Golden State Pastor's Blog

Fresh Start in Salinas

We are very excited to have one of our sister churches making a fresh start. The Salinas Spring Church has called Jesus Gonzalez to be their new pastor. Pastor Gonzalez will conduct English services on Sunday mornings and Wednesday Evenings, Spanish services on Sunday afternoons and home Bible studies throughout the week. He will also be working to put together a core group in nearby Greenfield. I'm confident that God will bless this church and their new pastor in the weeks and months to come.

Jesus grew up while his father Jose was starting churches among the Indians in Mexico. While living in Mexico Jesus was a school teacher. The last three years he has helped his father start the Roca De Salvation Free Will Baptist Mission in Chula Vista California. Jesus is a graduate of the Gwen Hendrix Bible Institute in Inman South Carolina where Free Will Baptist offer a Bachelors Degree in Biblical and Pastoral Studies.

California is a great mission field!

California As A Mission Field

May I introduce to you Jesus Gonzalez? The state mission board to reopen our Free Will Baptist Church in Greenfield California has approved Jesus Gonzales. He will be opening it as a Spanish speaking Church. This work will be in conjunction with the Churches of the Golden Gate Association. In recent years Greenfield has seen a massive influx of immigrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Many Oaxacans speak indigenous languages not related to English or Spanish and as a result, find communication with the large Spanish speaking and smaller English speaking population of Greenfield impossible. Probably the largest single block of such immigrants are speakers of the Copala Triqui language, who are fleeing from poverty and an armed conflict in their native region that has been going on for over 20 years. Jesus grew up while his father Jose was starting churches among the Indians in Mexico. While living in Mexico Jesus was a school teacher. The last three years he has helped his father start the Roca De Salvation Free Will Baptist Mission in Chula Vista California. Jesus is a graduate of the Gwen Hendrix Bible Institute in Inman South Carolina where Free Will Baptist offer a Bachelors Degree in Biblical and Pastoral Studies. We would like to see Jesus in Greenfield building a congregation as soon as possible. To help do this we are asking as many Churches as will to present this need to their congregation and receive faith promises. Please pray about doing this and set a goal of $100 per month or more. The Church in Chula Vista did this and raised $250 a month by presenting the need three Sundays in a row. We have closed a large number of Free will Baptist Churches in the past because we did not reach the changing population in the neighborhoods where these churches were located. Let's not let that happen again. I know God wants us to reach this large influx of souls He has laid at the front door of one of our Church buildings. Funds for Jesus should be sent through the state office designated for Jesus Gonzalez. If you have questions please contact me. Pastor John Smith Phone 619-934-7616 1378 Heatherwood Ave Chula Vista, California 91913 E-mail jbdlsmith@cox.net