Proclaiming God’s Kingdom in Matamoros

Since 2015 SCC has been supporting the IBA program from Mennonite Education Association with tuition assistance for students in Matamoros, Mexico.  The IBA program exists to provide biblical training to Hispanic leaders, increasing their theological and spiritual maturity.

         SCC has supported four pastors in Matamoros for five years, from their first course through graduation from the IBA program in November 2019.  The following is their letter of gratitude, translated and delivered by Violeta Ajquejay, associate director of IBA, who traveled to Matamoros for the IBA graduation ceremony.  She reports that these graduates are very active in their congregations and doing God’s work in their communities. We praise God for the opportunity to join in His work in Matamoros and pray that God’s kingdom will continue to be proclaimed in our communities and around the world.

January 7, 2020

To South Central Mennonite Conference (SCMC)

Greetings! Trusting that our Good God blesses you and your families according to His promises.  This letter is to extend our gratitude on behalf of my brothers and sister who completed their studies with Anabaptist Biblical Institute (IBA).

This trajectory has been long, with doubts and difficult times in the way, that sometimes we considered giving up. Each of my fellow students have struggled to achieve this goal. Dealing with jobs, family matters and their activities in the church or mission, and with all of this, we finished the IBA studies, an experience that we value.

We thank SCC and its leaders and its church members who strive to serve in the expansion of the Kingdom of God and bear witness to the FAITH that is common to us. From this region of Mexico, we join the work entrusted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15, 16). And we commit to continue working on the mission on this side of the border in Mexico, and to continue putting into practice what we have learned in IBA. We hope that the Lord’s work we do, you will see it in some way as your ministry outside of the USA. Because without your support, we wouldn’t have had the leadership skills and bible knowledge we have now.

We are very grateful for the generous support that you gave us unconditionally and your prayers for the past five years. Without a doubt, it would not have been possible to reach our goal without your help.

We bless your lives, your families and your ministries.

Always grateful,

Meliton Viveros Arriaga, IBA Tutor

Matamoros, Mexico

Students:

1. Guadalupe Zaleta Sanchez, Pastor de Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Gethsemani (Pastor at Gethsemani Evangelical Mennonite Church)

2. Rebeca Salinas L., Iglesia Fundamento para la Familia (Foundation for the Family Church)

3. Odilon Zaleta Sanchez, Pastor de Iglesia Camino de Santidad (Pastor at Way of Holiness Church)

4. Meliton Viveros Arriaga, Pastor de misión, Mi Hogar Santuario Para Dios (Pastor at Mission, My Home, Sanctuary to God)