THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN

Vol. XII-3, 4; XIII-l

PROFESSOR

Including Mexican Bible Seminarji News

ON THE JOB TRAINING

MILLS VISITS MEXICO

(Reprinted from the Pacific Bible Seminary

Bulletin, August, 1960)
One of the

severe

criticisms

OF

with the people they are trying to win, but

establish a little American colony in a for
eign land. Perhaps they do not even over

come the first hurdlethe language hurdle

and cannot preach and teach in the ver
nacular, but must rely on interpreters. These
people remain foreigners to each other.

During the recent spring vacation, Dean

Richard C. Mills and his wife Dr. Dorothy
Hurst Mills traveled witli four other mem

bers of the Lakcwood Church of Christ to

visit the Western Mexico Christian Mission

where the Bowlins (ex '46) and the Wat-

kinsons ('54) and the Gilsons are doing such

an outstanding work. Gerald Bowlln and
his wife Geneva first started this mission

MISSIONARIES

By Gerald D. Bowlin

heard re

cently concerning many missionaries is that

they do not bother to identify themselves

Spring, 1961

Much has been said of late concerning the

training of missionar-es by our colleees and
seminariesspecial departments have been
opened, extra teachers hired, and one college
is planning a separate School of Missions.

We applaud these efforts and would only

add the time proven formula: Nothing takes
the place of experience.

Our goal at Western Mexico Christian

Mission has been and is the evangelization
of the West Coast of Mexico, and brother
Julian and I had thought to train other
missionaries to take our place here, and
then he and T pioneer in new fields, but in
part the reverse lias proven to be the case.
We have

indeed been able to train other

missionaries, but thev. not we. have gore on

to pioneer in new fields! With the opening

among tlic Mexicans at the border town

of Nogalcs, but have since moved it deep
into Mexico, at Plerniosillo, State of Sonora.

of the new fields of Central Sinaloa and

Mexico.

nounced

Gerald Bowlin is not considered a for

eigner by these Mexican people. They say,

"He is not an American. He is a Mexican 1"

In fact, he has so identified himself with

them as a servant of Christ, in knowledge

of tlicir ways and language, and in deep

the Pacific region of Lower California an

elsewhere in this issue, we find
that about 25% or one-fourth of the adult
.American missionaries laboring in Mexico
have had from a vear to 5 vears on the iob

training with Western Mexico

Christian

(Continued on page 5.)

sympathy and concern, that they think of

him as their "patron."

A "patron" in Mexico is usually that aged

patriach or matriarch of the village who is

looked for advice and counsel, for leader(Continued on page 4.)

SEVENTH

WESTERN

CHRISTIAN

MEXICO

CONVENTION

1960

By Alejandro JulianTranslated from

"El Heraldo."
When tiie first

Convention was held in

1954, we thought, one day it will be great,

and although that future day seemed far
off, not many years have gone by: we in
1960 saw at least the beginning of that
dream fulfilled.

Under a simple brush arbor we opened the

Convention in that year never to be for
gotten. Today in a church building, tho
Another Pacific Bible Seminary professor, G. B.
Gordon, visits with Gerry Bowiin

humble, yet a sanctuary, we thank God he

(Continued on page 2.

Page 2

THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN

Spring, 1961

DIRECTOR'S COLUMN

Thank you each one who prayed for us

and who gave as you were able the past year.
And special thanks goes to those who re
sponded to "It Ail Depends On You" with
student sponsorships. Enough were pledged
so that we squeaked thru with offerings
that

came

in.

More

arc

still

needed

at

Mexican Bible Seminary$30.00 per month.

