Church Planter Conversation: Israel García
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
BENJAMIN KREPS:
Hey everyone and welcome to the Mark podcast - where our aim is to connect our global family of Sovereign Grace churches with our executive director.
Mark, we are definitely going global on this episode of the podcast because it is our honor and privilege to welcome church planter and pastor Israel Garcia from Oaxaca, Mexico, and also to help translate, a dear brother that many of us have known for years, Abelardo Muñoz, to the podcast.
So welcome, gentlemen.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ:
Thank you, Ben. It's a joy to be here.
BENJAMIN KREPS:
It is a joy to have you. Well, we're here to interview Israel and to learn all about you, Israel. So why don't we start by you telling us a little bit about yourself, your family, your wife, and so on.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
Estamos aquí para entrevistarte, Israel, y ¿por qué no te pedimos que nos digas cómo se llama tu esposa y qué nos puedas contar de tu familia, desde el principio?
Israel García:
Hola, muchas gracias por este privilegio y este amor y servicio.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
Gracias, thank you, Mark, and thank you, Ben, for giving us this privilege of interviewing us.
Israel García:
El nombre de mi esposa es Noemi. Estamos por cumplir doce años de casados la semana que viene.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
My wife's name is Nohemí and we are about to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary next week.
Mark Prater:
Congratulations!
Israel García: (in Spanish)
Tenemos dos hijos, Daniela de nueve, y Ian de seis años.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We have two children. Daniela is nine years old, and Ian is six years old.
MARK PRATER:
That's wonderful, Israel. Happy anniversary. Happy 12th anniversary.
Israel García:
Thank you very much.
MARK PRATER:
All right, Israel, tell us where in Mexico is Huajuapan, which is in the state of Oaxaca. Tell us where that is located in the nation of Mexico. And how did your desire to plant in Huajuapan develop?
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
Israel, dinos dónde en qué parte de México se encuentra Huajuapan, y ¿cómo se desarrollo tu deseo de plantar una iglesia?
Israel García:
Huajuapan se encuentra en el estado de Oaxaca, al sur del país. Se encuentra a unas tres horas de la capital oaxaqueña.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
Huajuapan is in the state of Oaxaca, located in the southern part of Mexico and in the northern part of the state, about three hours from the capital city.
Israel García:
Lo que vamos a hacer es algo muy especial, porque mi esposa y yo vinimos aquí para asistir a la universidad.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
What we are going to do is very special for my wife and for me, because we came here to attend university.
Israel García:
Entonces, en el año 2018 el Señor providencialmente nos llevó a Ciudad Juárez a servir a unas personas allí, no relacionadas con Gracia Soberana. Pero de manera muy providencial el Señor nos permitió tener contacto con la Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Juárez.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
In 2018, the Lord providentially took us to Ciudad Juárez to serve a number of people not related to Sovereign Grace. But in a very providential way, the Lord allowed us to make contact with Sovereign Grace Church of Juarez.
Israel García:
Y para nosotros, ser parte de Gracia Soberana fue una gran bendición porque pudimos entender más de la gracia del Señor y de cómo vivir el evangelio. Vimos de primera mano el amor de Dios en las vidas de las personas. Y eso generó en nosotros un profundo deseo de regresar a Huajuapan para compartir el evangelio con nuestra gente.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
And for us, becoming part of Sovereign Grace Juarez was a great blessing because we learned there the importance of living the gospel. We saw firsthand the love of God in the lives of all the people. And that stirred a deep desire in us to go back to Huajuapan and share that gospel with our people.
Israel García:
Empezamos a orar con mi esposa por este llamado y luego hablamos con el equipo pastoral sobre nuestro deseo. Fue difícil, pero ellos nos guiaron con amor y diligencia en el proceso de preparación, y nos ayudaron a discernir la voluntad de Dios en cuanto al momento oportuno y todo lo relacionado a la plantación de la iglesia. Así fue cómo fuimos llamados a regresar a Huajuapan.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
My wife and I began to pray about this desire, and then we talked to the pastors about our desire. They were very loving and diligent in guiding us in the preparation process and in helping us to seek God's will as to the timing and everything else related to the church plant.
