newsletter (pdf) from Job Jimenez

Pastor Norman Finke

Malachi 3:10-12 (ESV)
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer[a] for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

It is getting into the summer months and many of us are beginning to think vacation!  I know my wife and I are taking off tomorrow to go up to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas for a week of getting away, seeing the sites, playing a little golf, visiting with family, and renewing old acquaintances in the Village.

As we began preparing for this little vacation, I once again realized that it is not really just talking off and forgetting about everything. We all have heard people say it’s God first, then spouse, family, ministry, etc. All too often those priorities get mixed up. If God is really first then He is going along with you and will be active in all you do and probably giving you opportunities to reach out to others with His love.

So, I am going on vacation but I am going to worship with my fellow believers at Faith Lutheran Church this Sunday in Hot Springs Village. I am going to keep all those I pray for that are in ministry in Mexico in my daily or nightly prayers. As the Lord taps me on the shoulder I might even be remembering you by name also.

Point is: God isn’t finished with you until He taps you on the shoulder and says “Well done, my faithful servant.” Until then we frolic along together enjoying each other and the opportunities He sets before us... AND…let’s not forget that, this vacation time is also a gift granted us from our loving, caring, determined God.

You can be a big help to this Ministry by simply reading this Newsletter, praying about the things mentioned in it, and then sharing it with others, making copies, posting it etc.

Click here for the June KIMA Newsletter (pdf)

May God continue to bless you, your family, and your ministries!

Rev. Norman Finke

Executive Director of KIMA

Pastor Isaac Garcia, president of the Lutheran Synod of Mexico asked that you continue to pray for them and their ministry in Mexico.

•  Pray for the four students at the Seminary in Argentina: Samuel Perez Herrera, his wife Mayra, and two sons, Samuel & Paul; Neftali Garcia Guevara; Job Jimenez; and Guillermo Leyva; their parents, brothers & sisters, and their home churches.
•  Pray for San Juan Lutheran Church in Mexicali that the Lord would provide them with a leader and that they get excited and work together with the Lutheran Synod of Mexico.
•  Pray for wisdom, faith, and action as to what to do about buying a piece of land in Las Moras, Sinaloa, Mexico, (served by Lay-pastor Jóse Reyes) and raising the $2,000 necessary so that the people and especially the children of that community can be better served.
•  Pray for continued blessings on the mission in Rio Rico, assistance with the problem of the roof, and the needed church furnishings.
•  Pray for funding for Betania’s mission trip to Veracruz.($600).
  

The full update is in this pdf.

Rev. Norman Finke

Hello my dear friends in Christ,
He Is Risen Indeed!

I have had a concern for a while now. It concerns how we feel about being in ministry. If you ever had a chance to meet, personally, these men and women that we are helping in their ministries down in Mexico, you would find some people who you would love and certainly admire. All the help that we give is to aid them in their ministry of bringing God's plan of salvation to the people of their communities. We have seen success in much of what they are doing but that doesn't take away their hurts, frustrations, needs, or desires, efforts to fulfill what God is asking all of us to do. To put it simply, their needs don't go away simply because we lose interest or get distracted or decide that God isn't blessing us enough to help others.

I have to thank the Lord for His faithfulness in making sure that somehow or another we are able to keep going and help "hold up the prophets hands." For some of you who may think that I don't know what I'm talking about, (and maybe I don't), by prophet I mean anyone who has been called by the LORD to speak His Word.

I guess the thing that makes it difficult for us is when someone or some group has been faithfully supporting these people in doing the Lord's bidding suddenly, or at least it seems that way to us who don't know what is happening, stop giving anything to help. People, God isn't done yet!

Click here for the April Newsletter (pdf).

Please, include this ministry in your daily prayers. If you can't give or increase your gift, help find some other people to get involved. Post this Newsletter in such a way that people can actually see and read it or post some of the items in your Newsletters or bulletins. Maybe you could even post some of it on your Facebook page or whatever is the in thing these days. God calls us to action not to sit on the bench!

Maybe I need to eat a Snickers candy bar.

Rev. Norman Finke

Have you ever had something on your mind and just felt you needed to share it with someone else? I have. I didn't know who to share it with so I am just going to share it with everybody and maybe the right person of people will receive it and feel like they have been "tagged" and then will find someone else to get involved.

Click here for the March KIMA newsletter (pdf).

In addition, click here for a letter from Rev. Samuel Perez Herrera, (pdf) one of the students who went to Buenos Aires. He is with his wife and two sons.

I pray that you are having a blessed week.

God has given us all talents, abilities, aptitudes that we can use as we “Join Jesus on His Mission.” KIMA is but one of the many agencies or ministries that God has raised up to help carry out His redemptive mission. 

I believe that KIMA has been touched by God and in turn it reaches out to touch our brothers and sisters in Christ, who happen to live in Mexico, as they reach out to touch others with the love of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. God uses the power of the Holy Spirit working through His Word, the Sacraments, and through each of you as you pray for and contribute financially to this ministry and the work being done by our brothers & sisters in Christ along our southern border and into Mexico as they reach out in love to those who do not yet know of God’s plan. 

I pray that each of you will consider getting involved with Jesus by actively participating in one or more of His ministries. 

Please, click here and then share this newsletter (pdf) with others who might be interested in ministry.

May God bless each of you, your families, and your ministries.

Rev. Norman Finke
Executive Director of Koinoneo Independent Mission Agency