Seems we have so many special projects
now that old "Mr. General Fund," alias,

"Where Needed," stays in the red most of

the time, so you might pray for him once
in a while too! God bless you.
M. B. S. student and graduates, 1960 Convention

In spite of the fact that we speak in the

past tense, the joy of this convention is
still

with usthe thrill of three hundred

people in the evening services and fifty in

the mornings. And now many of these
brethren can feel what Paul felt when he
set out for the meeting in Jerusalem.
And how beneficial above all it is for the

BowUa's ioster son, Oscar, member, Mexican Na-

tionat

Little

League

Championship

team

with

1960 National Trophy

SEVENTH WESTERN MEXICO

CHRISTIAN

CONVENTION 1960

(Continued from page 1.)

is letting us see some of that "future" ful

filled. And a brighter future yet it will be

when we see tully realized that honorable

host congregation to enjoy the ministry of

the Word, and in addition, communion with
all the oarticipating congregationsto be
come acquainted with all these brethren
who, like them, hold and love the Truth.
The Officers of the 1961

Convention are

as follows: President, Regino Aguilar, Min

ister of the La Mesa church; Vice-president,
Dionicio R. Atondo, Minister of the church
in Culiacan, Sinaloa; Secretary. Alejandro
Julian, Director of Mexican Bible Sem
inary, Hermosillo. The 1961 Convention will
be held at the San Benito, Hermosillo,
church, October 3-5. Remember that this
convention incurs certain expenseswe de
pend upon you.

name, Western- Mexico Christian Conven

tion, when we have representatives from

churches all along the Pacific.
How many things we have to say about
the Seventh Convention! How well we re
member

the

theme

of

the

Convention:

"Reaching The Goal of the Church in

Mexico," and the Round Table discussions
dealing with such subjects as. The New
Testament MissionaryWho Sent Him and
Who paid Him? Sermons such as. "The
Goal of the Church is Reached by Means of
the Proper Administration of Her Goods;"
"The Goal of the Church is Reached by
Means of the Preparation of Christian
Workers"The

Goal

of

the

Church

Readied by Means of Benevolence."

^5.

is
Closing prayer by new president, I960 Convention

Spring, 1961

THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN

Page 3

Page 4

THE WESTERN

Spring, 1961

MEXICO CHRISTIAN

TWO NEW FIELDS OPENED

IN WESTERN MEXICO

Following through on their most com

mendable desire to pioneer in a new field
in Mexico, Jack and BilUe Gilson, after

two years labbr in Sonora moved in the

early summer to central Sinaloa, the next
state soutli. Sponsored by the Central

ii'

Church of Christ of Phoenix, .Arizona, they

are assisting Dionicio R. Atondo, a 1959

graduate of Mexican Bible Seminary, in the
establishment of a congregation in one of
the suburbs of Culiacan, the state car-hal.

Bro. Atondo reported at the Western Mex

American

visitors

viewing

La

Mesa

bidg.

Alex

and

Esther

Julian

with

some

Seminary

students

BRICKS, MORTAR, ROCK AND

1960 Mexican Bible Seminary ; 1961

CEMENT

Mexican Bible Seminary, in its eleventh

year of service to the Mexican churches,
continues its training of the leaders of the

Thanks to the generosity of Christian

friends across the land the work of laying
a physical foundation for the work of Christ
in Western Mexico goes slowly forward.
The minister's room at San Benito has

been completed and is occupied by the new

minister (See, Changes of Ministry). The
members

built a

small kitchen.

church

This Spring semester, as in the Fall one,

.eisbt students are enrolled, about the max

imum we can handle with present facilities

and finances. Several sponsorships are still

available at $30 per month. Write for de
tails.

THE WESTERN

The adobe church building at La Mesa,

begun under the guidance of Jack Gilson,

was roofed and rough finished in time for
the Convention last November. The mem

bers are planning to do their part by plas

tering inside and out and pouring a con
crete floor. Each family has agreed to fur
nish a bench, and some are already in use.
The minister's home was also renovated
and concrete floors poured.
(Also see

of tomorrow.

MEXICO

Western

Our big project the two story Villa dc

Seris church building, for which Jerry
Watkinson drew the rough plans, has been
delayed due to various factors such as
government red tape as to specifications and
plans (and the money to pay for them!);
also, the fact that several of our other pro
jects seemed more urgentrain would have
melted

the

adobe

walls

at

La

Mesa

for

pel on the peninsula of Lower Californ'a,

snonsored by the So. Santa Ana. Calif.
Church of Christ. Another graduate of Mex
ican Bible Seminary, Epifanio Gutierrez

(1953\ is already on the field, laying the

groundwork for the evangelism program.

sonnel for these new ventures for Christ in

Western Mexico.

