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I quarterly send out an e-prayer letter to keep people informed of what God is allowing me and this ministry to do. Subscribe today to stay informed.
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"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
-Proverbs 29:18
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From 2013 through 2020, God privileged me to serve and help needy youth around the world in orphanages, children's homes, garbage dumps, illicit red districts, and poverty-stricken communities. God graciously privileged me to preach Christ's gospel on the streets in major cities, in churches, colleges, as well as in other religious institutions and schools too. God permitted me to sit down with State and Federal Legislators in governments to advocate for children regarding child trafficking and child labor slavery.
The souls and well-being of youth is greatly important to me! There is a gracious call of God on my life to help the outcasts, specifically among youngsters. There is an all-out war against our generation's children, teens, and young men by the devil. Our youngsters are combated on all fronts from broken families, school systems, governments, societal distress, the news media, gangs and violence, and religious institutions. In 2020 God brought about major changes in my life as well as in the ministry. It was a year of change for most of us! |
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Then in August of 2021 I sold my home and all of my possessions and I moved to El Salvador. God made it very clear to me that youngsters in Central America need God's intervention to save their lives spiritually as well as physically. In Central America, Satan for decades has terrorized countless young men and boys into joining forces with the violent MS 13 and Calle 18 gangs. These youngsters are an outcast to society, abhorred and feared, and have been unreached by Christians far too long. These needy and unreached young men and boys are whom God now gives me the privilege to lovingly and courageously serve.
God says to me, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" I have joyously responded, "Here am I; send me!" I hear the cries of Christ Jesus from His cross of Calvary calling out their names. I hear God's heartbeat strained for their redemption. I hear the Father's yearning for a loving relationship with them. I read and understand Christ's great commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" in Mark 16:15.
I happily live next to the gates of Hell to reach men and boys, youngsters, who are involved in the MS13 and Calle 18 gangs for Christ. God graciously allows me to have compassion, making a difference. So many are a killing away from hell, and through fear and courage of God, I want to pull them out of the fire (Jude 23), and compel them to look unto the LORD. My vision here in El Salvador near Satan's MS 13 and Calle 18 strongholds is to serve them in three ways:
God says to me, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" I have joyously responded, "Here am I; send me!" I hear the cries of Christ Jesus from His cross of Calvary calling out their names. I hear God's heartbeat strained for their redemption. I hear the Father's yearning for a loving relationship with them. I read and understand Christ's great commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" in Mark 16:15.
I happily live next to the gates of Hell to reach men and boys, youngsters, who are involved in the MS13 and Calle 18 gangs for Christ. God graciously allows me to have compassion, making a difference. So many are a killing away from hell, and through fear and courage of God, I want to pull them out of the fire (Jude 23), and compel them to look unto the LORD. My vision here in El Salvador near Satan's MS 13 and Calle 18 strongholds is to serve them in three ways:
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(1.) Evangelism - God has burned into my heart to go into these neighborhoods full of these young men and boys with the goal to daily talk with them about eternal matters and Christ. Romans 10:13-14 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" They need to hear the powerful, loving gospel message of Jesus Christ!
(2.) Discipleship - I don't want to give them a shallow, superficial Christianity from a distance. I get deep involved in the trenches of their lives, build caring friendships, and demonstrate Christ's love by good deeds and truth. 1 John 3:18 says, "My children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." |
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(3.) Prison Ministry - For nine years, when I used to live in San Diego, California, God privileged me the great opportunity to minister to gang members and criminals on the streets and within two prisons. Today, I am praying that God will open the doors for me to go inside correctional institutions to teach God's holy word to inmates, most who have charges related to criminal gang activities. Isaiah 42:6-7 says, "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
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(4.) Mission Ranch - I am raising the funds to purchase land and build a Mission Ranch for young men who desire to leave their sinful lifestyles and follow Christ. Youngsters will learn the word of God, be trained in godly living so that they should develop into fruitful servants of Christ. My need to purchase and build this property is $300,000.
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Donate Today! My labors in El Salvador is completely dependent upon God through the generosity of supporters. I am profoundly grateful for every dollar that comes into the ministry so that I can continue ministering to very needy people for eternity.
The Ministry's Biblical Foundation Is The Following Statement Of Faith
*Of the Scriptures
(A) Its Presentation. God has revealed Himself by general revelation—which manifests His eternal existence, power and glory (Psalm 19:1-3; Rom. 1:19-20)—and by special revelation—which manifests His character, grace, and program of redemption (John 1:1-5, 14, 18; 2 Tim. 3:15); that although special revelation has in times past been given by God through various means (Gen. 20:3, 32:28; Num. 27:21; 1 Sam. 3:10; 1 Chron. 24:5; Ezek. 1:1; Dan. 10:12; Mic. 6:5; Acts 3:21), it is now finally and preeminently given in the incarnate Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2), and the written Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments known collectively as the Holy Scriptures, or the Bible (2 Tim. 3:15); that the Bible is the complete and final written revelation of God so that no other religious writings or supposed revelations (Num. 12:2) are to be accepted as divinely inspired or authoritative (2 Thess. 2:1-2); that the Holy Spirit superintended the writing of the Bible such that the writers, although their individual personalities and different styles of writing are evident, recorded the very words by which God desires to communicate to mankind (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21); that the Bible, in whole or in part, is equally and fully inerrant in relation to any subject addressed, either directly or indirectly (Psalm 119:140).
