MISSIONARIES TO OLD MEXICO
Since 1983. Addres: Apartado 73, El Cercado, Stgo., N.L. Mexico 67320
Tele. 011 52 828 5-05-59. E-Mail: jonwanda@nl1.telmex.net.mx

John was saved from Catholicism in Amarillo, Texas on October 22, 1972. At that time, he was a buisness man, and, to some degree, he was involved in local politics. Wanda was saved on September 5, 1979. Wanda also ran a business, having an insurance agency.

John felt God calling him to preach a few months after he was saved. He struggled with this calling until some time after Wanda was saved. God made it more obvious in 1978, and John surrendered. Soon thereafter, he began working full time in the ministry, taking courses and working with Dr. James Wilkins at "New Testament Ministries". In 1981, John took a trip to Mexico with his church's youth group. He learned four spanish words, along with the four spiritual principles that govern the human soul: Rom. 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, and 10:13. The missionary whom John was visiting took the group to a mountain in Galiana Nuevo Leon, about 165 miles from where he lived. The missionary asked John to preach the four scriptures that he had learned. That day, God used John as a vessel to lead four men, two children and three ladies to Him. At that point John and Wanda realized that there was a true need in Mexico, so they began praying for God to send more missionaries to Mexico. However, the answer they received was not exactly the answer they expected. God began to show them that they were those missionaries they had been praying for. Ironically, in 1974, after a visit to the mission field in Chiwawa, Wanda's prayer was, "God, thank you for not calling us to Mexico!." But greater is He that is in you than he (or she) that is in the world. As John conducted his discipleship seminaries, he and Wanda were able to raise support through deputation. Shortly thereafter, the Casias family arrived in Mexico (October 29th, 1982). With three children that were still living at home and attending school, pulling two travel trailers, Mexico became their new home. The birth of the "First Independent Fundamental - Shade Tree Baptist Mission" was established three months after John & Wanda arrived in Mexico.

Picture on left shows John preaching the four spiritual principles, which, at the time, was the only message he knew to preach. This was one of the first services held fifteen years ago. The Casias's held the services in front of their camper trailer in El Cercado, Nuevo Leon, in the town where they live today. The open air services were held, faithfully, for three and a half years - Sunday School at 10:00am, regular services at 11:00am, and Sunday evening services at 6:30pm. John and Wanda still remember the cold winters (sometimes below zero), and hot summers (somtimes rising to 120 degrees) in those open air services. On two occasions, ladies actually fainted from the heat! They were okay, and God honored their faithfulness.

The picture located on the right indicates a baptismal service. At that time baptisms were performed at the local river. John baptized 47 new converts in the church's first baptismal service.

John and Wanda are grateful to the Lord, for the blessings He has bestowed upon them. Of course, their situation has changed, somewhat, since the early years of the ministry. Today, after fifteen years of service to the Lord, (and a whole lot of manual labor - a term, which, until the age of 17, John had thought was the name of a spanish movie star - ) they enjoy church services in a beautiful two story building that, through the will of the Lord, they were able to build. From the help of the men that had been won to the Lord and discipled through the church, to church groups that volunteered time, sweat and money, the Lord demonstrated his divine generosity. Of course, John and Wanda give the Lord all the glory and honor for everything He has done in their lives. They know that without God, the prayers of bretheren, and financial support, it could have never been done.

This is the front of "La Primera Iglesia Bautista Fundamental Independiente" (First Independent Fundamental Baptist Church). By the way, they don't call it the Shade Tree Baptist Mission any more.

In the mean time John and Wanda have started to work in other villages

Services continue and the ministry is beginning to expand to include other nearby villages such as Zacatecas.

Anniversary Oct. 30-Nov.1, 1998.

Thank You and God Bless You