Mexico

Gerald D. Bowlin

Editor

PROFESSOR MILLS VISITS MEXICO

(Continued from page 1.)

instance. We hope however to pour the base
ment unit this summer.

The Seminary continues to use the class

rooms at Villa de Seris, but urgently needed
boys' dorm space. And the Lord heard our
supplications, for a dear brother in So.
Calif, sent in enough to build two rooms.
.As this goes to press we are pouring the
foundation for four much needed rooms,
with the expectation that God will touch
other hearts.$100. per room, brick, con
crete floor and roof.

These building projects can only progress

as rapidly or as slowly as you supply the
funds. Choose a project and help us give
these

wonderful

Mexican

minister."!

Christians the tools to work with.

and

Mrs.

Bowlin

helps

Kathy

dis'ribute

Christmas

gilts to her Bible School class

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Thank you one and all for the fine gifts

of toys, candy and money you sent in to
help make the Christmas season a Joyous
one for our Mexican boys and girls. Sacks
containing toys, candy and oranges were

passed out to all our Bible schools at

their programs, and sacks of candy and
oranges were given to all visitors.
Christmas may seem a long way off, but
D.V.B.S. time isn't, and that's a real good
time to have your own Mexican Christmas
party with each child bringing a card con
taining some change to hang on the tree

Christian Mission, Apdo. Postal 350

(Office; Tlaxcala 109 Pte.), Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

Changes of Ministry).
The caretaker's house on the Clinic prop
erty has been completed and occupied.
Dispensary-Clinic plans are still not com
pleted as we were advised to draw plans
for the complete unit and have all approved
at once, even the we take .several years to
complete construction.

their furlough in June of 1960 have since

announced their intent to preach the Cos-

preliminary planning, and training of per

Published four times each year,

funds permitting, by the Missionaries
with

Jerry and Deloris Watkinson. who began

Western Mexico Christian Mission feels

fortunate to have liad a small nart in the

CHRISTIAN

associated

ico Christian Convention in November, 1960

that attendance- was averaging 30-40, that
the group had made "a down pavment on a
lot and built an arbor for services.

(In other years we have asked for dime

store toys, but with Mexican customs
tightening up we can better use the money
this year.)

ship and authority.

Gerald Bowlin has
earned this title among them, in his de
votion to them as individuals in their need

for a personal Savior. He has made Him. the

Savior, personal toono foreigner!
There are many discouraging factors in
this mission field, as in others, but the type
of service described above will be the most

successful, other things being equal. If we

want to know if our missionaries are doing
a good job, perhaps we should ask the peo
ple they serve: "Do these, our missionaries,
identify themselves with you, or do you
regard them a.s foreigners ?"

Bro. Bowlin passing out Christmas sacks to bis

Jr.-lnter. class

spring, 1961
EACH

THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN

ONE TEACH ONEJALISCO

Such was the title of an article in

the

Spring. 1959 "Christian" telling of members

of the Nogales congregation who were evan
gelizing in their home villages. A recent
letter from Poncitlan tells of continued in

terest despite persecution. Also, the desire

of some of the families to build a chapel.
Bible school supplies have been sent. How
we wish

we had the time and means to

visit these far flung battle fields and en

courage the brethren.

Page 5

Page e

CHANGES OF MINISTRY

As Regmo Aguilar asked for a Hermosillo ministry in order to concentrate

more on his Seminary work, the La Mesa
village churcli called bro. Marcario Mar

tinez. He and sister Mercedes are already

on the field.

The Triguera mission, where Bro. Mar

tinez ministered, is being cared for tliis se
mester by Bro. Aeuilar and Bro. Julian.

Alejandro Hernandez married and moved

to

Arizona

from

the

San

Benito

church.

Bro. Jesiis A. Rojo fM.B.S. '59), who had

just comnlefed hi.s Mexican Army Reserve
training in Nogales. was called as minister.
Bro. Julian baptizes "Maniacita" (Little Mother),

mas : his mother recently arrived to make

friend of the Bowlins

iarm

BAPTISMS

SEMINARY FARM

ary each week as able; the Mission con

tributes the rest.

