Saturday, November 5, 2016

Very Important Ministry News

Dear Beloved Supporters of Fishers of Men,

Greetings from Refuge Ranch! 

The Lord has certainly been moving, for some in unexpected ways, but we are encouraged to share with you His doings!

This past week, on Thursday, October 27, 2016, a group of five men who love the Lord, consisting of:  Pastor Kirk Hanger (the founding pastor of the church we attend in Mexico), Pastor Ruben Bonilla (the lead pastor of the church we attend), Pastor Dave Claassen (my father), Dan Claassen (Julie’s brother) and Adrian Tovar (staff member of Fishers of Men at Refuge Ranch), met with Victor Zaragoza.  Concerned with specific character issues, certain sins, such as pride, and other behaviors that have hindered Victor’s ability to be the man that God desires him to be as husband, father and co-director of Fishers of Men, they confronted him in love and in accordance with Matthew 18.  The confrontation was carried out with the full knowledge and consent of the Fishers of Men Board of Directors.  

By the grace of God, Victor acknowledged his need for restoration and help in these and other areas of his life.  Therefore, the group of men shared with him a plan for such restoration, including leaving the following morning to spend an undefined amount of time living with Pastor Kirk and Marilyn Hanger in Alexandria, Virginia where Pastor Kirk will mentor Victor, as well as Victor receiving professional therapy.

So, last Friday, Victor departed with Pastor Kirk to Virginia to take part in this restorative process for an undesignated period of time.  All financial support for Victor’s restoration is coming from personal funds.

The ministry of Fishers of Men, both at Refuge Ranch and through the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades, continues to be carried out in Mexico.

I will continue to serve as co-director of Fishers of Men, alongside the leadership of the Fishers of Men Board of Directors, as well as, obviously, leading the ministry at Refuge Ranch as the mother of our 18 children.  I will continue to build up our children’s lives in the love and truth found only in Jesus Christ, just as the building of the new house continues to move forward!  The Lord has graciously provided through you!  In fact, every Friday our family pours 8 more columns! 
Just a few more weeks and all of the first floor columns will be poured and we will begin to prep the site for the pouring of the floor!

Adrian Tovar, Victor’s very capable right hand man and Fishers of Men staff member, has taken over the leadership of the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades.  The remaining crusades on the 2016 schedule will be carried out as planned and we are beginning to schedule 2017, by the grace of God.

Obviously, we covet your prayers and continued support during this challenging, yet hopeful time as we anticipate Victor’s eventual return to our family and the ministry.

Please feel free to contact myself with any of your questions or concerns, but I do request that any communication with our children be limited to expressions of love and support. 

Through all of this we are confident that, “He who began a good work in you (each of us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 1:6)

May God be honored and glorified in and through our lives!

Confident in Christ,

Julie Zaragoza