BakersBits - Newsletter Spring 2023
“…that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” I Corinthians 15:3b-4 (ESV)
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6 (ESV)
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3 (ESV)
Salvation, love, hope summarize part of our Easter celebration reasons. Christ did not stay on the cross or in the tomb. He arose! So will every believer arise to his new heavenly home who has trusted in Christ for salvation. Thank the Lord with us for His gift through the cross! Not everyone has this sure hope. Some of it comes from incorrect teaching. On Friday, Abigail and I followed the Holy Friday cultural procession as it passed our home. We heard the priest teach that any Christ not still on the cross was not Christ—he exemplified suffering, nothing more. This priest discouraged his people from reading the Bible in general and the Gospels in particular. Please pray with us for the true Gospel message to permeate Mexico and around the world! We thank the Lord for the privilege of sharing the good news of the Gospel here in Mexico.
Thank you for your prayers for our conference on grief this past February. God provided abundantly! Many came and even more watched it live on Facebook from other parts of Mexico and Latin America. We talked about loss, processing it, managing anger, finding God in it, and how to go forward. The truth of the Gospel permeated each talk. Thank the Lord with us for His help in getting the website up, having the conference, and so much more! Thank the Lord with us that despite paralysis that affected her speech and more, He enabled Barbara to share her testimony of how she processes suffering. Please join us in praying for continued wisdom with next steps—short videos, materials, a board, etc. (If you read Spanish or know of someone who is experiencing loss of any kind, please direct them to our web-site: www.dueloypaz.org . They will find links to resources and you-tube videos from the past two conferences.)
Less than a week after the conference, Barbara and I flew to TN for intensive Dr. appointments and treatments. They found Lymes disease, co-infections, mold issues, and more. These comprise root issues for her Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. God clearly opened this door for each step, and He continues to do so with the on-going treatment plan! Praise the Lord with us; Barbara’s tolerance for many things is slowly increasing. This greater stability helps her hypokalemic periodic paralysis as well. Continue to pray with us for healing.
Easter is here. We celebrate the resurrection! Because HE LIVES we CAN face tomorrow! We celebrated this today with a special time of prayer, song, and scripture at 6am in our yard, followed by an earlier than normal outdoor service at 8am. Tamales and a time of fellowship wrapped up the time. Joy and thanksgiving flowed. My personal favorite was the sincere prayers of deep gratitude from many in the sunrise service.
Josiah continues at LeTourneau University. He is about to complete his third year. This summer promises of a job at the University as well as another internship. Thank you for praying for his missions trip to Mexico over Spring Break as a translator. His highlight climaxed with leading a young boy to Christ at a hospital. Pray for him as he finishes this year and for wisdom with next steps. Abigail has two months more in her Junior year of High School. Pray for her to finish well and to follow God’s leading both now and after graduation. We will be doing college visits this summer with her.
Thank you for your going prayers, encouragement, and support. You are a vital part of the ministry here. Please continue to pray for the requests we mentioned. Send us your requests too so we can join you in specific prayer as well!
Rejoicing in The Resurrection,
Jonathan, Barbara, Josiah, and Abigail Baker
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6 (ESV)
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3 (ESV)
Salvation, love, hope summarize part of our Easter celebration reasons. Christ did not stay on the cross or in the tomb. He arose! So will every believer arise to his new heavenly home who has trusted in Christ for salvation. Thank the Lord with us for His gift through the cross! Not everyone has this sure hope. Some of it comes from incorrect teaching. On Friday, Abigail and I followed the Holy Friday cultural procession as it passed our home. We heard the priest teach that any Christ not still on the cross was not Christ—he exemplified suffering, nothing more. This priest discouraged his people from reading the Bible in general and the Gospels in particular. Please pray with us for the true Gospel message to permeate Mexico and around the world! We thank the Lord for the privilege of sharing the good news of the Gospel here in Mexico.
Thank you for your prayers for our conference on grief this past February. God provided abundantly! Many came and even more watched it live on Facebook from other parts of Mexico and Latin America. We talked about loss, processing it, managing anger, finding God in it, and how to go forward. The truth of the Gospel permeated each talk. Thank the Lord with us for His help in getting the website up, having the conference, and so much more! Thank the Lord with us that despite paralysis that affected her speech and more, He enabled Barbara to share her testimony of how she processes suffering. Please join us in praying for continued wisdom with next steps—short videos, materials, a board, etc. (If you read Spanish or know of someone who is experiencing loss of any kind, please direct them to our web-site: www.dueloypaz.org . They will find links to resources and you-tube videos from the past two conferences.)
Less than a week after the conference, Barbara and I flew to TN for intensive Dr. appointments and treatments. They found Lymes disease, co-infections, mold issues, and more. These comprise root issues for her Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. God clearly opened this door for each step, and He continues to do so with the on-going treatment plan! Praise the Lord with us; Barbara’s tolerance for many things is slowly increasing. This greater stability helps her hypokalemic periodic paralysis as well. Continue to pray with us for healing.
Easter is here. We celebrate the resurrection! Because HE LIVES we CAN face tomorrow! We celebrated this today with a special time of prayer, song, and scripture at 6am in our yard, followed by an earlier than normal outdoor service at 8am. Tamales and a time of fellowship wrapped up the time. Joy and thanksgiving flowed. My personal favorite was the sincere prayers of deep gratitude from many in the sunrise service.
Josiah continues at LeTourneau University. He is about to complete his third year. This summer promises of a job at the University as well as another internship. Thank you for praying for his missions trip to Mexico over Spring Break as a translator. His highlight climaxed with leading a young boy to Christ at a hospital. Pray for him as he finishes this year and for wisdom with next steps. Abigail has two months more in her Junior year of High School. Pray for her to finish well and to follow God’s leading both now and after graduation. We will be doing college visits this summer with her.
Thank you for your going prayers, encouragement, and support. You are a vital part of the ministry here. Please continue to pray for the requests we mentioned. Send us your requests too so we can join you in specific prayer as well!
Rejoicing in The Resurrection,
Jonathan, Barbara, Josiah, and Abigail Baker
