MAP Stories: Timoteo Cortes Ruiz

“And the Gospel must first be preached to all nations.” Mark 13:10

I was born in a Christian home. My father was a pastor at Primera Iglesia Bautista Nazareth in La Nueva Esperanza Colotepec Pochutla, Oaxaca, Mexico, during the early 1970’s. In 1978, my father died and went to be with our Lord. I studied at the Ministerial Baptist Bible Institute in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, between 1998-2001.

As a native of Nueva Esperanza Colotepec Pochutla, Oaxaca, I received Christ as my Savior and Lord in 1990 and was baptized by Pastor Nilo Dolores Juarez. I have been a member of El Buen Pastor Baptist Church for the last 10 years and served as Sunday School teacher, and currently, I am serving as a church planter missionary.

In 2014, I decided to go back home and start a new church in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. So, I started saving money and began working very hard to accomplish this. However, I was not able to move back to Puerto Escondido and ended up staying in Tijuana. I used to pass this neighborhood called Colonia Unión Antorchita: an area of about 2,500 people and counting as people continue to move here from different parts in Mexico. Most of the people who live here work in factories and as drivers of buses. However, as I walked by, I noticed that there were no churches in the area. So, I thought if I cannot go back to Puerto Escondido and there is no church in this place that maybe I can start working and praying for the people in this area.

The doors were opened, and I met the political leader of this area. I told this man: “I need to find land to build a church here, I do not want the land for me or to make a profit.” This leader told me: “Go ahead and when you find it please let me know; I will give it to you as a donation for a church.”

Praise the Lord for He is always present with us! In February of 2015, they gave me the land to build a church and a month later, we started the ministry. The Lord has provided for our needs in this journey both the spiritual and the financial. He is always faithful and has given us strength through the trials and hard times. I have learned that in His work, we can do what we can, and He takes care of that which is impossible for us. Everything is possible for my Lord.

In my time as a missionary, I have had many goals and objectives: to evangelize in the streets every Saturday, to have prayer cells, home Bible studies, events, to disciple and encourage new believers, and to baptize. Having reached those goals, we have established several ministries, including some for women, men, children and even Sunday School. As a result, the Lord continues to open doors. We have baptized 10 people and are preparing 4 more for baptism. People from other congregations have also joined this new church. Currently, we have 23 children ranging from 1 to 12 years of age. Four of our youth volunteers serve in the feeding center. The people now recognize and respect the church here.

Timoteo Cortes Ruiz serves in Colonia Unión Antorchita in Tijuana, Mexico. He is a MAP missionary ready to be adopted by a Texas Baptists church. For more information, contact Jair Campos at 214-828-5124 and missionaryadoptionprogram@texasbaptists.orgor visit texasbaptists.org/map.