(B) Its Interpretation. The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit is essential to properly understand the Bible (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10-13); that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer guarantees the availability of His teaching ministry to all believers, not merely to an elite group (1 Cor. 3:16); that human weakness (John 16:12), carnality (1 Cor. 3:1-2), and unwillingness to obey the truth (John 7:17) can thwart the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit; that unbelievers, no matter how much they know about the Bible, cannot truly understand it (Acts 4:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:14); that some passages are more difficult to understand than others (2 Peter 3:16); that incorrect interpretations of the Bible bring serious consequences (2 Peter 3:16); that God has gifted some believers with greater ability to teach the Bible for the benefit of all (Rom. 12:6-7; Eph. 4:11-12); that no matter how gifted a believer is, diligent study is necessary to understand the Bible (Isaiah 28:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:15); that those who teach the Bible will be held strictly accountable for their teaching (James 3:1); that there is but one true interpretation of scripture although there may be several applications; that the Bible is to be interpreted within a dispensational framework according to the normal grammatical-historical meaning of its words within the context and literary genre (narrative, poetry, parable, etc.) of the passage given; that the Bible helps interpret itself (1 Cor. 2:13); and that seeming contradictions are only so because of ignorance of all the facts (1 Cor. 13:12).
(C) Its Preservation. The written revelation of God, the Word of God, is true (Psalm 119:160) and pure (Psalm 12:6); that God has promised to preserve His Word (Psalm 12:7; 119:89; Matthew 5:18) and is well able to do so (Jeremiah 32:27); that the preservation promise extends to each and every word of His Word (Deuteronomy 8:3); that the many English translations available today, their words being demonstrably different—even contrary to one another—in hundreds of places, cannot be the true, pure, and preserved Word of God (Psalm 119:89-91); that Satan (Revelation 12:9) has sought to corrupt the Word of God from the beginning (Genesis 3:1-5); that God has expressly warned believers to keep His Word (Jude 1:3; Revelation 22:18-19) and to beware of corruption of it (1 Timothy 4:1); that, therefore, it is necessary to identify which translation is the true pure, and preserved Word of God; and that the King James Bible in the English language is the true, pure, and preserved Word of God because: (1) it was translated from a preserved Greek text (Matthew 12:33); (2) it has proven itself to be the quick and powerful Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) by the changed lives of untold millions of believers (John 8:31-32) for over four-hundred years; and (3) it teaches fundamental doctrines necessary for salvation and sanctification which are often weakened by, if not eliminated from, the texts of spurious bibles (1 Timothy 4:1).
*Concerning God
(A) The Triune God—His Being. There is only one (Deut. 6:4; Isaiah 44:6) living and true God (Jer. 10:10); that He is a Spirit (1 Kings 8:27; John 4:24), infinite (Job 11:7-9), eternal (Deut. 33:27; Psalm 90:20), sovereign (Psalm 135:6), and unchanging (Mal. 3:6) in His being (Exod. 3:14), wisdom (Rom. 11:33), understanding (Psalm 147:5), power (Matt. 19:26), holiness (Isaiah 6:3), justice (Rev. 15:3), goodness (Psalm 31:19), and truth (Exod. 34:6-7); that He is to be addressed with language using the male gender (Gen. 1:31; Matt. 7:11; Mark 1:1; John 14:25); that He is self-existent and self-revealing in three distinct persons—the Father (John 6:27), the Son (Titus 2:13) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4), —each of whom is to be equally honored, worshiped, and obeyed as true God (Matt. 28:19); that as its Creator (Gen. 1:1), He is absolutely separate from and above creation (Eph. 4:6) yet everywhere present in creation (Psalm 139:8; Heb. 4:13) as the Preserver of all things (Neh. 9:6); and that He, according to the counsel of His own will (Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:4, 11-12) and for His own glory (Rom. 15:4) and pleasure (Rev. 4:11), does whatever He desires in heaven and earth (Job 23:13-14), the knowledge of which enables His children to be patient in trouble (Rom. 5:3-4; James 1:2-4), thankful in prosperity (Phil. 4:10-13), and confident in the face of death (Rom. 8:38-39).
(B) The Triune God—God the Father. God the Father (Eph. 4:6) is the first Person of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19); that he orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose (Isaiah 14:24-27) and grace (Eph. 2:7); that He is sovereign in creation (Psalm 135:6), providence (2 Chron. 20:6; Psalm 89:9; Matt. 6:26), and redemption (Eph. 1:3-6); that He continually directs and governs all creatures and events (Isaiah 44:24-28); that He accomplishes His will without being in any way the author (Rom. 7:7, 12-14; 9:14) or approver (Psalm 5:4; Ezek. 18:23) of sin or abridging the accountability of human beings (Rom. 3:4-6); that through His foreknowledge He has graciously chosen from all eternity those whom He would have as His own (Rom. 8:28-30), yet saves from sin all who willingly come (Rev. 22:17) to Him through Jesus Christ (John 6:37-39); and that He relates Himself to His own as their Father (Matt. 6:8-9).