And that’s how we were called to go back to Huajuapan.
BENJAMIN KREPS:
Wonderful.
MARK PRATER:
Wonderful story!
BENJAMIN KREPS:
Yes, excellent. Some people who check out the podcast might not be aware that we actually have a Sovereign Grace Pastor's College in Mexico, and we're so happy for what God's doing there. Israel, you went to the Pastor's College, which essentially included an internship. They put you right to work while you were busy studying. How did all that prepare you for church planting?
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
Israel, tal vez algunas personas que siguen este podcast no lo saben, pero tenemos un Colegio del Pastores en Juárez, y tú pudiste asistir allí. ¿Cómo te preparó eso para la plantación de la iglesia?
Israel García:
Sí, asistí al Colegio de Pastores y como ustedes saben, tuvimos que leer muchos libros. También fuimos instruidos en la predicación expositiva, pero lo principal era entrenarnos en todos los aspectos relacionados con la plantación de la iglesia, para que cuando tuviéramos que mudarnos, estuviéramos listos.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
Well, yes, we attended the pastor's college. As you all know, we had to read a lot of books. We were trained in expository preaching as well, but the main focus was to be trained in all the specifics related to the church plant.
Israel García:
Solíamos acudir a nuestros pastores para hacerles todo tipo de preguntas relacionadas con la plantación de la iglesia y ellos eran muy pacientes al responder todas esas preguntas y al ayudarnos a prepararnos para la plantación de la iglesia.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We would come to our pastors to ask all kinds of questions related to the church plant and they were very patient in answering all those questions and in helping us prepare for the church plant.
Israel García:
Y quizás la mayor contribución que hicieron en mi vida y en la de mi esposa fue ayudarnos a crecer en nuestro carácter para convertirnos en el hombre y la mujer que necesitábamos ser para iniciar la iglesia.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
And perhaps the greatest contribution that they made in my life, and in my wife's life, was to help us grow in our character to become the man and the woman we needed to be in order to start the church.
Israel García:
No fue solo una formación académica, sino también una atención pastoral que nos ayudó muchísimo. Y nos sigue ayudando hasta el día de hoy.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
It was not only an academic training, it was a pastoral care that helped us tremendously.
And it keeps helping us up to this day.
Israel García:
Además, hicimos un par de viajes exploratorios a Huajuapan para buscar un lugar donde vivir. Orábamos por la familia de Omar Soto, quien iba a ser mi compañero en la fundación de esta iglesia. Se unió a la fundación unos meses después de nuestro regreso a Huajuapan.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
Also, we made a couple of exploratory trips to Huajuapan to look for a place to live. We were praying for the family of Omar Soto, who was going to be my partner in planting this church. He joined the church plant a few months after we went back to Huajuapan.
Israel García:
Ese fue nuestro recorrido por la escuela de pastores en preparación para la fundación de la iglesia.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
That was our journey through the pastor's college in preparation for the church plant.
Mark Prater:
Wonderful. It's so good to hear that story Israel. Tell us the name of your church and what is your vision and hope for planting in Huajuapan?
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
Israel, ¿cómo se llama tu iglesia y cuál es tu visión, y tu esperanza para esta iglesia que se ha plantado en Huajuapan?
Israel García:
Sí, por ahora el nombre de la iglesia es Gracia Soberana de Huajuapan, y nuestro deseo es predicar el evangelio de tal manera que la gente pueda ver a Cristo en nuestra vida diaria.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
The name of the church is Sovereign Grace Church, Gracia Soberana de Huajuapan. Our goal, our hope, is to preach the gospel in such a way that people can see life being transformed in their everyday lives.
