Dear Friends & Supporters, 

We give glory to God for this 2006 year!   This year has allowed us to change some of our missionary activities and some functions in our lives by 180 degrees.  That is because of the variety of things and the multiplication of opportunities that God has decided to show us in this ministry of winning souls for Christ and His kingdom. 

CONFERENCES IN BOTH COUNTRIES

This year MBC organized two conferences were we became greatly blessed. One was organized as gift to the local church leaders in Piedras Negras, with great attendance and long lasting encouragement. The other conference was focused to encourage and support the Pastor’s Alliance of Eagle Pass, TX.  Both of these conferences were taught by evangelist John Ferrer. These conferences were a great spiritual boost.

EVANGELISM, TRAINING AND ANNIVERSARY

Two evangelistic campaigns were held in Nueva Rosita Mexico with Pastor Jesús Rangel. One focused on training both leaders and future leaders.  The other was focused on evangelism in which two people accepted Christ, one of which gave up his addiction to drugs. On October we were invited to attend and to share the Word during the anniversary of the Christian church in Col. Altamira in Piedras Negras Mexico.  This church was where we served as Pastors and helped reorganizing during our ministry of 1986-1988.

MARCH FOR JESUS AND CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPEL AND HOUSE

In March, as coordinators of the ‘March for Jesus’, we were excited to see more than 2,000 people all marching for Christ through the streets of Piedras Negras. It was quite a powerful image just to see and hear the sound of so many joyous children of God expressed for all to hear.

 NEW LEVEL AT CHAMACUERO CAMP

While serving as president of Chamacuero Christian Camp (www.chamacuero.org), this year we held around 12 business and organizational meetings. In March, the chapel and gatekeepers house was built by a team effort between World Builders and our ministry. As coordinators, 3 weeks of camp for diverse ages where planned, of which 250 campers assisted.   There were a couple dozen baptisms and many rededications to ministry and their Christian life. We were also directors of the couple’s week in May, with excellent results.  Just recently, on December 9, 2006, the directors approved and set up budget for a couple to live at the camp full time starting in 2007.  This camp will now be available to all the churches during the 365 days of the year. This has taken Camp Chamacuero to another level. Please keep Mario in your prayers as he serves and leads as president.

REUNION FEMENIL ESTATAL Y MINISTERIO DE RADIO

In September we assisted a women’s Reunion at Gomez Palacios, Durango.  Women from 5 different states were invited and 600 ladies, 200 children and 100 men assisted. It was decided and achieved by the women in Piedras Negras to fill up two 40 passenger buses on which Betty and Mario traveled as counselors and sponsors.  In this event, there were many rededications and dedications to serve in different ministries at their local churches.

KEPX RADIO PROGRAMMING

In September we also aired and conducted our 12th anniversary program of our KEPX Christian radio station.  We held a 4 hour program with many different guests, one of which was Mayor Chad Foster of Eagle Pass. Mayor Foster made a proclamation for the station, making September 28 KEPX Radio Manantial Day. We have served as conductors on various radio programs and also as Public Relations coordinators.  We were also part of 2 radio marathons during the year as we collected funding for our listener supported station. In December we began working with a completely new general director for the station, for which we are personally praying for and make ourselves available for service.

 CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CONVENTION OF TEXAS 2006

In November Mario and Betty assisted a wonderful fellowship convention in San Antonio. Mario serves as vice president of the director’s committee 2005-2007. There were 500 people who assisted this event.  It was a great blessing and great event for spiritual growth for many churches in Texas.  The theme was “Extreme Faith”. On January 20, 2007 we will have a business meeting in San Antonio to organize next year’s convention.  

CHAPEL AND NURSES STATION IN PRISON,

CHURCH IN ALLENDE

It is getting closer! In January and February we will begin working with World Mission Builders in Piedras Negras and Allende. In Piedras we will be building a chapel and an expansion of the nurse’s station at the state prison of Coahuila. In Allende we will begin working on a new church building. Then later in July, will also be working together on a new church building for the small growing church which we have been working with at the Lazaro Cardenas neighborhood. Thank you World Mission Builders.

MINISTERIAL ALLIANCES IN BOTH COUNTRIES

Mario and Betty are members of both ministerial alliances at Piedras Negras, Mexico and Eagle Pass, Texas. In Mexico Mario was named a permanent counselor of the alliance and in Eagle Pass he was name the interim President until elections which are being held January 8, 2007.

NEW MINISTRY AT LAZARO CARADENAS NEIGHBORHOOD

We ask for your prayers as we commit and invest time at this beautiful new ministry as we influence and teach spiritual growth to this new born church. The core group has been very faithful and growth has been constant. We are now initiating a great evangelistic program called “My Hope,” which so far, has brought us two new involved families which we have been able to see grow through God’s grace and power of change and redemption. Lord willing, in July we will have a new church building.  Praise the Lord!

MBCM’S NEXT DIRECTOR’S

We would like to inform our directors, friends and supporters that our next annual business meeting for MBC Ministries, INC. will be in Eagle Pass, Texas on Saturday January 29, 2007 at 10 a.m. As we approach this new year and this meeting, we ask for your prayers for this meeting, for those traveling, for the directors and for us as missionaries at this border town. 

 With sincere gratitude we say good-bye, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you who some way or another support this mission. We extend to you love and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ. It is His grace that we deserve the least but we need most. May He abound and live in you this season and forever.

 Your Missionaries on the Border Since 1962,

Mario y Betty Calderón