The Aftermath: Ministering After Natural Disaster

On September 19, 2017 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked Central Mexico. It was the second major earthquake in a span of 11 days to affect the country. Homes, schools, and office buildings crumbled. Hundreds of people lost their lives in the devastation, and countless more lost their homes. The tragedy made headlines the world over. But what didn’t make the headlines is the way God used faithful ministers of His Word to bring comfort and biblical answers to churches and individuals still reeling from the earthquake.

One such minister was Luis Contreras who is a faculty member at TMAI’s Word of Grace Biblical Seminary (WGBS) in Mexico City. The Sunday following the quake, Luis stepped into the pulpit of his Mexico City church and offered a clear biblical response to the tragedy. That sermon has spread across the internet and ministered to countless people still picking up the pieces of their lives following the quake. The sermon was just one of many opportunities Luis and the leadership of WGBS – all of whom are pastors in their local churches – have had to minister in the wake of such a catastrophic event. You can listen to the sermon in Spanish here.

“The earthquake has given us opportunities to build relationships with people, so that we can tell them about Jesus and the gospel.”

Students of WGBS have been able to minister to many who have lost homes. Luis and his family have served their community with supplies and food to meet their physical needs, and unexpected relationships have formed that serve as a platform for spreading the truth of the gospel. Luis points out, “Every conversation may not start with the gospel, but the earthquake has given us opportunities to build relationships with people, so that we can tell them about Jesus and the gospel.”

Please continue to pray for the people of Mexico and for our brothers and sisters in Christ, who continue to demonstrate the love of Christ to their friends, loved ones, and countrymen in a time of great tragedy.

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