In the first article on Mexico we described the entry stage of the mission work of the CRC in Mexico. The CRC made contact with migrants in the late 50’s, did follow-up work in Mexico, were invited to work with the Independent Presbyterian Church in Mexico and commenced their mission work in the early 60’s. Our introductory summary covered the years 1958 to 1964.

I. The Developmental Stage: 1964–1974

The CRC mission was on its way in Mexico. The Nyenhuises had arrived and were joined by the Greenways who worked together with nine national workers. A small bookstore was opened on one of the main streets of Mexico City, “La Antorcha de Mexico” which was run by Miss E. Sanchez, a member of the Coyoacan Church of the IPC. “La Antorcha” refers to a torch which bears light in darkness, which also serves as a symbol for the CRC mission’s dream and vision for Mexico: that the light of the gospel would spread through Mexico and expel the darkness of sin. This vision was beginning to be realized as the flames and sparks of the gospel light were being ignited and fueled in the context of the IPC.

By 1965 the missionary total was made up of 15 personnel including four ordained missionaries. Rev. Hans Weerstra and Rev. Pott joined the mission team in Mexico City. Rev. Chester Schempers, also a veteran of migrant work in the USA, arrived in 1965 and was added to the seminary staff but was also responsible for literature outreach in conjunction with the Word Home Bible League. Rev. Juan Boonstra began to develop the Spanish language ministry of the Back to God Hour.

The mission work moved southward into the Yucatan. Rev. Weerstra moved to Merida to take up church planting and evangelism and Rev. Larry Roberts, former missionary in the Dominican Republic was called to the area the following year. The mission also moved north. The Mexican Boat Mission came under the direction of the Mission Board in 1966 and was handed over to the national church in 1967. Classis California South asked the Board to enter the mission field opening in Tijuana, asking the Board to assign Rev. Robert Ruis.

CRC mission development was the theme of the 1960’s. There were eight ordained and three unordained missionaries in 1969. A fourth bookstore was added in Veracruz. The BGH had their broadcast over 35 stations in Mexico alone. The WHBL set goals to distribute 100,000 Bibles and Scripture portions. The Mexican Christian Institute had an enrollment of 39 students. The Mass Communication Center was on the verge of being opened in Mexico City. The CRC mission was reaching out into many different levels of society. There was one very important area of ministry which was not developing as much as was hoped for. The IPC did not grow much during the 1960’s. Total membership in 1964 was 1517 and by 1970, 1930. Though the CRC was developing her ministry in para–church ministries and formal education, church planting and development was secondary.

At the close of the 60’s a turnover of missionary personnel started to take place. Rev. Greenway was on his way to graduate study in Texas, Rev. Sidney De Waal would also pursue his studies and Rev. Weerstra went on study leave bringing the number of ordained missionaries to 10, unordained to five and three short–term volunteers by 1971. Rev. John Tuinstra and Rev. Paul Bergsma entered the field in 1971, followed by Rev. John Groen. Several unordained workers such as De Wolf, Medendorp, Poll and Van Ee worked either in the Christian school or with the churches. In 1973 Rev. Layerwey joined the team; Wayne Clousing came to teach.

In 1975, five out of the eight original pioneer ordained missionaries were still on the field. They had come during the years of ’62–67. A second cycle of missionaries followed the pioneers from the years ’68–‘73 and out of the 19 who came only five were left by 1975. Rev. Greenway bad left to serve as Area Secretary of the Latin American field, Rev. Pott retired in 1975 to serve as the editorial supervisor of the Spanish Literature Committee. Rev. Schempers left the field in 1973 to become the Latin American director of the World Home Bible League. Of the second cycle, the high turnover rate was due to many factors including doctrinal, interpersonal and personal frustrations as well as calls back to the homeland.

We have mentioned some of the missionaries but what about the work? Let us examine the work in more detail.

The continuing need for education in Mexico for both the nationals and missionary children were dealt with in 1967. The Juan Calvino Seminario showed a record enrollment of 37 students. In Sept. 1967 the Yucatan Bible Institute was opened under the direction of Rev. Larry Roberts. During the same time the Christian School Association started the Mexico Christian School under David Kass. The school had 14 students in 1968, 17 in 1969 and nine in 1971 and closed in 1976 due to lack of full cooperation of missionary personnel and hence the lack of students. Courses by correspondence or moving back to the United States became options though some did send their children to national Spanish speaking schools and later to private American schools.

The education aim of the mission continued to grow in 1968 as the YBI had 16 members and both the YBI and JCS had living facilities added to them. Rev. Greenway headed up another school, aimed at urban missions, the Mexico City Bible Institute, which was run in conju~ction with the seminary. Rev. Nyenhuis continued as director of the seminary.

Evangelism was being done in a variety of ways, Rev. Weerstra was busy in the Yucatan and Mr. Jack Roeda’s bookstores saw growth in Merida and Acapulco. Volunteer workers Mr. and Mrs. Faber were showing evangelistic films in the villages. The Mexico General Conference requested the board to establish a Mass Communication Center, which was done.

