December 2024 Newsletter

Greetings to all our Friends and Family from around the world!

Thank you once again for taking the time to read this letter amidst so many others circulating this season. We know it’s not always easy to decide which one to read, but we are truly grateful you chose ours—and we hope it’s because you know us and care for the work we’re doing!

This will be our final letter of 2024, and we want to remind you not to forget about us as we continue to serve and reach out to those in need.

First of all, we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We certainly have so much to be thankful for, one of the biggest being that we still live in a country where we can openly give thanks to God for His abundant blessings. For our part, we hosted a special Thanksgiving celebration in collaboration with Encounter Church, where we had the privilege of gathering with 300 members from our ministry, as well as with three other local churches we are partnered with. It was a beautiful time of fellowship, food, and giving thanks together for all that God has done in our lives and in our ministries.

At the same time, it saddens me to see how Christmas is being slowly replaced with generic “Holiday Greetings.” It’s clear that, in many parts of society, the name of Christ has become controversial. But despite the world around us, we remain committed to being the light of the world. We continue to bring the hope of the Gospel to those who are desperate and without hope. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who faithfully support this ministry—it wouldn’t be possible without you. (And of course, there’s always room for more to join in!)

We want to share a few short testimonies from across Mexico:

Sonora:

Pedro is just 44 years old, but he began losing 80% of his eyesight at age 37. He fell into depression and withdrew, not wanting to eat or leave his bed. That’s when our amazing team started visiting him at home, bringing him food and sharing the message of Jesus Christ. Over time, Pedro felt led to visit the La Roca campus. He was welcomed with open arms, shared a meal with the team, and was so moved that he asked if he could help. He started washing dishes, and before long, he was asking when he could return! Pedro has since fallen in love with the Lord and with La Roca Ministries. Now, he serves almost daily with the staff, never missing Bible studies or Sunday services. What an incredible praise report!

Chiapas:

Magdiel Cueto, our missionary in Chiapas, has been doing fantastic work. He started a kids’ club with the help of several volunteers, and then began visiting rehab centers, teaching the men there. This past September, Magdiel launched a small church, with 20 to 26 people regularly attending—both children and adults. Praise God for this growth! There are even members of the community who are offering land to build a church building. If you feel led to support church planting, kids’ ministry, or prison outreach, this is a wonderful opportunity to invest in reaching more lost souls for Christ.

Discipleship Ranch:

A huge praise report from our ranch involves our son-in-law, Jonas, who came to us seeking refuge after he had to hide from the drug cartel. While in hiding, he found peace in the lives of others around him and had a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ. Jonas completed our program and is now part of the staff, also studying at our Bible school. He, along with Christina and David, now live at the ranch. Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to grow in faith and service.

House of Grace:

We’re also praising God for two of our young adults, Jonathon and Lupita, who are now attending seminary. Their transformation has been inspiring, and they are motivating others to follow in their footsteps. Please pray for them and for the others who will begin seminary in January 2025.

These are just a few of the many stories we could share, but space is limited. We want you to know that we are busier than ever with seven ministry locations in Tijuana alone, and four different locations throughout Mexico. We’re also preparing for Christmas events for our children at the orphanage, and outreach to those in the red-light district and the dump. Thanks to your generosity, we’re able to provide food and gifts that brighten their Christmases, offering hope to those who live in darkness. With Christ, everything can change in the blink of an eye!

Our Christmas outreach for 2024 was a great success. In partnership with Christian Assembly we hosted an outreach for over 200 children from the community who heard the gospel and received love and gifts.

As we approach the end of 2024, we humbly ask that you remember La Roca Ministries in your year-end giving. The needs are greater than ever, and we continue to expand our work in Mexico. Your financial support allows us to continue reaching children, families, and individuals in crisis across seven ministry locations in Tijuana alone, and four different locations throughout Mexico. We are deeply grateful for your partnership, and we want to encourage you to prayerfully consider supporting us in this season. Every donation, large or small, helps make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.

Your prayers are just as important as your financial support. We ask that you continue to cover us in prayer, asking God to grant us wisdom, strength, and protection as we serve. Please pray for the safety of our staff, the spiritual growth of the people we serve, and for continued opportunities to share the hope of Christ in the most desperate places. We believe in the power of prayer to transform lives, and we are so thankful to have you standing with us in prayer.

May your Christmas be full of joy, peace, and meaning. We love you all and are deeply grateful for your ongoing support. If you’d like us to visit your church to share more about La Roca Ministries or preach God’s Word, we would be honored.

In His Love and Truth,

Carlos and Rossy Montoya and the entire La Roca team