ON THE JOB TRAINING

OF

MISSIONARIES

The success or failure of any Christian

endeavor cannot be measured by statistics
alone, we do rejoice that the churches of
Sonora reported a total of 25 baptisms dur/ ing the year 1960. San Benito (Hermosillo)
led the way with 13, several coming from
their mission in Colonia Olivares.

D.V.B.S.

Our Daily Vacation Bible schools in

I960 were tlic usual slam-bang success with
attendance in all schools averaging over
50 per day, and one school, Bacobampo,
with an average of 60 for the 10 days.
Another mark of success was the active par
ticipation of the local church, with several
holding their own schools; the others of
course received help from Mission person
nel, and all .schools were supplied with
workbooks and handwork materials by the
Mission.

Plans are being laid by Mrs. Esther

Julian for the 1961 summer schoolswork
books have been ordered, and we should
begin stockpiling the other supplies. We
hope you will again wish to have a part
in

this

vital

service

to

the

churches

of

Sonora. May we have a generous check

today?

eUi."

Mission. These missionaries and their re

spective fields are:
Mary Walden Gilmer
2 yrs. Chihuahua
Ernest Walden
2 yrs. Chihuahua
Eugene Morgan
1 yr. Chihuahua
Marian Morgan
1 yr. Chihuahua
Jerry Watkinson
5 yrs. Lower Calif.
Deloris Watkinson
5 yrs. Lower Calif.
Jack Gilson
2 yrs. Sinaloa
Billie Gilson
2 yrs. Sinaloa

This .small farm is partly cleared and part

is in mcsquitc and cactus. A portion of the
uncleared land we believe will be suitable

for fruit trees. A dug well was cleared of

sand and deepened and a small pump in
stalled to irrigate a few acres of wheat and
some beans which bro. Julian planted for
Seminary use.

Your suggestions and funds for improve

ment of the Seminary Farm will be most

In his excellent book, Missionary Prin

ciples And Practice, Harold Lindsell says
of on the job training: "He (the new mis
sionary) is there as a learner, and while
in theory lie has equality with the senior
or older missionaries and has the privilege
of expressing his opinions he had better
learn in silence at first. He must give the
older missionary tlm benefit of the doubt.
Some day he himself will be an older mis
sionary and would like to enjoy from his
younger colleagues the same patience and
forbearance liis older colleagues would like
from

Thru the generosity of a fine Christian

friend, Mrs. Nora E. Simmons of Oxnard,
Calif, (deceased) we have been able tliis
spring to take one more step on the road
toward an indigenous Mexican church, the
purchase of a small river bottom farm near
the La Mesa village, to be known as the

Seminary Farm. She "being dead yet speak-

(Continued from page 1.)

la song

Long Beach. Calif, visi'ors view well on Seminary

He has been with the church since Christ

a home for him.
Both the San Benito and La Mesa church
es furnish as much of their minister's sal

Seminary graduate leads La Mesa D.V.B. S. group

Spring, 1961

THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN

welcome.
OFFERINGSChurch Checks
Pastors

Martinez

and

Julian

with

baptismal

candidates

U]=tll=lll=lllsill=lll=tll=lll=lll=ill=lll=l!l=lllslll=|y
New Colored Slides Of
lij
WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN lO
MISSION
I

Living-Link and Service-Link sent via

church check may be made payable to the
individual missionary. Project checks
Seminary. Benevolence, Evangelism. Con
struction. and GENERAT. FUNDshould

be made payable to the Mission. Mail to

Mission address.
OFFERINGSPersonal Checks
Income Tax

(Including, Mexican Bible Seminary) fij

Now Available From

him now."

We pray that some of the experience

gained by these young missionaries has
and will prove useful to the work of His
Kingdom in Mexico. May both these new
"senior missionaries" and thc'r younger col
leagues be blessed with patience and for
bearance as they continue the On the Job
Training of Missionaries for Mexico.