(C) The Triune God—God the Son. God the Son (Mark 1:1, John 1:34) is the second person of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19), that He is the eternal Word (John 1:1), and only begotten Son (John 1:18), our great God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13); that He, while retaining His absolute deity as the eternal Son of God (John 1:14; Heb. 13:8), became man (Galatians 4:4) by the miracle of virgin birth (Matthew 1:23) to continue forever (Heb. 7:24) as both God and man (Col. 2:9), one person in two distinct natures (Luke 1:35; Rom. 9:5); that He, as man, was in all points tempted like as we are (Heb. 4:15), yet, because He, as God, had no sin nature (2 Cor. 5:21), He was constitutionally unable to sin (John 1:14; Heb. 7:26), and did not sin in fact (John 8:29; 1 Peter 2:22); that He, as the perfect lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19), gave Himself in death (Matt. 20:28; John 10:17) upon the cross (Phil. 2:8) to bear there in His own body (1 Peter 2:24) the sins of the whole world (Isaiah 53:6; John 2:2) and suffered the full penalty of divine wrath (Matt. 27:46; Gal. 3:13) in our stead—the Absolutely Just for the absolutely unjust (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 3:18); that He actually died and was buried (Mark 14:44-46); that He arose from the dead (Matt. 28:6-7); 1 Cor. 14:4) in the same, though glorified—not immaterial—body (Luke 24:39) in which He had lived and died (John 20:25-28); that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers (Phil. 3:21); that He, as our great High Priest (Heb. 3:1), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) to sit at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19; Heb. 1:3) as our Advocate (1 John 2:1) and Intercessor (Heb. 7:25); that He is the head of the church, His body (Eph. 1:22-23); and that He is the final Judge (John 5:22) of His own 2 Cor. 5:10) and of all who fail to place their trust in Him as their Savior from sin (John 3:18; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Rev. 20:11-15).
(D) The Triune God—God the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19, Acts 5:3-4) is the third Person of the Triune God, the divine agent in nature (Gen. 1:2), revelation (1 Cor. 2:10; 2 Peter 1:21), and redemption (2 Cor. 3:18); that He caused Mary, a virgin, to conceive the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:35); that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 15:8-11); that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration (John 3:5-7) and baptizes all believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13); that He seals unto the day of redemption (Eph. 3:16), guides (Rom. 8:14), teaches (John 14:26), sanctifies (1 Cor. 6:11), and constantly works to conform to the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18) all who become children of God through Jesus Christ; that He distributes spiritual gifts to believers (1 Cor. 12:11) to glorify Christ (John 16:13-14) and edify the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12), not to glorify Himself, the gifts, or the recipients of the gifts.
*Of the Devil or Satan. Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy, the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness-destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Rev. 12:19; Ezek. 28:14-17; John 10:10)
*Of the Creation. The creations account is recorded in book of Genesis and it is to be accepted literally, not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or developments through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animals and vegetable life were made directly; and that God’s established law was that they should bring forth only after their kind. (Col. 1:16-17)
*Of the Fall of Man. Man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners-not by constraint, but by choice-and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Gen. 3:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:13-14; Rom. 5:17; Isaiah 64:6)
*Of the Virgin Birth. Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner-born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman; and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23)
*Of the Atonement for Sin. The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who by appointment of the Father freely took upon Himself our nature-yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by his death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that his atonement consisted not in setting us an example by his death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; and that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. (Lev. 17:11, Matt. 26:28; Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:7)
*Of Grace in the New Creation. In order to be a saved sinner an individual must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 3:3-7; Gal. 2:21)
*Of the Freeness of Salvation. God has an electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (Rom. 6:23)
*Of Justification. The great Gospel which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that His righteousness is imputed unto us not in consideration of any works or righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. (Rom. 4:25; 5:1, 16, 18)
*Of Repentance and Faith. Repentance and faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy-at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. (Acts 3:19, Acts 2:38)
*Of the Church. The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven (Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23).
*Of Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in new of life (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Rom. 6:4).
*Of the Lord’s Supper. It is a privilege for Christians to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination (1 Cor. 11:24-28).
*Of the Perseverance of the Saints. Such individuals only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. (Matt. 13:30; Eph. 6:18; Rev. 12:11)
*Of the Righteous and the Wicked. There is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem, while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and are under the curse, and that this distinction holds among men in and after death in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Psalm 1:1-6)
*Of Civil Government. Civil government is a divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed-except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of earth. (Rom. 13:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)
*Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events. The sacred Scriptures are believed and accepted upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, Christ arose bodily on the third day according to the Scriptures, He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God; that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heavenly-bodily, personally and visibly; that the dead in Christ shall rise first; that the living saints shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; that the Lord God shall give unto Him the Throne of His father David; and that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until he hath put all enemies under His feet. (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 2 Cor. 5:10; Luke 19:15-19; Zech. 14:1-9; Rev. 19:11-16)
*Of Missions. The command to give the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to Christians (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).
*This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Holy Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Holy Bible.
(A) Its Presentation. God has revealed Himself by general revelation—which manifests His eternal existence, power and glory (Psalm 19:1-3; Rom. 1:19-20)—and by special revelation—which manifests His character, grace, and program of redemption (John 1:1-5, 14, 18; 2 Tim. 3:15); that although special revelation has in times past been given by God through various means (Gen. 20:3, 32:28; Num. 27:21; 1 Sam. 3:10; 1 Chron. 24:5; Ezek. 1:1; Dan. 10:12; Mic. 6:5; Acts 3:21), it is now finally and preeminently given in the incarnate Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2), and the written Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments known collectively as the Holy Scriptures, or the Bible (2 Tim. 3:15); that the Bible is the complete and final written revelation of God so that no other religious writings or supposed revelations (Num. 12:2) are to be accepted as divinely inspired or authoritative (2 Thess. 2:1-2); that the Holy Spirit superintended the writing of the Bible such that the writers, although their individual personalities and different styles of writing are evident, recorded the very words by which God desires to communicate to mankind (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21); that the Bible, in whole or in part, is equally and fully inerrant in relation to any subject addressed, either directly or indirectly (Psalm 119:140).
