Sending Servants for 25 years—Update from Servant Senders Ministry in Juárez, Mexico
Photos by Nolan and Marie Schockey
When Nolan and Marie Schockey asked the Mexican men they were discipling who they were most afraid of, the cartel or the police, they were surprised to hear it was the police. The Schockeys, missionaries who founded Servant Senders in 2006 in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, would eventually see the city become the deadliest one in the world as corruption from the cartels infiltrated the police departments.
Calvary Chapel missionaries Nolan and Marie Schockey founded Servant Senders in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, to help teach, disciple, and equip men, passionate for the Lord, to serve as pastors or leaders in their Mexican communities.
Irresistible Donuts
Through much prayer, Servant Senders was able to penetrate the local police department with the Gospel message using a stereotype often associated with police officers—they offered donuts—and shared Jesus. The police department was rampant with corruption and poor morale, and the police captain was desperate for help. As Servant Senders began coming on a regular basis to pray and teach, morale improved and corruption began to fall.
Pastor Isaias prays for local police officers. He is a teacher at Servant Senders and leads Bible studies with police academy cadets and other law enforcement agencies.
In 2011, two cartels threatened to kill an officer a day if the chief of police would not step down—they killed eight in one week. The decision was made to place all 2,500 municipal police in four hotels with alternating 12-hour protective watches. Already in one police station, Marie disclosed, “We had been praying to get into the other five stations. They called and asked us to send as many pastors as we could to encourage and pray for them.” Continuing, she announced, “Ten of our men volunteered. God did miracles! We went from eight to ten murders a day down to between two to four.” The officers returned to their stations eight weeks later, and Servant Senders has been there since—three times a week, twice a day.
Each Tuesday, Nolan (top center) teaches, encourages, and prays with the local pastors.
Hearing of their success, Servant Senders was invited by the then-new municipal police academy in Juárez to lead the cadets in devotions that evolved into a weekly one-hour Bible study as part of the cadets’ curriculum during their six-month training period. Hundreds have given their life to Christ through this ministry.
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2
Servant Senders’ founding mission was to train Mexican men who loved Jesus in evangelism and to disciple those in their community. They soon discovered that although many of these men’s hearts were on fire for Jesus, they were vastly undereducated—grade school level at best. “They would tell me, ‘Sister, I read my Bible all the time, but I don’t really understand it,’” Marie relayed. The Schockeys invested in the men, developing a full-time, three-year curriculum that included Bible study as well as basic education. The men were fully supported throughout the program, allowing them to be completely invested in study and application. The result was phenomenal as these students-turned-leaders went out into their communities, into some very dark and dangerous areas, and began transforming them through the power of the Gospel.
Pastoral Ministries in Action
This year, Marie reports an encouraging development with the state police at their main headquarters in Chihuahua. The state police’s leadership requested a team from Servant Senders to meet with them. “We sent Pastor Javier and our intern Josue [who is] fresh out of Calvary Chapel Bible College (CCBC). By that evening they were doing devotions and praying during their formation time,” Marie shared in amazement. The men were invited to return the next day to repeat the process for two more groups. Even more surprisingly, a leader from a K-9 unit at the Juárez police station later approached Javier, asking, “There are 50 of us, will you come and tell us about God?” For three years, Javier and Servant Senders had been doing devotions, counseling, and praying with detectives, Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team, Special Forces, and office personnel. Their efforts paid off.
Pastor Javier (right) greets a state police commander who came to talk with kids in his children’s ministry. Javier has been invited to speak with detectives, the Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team, Special Forces, and office personnel.
Nolan and several men from the program are helping Javier build a church, block by block, as he acquires funds for materials. This past year, they were able to get the walls, roof, insulation, floor, and stage completed. Even during this construction, other Servant Senders pastors held services under tarps before the roof was complete. They are all grateful for the insulated roof that keeps them protected from the intense sun and hot weather.
Clasping hands, two young girls walk home in the cooler evening temperatures after attending Kids’ Club at Pastor Chez’s church, Refuge of Promise.
Juan, nicknamed “Chez”, spent time in rehab after coming out of a life of drug and alcohol addiction. He soon gave his life to Christ and began leading other men in the rehab. Serving at a local church after he got out, he struggled with balancing his service to the Lord and his family. After coming to Servant Senders in 2016, he now has a growing kids’ program at his church and teaches at three rehab centers. He and his wife, Laura, recently celebrated having an insulated roof installed on their church building along with the completion of two new bathrooms and a concrete floor before their Vacation Bible School (VBS) opened. More than 100 children attended.
Children at Kids’ Club pray together at Refuge of Promise where a growing kids’ program and a lively Vacation Bible School (VBS) program are under way.
Although he is now the oldest member of Servant Senders, Pastor Isaias—who labored many years as a sheet metal worker—is quite active, serving as a teacher at the ministry and leading Bible study for the cadets at the police academy. He also teaches Bible classes to traffic officers, members of Mexico’s Special Forces, National Guard, and other law enforcement agencies. Marie commented that, years ago, when asked if Isaias would join Servant Senders, he said, “You mean I get to tell people about Jesus, teach them about Jesus, and lead them to Jesus, and that will be my job?” When the Schockeys replied, “Yes”, he put his head down and sobbed.
Most recently, Isaias has been going to a desert-like area south of the city where the poor sort through plastic. Working sun-up to 3 p.m. for what amounts to $11, they can keep what they find after that time to sell or use. There is no water source, bathroom, food, gloves, or shade from the heat. Isaias goes one day a week, taking a cooler of burritos and drinks and the Word of God to feed them physically and spiritually.