Make all your personal checks payable

MISSION

SERVICES

Box 968, 509 W. Jefferson

Joliet, Illinois USA

ID
ill
III

lll=lll=lll=lll=m=lll=lil=lll=IIIEIIIEIIi=lll=lll=lll=
FORWARDING AGENTPACKAGES
Western Mexico Christian Mission
P.O. Box 1530

Nogales, Arizona U.S.A.

to

MEXICAN

BIBLE

Federally Tax-Exeinpt
MAILING

Western

SEMINARY,

corporation.

ADDRESSLETTERS

Mexico

Cliristian

Apdo. Postal 350

Hermosillo. Sonora. Mexico

Mi.ssion

our

P^SC/^' *

s^OA>

MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

Is aVon-denominational, independent,

faith \ission, operating -under charter

issued W the St^te of Arizona, U.S.A.

It is entirelyXdependent financially
upon giftk sent directly to the field
by Churches^ Church Groups and by
individuals. ."r-YOUR GIFTS SOLICITED..

XI CO

D D.

BOV-/"

of

FIFTE.G\T YEARS
on the

MEXICi^N MISSION FIELD

Send Checks to:

Send Packages to:

EASTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

.WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

P. 0. Box 1530

Apdo Postal 350

Hermosillo, Sonora, MEXICO

Agent

Nogales, Arizona, U. S. A.

A SHORT HISTORY OF V/SSTFRH MEXICO CHHISTIAH MISSION

(Third Revision, 1^6l)

The following is a story, in "brief, of WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION, told that you

might knov; its history, understand the v;ork in Western Mexico and analyze the needs of
the field.

life.

As is often the case it is largely the history of the impact of a dedic=!ted

GERALD D. BOWLIN, Founder and Director of Western Mexico Christian Mission, tells

the story: .... "The Mission v;as "begun end continues until now with the intent to preach

the Gospel and esta^blish churches after the Net-r Testament pattern hy means of native
Christian v/orkers, trained under

competent Christian teachers.

This means not only

training students in MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY as ministers and Christian teachers, "but
also the training of those who have already graduated from Bi"ble College or Seminary in
the more practical aspect of the v;ork of soul winning,"

"We have long advocated the propriety, yes the wisdom of training ITexican Christians,
then gradually integrating them into the mission work so that someday they will "be a'ble

to manage the work of evangelism in their own country. Believing that the native should
have a voice in the administration, we named Bro. Alejandro (-^lex) Julian as Director of

the Seminary itself. The Mexican Churches and students are proud to have one^of their
oT-m in charge and his heln as a native Christian, raised in the Church of Christ in the
State of Coahuila, has "been and is invaluahle to the work of the J^ission. As Deah, I
help with planning, discipline and training."

Gradually the program of teaching and evangelism expanded and hore fruit; Churches

"began to develop and these needed help, advice and counsel on hov; to proceed Scripturally.
This was done first "by trips to the field from headquarters on the Mexican-American
border at Hogales, Arizona, Then in the fall of 155) I became the first American

Missionary of the Churches of Christ to enter Mexico with a permenant visa.

Missionaries who h^'ve worked with the Mission and

The other

other Missions have done so on a

visa which requires renewal every six months on a viaitor's basis. In the fall of I960

after 5 years of probation, I was granted permanent residence, with all the rights ^d
orivileges of a Mexican citizon with the exception of political and military activities.
The center of the work now is Hermosillo, Sonora, 1S5 miles south of Nogales, Arizona.

Hot long after the move to Hermosillo, the front porch of the Bowlin home began to fill

with sick children, pregnant women and the crippled, looking for the mercy of Christ as

given by the "Doctora", Missionary Nurse, Geneva S. Bowlin.

V/'ith each treatment went a book of the Gospel of Luke with

a special cover drav/ing attention to the story of the

Good Samaritan.

Perhaps one third of the church members

in Hermosillo came as a results of Geneva's program. As

direct results of this soul vanning effort in Medical

Evangelism, a need for a clinic building apart from the

Bowlin home has become acute.

