Calvary Commission Newsletter May 2021

Laura Sareli Blanco

Calvary Commission has been an important ministry in my life. I have great memories of going to Lindale Texas with my family for the annual mission’s conference and experienced great times in the presence of the Lord. I still remember one special afternoon when I was about 13 years old. I was praying and asking God what his plans were for my life. I said, “Wherever you want to send me, I will go”. He said, “there is a need right here in Reynosa.”

I didn’t know exactly how He wanted me to serve. I am blessed and grateful for His promise and His sustaining power over the years. When I turned 18 I went to study at Calvary Bible Institute where I found a great place to grow in my personal walk with God, I learned to seek His heart and to depend on Him. There I received many tools to understand what it meant to live like Jesus and serve like Jesus. How to be a disciple, and during that season, God brought people into my life that invested in me and helped me grow. I was able to travel to Peru and Romania to minister. I also earned my bachelor’s degree in Theology. I am grateful for all the opportunities.

In 2016, I returned to Reynosa and started helping at the children’s home. At first serving as a secretary in the office. Then in 2018, I became full time staff. The orphanage in Reynosa has been serving children for 37 years providing a family environment. We know that God has a purpose for all of the children, and it is a blessing being part of their lives as they grow. He has given us a responsibility to take care of His little ones. We pray for God’s wisdom and direction as we help and serve every day.

This past year came with its own challenges. Currently most of the children are teenagers and, due to the pandemic, we were suddenly teachers helping with their school work, we are also teaching LSM (Mexican Sign Language) because we also have a deaf girl. The isolation has made it a difficult time as we are… few? It is in our hearts to serve God and the children here with excellence.

There is a great need in the present time. Please pray for us. There are more children in our city, in need of God’s loving care at our home. We are praying for more workers to come help us. Your life can impact someone’s life today. Your obedience can be the answer to someone’s prayer. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity to share about what God is doing at the Josiah and Bethany Children’s Home in Reynosa, Mexico and what He did and is doing with my life.

-Laura Sareli Blanco

 

 

 

 

 

Letter from the International Director

Joe Fauss writes:

Times are challenging. Between a pandemic, political tension, and economic downturn, it’s easy for us to get distracted and lose sight of what God is doing. While many of these problems seem impossible to overcome, we remember that God is still commissioning us to “challenge the impossible!”

When Calvary Commission was organized in 1977, we started with the purpose of making a difference in society by changing individual lives. With an open door into the growing prison population, we developed an aftercare program to help those incarcerated after they were released. That vision has not changed, even coming through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prisons in Texas have been one of the hardest hit institutions during the pandemic. Even inmates who wouldn’t usually be kept in a cell 24 hours a day have found themselves segregated for the sake of maintaining social distance while locked up.

With a growing number of students at Calvary Bible Institute, many are coming out of this “pandemic prison” environment to a place of freedom.

In His Service,

Joe & Charlotte Fauss

 

Norris Powell

Upon release

Norris Powell, a student at Calvary Commission, said in an interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph newspaper said that his journey with Christ began while he was incarcerated in 2012 in the Marlin Unit. Powell said that his last days in prison were some of the most difficult due to the pandemic. Since being released, coming to Calvary has not only given Powell a sense of physical freedom, but spiritual freedom as well. “It was a release. It was like everything that was inside of me was set free, “Powell said.” My faith got increased because we were having praise and worship in the parking lot. I marveled at that, and seeing the love that people had there.”

Pandemic cannot stop praise.

New life with freedom.

 

This progress is the result of the support and prayers of the gracious partners of this ministry.

Student Academic Center

Despite a world-wide pandemic, God’s work is still being accomplished through Calvary Commission, and we are expanding rapidly. Calvary Bible Institute and Theological Seminary has more students than ever before, and leadership is working hard to accommodate the growing student body.

All forms of fundraising have been limited. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in the prisons, some paroles were expedited; and we continued to receive parolees to our aftercare program.

To provide more room and resources for our students, Calvary Commission is in the process of building our new Student Academic Center. We were able to erect the exterior of the building for the Student Academic Center with designated funds right before the order to shelter in place was issued.

Right before the COVID pandemic hit this past year, the Student Academic Center building structure was installed. Then like many, our “normal” lives came to a stop. The project was placed on hold as we all tried to figure out what we could do. Now, as the restrictions are easing up, we are able to order things and continue the construction.

There are delays, in acquiring materials and getting things scheduled but the vision continues. The electrical is ready to be set.

Windows that have been on order for more than six months should finally be ready in a couple of weeks to be installed. Now the next push is to start the interior walls and plumbing and electrical installations. HVAC and water and sewer systems are all needing installation as this project moves forward.

Will you pray about helping us with the completion of this much needed academic center? The students are still coming and the need for this academic facility is increasing. The faithful support of partners just like you enables the work of training and discipling the workers for the harvest. Luke 10:2b the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.

Easily Give Now