A letter from Mark Adams on the U.S.–Mexico border
Advent 2010
The Light Shines in the Darkness ...
La Luz Resplandece en las Tinieblas ...
(John 1:5)
The Advent/Christmas season on the border is a rich celebration of the coming of the Light of the World. With news of increasing drug violence on the border, of economic turmoil that crosses borders, of addiction and of a baby boy being born to a mother in the desert north of Douglas because there was no room for them in the inn, the church on the border has the audacity to celebrate the reality that God has entered fully into a world filled with fear, conflict, division and death to bring hope, peace, love, joy and abundant life.
Jairo: Praying in the Light.
- Jose is a financially successful businessman in Agua Prieta, but there is deep despair in his life. He has invited German, the pastor, together with other leaders of the Casa de Oracion new church development, into his home to share the good news of the Jesus and the peace that passes all understanding — light shines in the darkness.
- Raul and Laura are recovering addicts who are seeking emotional, physical and spiritual healing. The Lirio de los Valles Church has developed a committed lay-led ministry in AMARE, a drug rehabilitation center, to be instruments of God’s healing in the lives of Raul, Laura and hundreds of recovering addicts and their families — light shines in the darkness.
- Maria and her two daughters, Claudia (11) and Anai (5), arrive at the Migrant Resource Center after failing in their attempt to cross the desert to be reunited with their husband and father. Rejected, cold, hungry and thirsty, they (along with over 17,000 other men, women and children) find a place of welcome and love where they can warm themselves, feed their bodies and restore a bit of dignity to their souls — light shines in the darkness.
- Cristina and her family, despite the global economic downturn that has hit Mexico particularly hard, will have their family united for Christmas for the sixth straight year. They are one of the families that make up Just Coffee, which continues to grow and share its model with other communities — light shines in the darkness.
The Gastelum Sanchez family leading an Advent service.
Frontera de Cristo is committed to partnering with churches and organizations on both sides of the border to reflect the light of Christ in the midst of darkness that sucks life and hope out of communities and individuals. We seek to reflect God’s light through our six areas of ministry: new church development, health ministry, family ministry, the New Hope Community Center, Mission Education and the Just Trade Center.
Our family is privileged to serve as PC(USA) mission co-workers alongside our partners on the U.S./Mexico border and beyond. We are blessed to be able to witness in small and large ways how the light of Christ shines forth in surprising places.
Thank you for your prayers and support that make it possible for us to serve with the binational ministry, Frontera de Cristo.
May God grant us courage to be light in the darkness today and each day of our lives,
The Adams Maldonado Family
Miriam, Mark, Cindy, Anna Flor and Nathan
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 283