Property has been purchased

near the Seminary lots on the Guaymas (Pan-American)

Highvray. Plans are being drawn by the Health Department
Engineers, and we are confident that God v;ill lead and
bless this effort.

In Mexican Bible Seminary, Bro. Julian makes use of the

resident ministers in Hermosillo as teachers. From the

beginning the Seminary has been supported by the American

Churches who have seen the need of trained workers to

lead in Church planting efforts in Mexico. Each student

costs an average of $30,00 dollars a month, so of course
we are limited by finances:

the number we can care for.

When we "began our students were "youth" converts^ by now most are the children we taught
in Yesterday's Sunday School. Each school year six to eight students are enrolled. The
classrooms are shared with the Yilla de Seris Church in Hermosillo; also the chapel

(first story complete). In i960 a caretaker's house was built on Seminary property, and
early in I96l a four room brick boy's dormitory was constructed. In I96l another of my
and Bro. Julian's dreams became a realitya small plot of land was purchased near one

of the nearby villages, a portion of it cleared of mesquite and cactus then planted to
vrheat and pinto beans to help feed the Seminary students.
As mentioned it was found necessary from the beginning to train vrorkers that the groups
of believers vron by traveling evangelists might become Churches, As soon as these

Churches come into being, help is needed in a building programthese desperately poor
brethern go as far as they can, then the 'Tission steps in and helps them finish the Job.
Buildings constructed or being constructed are; adobe building for Church services,
Nogales, Sonora; brick church building and three adobe classrooms, Ranchito, Hermosillo;

brick chapel and minister's quarters, San Benito, Hermosillo; brick chapel (first floor)
and three classrooms, Villa de Seris, Hermosillo; adobe church building and minister's
home, village of La Mesa del Seri; plus various temporary chapels. A lot is held for
Church construction in Benjamin Hill, 100 miles north of Hermosillo.

Due to the unstable economic conditions as v/ell as the handicap of little or no Christian
home training, -lexican Bible Seminary has only averaged a little over one graduate for
each year of its existence. However, and this is important, some 100 young people have
been trained in Seminary classes and have gone back to their home congregations to labor

for Christ, and the churches have been strenghtened immeasurably by these students who
might seem at first glance to be "lost" because they did not graduate. Because graduates
of the Seminary have gone on to pioneer in a number of new fields in Itexico, Lov/er
California, Sinaloa and Chihuahua, to mention a fev;, Sonora is still short on ministers.

Another type of training carried on which has had considerable impact upon the Mexican
field has been the training of missionaries. To date nine missionaries have been trained;

these make up 30^ of the entire force of missionaries in Mexico I They are, together
with their respective fields; Mrs. Mary Walden Gilmer, Ernest Walden, Eugene and I-iarion

Morgan (Chihuahua); Jack and Billie Gilson (Sinoloa); Jerry and Deloris Watkinson and
Miss Lorene Martin (Lower California).
^^ur Heaven3^ Father has blessed His work here in Western Mexico. Our hands are small
and our arms are so very short, and we so often lament the fact that we can't meet all
the needs of the field, but let's salute and pray for the Church in Western Mexico and

Mexican Bible Seminary with its first dormitory ready, with 5 churches or chapel buildings
constructed and others under way. Two congregations completely self governed; 6 congre

gations and k missions meeting regularly; about 300 members of the body of Christ
scattered throughout Sonora. 30 more precious souls obeyed Christ in baptism in 160:
Seminary students, ministers, evangelists and missionaries are busy in evangelism.
GOD GRA^^T TTS

(jpaqe TO CO'^TUHJE HIS TASK.

PROFESSOR RICF!\.RD MILLS VISITS MEXICO (Reprinted from the Pacific Bible Seminary

bulletin, August, 160

One of the severe criticisms heard recently concerning many missionaries is that they
do not bother to identify themselves with the people they are trying to v/in, but estab
lish a little American colony in a foreign land. Perhaps they do not even overcome the
first hurdlethe language hurdleand cannot preach and teach in the vernacular, but
must' rely on interperters. These people remain foreigners to each other.