Israel García:
Porque eso es lo que el Señor nos mostró en Juárez, que el evangelio no es solamente algo abstracto o doctrinal, es algo que podemos vivir todos nuestros días.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
It's something that we learned in Juarez. The gospel is not just an academic topic, it's something that we can live in our everyday lives. And we want to preach it in a relational way and show people that they can believe it and their lives will be changed.
MARK PRATER:
It's a great vision.
BENJAMIN KREPS:
It's a great vision and just a reminder in our partnership, we're different cultures, but have the same heartbeat and of course the same gospel. Love hearing about your vision for the church. So how long have you been meeting as a church and how has it been going? And also what was the first book that you started preaching through?
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
¿Cuánto tiempo llevan reuniéndose como iglesia, Israel y como congregación? ¿Cuál fue el primer libro de la Biblia que predicaron?
Israel García:
Llegamos a principios de septiembre de 2023, y comenzamos a estudiar solo con la familia de Omar, a orar y leer la Biblia; y luego otras familias nos preguntaron si podían unirse.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We started meeting informally in early September 2023, but it was only Omar's family and my family, and we would only meet to pray and to read the Bible. But soon after that, another family who are friends of ours requested our permission to join us. They almost begged us to join our meetings.
Israel García:
Y luego se unió otra familia, y luego otra. Nuestro plan original era esperar un año antes de empezar a tener reuniones formales, pero tuvimos que cambiarlo y empezamos a tenerlas mucho antes de lo previsto.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
And then another family joined, and then another family. Our original plan was to wait for a year before we started having formal meetings, but we had to change that plan, and we started having those formal meetings long before we had planned to do it.
Israel García:
Entonces, nos hemos estado reuniendo durante aproximadamente dos años y, por la gracia de Dios, tenemos alrededor de 30 a 40 personas reunidas regularmente todos los domingos por la mañana.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
So, we've been meeting for about two years now, and by the grace of God, we have about 30 to 40 people meeting regularly every Sunday morning.
Israel García:
El primer libro que prediqué fue el Evangelio de Marcos porque estaba convencido de que lo que todas estas personas necesitaban era conocer personalmente a Jesús.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
The first book I preached from was the Gospel of Mark because I was convinced that what all these people needed was to get to know Jesus personally.
MARK PRATER:
Wonderful. It's so good to hear how we have our plans in church planting, and then how God changes them according to his will and purposes. So that's what your story reveals, Israel. Thanks for sharing it.
If someone lives in Huajuapan and is listening to this podcast, or knows of family or friends that live in that area and they would like to know more about your church or where you meet, how can they find that information?
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
Israel, puede que algunas personas vivan en la misma zona y escuchen este podcast. ¿Cómo podemos comunicarles dónde se encuentran y dónde se reúne su iglesia para que puedan unirse?
Israel García:
Bueno, el Señor es muy bueno. Empezamos a reunirnos en nuestra casa y llevamos dos años allí.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
The Lord has been very good to us because we began meeting in our own home for almost two years.
Israel García:
No nos quedaba espacio. Estábamos muy apretados en nuestra pequeña casa. Y hace un año empezamos a orar para que el Señor nos proporcionara un lugar ideal donde pudiéramos reunirnos formalmente como iglesia. Y el Señor respondió a esa oración.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We didn't have any space left. We were packed in our small home. And a year ago we began praying for the Lord to supply an ideal place where we could formally meet as a church. And the Lord has answered that prayer.
Israel García:
Actualmente nos reunimos en un lugar muy agradable en la calle número 37, justo en el centro de la ciudad.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We currently meet in a very nice place in street number 37, right in the downtown area of the city.
Israel García:
Y nuestras reuniones comienzan a las 11 en punto todos los domingos.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
And our meetings start at 11 o'clock every Sunday.
MARK PRATER:
And Israel, do you have a website or a Facebook page or Instagram where people can go online.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
¿Existe alguna cuenta de Facebook o Instagram donde la gente pueda encontrarte?
