The Works - La Torcasita
Our work began in what I would call a traditional manner. We had absolutely no contacts or outside help.
We rented a corner storefront for $110.00 a month, visited door-to-door, held week-long evangelistic meetings. In a matter of a few months, the offerings met the rent. That was the extent of their dependence economically on me for anything. After about a year, they borrowed money to buy the property they are on today. They paid that off and have built as they have been able, with nearly all of the labor donated by the church people themselves.
We worked exclusively with this group for 12
years, waiting for the Lord to provide
the right man as their pastor. Jaime Balam has been in the church for many
years. He worked as an accountant at an electrical supply outlet. It was a
red letter day for me when he came to advise me not only that he realized
the Lord wanted him in full time ministry, but also that he had just given
two weeks notice on his job.
Today, the Lord continues to bless Jaime and his wife, Julia, and the ministry in general. There is a solid and growing group of young people in the church now. The church has always been self supporting. Jaime has been full time ever since he began as pastor with them. They have a mission with its own property in one of the many housing areas sprawling out from the center of town. Both works are comprised of people who are primarily of Mayan descent. The second group especially ministers to people of the lowest income and education levels.