(B) Its Interpretation. The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit is essential to properly understand the Bible (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10-13); that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer guarantees the availability of His teaching ministry to all believers, not merely to an elite group (1 Cor. 3:16); that human weakness (John 16:12), carnality (1 Cor. 3:1-2), and unwillingness to obey the truth (John 7:17) can thwart the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit; that unbelievers, no matter how much they know about the Bible, cannot truly understand it (Acts 4:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:14); that some passages are more difficult to understand than others (2 Peter 3:16); that incorrect interpretations of the Bible bring serious consequences (2 Peter 3:16); that God has gifted some believers with greater ability to teach the Bible for the benefit of all (Rom. 12:6-7; Eph. 4:11-12); that no matter how gifted a believer is, diligent study is necessary to understand the Bible (Isaiah 28:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:15); that those who teach the Bible will be held strictly accountable for their teaching (James 3:1); that there is but one true interpretation of scripture although there may be several applications; that the Bible is to be interpreted within a dispensational framework according to the normal grammatical-historical meaning of its words within the context and literary genre (narrative, poetry, parable, etc.) of the passage given; that the Bible helps interpret itself (1 Cor. 2:13); and that seeming contradictions are only so because of ignorance of all the facts (1 Cor. 13:12).
(C) Its Preservation. The written revelation of God, the Word of God, is true (Psalm 119:160) and pure (Psalm 12:6); that God has promised to preserve His Word (Psalm 12:7; 119:89; Matthew 5:18) and is well able to do so (Jeremiah 32:27); that the preservation promise extends to each and every word of His Word (Deuteronomy 8:3); that the many English translations available today, their words being demonstrably different—even contrary to one another—in hundreds of places, cannot be the true, pure, and preserved Word of God (Psalm 119:89-91); that Satan (Revelation 12:9) has sought to corrupt the Word of God from the beginning (Genesis 3:1-5); that God has expressly warned believers to keep His Word (Jude 1:3; Revelation 22:18-19) and to beware of corruption of it (1 Timothy 4:1); that, therefore, it is necessary to identify which translation is the true pure, and preserved Word of God; and that the King James Bible in the English language is the true, pure, and preserved Word of God because: (1) it was translated from a preserved Greek text (Matthew 12:33); (2) it has proven itself to be the quick and powerful Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) by the changed lives of untold millions of believers (John 8:31-32) for over four-hundred years; and (3) it teaches fundamental doctrines necessary for salvation and sanctification which are often weakened by, if not eliminated from, the texts of spurious bibles (1 Timothy 4:1).
*Concerning God
(A) The Triune God—His Being. There is only one (Deut. 6:4; Isaiah 44:6) living and true God (Jer. 10:10); that He is a Spirit (1 Kings 8:27; John 4:24), infinite (Job 11:7-9), eternal (Deut. 33:27; Psalm 90:20), sovereign (Psalm 135:6), and unchanging (Mal. 3:6) in His being (Exod. 3:14), wisdom (Rom. 11:33), understanding (Psalm 147:5), power (Matt. 19:26), holiness (Isaiah 6:3), justice (Rev. 15:3), goodness (Psalm 31:19), and truth (Exod. 34:6-7); that He is to be addressed with language using the male gender (Gen. 1:31; Matt. 7:11; Mark 1:1; John 14:25); that He is self-existent and self-revealing in three distinct persons—the Father (John 6:27), the Son (Titus 2:13) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4), —each of whom is to be equally honored, worshiped, and obeyed as true God (Matt. 28:19); that as its Creator (Gen. 1:1), He is absolutely separate from and above creation (Eph. 4:6) yet everywhere present in creation (Psalm 139:8; Heb. 4:13) as the Preserver of all things (Neh. 9:6); and that He, according to the counsel of His own will (Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:4, 11-12) and for His own glory (Rom. 15:4) and pleasure (Rev. 4:11), does whatever He desires in heaven and earth (Job 23:13-14), the knowledge of which enables His children to be patient in trouble (Rom. 5:3-4; James 1:2-4), thankful in prosperity (Phil. 4:10-13), and confident in the face of death (Rom. 8:38-39).
(B) The Triune God—God the Father. God the Father (Eph. 4:6) is the first Person of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19); that he orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose (Isaiah 14:24-27) and grace (Eph. 2:7); that He is sovereign in creation (Psalm 135:6), providence (2 Chron. 20:6; Psalm 89:9; Matt. 6:26), and redemption (Eph. 1:3-6); that He continually directs and governs all creatures and events (Isaiah 44:24-28); that He accomplishes His will without being in any way the author (Rom. 7:7, 12-14; 9:14) or approver (Psalm 5:4; Ezek. 18:23) of sin or abridging the accountability of human beings (Rom. 3:4-6); that through His foreknowledge He has graciously chosen from all eternity those whom He would have as His own (Rom. 8:28-30), yet saves from sin all who willingly come (Rev. 22:17) to Him through Jesus Christ (John 6:37-39); and that He relates Himself to His own as their Father (Matt. 6:8-9).