Israel García:
Tenemos una página de Facebook bajo el nombre Gracia Soberana Huajuapan, y hace poco iniciamos un podcast en Spotify también bajo el mismo nombre, Gracia Soberana Huajuapan.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We have a web page in Facebook under that name (Gracia Soberana Huajuapan) and we just started not long ago, a podcast in Spotify, also under the same name, Gracia Soberana Huajuapan.
MARK PRATER:
That's wonderful.
BENJAMIN KREPS:
Excellent. Well, Israel, it is good to hear about how God has been smiling on your church plant in response to your many prayers.
But we want to keep praying for you guys. So how can we be praying for you and the church?
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in Spanish):
Israel, ¿cómo podemos ayudarte?, ¿cómo podemos orar por ti como iglesia?
Israel García:
Apreciamos mucho sus oraciones porque esta es la obra del Señor y necesitamos desesperadamente su ayuda y guía, así que gracias por hacerlo.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We appreciate a lot your prayers because this is the Lord's work and we need his help and guidance desperately, so thank you for doing it.
Israel García:
Lo primero que les pido es que oren por mi trabajo y por sabiduría para administrar bien mi tiempo, ya que soy anciano bi-vocacional. Trabajo a tiempo completo desde casa y necesito encargarme de todo en la iglesia, además de guiar y cuidar a mi familia. Les pido sus oraciones por esto.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
The first thing I would ask you to pray for is my job and wisdom for me to manage wisely my time because I am a bi-vocational elder. I have a full-time job from my home and I need to take care of everything in the church as well and lead and care for my family. So I would appreciate your prayers in this regard.
Israel García:
También les pido que oren por Omar, mi compañero, quien es líder en nuestra iglesia. Tiene un negocio de hamburguesas que ha prosperado, pero es un trabajo muy exigente y agradeceríamos sus oraciones para que el Señor siga bendiciéndolo en ese negocio.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
And I would also ask you to pray for Omar, my partner, who is a leader in our church. He has a business, a hamburger business that has been prospering, but it's a very demanding job and we would appreciate your prayers that the Lord keeps blessing him in that business.
Israel García:
Y les pido que oren por Omar y su negocio porque Huajuapan es un pueblo pequeño y no hay muchas opciones de empleo, y es muy difícil ganarse la vida. Así que, por favor, recuerden orar por Omar y su familia.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
And the reason I ask you to pray for Omar and his business is because Huajuapan is a small town and there are not many employment options, and it is very hard to make a living. So please remember to pray for Omar and his family.
Israel García:
También agradeceríamos sus oraciones por el crecimiento espiritual, no solo en número, sino también en la vida de nuestra congregación. Ya contamos con un buen número de personas, pero realmente deseamos que crezca su aprecio por el evangelio. Y les pedimos que oren para que también se conviertan en una influencia para quienes los rodean.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
We would also appreciate your prayers for spiritual growth and not only in numbers, but spiritual growth in the lives of our people. We have a good number of people already, but we really want them to grow in their appreciation for the gospel. And we would ask you to pray that they will become an influence to those around them as well.
Israel García:
Y por favor, oren también para que estemos atentos a todas las oportunidades que el Señor nos da para compartir el evangelio con quienes nos rodean y para que podamos compartir el evangelio de una manera relacional para que podamos alcanzar a la mayor cantidad de personas para Cristo.
ABELARDO MUÑOZ (translating in English):
And please also pray that we may be alert to all the opportunities the Lord gives us to share the gospel with those around us and that we may be able to share the gospel in a relational way that we may reach as many as we can for Christ.
MARK PRATER:
Wonderful.
BENJAMIN KREPS:
Amen. Excellent. Israel, it's not only a joy to hear a little bit about your story, but what a joy it is to be in partnership together, to actually be a part of a family together in Sovereign Grace. So thank you, Israel, for your faithfulness in planting that church. And Abelardo, thank you for all you and the other guys in Juarez are doing there and your faithfulness to Christ. You are making a significant impact in Juarez.
So thank you all for checking out the podcast, and we'll see you here next week, Lord willing. Bye for now.