Church Planter Conversation: Marcelo Torress

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

BENJAMIN KREPS:

Hey everyone and welcome to the Mark Prater podcast - where our aim is to connect our global family of Sovereign Grace churches with our executive director. On this episode, this truly is a global connection we're making because we are joined by pastor and church planter Marcello Torres in Reynosa, Mexico, for a conversation with us.

We're also joined by our dear brother, Abelardo Muñoz, from Iglesia Soberana in Juarez, where he has been serving for many years, and he is going to help us with translation.

Welcome to the podcast, guys.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ:

A joy to be here.

BENJAMIN KREPS:

A joy to have you. Well, let's get right into it.

Marcello, tell us about your family. What is your wife's name? Tell us about your family.

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Hola a todos. Por la gracia de Dios, llevo 28 años casado con mi maravillosa esposa, Ruth, y tenemos tres hijos maravillosos. El mayor tiene 27 años, Juan Pablo, y vive con nosotros. El menor, Marcelo Nahar, tiene 17 años y también vive con nosotros. Y el del medio, David, estudia y vive en Juárez. 

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

Hello everyone. By God's Grace, I've been married to my wonderful wife, Ruth, for 28 years, and we have three wonderful sons. The oldest one is 27, Juan Pablo, and he lives with us. The younger, Marcelo Nahar, is 17 and he lives with us as well. And the one in the middle, David, he's studying and lives in Juarez.

MARK PRATER:

That's great. So after you were at the pastor's college, Marcello, your middle son stayed there?

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Sí, así ocurrió. Él se quedó allá. Lo extrañamos mucho pero él está estudiando allá.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

That's what happened. He stayed there. We're missing him a lot, but he's studying there.

MARK PRATER:

That's good. Well, tell us where in Mexico Reynosa is located and about your desire to plant a church there. How did that evolve over time?

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Reynosa se encuentra al noreste de México, en el estado de Tamaulipas, y compartimos frontera con tres pequeñas ciudades de Texas: Pharr, Hidalgo, y Mission, Texas. También estamos a pocas horas de South Padre Island y de la Base Estelar, donde se lanzan los cohetes.

Y en cuanto a mi deseo de plantar una iglesia, hoy puedo afirmar que realmente fue una respuesta a un llamado que el Señor me dio hace algún tiempo.

Pero no puedo decir mucho más. Durante 20 años, ese deseo no había madurado en mi corazón. El Señor me dio ese deseo hace 20 años. Pero en esta ocasión yo sabía que tenía que responder.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

Reynosa is located in the northeast of Mexico in the state of Tamaulipas, and we share the border with three small cities from Texas: Pharr, Hidalgo, and Mission, Texas. We are also a few hours from South Padre Island, and from Starbase where the rockets are launched.

And regarding my desire to plant a church, today I can affirm that it was really an answer to a calling that the Lord had given me some time ago. But I can't say much more. For 20 years, that desire had not matured in my heart. But this time I knew I had to respond.

MARK PRATER:

That's wonderful. Let me just tell a little bit more, about Marcello,—you were working for a company in Reynosa and had to travel to Juarez for business. That became a way to cross over to the church Carlos Contreras leads. And that was a part of God calling you, I believe. Tell us a little more about that.

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Esa era mi situación, pero no sabía cómo entenderlo. Ese deseo estaba en mi corazón, pero no sabía cómo ni con quién llevarlo a cabo. La empresa para la que trabajaba me envió a Juárez por un año. El plan era quedarme dos semanas en Juárez y luego dos semanas en mi casa, en Reynosa. Decidí buscar una iglesia a la que pudiera asistir los domingos cuando estuviera en Juárez. Por la providencia de Dios, mi hotel estaba muy cerca de la Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Juárez. Al escuchar los sermones, el Señor inmediatamente comenzó a hablarme sobre muchas cosas y a responder muchas preguntas que había tenido durante años.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

That was my situation, but I didn't know how I could understand it.