(C) The Triune God—God the Son. God the Son (Mark 1:1, John 1:34) is the second person of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19), that He is the eternal Word (John 1:1), and only begotten Son (John 1:18), our great God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13); that He, while retaining His absolute deity as the eternal Son of God (John 1:14; Heb. 13:8), became man (Galatians 4:4) by the miracle of virgin birth (Matthew 1:23) to continue forever (Heb. 7:24) as both God and man (Col. 2:9), one person in two distinct natures (Luke 1:35; Rom. 9:5); that He, as man, was in all points tempted like as we are (Heb. 4:15), yet, because He, as God, had no sin nature (2 Cor. 5:21), He was constitutionally unable to sin (John 1:14; Heb. 7:26), and did not sin in fact (John 8:29; 1 Peter 2:22); that He, as the perfect lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19), gave Himself in death (Matt. 20:28; John 10:17) upon the cross (Phil. 2:8) to bear there in His own body (1 Peter 2:24) the sins of the whole world (Isaiah 53:6; John 2:2) and suffered the full penalty of divine wrath (Matt. 27:46; Gal. 3:13) in our stead—the Absolutely Just for the absolutely unjust (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 3:18); that He actually died and was buried (Mark 14:44-46); that He arose from the dead (Matt. 28:6-7); 1 Cor. 14:4) in the same, though glorified—not immaterial—body (Luke 24:39) in which He had lived and died (John 20:25-28); that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers (Phil. 3:21); that He, as our great High Priest (Heb. 3:1), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) to sit at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19; Heb. 1:3) as our Advocate (1 John 2:1) and Intercessor (Heb. 7:25); that He is the head of the church, His body (Eph. 1:22-23); and that He is the final Judge (John 5:22) of His own 2 Cor. 5:10) and of all who fail to place their trust in Him as their Savior from sin (John 3:18; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Rev. 20:11-15).
(D) The Triune God—God the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19, Acts 5:3-4) is the third Person of the Triune God, the divine agent in nature (Gen. 1:2), revelation (1 Cor. 2:10; 2 Peter 1:21), and redemption (2 Cor. 3:18); that He caused Mary, a virgin, to conceive the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:35); that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 15:8-11); that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration (John 3:5-7) and baptizes all believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13); that He seals unto the day of redemption (Eph. 3:16), guides (Rom. 8:14), teaches (John 14:26), sanctifies (1 Cor. 6:11), and constantly works to conform to the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18) all who become children of God through Jesus Christ; that He distributes spiritual gifts to believers (1 Cor. 12:11) to glorify Christ (John 16:13-14) and edify the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12), not to glorify Himself, the gifts, or the recipients of the gifts.
*Of the Devil or Satan. Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy, the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness-destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Rev. 12:19; Ezek. 28:14-17; John 10:10)
*Of the Creation. The creations account is recorded in book of Genesis and it is to be accepted literally, not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or developments through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animals and vegetable life were made directly; and that God’s established law was that they should bring forth only after their kind. (Col. 1:16-17)
*Of the Fall of Man. Man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners-not by constraint, but by choice-and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Gen. 3:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:13-14; Rom. 5:17; Isaiah 64:6)
*Of the Virgin Birth. Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner-born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman; and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23)
*Of the Atonement for Sin. The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who by appointment of the Father freely took upon Himself our nature-yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by his death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that his atonement consisted not in setting us an example by his death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; and that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. (Lev. 17:11, Matt. 26:28; Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:7)
*Of Grace in the New Creation. In order to be a saved sinner an individual must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 3:3-7; Gal. 2:21)
*Of the Freeness of Salvation. God has an electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (Rom. 6:23)
*Of Justification. The great Gospel which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that His righteousness is imputed unto us not in consideration of any works or righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. (Rom. 4:25; 5:1, 16, 18)
*Of Repentance and Faith. Repentance and faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy-at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. (Acts 3:19, Acts 2:38)
*Of the Church. The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven (Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23).
*Of Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in new of life (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Rom. 6:4).
*Of the Lord’s Supper. It is a privilege for Christians to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination (1 Cor. 11:24-28).
*Of the Perseverance of the Saints. Such individuals only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. (Matt. 13:30; Eph. 6:18; Rev. 12:11)
*Of the Righteous and the Wicked. There is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem, while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and are under the curse, and that this distinction holds among men in and after death in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Psalm 1:1-6)
*Of Civil Government. Civil government is a divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed-except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of earth. (Rom. 13:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)
*Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events. The sacred Scriptures are believed and accepted upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, Christ arose bodily on the third day according to the Scriptures, He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God; that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heavenly-bodily, personally and visibly; that the dead in Christ shall rise first; that the living saints shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; that the Lord God shall give unto Him the Throne of His father David; and that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until he hath put all enemies under His feet. (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 2 Cor. 5:10; Luke 19:15-19; Zech. 14:1-9; Rev. 19:11-16)
*Of Missions. The command to give the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to Christians (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).
*This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Holy Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Holy Bible.
