During the weekend of May 24–25, 2013, we had the privilege of hosting our first ever Sovereign Grace "Conferencia para Pastores y Lideres" (Pastors and Leaders Conference) in Mexico with Dr. Miguel Nuñez from the Dominican Republic as our guest speaker. We had the joy of seeing close to 400 pastors and leaders come to this event that was advertised in a limited way through local pastoral networks and social media. In all, we had leaders from eight different cities attend.

The weekend included six, hour-long main sessions under the general heading of "A Pastor According to God's Own Heart." Dr. Nuñez taught on "The Leader's Character," "The Leader's Goals," "The Leader's Influence," "The Leader's Pulpit," "The Leader's World," and "The Leader's Disqualification." On Friday afternoon, we also hosted four workshops for those interested our church's ministries of worship, small groups, evangelism, and leadership training. During the leadership training workshop, Dr. José Mendoza (who works with Dr. Nuñez and is in charge of their Leadership Institute) presented the opportunity to participate in the video training program they have developed which will be hosted by the churches in Tijuana, Guadalajara, Aguascalientes, and Juárez.

We plan on hosting this conference on a yearly basis with a hope to expand and be able to reach and serve leaders from the whole nation of Mexico as well as be able to broadcast it live through the internet to all of Latin America.

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Carlos Contrerashas has attended Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Cd. Juárez for 34 years, and has served on staff for the last 22 years (15 as senior pastor). He and his wife, Kena, have been married for 30 years and have four children.

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Thank you for praying for your Latin American brothers and sisters as we hosted a Pasión Por Dios Conference in New York City earlier this month. We had the privilege of hosting Pasión Por Dios 2012 in Argentina, Puerto Rico, and now New York City. Each time, we've been encouraged by how God uses our feeble efforts to proclaim the gospel and see lives transformed for His glory. 

When we arrived in Manhattan, we spent the first couple of days rehearsing and preparing for those who would join us for the conference. Friday night kicked off with a time of worship and a message. On Saturday we continued with three more messages and a few more times of singing. On Sunday we concluded with a concert. The place was packed. 

I am so grateful to God for pastor Freddy Noble, Freddy Noble Jr., and for our brothers from PIBHM for all the hard work they are doing to serve the Latin American community of New York City. 
And I want to thank God for Sovereign Grace, especially Sovereign Grace Music, for all you are doing to serve us as we proclaim and sing the good news of the gospel at events like Pasión Por Dios. Mauricio Velarde led our times of singing and gave an exemplary conference message. Mauricio’s participation blessed us richly as we sang songs he wrote with Sovereign Grace Music. Thank you!



A Latin American philosopher once said: "In New York you can find the worse and best of the word." In 1930, when Diectrich Bonhoeffer arrived to New York City, he said the following about the believers he found there, "... In New York, they preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life." The German theologian martyr shared his impressions when he came to study at Union Theological Seminary. Eighty years later the situation has not changed. On the contrary, it has grown worse. Despite this, many from this city clearly heard the gospel and were affected by the message of salvation through Jesus Christ at Pasión Por Dios. And, thanks to technology, additional Spanish speaking brothers and sisters from around the world watched the conference online.



I'd like to thank Bob Kauflin and Mauricio Velarde for supporting us through Sovereign Grace Music. Sovereign Grace, thank you for producing worship albums that serve your Spanish speaking brothers and sisters. It is my hope that God will allow us to continue doing things together in the future for His glory.



"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
" Psalm 115:1

Blessings,

Otto Sánchez

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Gracias por orar por sus hermanos Latinoamericanos durante nuestra conferencia Pasión Por Dios en Nueva York este mes. En el pasado hemos tenido el privilegio de llevar nuestra conferencia a Argentina, Puerto Rico, y ahora a Nueva York. Cada vez somos animados al ver como Dios usa nuestros débiles esfuerzos para proclamar su evangelio y ver vidas transformadas para Su gloria. 

Cuando llegamos a Manhattan los primeros dos días, los pasamos ensayando y planificando para servir a las personas que nos acompañarían esa noche. El viernes empezamos con un tiempo de adoración y el primer mensaje. El sábado continuamos con tres mensajes y más tiempos de alabanza. El domingo concluimos la conferencia con un concierto a casa llena.

Doy gracias al Señor por el pastor Freddy Noble, Freddy Noble Jr. y por los hermanos de la PIBHM por el trabajo que están haciendo con la inmensa comunidad hispana de la ciudad de New York. Quiero agradecer al Señor por Sovereign Grace y en especial por Sovereign Grace Music por lo que están haciendo para servirnos mientras cantamos las buenas nuevas del evangelio en eventos como Pasión Por Dios. Mauricio nos lideró en los tiempos de alabanza y dio un magistral mensaje en la conferencia. La participación de Mauricio nos edificó en gran manera mientras cantamos canciones de Sovereign Grace Music. ¡Gracias!

Un filósofo latinoamericano dijo: “En New York se puede encontrar lo peor y lo mejor del mundo”. En 1930, cuando Diectrich Bonhoeffer llegó a la ciudad de New York dijo acerca de los creyentes que encontró allí lo siguiente: “…predican prácticamente sobre todo, tan sólo hay un tema que no tratan o que, de hacerlo, es tan rara la vez que hasta el momento no he podido escucharlo, y es el evangelio de Jesucristo, la cruz, el pecado y el perdón, la muerte y la vida." El mártir y teólogo alemán dejó ver sus impresiones cuando vino a estudiar al Union Theological Seminary. Ochenta años después la situación no ha cambiado. Por el contrario, está peor. Sin embargo, la sana doctrina de Cristo, sanó muchas almas tanto en los que asistieron al evento como a todos los que en más de 10 países nos siguieron por la web.

Gracias Bob Kauflin y Mauricio Velarde por su apoyo a través de Sovereign Grace Music. Sovereign Graace, gracias por producir música en español que nos permiten servir mejor a nuestros hermanos de habla hispana. Espero que Dios nos permita trabajar juntos en el futuro para Su gloria.

"No a nosotros, oh Jehová, no a nosotros, Sino a tu nombre da gloria, Por tu misericordia, por tu verdad." Salmo 115:1

Bendiciones,
Otto Sánchez

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