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
The poor scavenge for plastic in a desert-like area south of Juárez. Pastor Isaias ministers to them one day a week, bringing food, water, and the Gospel message.
Previously living in an area where he was under constant threat of violence, extortion, and deadly harm, Isaias and his son, Edgar, are building a small space for Isaias. “The locals who live in pallet houses around there found out he was a pastor. They have consistently asked when he is going to have services. So, he and Edgar are working hard to finish the roof, bathrooms, septic, water storage, and patio,” informed Marie.
Temo and his family were saved through a VBS program their oldest daughter attended. At closing night, when parents are invited, they came. After hearing the salvation message, they gave their lives to Jesus. Temo felt the calling on his life and, taking a leap of faith, left his job of 15 years to join Servant Senders where he served as a pastor, ministering at a local police station, fire station, and a nearby military base. He and his wife also began a Feed My Sheep kids’ club, and his daughter is now a CCBC graduate.
Nolan (middle left) and a group of Servant Senders pastors and leaders lay hands on and pray over Pastor Temu (center) as he and his wife, Laura, head south to Oaxaca to look for land and plant a new ministry.
Temo was born and raised in the village of Oaxaca, where there is a scarcity of churches and ministry to those in need. Feeling led by the Lord, he and his wife recently returned to Oaxaca to start a kids’ club, work with local police, minister in a rehab facility, and share encouragement with the elderly in the village.
The Schockeys, expressing their gratefulness for the prayers of the saints over their ministry and the graduate pastors, stated, “Your prayers make this amazing ministry only God could do possible.”
Secure Borders?
Razor wire is strung along the Rio Grande River that separates Juárez from El Paso, TX, but that does not stop migrants from crossing into the U.S. Noting the crossing is not a legal port of entry, Marie explained, “At some gates, vans are waiting, wire is moved aside from the river, and gates open. They are bussed to a tent city north of town. … Some are given free bus rides to Chicago.”
Pastor Javier leads state police officers in prayer and devotions.
The staff at Servant Senders sees this as an opportunity to share the Gospel. “What if the Lord, Whom we know is returning soon, placed all these nations at our border to tell them about Him?” proposed the Schockeys. “Many [migrants] arrive at 4:30 a.m. where our Pastor Efrain meets them to pray for them. It has become big business for the cartel who charge them lots of money to get this far and control the Mexico side. Human trafficking is also rampant—for sex trade and organs,” Marie reported. It is their hope that no matter where the migrants go, they realize Jesus is the only thing they can depend on.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9
A Day of Refreshing
Pastors and their families enjoy a chill day at the water park as a reward after serving in temperatures ranging from 104-109 degrees during VBS which ran seven five-day programs.
“We take our pastors, their families, and leaders to cool off [at the water park]. Most cannot afford to do so on their own. This one day away is their summer vacation,” Marie revealed. The Schockeys supply the entry cost, food, and water floaties to thank these faithful men and women for their service.
Pastors and their families enjoy food and fellowship at the bountiful picnic during their water park outing.
Vibrant VBS
With seven VBS program in different areas of town this summer, some having one in the morning and one in the afternoon, Servant Senders leaders have been busy. Knowing many children come from broken homes where they see violence, drug usage, abandonment, and hunger, they work steadfastly under tarps in 104+ temps to make sure the kids feel loved, learn God’s Word, get a good meal, and find hope.
VBS leaders shield children from the sun under a colorful parachute tent as they play ball.
Pastor Javier (right) and Ruben, a VBS helper, pray over a boy who committed his life to Christ during the program.
One child, after being abandoned by her mom, was so sad she couldn’t eat or drink. The staff treated her for dehydration and heat exhaustion. Another young VBS attendee, watching from afar, asked what happened to her. After Marie explained to him, “He grabbed her hand and mine, and said, ‘Well, let’s pray!’” The girl recovered and was back the next day full of smiles and a strong appetite.
Dillon (right), 10, prays for Alondra (center) who passed out at VBS due to lack of water and food. She has been abandoned by her mother and spends much of her day alone at home.
Despite the heat, children willingly attend Pastor Ramon’s VBS program. Many of these children come from broken, violent homes to find a good meal, hope in Jesus, and love.
Faithfully serving in Juárez for 25 years, Nolan’s responsibilities even include electrical work.
“We are all challenged to find things to be grateful for and be more forgiving. Life is short, make it count.”
Your Support Counts!
Nolan has been experiencing some health challenges over the last few years that have slowed him down but has not stopped his faithful service to the Lord. Suspecting it might be Guillain-Barré or Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, he underwent a biopsy that was negative for both. His doctors recommend he see a neurology specialist, but the closest one is in Dallas, TX.
“We want to thank you for the many ways you support this ministry. Thank you for asking about [our] current needs for our ministries and pastors,” shared Nolan and Marie. In addition to the ongoing work of the ministry, they ask for prayer for Nolan’s health, building materials for Temo and Chez, ministries of all their graduates who are being sent out, the return of a building, Christmas stockings for children across the border in time for Christmas Fiestas, and wisdom in moving forward in the ministry after 25 years. Supplies such as notebooks, glue, pencils, pens, backpacks, crayons, and erasers as well as winter clothing and shoes for adults and children (new or in good used condition), a four-wheeler, and folding chairs are welcome.
You can find out more about this ministry at servantsenders.org
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