M S 1 3
Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS 13, is an international criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Originally, the gang was formed by a small group of Salvadoran immigrants to defend and protect their immigrant brethren from other gangs in Los Angeles. The Salvadoran immigrants were being severely harassed and discriminated by the surrounding large Mexican community. Over time, the MS 13 gang grew from being a band of guys who defends their people to transforming into a traditional criminal organization. Over time this gang has increasingly grown in numbers as well as in strength in terrorizing havoc, destruction and death in the lives of countless people around the world.
Sadly, the 1980s marked the start of a blood 12-year Salvadoran Civil War in Central America. The United States as well as other nations got involved. The war intensified greatly and so the U.S. got involved to back the Salvadoran military regime against the leftist revolutionaries who were supported by Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Soviet Union. Seventy-five thousand civilians lost their lives, and many thousands more “disappeared,” were tortured and displaced. This Cold War proxy effected countless people, families and children, and its harm reverberated for decades. The hundreds of thousands who did flee the terror and ultraviolence sought refuge in Europe, Canada, Australia and the U.S. Thousands who were able to flee north and get asylum in the United States joined their peers in the crowded city of Los Angeles.
In the early 1990s, the United States government realized it had a serious problem on its hands. Police departments, especially in southern California, were seeing an escalation of crime, and were arresting many gang members on multiple charges of drug, theft, and murder. At the close of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, the United States began to deport droves of gang members back to Central America. This opened the flood gates for profound problems in Central America, specifically with El Salvador not able to handle the gangs. These criminals, now free to roam the streets, discovered that they could commit crime and violence with little repercussions. These deportations facilitated the spread of the gangs in their numbers, strength, and destructive violence.
The MS 13 gang is currently active in many parts of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Most members are in Central America. The MS 13's motto is “mata, viola, controla” – which means "kill, rape, control." Many of the members seek to live up to this motto through truly shocking acts of violence designed to instill fear: vicious machete attacks, execution-style gunshots, gang rape and human trafficking. MS 13 is defined by its cruelty, and their principal rivalry in Central America is with the Calle 18 gang (Street 18 gang).
Because of their ability to instill fear into the minds of people, so few Christians have had the courage to approach them and warn them of sin, righteousness and judgment, and present the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. But God in His own accord is doing something! In June 2019, specifically in El Salvador, God put a fearless man into the office of President of El Salvador. President Nayib Bukele has publicly vowed to put an end to the gangs in El Salvador. His war against the gangs has allowed authorities to kill and throw tens of thousands into prisons.
The people of El Salvador for the first time in decades feel a little relief. The people have not forgotten what life was like just a couple of years ago. And they are cautiously hopeful that the government's policies will continue to work, though many fear that violence could quickly reemerge when President Bukele is no longer in charge one day.
Meanwhile, I believe God has broken down Satan's strong resistance in El Salvador. I believe right now God is giving these gang members an opportunity to be approached to hear God's gospel message. I believe right now is the time that God is working in the hearts of thousands of gang members to bow their lives to Christ Jesus and experience the love, care and healing in their hearts and lives that only Christ can do. God is calling them by name to surrender their sin and embrace the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ. And so it is time for us Christians to courageously rise up and take the gospel to them.
Sadly, the 1980s marked the start of a blood 12-year Salvadoran Civil War in Central America. The United States as well as other nations got involved. The war intensified greatly and so the U.S. got involved to back the Salvadoran military regime against the leftist revolutionaries who were supported by Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Soviet Union. Seventy-five thousand civilians lost their lives, and many thousands more “disappeared,” were tortured and displaced. This Cold War proxy effected countless people, families and children, and its harm reverberated for decades. The hundreds of thousands who did flee the terror and ultraviolence sought refuge in Europe, Canada, Australia and the U.S. Thousands who were able to flee north and get asylum in the United States joined their peers in the crowded city of Los Angeles.
In the early 1990s, the United States government realized it had a serious problem on its hands. Police departments, especially in southern California, were seeing an escalation of crime, and were arresting many gang members on multiple charges of drug, theft, and murder. At the close of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, the United States began to deport droves of gang members back to Central America. This opened the flood gates for profound problems in Central America, specifically with El Salvador not able to handle the gangs. These criminals, now free to roam the streets, discovered that they could commit crime and violence with little repercussions. These deportations facilitated the spread of the gangs in their numbers, strength, and destructive violence.
The MS 13 gang is currently active in many parts of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Most members are in Central America. The MS 13's motto is “mata, viola, controla” – which means "kill, rape, control." Many of the members seek to live up to this motto through truly shocking acts of violence designed to instill fear: vicious machete attacks, execution-style gunshots, gang rape and human trafficking. MS 13 is defined by its cruelty, and their principal rivalry in Central America is with the Calle 18 gang (Street 18 gang).
Because of their ability to instill fear into the minds of people, so few Christians have had the courage to approach them and warn them of sin, righteousness and judgment, and present the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. But God in His own accord is doing something! In June 2019, specifically in El Salvador, God put a fearless man into the office of President of El Salvador. President Nayib Bukele has publicly vowed to put an end to the gangs in El Salvador. His war against the gangs has allowed authorities to kill and throw tens of thousands into prisons.
The people of El Salvador for the first time in decades feel a little relief. The people have not forgotten what life was like just a couple of years ago. And they are cautiously hopeful that the government's policies will continue to work, though many fear that violence could quickly reemerge when President Bukele is no longer in charge one day.