The seed of that desire was in my heart, but I didn't know how in the world I was going to do it or with who. The company I was working for sent me to Juarez on a one-year assignment. The plan was that I would stay two weeks in Juarez and then two weeks at home in Reynosa. I decided to find a church where I could attend on Sundays when I was in Juarez. In God's providence, my hotel was very close to Sovereign Grace Church, Juarez. Listening to the sermons, the Lord immediately began speaking to me about many things and answering many questions I had for many years.

MARK PRATER:

That's wonderful.

BENJAMIN KREPS:

And just hearing a little bit of your story, it's so God-glorifying. We're so grateful that you have been eager to listen to the way the Lord has led you in all of this. Part of that was leading you to eventually attend the pastor's college in Juarez. So at the pastor's college, essentially as well, you're doing an internship and preparing for planting with the guys there. How did all of that prepare you for planting a church?

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Tuvimos muchos problemas en el pasado, pero el proyecto con mi empresa se confirmó, y me quedé en Juárez más de lo esperado. Mi tiempo allí se extendió a cuatro años, en parte debido a la pandemia y a que el proyecto al que me asignaron siguió adelante.

En ese tiempo, fue muy desafiante, no solo en el aspecto teológico, sino también en muchas áreas de mi vida. Todo eso me llevó a crecer en la fe, a una fe más fuerte en lo que Dios tenía para mí.

Tuve la bendición de compartir tiempo con hombres como Carlos y Abelardo, quienes han caminado con el Señor mucho más tiempo que yo, y quienes a su vez han sido enseñados y bendecidos por hombres como tú en la Gracia Soberana. Eso fue una gran bendición para mí. 

Eso tuvo un gran impacto en mi vida espiritual, una gran influencia. Y ha sido de gran ayuda en el proceso de plantar esta iglesia.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

We had a lot of problems in the past, but the business project with  my company was confirmed, and

I stayed in Juarez longer than I had expected. My time there extended to four years--partly because of the pandemic and because the project I was assigned to kept going.

During this time, it was very challenging, not only in the theological aspect, but also in many areas of my life. All of that led to my growing in faith, to a stronger faith for what God had ahead for me.

I had the blessing of sharing time with men like Carlos and Abelardo, who have walked with the Lord a lot longer than I have, and who in turn have been taught and blessed by men like you in Sovereign Grace. That was such a huge blessing for me.

That had a great impact in my spiritual life, a great influence. And it has been a great help in the process of planting this church.

MARK PRATER:

That's great. That's wonderful. Carlos and Abelardo, thank you for all you're doing to serve the pastors college in Juarez as it is equipping men for ministry and to plant churches like our friend Marcello.

So, Marcello, tell us what the name of your church is and what is your vision and hope for planting in Reynosa.

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Se llama Gracia Soberana de Reynosa. Y mi visión, y lo digo con humildad, porque creo que es la visión del Señor, es poder comunicar con pasión, esfuerzo y fidelidad, con base en las Escrituras, que hay un Dios que perdona a los pecadores por el sacrificio de su único Hijo.

Y que este perdón nos libera de la esclavitud del pecado para que seamos transformados por el poder del Espíritu Santo, para dar fruto en todas las áreas de nuestra vida y así glorificar a Dios.

Y mi esperanza es que todos los que asisten a nuestra iglesia puedan ver ese poder transformador de Dios en sus propias vidas. 

Y que puedan ver el poder del Espíritu Santo obrando en sus vidas de tal manera que también sean una influencia para quienes los rodean.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

The name is Gracia Soberana de Reynosa. And my vision, and I say it humbly, because I think it's the Lord's vision, is to be able to communicate with passion, with effort, with faithfulness, based on the scriptures, that there is a God who forgives sinners because of the sacrifice of his only Son.

And that this forgiveness sets us free from the slavery of sin so that we may be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, to bear fruit in all areas of our lives, and thus bring glory to God.

And my hope is that everyone who attends our church may see that transforming power of God in their own lives.

And that they may see the power of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives in such a way that they will be an influence to those around them also. 

BENJAMIN KREPS:

Yes, yes. It's easy to hear your passion for the gospel, Marcello, and your preacher's heart, your passion to preach that gospel.

So how long have you guys been meeting? How long has the church been gathering? How has it been going? And what is the first book of the Bible that you've preached through as you began the church plant?

