History of our Mazateco Mission

Our church adopted the Mazatecos, an Unreached People Group (UPG) living in the state of Oaxaca, in the fall of 1998. In our research, we discovered an Alliance church in Alaska and a church that they had planted in Guadalajara, Mexico, who were interested in reaching them with the gospel, too. For three years, we supported the Guadalajara church's efforts to place a national missionary among the Mazatecos with our prayers, encouragement, and occasional special offerings. After a couple of families did not work out, Pastor Arturo Walle became very discouraged.

In the fall of 2001 we felt that God was calling us to be more actively involved. We sent Amy Still-Pepper and John Frank, along with the pastor of the Alaskan church (Kevin Gould) and some representatives from our Mexican partner church (Pastor Arturo Walle and his brother Luis and William Cooke missionary from the Alaska church to San Marcos, a town near Guadalajara) to explore the possibilities for some short-term ministry in the Mazateco village of San José Independencia. Just after that trip, Arturo Walle and William Cooke, visited us in Zanesville and we discussed ways in which we could partner together to serve the Mazateco people. The following year, our first mission team, which included Amy, dental team Dan & Les Merker, Stewart Campbell, Annette Newcome, and Scott Wohlgamuth, plus Luis Walle and William Cooke, spent a week in San José caring for the people's dental needs, showing them Christ's love, doing some evangelism where oppportunities arose, and making some relationships. They also located a piece of property that had been bought by the Guadalajara church on which they hope to build a ministry center someday.
In 2003, a third trip was made by Amy, Dan & Les, Stewart, Scott and Lynne Thomas plus Arturo, William and Lupita Gabriel, a young woman from another church in the Guadalajara area. Along with the dental ministry, more evangelism and some children's programs were done, though this time in the town of San Felipe Tilpan, where Leonardo García, a pastor who has planted several churches among the Mazatecos, lives and ministers. We also made a follow-up visit to San José where we hope to continue work in the future as God leads. In 2004 a fourth trip was made by the same team, minus Amy Still-Pepper who was replaced by Jeri Berry, to San Felipe Tilpan and Arroyo Caracol where the team did dentistry and personal evangelism. Another day trip was made to San Jose to renew past acquaintances and visit the property that was purchased for building a church some day soon. In 2005, a fifth trip was made to San José where more of the people's dental needs were cared for, acquaintances were renewed and new friends were made. Some of the our team and the Mexican team went up into the hills to help care for the needs of the destitute people of the area. Another visit was made to the property owned by the Guadalajara church where a church building will be built in the future, the Lord willing. Pastor Arturo then took the team members to churches in the Veracruz area where testimonies were given and some measure of local support was generated. In 2006, a sixth trip was made to San José without the dentist and his wife/assistant. Our team was smaller than the Mexican part of the team. Distribution of medicines, mosquito netting, children's blankets,clothing and groceries were given to some of the poorest people in the hills and also left with the doctor and his nurse for distribution to the people. It was thought to begin fencing and clearing the church property but ownership was disputed and that will have to wait until later.

Prayer cards for this year's "on-site" team are available, on the foyer table. Also in the foyer of the church, you will also see a display of pictures from past trips around a large signed copy of our original Mazateco covenant. There will be a chance for others to sign it soon! The "Mazateco Fund" is an opportunity to give toward the ongoing ministry there primarily financing the annual mission trips. There are all kinds of ways to participate in reaching the Mazatecos with the Good News! We need you as part of the support team! As we go to Mexico again, we depend on your prayers for another successful ministry trip. Each time we go, we are more encouraged that God is using our church as a whole to bring these dear people into his kingdom. What an awesome privilege and responsibility to be such a direct part in GETTING IT DONE among the Mazatecos!!! God is faithful and He is doing it...through us!