Meanwhile, I believe God has broken down Satan's strong resistance in El Salvador. I believe right now God is giving these gang members an opportunity to be approached to hear God's gospel message. I believe right now is the time that God is working in the hearts of thousands of gang members to bow their lives to Christ Jesus and experience the love, care and healing in their hearts and lives that only Christ can do. God is calling them by name to surrender their sin and embrace the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ. And so it is time for us Christians to courageously rise up and take the gospel to them.
CALLE 1 8
Calle 18 gang, also known as Street 18, Barrio 18, Mara 18, or La 18, first started near 18th Street and Union Avenue in Los Angeles, California as a Mexican gang. It traces its origins to the late 1950s and early 1960s. The gang began to take its current form in the 1980s after splitting from the Clanton 14 gang. Since its origins, Calle 18 now is a multi-ethnic (largely Central American and Mexican) transnational criminal organization. The Calle 18 gang is occasionally referred to as the "Children's Army" because of its recruitment of elementary and middle-school aged youth. It is one of the largest transnational criminal gangs in Los Angeles, with 30,000 to 50,000 members in 20 states across the U.S. alone and also is allied with the Mexican Mafia around the world.
Calle 18 is recognized by many authorities as one of the most violent and prolific street gangs. Several Calle 18 gang members have reached a higher level of sophistication and organization in their illicit activities than other gangs. While their main source of income is street-level distribution of drugs, they also have been linked to murders, assaults, arson, copyright infringement, extortion, human trafficking, illegal immigration, kidnapping, prostitution, robbery, and weapons trafficking, as well as other crimes.
Calle 18 gang members are required to abide by a strict set of rules amongst themselves. Failure to obey the word of a gang leader, or to show proper respect to a fellow gang member, may result in an 18-second beating, or even execution. Members within the gang exhibit the use of fear tactics to keep one another adhering to allegiance and respect.
Loyalty amongst gang members is very important, and they gain their loyalty by spilling blood. Often if someone wants to join the gang in Central America he has to kill someone, at times one or more persons. This level of violence is not commonplace in the United States, but south of the border its anything goes. In Central America gang tactics differ from those in the United States because there it is easier to get away with crime, so the criminals are bolder. In Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, gang members kill more often than in the United States because the police in the U.S. are more structured to catch them and bring the whole force of the law down against them. Since also in Central America the police are more corrupt, the gangs are able to pay bribes and blood money to authorities in order to kill one another instead of being arrested.
When Central American gang members were arrested in the United States, they were then deported back to Central America, and they took the gang with them. Back in their homelands the gang rose out-of-control on different levels of violence, not just in El Salvador, but in Honduras and Guatemala as well, becoming one of the most violent gangs in Central America. In their homelands, they found they could get away with more than in the United States. So they mutated, becoming much more violent. They got heavier guns, and they recruited more people, children and victims into their gangs.
Calle 18 over the years has become a bitter rival of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13) gang, as both gangs have wanted to dominate control in Central America. They have had some bloody turf wars that cut right across the region. And in many instances dividing neighborhoods into sectors run by the gangs. This confusion has helped these two gangs to turn Central America into the area with the highest homicide rate in the world. In El Salvador a faction called the "Revolucionarios" ("Revolutionaries") split off Calle 18 in 2005, becoming rivals with the remaining members, who came to be known as the "Sureños" ("Southerners."). And so there are vicious battles within Calle 18 itself too.
In Central America today there are tens of thousands of gang members which are responsible for the gang crisis that is naming this region of the world as the murder capital of the world. Calle 18 and MS 13 for decades have had the country gripped in fear as they kill so many people. For example, in 2016 over 23 Salvadorans were killed per day. The Calle 18 gang has been known to light buses full of people on fire, engage in guerrilla urban warfare and kill police.
In June, 2019 God put a fearless man into the office of Presidency of El Salvador. President Nayib Bukele has publicly vowed to put an end to the gangs in El Salvador. His government has issued war against the gangs, and now the government officials are killing and arresting gang members on site and throwing tens of thousands into prisons.
The people of El Salvador for the first time in decades feel a little relief. The people have not forgotten what life was like just a couple of years ago. And they are cautiously hopeful that the government's policies will continue to work, though many fear that violence could quickly reemerge when President Bukele is no longer in charge one day.
Meanwhile, I believe God has broken down Satan's strong resistance in El Salvador. I believe right now God is giving these gang members an opportunity to be approached to hear God's gospel message. I believe right now is the time that God is working in the hearts of thousands of gang members to bow their lives to Christ Jesus and experience the love, care and healing in their hearts and lives that only Christ can give. God is calling them by name to surrender their sin and embrace the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ. And so it is time for us Christians to courageously rise up and take the gospel to them.
Calle 18 is recognized by many authorities as one of the most violent and prolific street gangs. Several Calle 18 gang members have reached a higher level of sophistication and organization in their illicit activities than other gangs. While their main source of income is street-level distribution of drugs, they also have been linked to murders, assaults, arson, copyright infringement, extortion, human trafficking, illegal immigration, kidnapping, prostitution, robbery, and weapons trafficking, as well as other crimes.
Calle 18 gang members are required to abide by a strict set of rules amongst themselves. Failure to obey the word of a gang leader, or to show proper respect to a fellow gang member, may result in an 18-second beating, or even execution. Members within the gang exhibit the use of fear tactics to keep one another adhering to allegiance and respect.