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Llevamos dos años y tres meses reuniéndonos. Aunque el crecimiento ha sido lento, sabemos que hay un crecimiento numérico, así como un crecimiento espiritual. Hemos empezado a ver un crecimiento pequeño pero muy significativo.

La semilla que plantamos está cobrando vida, y todo ha sido por el poder de la Palabra de Dios. Comenzamos la iglesia con solo mi familia, y actualmente tenemos más de 20 personas que vienen cada domingo. En total, son unas 8 familias.

El primer libro que predicamos fue el Evangelio de Marcos, que fue una gran bendición. Inmediatamente después, predicamos el libro de Jonás, que fue otra gran bendición.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

We've been meeting for two years and three months. Although the growth has been slow, we know there is a numerical growth, as well as a spiritual growth. We have started to see a small but very definitive growth.

The seed that we planted is coming alive, and it's all been by the power of God's Word. We started the church plant with just my own family, and currently we have about 20 plus people coming every Sunday. They comprise about 8 families in total.

The first book we preached from was the Gospel of Mark, which was a big blessing. Right after that, we preached the book of Jonah, and it was another great blessing.

MARK PRATER:

Wonderful to hear how the word of God, when it's preached, draws people is really so, so encouraging.

So, Marcello, if someone listening to this episode lives in the Reynosa area or maybe over the border close by in Texas, or knows a family or friends that are in Reynosa or the border towns in Texas, and they'd like to visit your church—how can they find out more information about Gracia Soberana in Reynosa and where you meet?

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Nos puedes encontrar en la web como Gracia Soberana Reynosa, nos reunimos los domingos a las 11:30 de la mañana en Calle Vista Hermosa número ochocientos catorce.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

You can find us on the web as Gracia Soberana Reynosa, we meet on Sundays at 11:30 in the morning at Calle Vista Hermosa número ochocientos catorce.

BENJAMIN KREPS:

Well, Marcello, it is a joy to hear about what God is doing in Reynosa and how you're beginning to see fruit being born as you're planting the seed of the gospel there through that church plant. How can we be praying for you and the church plant?

MARCELLO TORRES (in Spanish):

Les pido que oren por tres cosas. La primera es que el poder del Señor se manifieste cada vez más en nuestras vidas.

La segunda es que la iglesia se establezca y vuelva a ser una institución respetada tanto por creyentes como por no creyentes, ya que en esta región, por alguna razón, la iglesia no es tan respetada como antes en nuestra sociedad. Por eso, les pedimos que oren para que la iglesia se establezca y vuelva a ser una fuerte influencia en nuestra sociedad. 

Y mi tercera petición es que el Señor me permita más tiempo para dedicarme al ministerio, ya que también tengo dos vocaciones. También quiero ser cuidadoso y diligente en el cuidado de mi familia y administrar mi tiempo con sabiduría. Si pudieran orar por todo eso.

ABELARDO MUÑOZ (Translating in English):

I would ask you to pray for three things. The first one would be that the power of the Lord would manifest itself more and more in our lives.

The second one would be that the church may be established, and that it may again be a respected institution in the eyes of unbelievers and believers, because in this region, the church is not as respected as it used to be in the eyes of our society for some reason. So we are asking you to pray that the church will be established and will again become a strong influence in our society.

And my third request would be that the Lord will allow me more time to work in ministry-related matters, because I am bi-vocational as well. I also want to be careful and diligent in caring for my family and wise in managing my time. If you could pray for all of that.

BENJAMIN KREPS:

Yes, yes, we will definitely be praying for you. It's really humbling—your example, Marcello. We had Israel Garcia on another episode and interview recently as well, to hear about how you're doing all of this work bi-vocationally.

So your faith and your labor and your sacrifice is a compelling example for us. Thank you. And thanks for being a partner in Sovereign Grace. We get to be family together—Mexico and the States. So thanks for sharing some of your story with us. Thank you, Abelardo, for joining us and serving us. And thanks for all you guys do in Juarez to serve the people there.

And thank you all for checking out the podcast. We'll see you here next week, Lord willing. Bye for now.