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Giving, Going & Sending
DALLAS—When Vicente Acosta speaks, the people of Motho—a small town in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico—listen.
Acosta is a respected leader among the 350 or so residents of Motho, which has a majority Catholic population. Once upon a time, he used his influence to keep the gospel from being preached in his town, as he was strongly opposed to Christians who might come spreading anything that might be opposed to his Catholic religion.
But that was then. Things for Acosta—and for Motho—have changed.
“I was against them coming to my town to preach the gospel,” Acosta said, “but now that I have given my life to Christ, I have a mission to spread the gospel to my people.”
Three years ago, Acosta joined forces with Primera Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Dallas to make Jesus’ name known in Motho. This past summer, Nueva Vida went on a mission trip to Motho, furthering an advance of the gospel that started several years ago.
New commitment, new life
At age 18, Acosta began traveling to the U.S. to work during the hot season before returning home to his family in Mexico. Many people shared the gospel with him during those years, which gradually softened his heart and led to him accepting Christ. It was something his wife, Marisela, had been praying for since they got married.
Acosta began attending a house church every time he came to the U.S., but in 1999, that church ceased to exist. That same year, he was working on a house when a Hispanic neighbor invited him to Nueva Vida in Dallas. There, Acosta rededicated his life to the Lord, was baptized, and committed himself to doing whatever God called him to do.
One of the things on Acosta’s heart was to take the gospel back to his people in Motho. So, he approached Nueva Vida’s leadership to share his vision for his hometown. Together, they began to pray about a way to do mission work in Motho.
One of the primary ways they felt led to do that was through planting a church, Misión Bautista Nueva Vida—named in honor of the support and partnership of Nueva Vida Dallas. This past summer marked the third year Nueva Vida Dallas has sent a team to Mexico to help the mission extend the reach of the gospel in Motho.
Nueva Vida Dallas helps the mission church to further the work already being done in Motho through training, education, and evangelism. Misión Bautista Nueva Vida has an interim pastor, Agustín Velasquez, who preaches there once a week, with the church meeting in Acosta’s home until it can find a permanent location.
Ironically, it’s not the first time Velasquez and Acosta have crossed paths. Velasquez once taught at a local seminary and would send students to evangelize Motho—efforts that were often frustrated by Acosta.
Now Acosta uses every opportunity to spread the gospel. During the mission trip, he held a birthday party for his granddaughter, renting a tent, providing food, and inviting the community. About 200 people showed up and, in the middle of the celebration, they heard a gospel presentation.
Not only giving, but sending
Nueva Vida Dallas Senior Pastor Nelson Fonseca preached several times during the mission trip and, with trip leader Oscar Saenz, taught members of the mission church how to share the gospel. The church also held a vacation Bible school and invited children and families from all over town.
“Unlike other mission trips I have had the opportunity to go on, we were able to experience a special move on the streets by having focused spiritual conversations,” Fonseca said, noting that children were especially filled with joy after seeing vibrant decorations and materials teaching them about Jesus during several events. “The gospel was proclaimed, and we were able to share the love of Christ with the little ones.”
God is strongly at work among the children in Motho, Saenz said. One day during the trip, he said Fonseca asked a group of children if any felt called to serve God or even pastor someday. One child boldly stood up and said he felt called to serve God.
Nueva Vida Dallas is making heavy gospel investments not only in places like Motho, but in people. The church supports missionaries and church planters in Dallas and Arlington, in Nicaragua, and across Mexico in places like Durango, Actopan, and Ixmiquilpan.
“Not only do we believe in giving,” Fonseca said, “but we also send and we pray for them and their families every day in our morning prayer.”
Saenz, who led the singles ministry at Nueva Vida Dallas in addition to serving in teaching and discipleship roles, said he now feels called by God to serve in evangelism.
“You have to be faithful to God’s call,” Saenz said. “There will be persecution in many places, but you don’t have to focus on that. You have to focus on the impact God is going to make.”
