Some of you know about the Mixteco people group that have migrated to Alabama and specifically Central Alabama. I have shared about it here and on my personal page. The Baptists are doing some great work here in many different ways to reach this"unreached" people group for the Lord, including partnering with the International Mission Board of the SBC. We are excited because it has taken about 4-5 years to find out who they are, where they are and how to reach them for Christ.
This past year, our Mixteco Task Force here in Montgomery has gone interdenominational by adding Cornerstone Bible Church to its group. We are thrilled to have them on board as well. Would you and your church like to have a seat on this task force? Call Lisa Rose and talk to her about it! So many blessing to have through getting to know this wonderfully, hard working people group.
One of our task force members has felt a call to "live" with the people here in one of the neighborhoods in Montgomery and be "little Christ" to those who live there. She has made great inroads and built trust among this people and needs our prayer support. She has begun learning this dialect(not Spanish) and is now helping translate. We have to be very careful about too much information given out because of trust issues and we want to protect the dignity of the ministry.
Some cool things are happening for the Kingdom though and so let me share what has been going on so you can better pray for this people group.
1. There are at least a 1000 people who are the Mixtec Indian Tribe that live in our area(maybe more). Their first language is NOT Spanish but an oral language called Mixteco, which has about 50 dialects within it. We have identified one of the dialects is prevalent here in the Montgomery area.
2. They mostly come from the mountains of southern Mexico in Guerrero and Oaxaca. They are "country" people.
3. They are very hard workers. Most of those who are here are not only providing for their families here but also grandparents or loved ones in Mexico that are ailing or older. Very committed folks to family and work.
4. Most were "trafficked" into the states and were enslaved and abused for the time they were "under" the coyotes "rule". Amazing stories from some on being "freed" and being able to find their way here to Alabama.
5. There are some different cultural things that are important to know but in getting to know their culture, you will understand how best to minister.
6. Forest Park Ministry, Community of Hope,Yarborough Street Baptist, Ridgecrest Baptist, Cornerstone Bible and Montgomery Baptist Association Church and Community Ministries have come together to form a Task Force to form a Task Force to reach this "unreached people group" for Christ ministering in unique and non traditional ways. We all have been working for about 4-5 years and are making some inroads by building trust and being invested.
Here are some things that are needed:
1. Pray-ers- We are going to start a Monday night prayer group and need some committed folks to PRAY for this people group and for those who are "on the field". Time and place to be announced.
2. MEN in the Mixteco people are really into soccer and basketball and have formed teams here in Montgomery. We need men who are willing to play soccer and basketball with them in order to have the opportunity to share Christ with them.
3. WOMEN-we are starting a women's BS that will need to have an interpreter(which we have). Any leaders will have to be trained on working with these women and what they need. AND...doing Bible Study differently than you are used to doing it.
4. CHILDREN-Tutors for a new after school tutoring ministry at Hopper Gardens. Tutors will be trained to minister and tutor the kids. We will also need some "child care" for the women's group that will be meeting.
5. Financial supporters for rent(at Hopper Gardens), tutoring supplies AND for Jesus films in their native tongue.
These are FIVE things that you can be involved in if you feel led. I am challenging you to PRAY and seek the Lord and ask for ways you can be involved in leading people to the Lord in this indigenous people group and how YOU can support what is already going on.
ANY Christian church can be involved as long as you are willing to learn and minister in new and exciting ways.
The world has come to the River Region and we get the privilege of helping share Christ with them without even having to go out of the country!!
Contact Lisa Rose at 334-271-6794 OR email me at lrose@mgmbaptist.org
"The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God". Leviticus 19:34
"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17
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