July 2024 Prayer Letter
Dear Friends and Faithful Supporters,
Greetings from Monterrey, Mexico! We hope this letter finds you well and filled with the joy of the Lord. As we reflect on the past month, we are reminded once again of God’s incredible faithfulness and the way He continues to bless and guide our ministry here on the mission field. We are excited to share with you some of the highlights from July and to ask for your continued prayers as we press forward in the work He has called us to.
Ministry Updates
July was a month filled with the blessings of new faces and new believers. On Sunday, July 14th, we hosted a special "Watermelon Sunday" at Mount Hebron Baptist Church. This event brought in many visitors, and we were overjoyed to see several people make decisions for Christ. Even more exciting was the opportunity to baptize some of these new believers, publicly declaring their faith in Jesus.
Another highlight of the month was during a day of door-to-door soul-winning. I met a young man named Samuel, and after sharing the Gospel with him, he accepted Jesus as his Savior! Moments like these remind us why we are here, doing what we do.
Challenges and Needs
While we have seen great blessings, we also face some challenges that we would appreciate your prayers for. One of our most pressing needs is transportation for our church ministries. Our current vehicles are not sufficient to support our soul-winning efforts and bus visitation. We are praying for God to provide the funds or donations needed to acquire vans for these ministries.
Additionally, we are preparing for a larger-than-usual freshman class at the Mount Hebron Baptist Bible Institute. This is a wonderful opportunity, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. We need to furnish the dorms and enclose the dining hall before the semester begins. Please pray with us for the resources and manpower to complete these projects in time.
Family Life
On a personal note, we celebrated some special milestones in our family last month. Our son Lucas turned 9, and our daughter Megan turned 7. It’s such a blessing to watch our children grow, both physically and spiritually. They are a constant source of joy and motivation in our ministry.
Future Plans
As we look ahead, we are excited to be launching our Christian School soon. This is an essential part of our ministry, providing education with a strong biblical foundation. However, we need financial help to sponsor children for the school year. It costs approximately $600 USD (10,000 Mexican Pesos) to cover one child's tuition for the year. If God lays it on your heart to sponsor a child, it would make a significant difference in their life and education.
Answered Prayers
We’ve been encouraged by the steady attendance at church and the faithfulness of our congregation in soul-winning. The Lord has been moving powerfully, with consistent conversions and baptisms throughout the summer. We are grateful for your prayers, as we see them being answered in the growth and spiritual vitality of our church.
Prayer Requests
As always, we covet your prayers for several specific needs:
Jenny’s Health: Jenny has been experiencing knee pain. Please pray for healing and relief.
Church Growth: Pray for continued growth at Mount Hebron Baptist Church, both in numbers and in spiritual maturity.
Bible Institute: Lift up our students, teachers, and staff as we prepare for the new semester. Pray especially for the provision needed to complete our dorm and dining hall projects.
Christian School: We need a teacher who can speak English and is willing to come as a self-supported missionary. This would greatly relieve some of the pressure on Jenny, who has been leading this effort.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support. Your partnership in the Gospel means more to us than words can express. We are continually amazed by God’s provision through His people and are confident that He will continue to guide us as we seek to make His name known in Mexico and beyond.
May the Lord bless you richly for your faithfulness.
In Christ,
Jonathan and Jenny Ashcraft
Missionaries to Mexico