The mission personnel began to turn their vision to the other countries in Latin America as well. Both the CRC mission board and the IPC became involved in Central America. Rev. Pott as well as Rev. Delgado, both able representatives of the Church, spent time in Honduras. The Back to God Hour made instrumental contacts in Honduras which led to followup work by Rev. Pott and Rev. Delgado. The 1972 earthquake in Nicaragua opened the doors into that land, not only for relief work but also evangelism.

The evangelism flames were being spread in Mexico as well, with the Evangelism in Depth program in 1971–72. The CRC as a denominational board was involved. Rev. Schempers, now the WHBL director of Latin America, helped in carrying out the mandate to spread seven million Scripture portions which included 200,000 complete Bibles and 350,000 New Testaments. While the evangelism flames were being lit in Mexico City, Mr. John De Young joined the staff as a literature missionary in Baja, California.

Mission-Church relationships had to be maintained as well. The mission board recommended a 5–year plan to Synod whereby partial support would be given at a decreasing level for five years. This was also done to help establish mission congregations in such places as Merida, Campeche, Jolapa and Jojutla. The plan was in operation some years but was finally discontinued because of difficulties in adhering to the principles originally agreed upon.

A source of misunderstanding and contention between the mission and the national church were the exceptions the mission board made for some of its missionaries to work outside of the IPC. Dr. Hans Weerstra and Mr. Nick Kroeze, as WMB missionaries established community churches which were not directly placed under the supervision of the IPC. Similar problems arose in the relation of the control of the seminary and Bible institutes to the national church.

Another major arm of the CRC mission throughout Mexico was the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. Calvin Lubbers was sent to Merida to work in agriculture and self–help loan efforts. Previous to that the CRWRC had been assisting national agencies and churches with medicine, relief supplies and other materials. While the work in the Yucatan continued, Dr. Weerstra and Duane Bajema of the CRWRC established the Oaxaca Training Center in Tlacolula, working also in conjunction with the Wycliff translators. When the center was opened in 1973 the number of training centers which combined Christian deeds with the Word of God was brought to a total of four. Already some agricultural training was being given at the Mexico Bible Institute and JCS. Deed ministry was bolstered by volunteer work such as the services of the Wassenaars of Boulder, Colorado who offered their engineering and dental hygiene skills.

Para–church efforts such as Summer Training Session (STSJ were also developed. STS got started in the summer of 1968 and was piloted by Dr. Dick Van Halsema, president of Reformed Bible Institute. Eighteen girls and three men were enrolled and spent their summer in class lectures and field training in Mexico. The following year approximately 50 students volunteered their summer to STS. The enrollment of STS for the next 10 years ranged around the 50 mark and the students continued to learn Spanish, visit Wycliff outposts, participate in CRC mission work or work with the IPC and NPC. Work in Central America was also carried out. Many of the new CRC missionaries in Mexico and especially Central America are former STS members.

The most ironical occurrence in the Development Stage of 1964–1974 was the neglected condition of the IPC. In 1974 Rev. Pott conducted a Statistical Survey of the IPC and the Missions in Mexico of the CRC. He says:

“Since 1960 only one group, begun after that date, was brought to organization as a church, namely Becal. A few other groups that had existed for some time were brought to that stage in the early sixties, really before the CRC entered the field. But the fact remains that from 1960 to 1974 the groups (missions and congregations) have not matured into organized churches. Many, began more than 10 years ago, have not emerged from the ‘mission’ stage. Others have become small congregations that are struggling to develop with a weak organization that has many ups and downs. As mentioned before, between the years 1960 and 1974, work existed for a time in some 25 to 30 other places, but the missions were closed and the work discontinued.”

A comparison of the statistics also reflects Rev. Potts observations.

Communicants 1963 – 750; 1964 – 750; 1970 – 910; 1974 – 1165; 1979 – 4212

Baptized 1963 – 770; 1964 – 750; 1970 – 910; 1974 – 1600; 1979 – 2255

Total Adherents 1963 – 1520; 1964 – 1517; 1970 – 1930; 1974 – 2800; 1979 – 6996

Organized Churches 1963 – 12; 1964 – 8; 1974 – 9; 1979 – 34

Unorganized Churches 1963 – 20; 1970 – 17; 1974 – 24; 1979 – 100

Missions 1970 – 56; 1974 – 47

The reported statistics are not totally consistent but serve to show significant difference. The 60s show moderate growth as compared to the tripling of church attendance and membership in the latter 70s. Even though the mission enterprise developed substantially during the 60s and early 70s, the IPC growth came later.

The development stage of the CRC mission in Mexico draws to a close as the CRC has fully entered into the work in Mexico in her educational, evangelism, relief, development, and para-church programs. Yet the CRC had to learn a very important lesson, the necessity of working through the national church rather than only through her own mission projects. Statistics shows that later as more emphasis was placed on working with and through the national church, the attendance and congregations would almost double and even triple.

In our next article we will explore the Readjustment Stage of the mission of the CRC in Mexico (1974-present).