Joy of Giving
Photos by Josh Larson
This article first appeared in Calvary Chapel Magazine Issue 94, Winter 2023.
Far Reaching Ministry staff enjoys sharing Christmas presents with impoverished kids, worthy of the Gospel of Christ
Pastor Wes Bentley, founder of FRM, enjoys giving a Barbie doll to a girl during the gift giveaway.
Near Christmastime, poverty-stricken children in Mexico eagerly await presents arriving not by sleigh but by a weather-beaten caravan of vehicles crossing the U.S. border. Since 2018, Far Reaching Ministries (FRM) teams have been bringing Christmas gifts, fun, and Gospel truth to needy children across Mexico. Last year alone, they blessed more than 2,200 children at 18 different Christmas parties, mostly in the Ensenada area.
A young girl and her mother are filled with joy with the new toy.
A little girl is ecstatic to receive a Christmas gift from Sean Rees.
“We want to tangibly demonstrate God’s love to the disenfranchised women and children affected by cartel violence,” said Shawn Stone, FRM’s director of Victims of War. “The majority of these kids come from such poor families that these are the first gifts they have ever received.” Casa del Pastor is a home in San Vicente, Baja California, for abused women and their children. Last year, each child there received a wool blanket, a backpack filled with school supplies, and a toy. Shawn vividly remembers a 5-year-old girl’s delighted face as she unwrapped her Barbie. “It was something she had always wanted and never been able to have,” he explained. “For her, it was an answered prayer. She felt absolutely loved and seen by God. [In Genesis 16, Sarai’s servant] Hagar named God El Roi (the God Who Sees). I think a lot of what we’re trying to do in these outreaches is communicate, ‘God sees you—He hears your cry.’”
“Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Genesis 16:13
Pastor David Zavala hands large blankets to boys in Mexico.
The three-hour event’s worship, games, crafts, skits, and presentation all communicated God’s greatest gift: salvation and a relationship with Him. “This year,” Shawn rejoiced, “the majority of teaching and drama was by women who graduated Casa del Pastor’s [House of the Shepherd] program. It was amazing to see the fruit of investing in their lives as they take ownership of outreaches and ministry. Where we put our money is one of the best opportunities God gives us to see a return on investment. This Christmas, I challenge the body of Christ to evaluate: How and where are you investing eternally?” One idea may be—rather than gift-shopping for unneeded material objects—gifting to a ministry in someone’s name, blessing both the child who receives it and the donor in whose name the child’s life is changed. Shawn also hopes more American churches will send teams to Mexico, even becoming sister churches to FRM’s 13 new church plants.
“We’re very blessed that God has provided for FRM’s administrative overhead, so 100% of donations go to the field,” Shawn declared. “I’m not overstating it when I say that your prayers and giving allow us to change destinies.” Luis lived in Ensenada’s slums. One night he overheard his mother saying she would sell him to the cartel. Even at 7 years old, Luis knew what that meant: forced begging, drug running, sexual slavery. He escaped that night, somehow making it across the dangerous city to his grandmother’s house. After the trauma he’d endured, however, Luis could not speak.
Boys crowd around as they receive many gifts from the FRM staff.
The grandmother connected with Bigtha, a local FRM staff leader. FRM bought the family groceries, provided spiritual care through local pastors, and even paid for drum lessons to help heal Luis’ trauma. “For months, Luis still did not speak at all,” Shawn related. “Then he came to a gift outreach, a beach barbecue for 16 children directly or indirectly rescued from the cartel. They built sandcastles, received presents, and just were able to feel like kids. That day, I watched Luis playing and laughing with other children, speaking in full sentences. ‘Is this the same Luis?!’ I asked Bigtha. She replied, ‘Yes—isn’t it amazing, the healing God is bringing him?’ This is what people’s gifts can bring to these children’s lives.”
FRM’s CEO and founder Wes Bentley reflected, “Every year, my wife says, ‘I want to get you something nice for Christmas.’ I say, ‘All I want is to go down there and see how happy those children are enjoying their gifts.’ They live in slums. They have no Christmas dinner, and this is probably the only toy they will own in their life. When you see them and hear their stories, it makes [all the effort] worthwhile. They will remember someone cares. We can show them God’s love through this very simple thing.”
Scores of children gathered to sing worship songs, do crafts, and listen to the Gospel message.
Thank you for reading! If this story inspired you, we invite you to partner with us in continuing the ministry God started over 27 years ago. We appreciate your prayerful consideration in joining us to reach more souls for Jesus.
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