Loyalty amongst gang members is very important, and they gain their loyalty by spilling blood. Often if someone wants to join the gang in Central America he has to kill someone, at times one or more persons. This level of violence is not commonplace in the United States, but south of the border its anything goes. In Central America gang tactics differ from those in the United States because there it is easier to get away with crime, so the criminals are bolder. In Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, gang members kill more often than in the United States because the police in the U.S. are more structured to catch them and bring the whole force of the law down against them. Since also in Central America the police are more corrupt, the gangs are able to pay bribes and blood money to authorities in order to kill one another instead of being arrested.
When Central American gang members were arrested in the United States, they were then deported back to Central America, and they took the gang with them. Back in their homelands the gang rose out-of-control on different levels of violence, not just in El Salvador, but in Honduras and Guatemala as well, becoming one of the most violent gangs in Central America. In their homelands, they found they could get away with more than in the United States. So they mutated, becoming much more violent. They got heavier guns, and they recruited more people, children and victims into their gangs.
Calle 18 over the years has become a bitter rival of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13) gang, as both gangs have wanted to dominate control in Central America. They have had some bloody turf wars that cut right across the region. And in many instances dividing neighborhoods into sectors run by the gangs. This confusion has helped these two gangs to turn Central America into the area with the highest homicide rate in the world. In El Salvador a faction called the "Revolucionarios" ("Revolutionaries") split off Calle 18 in 2005, becoming rivals with the remaining members, who came to be known as the "Sureños" ("Southerners."). And so there are vicious battles within Calle 18 itself too.
In Central America today there are tens of thousands of gang members which are responsible for the gang crisis that is naming this region of the world as the murder capital of the world. Calle 18 and MS 13 for decades have had the country gripped in fear as they kill so many people. For example, in 2016 over 23 Salvadorans were killed per day. The Calle 18 gang has been known to light buses full of people on fire, engage in guerrilla urban warfare and kill police.
In June, 2019 God put a fearless man into the office of Presidency of El Salvador. President Nayib Bukele has publicly vowed to put an end to the gangs in El Salvador. His government has issued war against the gangs, and now the government officials are killing and arresting gang members on site and throwing tens of thousands into prisons.
The people of El Salvador for the first time in decades feel a little relief. The people have not forgotten what life was like just a couple of years ago. And they are cautiously hopeful that the government's policies will continue to work, though many fear that violence could quickly reemerge when President Bukele is no longer in charge one day.
Meanwhile, I believe God has broken down Satan's strong resistance in El Salvador. I believe right now God is giving these gang members an opportunity to be approached to hear God's gospel message. I believe right now is the time that God is working in the hearts of thousands of gang members to bow their lives to Christ Jesus and experience the love, care and healing in their hearts and lives that only Christ can give. God is calling them by name to surrender their sin and embrace the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ. And so it is time for us Christians to courageously rise up and take the gospel to them.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,and find grace to help in time of need."
that we may obtain mercy,and find grace to help in time of need."
-Hebrews 4:16
*Your prayers before our great God are profoundly appreciated and coveted. Please specifically pray:
* That the good hand of the LORD my God be upon me. (Ezra 7:6,9)
* That The word of God may have free course. (2 Thess 3:1)
* That men & boys in gangs would hear and understand the gospel, repent & enjoy a love relationship
with Jesus Christ. (Matt 13:19 & Acts 3:19)
* That God will give me understanding & wisdom to help these men & boys. (1 Kings 3:9,12)
* That I will be delivered from unreasonable & wicked men. (2 Thess 3:2)
* That God will send forth labourers into His harvest. (Matt 9:37-38)
* That people will purpose in their hearts to cheerfully give to this ministry. (2 Cor 9:7-8)
* That the good hand of the LORD my God be upon me. (Ezra 7:6,9)
* That The word of God may have free course. (2 Thess 3:1)
* That men & boys in gangs would hear and understand the gospel, repent & enjoy a love relationship
with Jesus Christ. (Matt 13:19 & Acts 3:19)
* That God will give me understanding & wisdom to help these men & boys. (1 Kings 3:9,12)
* That I will be delivered from unreasonable & wicked men. (2 Thess 3:2)
* That God will send forth labourers into His harvest. (Matt 9:37-38)
* That people will purpose in their hearts to cheerfully give to this ministry. (2 Cor 9:7-8)
Here are some scriptures God has given me to encourage my walk closer beside Christ. My heart delights to mediate and trust in these wondrous faithful promises of God.
Acts 15:26 - "Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Acts 20:24 - "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
Philippians 2:30 - "Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me."
Joshua 1:5 - "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
1 Corinthians 16:15 - "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)"
1 Samuel 17:33-37 - "And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee."
1 Peter 2:9-10 - "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. "
Isaiah 42:6, 7, 9 - "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house....Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them."
2 Chronicles 26:5 - "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper."
2 Chronicles 16:8c-9 - "...yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."
Ezekiel 2:1-3:3 - "And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness."
Acts 10:38 - "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
Acts 20:24 - "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
Philippians 2:30 - "Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me."
Joshua 1:5 - "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
1 Corinthians 16:15 - "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)"
1 Samuel 17:33-37 - "And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee."
1 Peter 2:9-10 - "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. "
Isaiah 42:6, 7, 9 - "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house....Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them."
2 Chronicles 26:5 - "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper."
2 Chronicles 16:8c-9 - "...yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."
Ezekiel 2:1-3:3 - "And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness."
Acts 10:38 - "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
