Welcome to the Website of
Calvary Chapel Rancho Maranatha

A beautiful day to remember what Jesus did for us in rising up from the dead!

The sun rises over Alamos, Sonora with the believers looking on.

JUSIBAMPO

Our first contact with Jusibampo was when I was asked to translate for a doctor that was doing medical examinations for children that were going to be attending a new school being built by "Food for the Hungry".  The policy for them was to establish humanitarian aid first and then down the road they would work on the spiritual needs.  Since I was only doing them a favor by translating, I wasn't bound to this policy.  I told the people that I was only helping them out for the day and explained to them that at other times I went around and showed Christian movies and taught Bible studies.  I went on to tell them that if the community wanted they could invite me there and I would be glad to do that with them.  The ones that were there quickly said yes.  I told them that it was necessary that they talk to the other four houses in the village.  (did I say that this is a small community?)  They quickly did that and came back and told me that everyone wanted me to come.  That started a weekly visit that lasted almost without fruit for the next twelve years.  There were always people that were close to becoming disciples, and there were people who would say a prayer, but there was no real lasting fruit that could be seen.

After twelve years, three new families moved in.  By this time two of the families where I had given the studies in the past had moved out of their homes.  In addition to the regular study, my wife started doing a Bible study with the ladies and to our great pleasure, three of them ended up giving their lives to the Lord.  There was such a change in their lives that others started to be interested.  These ladies' husbands, Mateo and Carmelo, would listen to our weekly Bible studies and I would always ask them if they were ready to accept the Lord.  "No, not yet," was the reply week after week.  They continued to attend, and after about a year of saying, "No, not yet," I finally had to clarify something with them.  I asked them, "Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?"  "Oh yes, of course we do!"  "Do you believe that He died for your sins and then rose again?"  "Oh yes, of course we do!"  "Do you believe that you are sinners and that you need His forgiveness?"  "Oh yes, of course we do!"  "Okay, have you asked Him to forgive you for those sins?"  "Oh yes, of course we have!"  "What do people call you at your jobs?"  "Well you know that they call us, 'brothers'."  "Is it true that you both quit drinking over a year ago and carry your Bibles around and read them at work?"  "Oh yes, that's true!"  I told them at that point, "YOU'RE ALREADY CHRISTIANS!"  They replied, "I guess you're right, we are!"  I still had them pray with me, but the work had already taken place in their lives over a period of time.

These two men have been ordained deacons for the last couple of years and have remained faithful to the Lord.  It's such a blessing to see the changes in their families lives.  Someone once asked a man if he really believed that Jesus had turned water into wine.  "Of course!" he replied.  "I believe it because for me, He turned wine into furniture!"  These men's families are so grateful for what the Lord has done for them.  They are a sample of what the Lord is doing in all the earth, breathing life into impossible situations and giving hope where there was none.

If you ever have a chance, come down and meet these dear believers, you will be glad that you did!