During the recent

Mills traveled to
are doing such an
mission among the

spring vacation, Dean Richard C. Mills and his wife, Dr, Dorothy Hurst
visit the Western Mexico Christian Mission where the Bov^lins (ex'i^)
outstanding work, Gerald Bowlin and his wife Geneva first started this
Mexicans at the border town of ?'ogales, hut have since moved it deep

into I'iexico, at Hermosillo, State of Sonora, Mexico.

Gerald Bowlin is not considered a foreigner hy these Mexican people. They say, "He is
not an American, He is a Mexican 1" In fact, he has so identified himself v/ith them as
a servant of Christ, in knowledge of their ways and language, and in deep sympathy and

concern, that they think of him as their "patron,"

A "patron" in Mexico is usually that aged patriarch or matriarch of the village who is
looked to for advice and counsel, for leadership and authority.

Gerald Bowlin has

earned this title among them, in his devotion to them as individuals in their need for

a personal Savior.

He hasmade Him, the Savior, personal toono foreigner 1

There are many discouraging factors in this mission field, as in others, hut the type
of service described above will be the most successful, other things being eq^ual. If v^e
v;ant to know if our missionaries are doing a good job, perhaps we should ask the people

they serve: "Do these, our missionaries, identify themselves v;ith you, or do you regard
them as foreigners?"

BIOGRAPHY:

Gerald and Geneva Bowlin

It was in the eyes of this couple th^t Western lexico Christian Mission, Mexican Bible
Seminary and the related projects were origionally visioned.
Gerald is a native of California, raised in the rich agricultural inland valley of the
desert near the Salton Sea. Gerry lived on his father's acreage and worked with the
Mexican oecDle on the farm and attended school v/ith them, so he had a good background

for knowing' these -oeople. Gerry's religious training as a boy was in the Baptist Church,
and he holds a degree from the Baptist Theological Seminary. It was while working in
Mexico that he sav/ the need to unite all believers under the name "Christian" and turned

to the New Testament Church and its practices.

Following a tenure of indoctrination in
Pacific Bible Seminary under the late James G. Hurst at Long Beach, Calif, and a term
as assistant minister at the Beach Street Church of Christ (Now First Christian of
South Gate) he went to Fagle Pass, Texas.

/fK#" *3?^

oa
jjf:

9 2-

In 19^5 Gerry and Geneva had married.

Geneva was an experienced nurse

and trained for

the mission field, having supervised nursing at a Los Angeles Hospital, worked in an
emergency Hospital, a Doctors Office and an Old Folks Home, as well as special nursing.
She is a native Oklahoman, hut calls California her home because of the many friends
and "homes away from home" the f^ily have, there. Her mother now lives in Northern
California at Geyserville.

'

The idea for a Mission School to train v;orkers for Western Mexico was horn in April 19^7
when Gerry visited Colegio Hihlico, Eagle Pass, Texas, to acquaint himself with that
mission nnd personnel.' ' Previous . to this he ha.d realized that- little value was to he '
gained hy making only short:visat.s to the field. The results...obtained hy Colegio Bihlico
in its few short years was impressed upon him, and when he v/as invited to join the staff
he accepted. ^ In 1?50 the, work in V/estern Mexico was organized and the actual Western

Mexico Christian ^Ussion work .was underway, in the form of Mexican Bible Seminary.
During this time first Bobby, now ik and Kathy 12 were born. Both the children attend
Mexican Federal School vath.regular public students, and of course speak Spanish as do

their classmates, although ^glish is spoken- at homewhen there are no Mexican speaking
visitors,, at least.

Oscar 15, and Mary 9 were added to the Bowlin family after they moved to Hermosillo.
Oscar, son of a Christian widow \i^ith a large family in Nogales, Sonera, came to the

Bov/lins in March 1959. Mary, a daughter of an iliaerant farm laborer from Sinolo.a> rwhp.se
husband abandoned her came in February I960. All the children, including the adopted
ones have been prominent in one field or another; Kathy v/as Spring Qp.een of her school

of 600 students in'i955 (First time an American has been so "honored in Mexico, according
to Associated press !) Bob won the district v;id& scholarship honors in i960 and is nowv>.,,
in first year of Secondary School (Jr. Hi), Oscar Was a member of the Mexican National -.a

Championship Sonora Pony League team in 1?60; and Gerry says, when.i little Mary, who is
learning to speak English, hugs him and says "I luff

belli

you Daddy" she really rings the

(She does in school tooall 9's and 10's A's andB's).

WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT THE ^rSSTSEN MEXICO FIELD

When you plan a trip,

write us for helpful travel information.

BIOG.-iAIKY:

ALEJAlTD:iO IHD E3THEH JULIAN

Amone the first students and helpers in Mexican Bihle Serninary were two
youni neople showins unusual ability and insight, and it_was w^th joy
thatVe saw Alejandro Julian and Esther Martinez united in ^arria^e on

July 13, 1952. (Esther's father, Macario Martinez, our first native

evangelist still labors for Christ in the Mayo .nver Galley, south

Hermosillo.)

Since Bro Julian joined the work he has advanced from teacher 0^ Old

Testament-for the Seminary to President or director of

Because of this position and h:^s ability in all phases of

s insti^^^^^^

^slonarY'

work Bro Julian has earned full missionary statushe is a missionary

that'is he has opened new fields, even tho it be in his own country.
nAipv"

the son of middl- class parents from the State of Coahuila in

north
Central Mex^'cf His father Ls for .any years foreman for an ..n.erican mining, company oreratHn^ Jn s home
as
Church dur-'no' the earlv years of evanoreli s^ there.

isther /;as

a minister's dau-hterthus unnin'? two reo-le of

Church's program ani proving tote extraordinarily fruitful for i
Kinedom.

We believe the future years will provide a

youns cou-le (They are 30 years old) aloneside giants r-f the faith where
ever they "^ay beGod grant it mav be so.

Alex is a graduate of Colegio Bihlico, Eagle Pass, Texas. Esther

a certificate from Mexican Bible Seminary. Esther spears Spanish and
two Indian dialects fluently and both she and Aex are y^dying
in "spare" moments. (Esther was raised as the darling of two
tribes on the Mexican V/est Coast and spoke Mayo, Yaq^i, and Spanish .
interchangeably while she was still a young girl.) Alex has preached
in the area where Esther was raised and speaks a smattering of the

dialects.

In complete charge of the developement and recruiting program

Seminary, the dormitory arranf3:ement, student affairs, as an evangelist,
construction superintendent, representative to

and advisor to the Mexican Ministry,

this man and his v/ife are a vital
nart of JESTEHN MEXICO CHPI3TIAN MISSION. (Esther cooks for the seminary

students, supervises and teaches Bible Schools and the Summer Daily

Vacation Bible Schools,

Pedro 8, and 3sau a bri5:ht 5 year old complete the family. Alex and
Esther have lost two little girls. (Mexicans say they are little
angels" in Heaven.) The boys are a definate rart of the Seminary
family ..If you doubt it

just ask them!

BSNE70LEMT DEPARTMENT

WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

Geneva S. Bowlin

Apdo. Postal 350

Hermosillo, Sonera, Mexico

ALL PACKAGES to; P. 0. Box 1530 Nogales, ARIZONA

Many have asked what YOU can do for the mission and how you can help with material things.
The follovring list v/as made to give you an idea. In concidering us and our needs here,
think of your own family, your needs, your likes and dislikes, "but remember our family
not only includes our ovm four children and ourselves,- hut those of many others, the
needy, our neighbors and fellow Christians, those who have virtually "nothing" by our
American standards.

IHiose who are so very pleased v/ith so little, so grateful to be

remembered by an unknown friend so far away. If you could only see the smile and the
tv/inkle in a childs eye when he or she opens a sack and sees something pleasing to them,
(everything pleases) you v/ould feel well rewarded for your interest in helping these
less fortunate than you.

Baby clothes: Diapers, new and used, dresses,pants, receiving blankets (seersucker as
well as flannel).

Clothes for 1 and 2 year olds, for both boys and girls.

Clothes for children of all ages; sweaters and jackets, we do not have enough cold
weather.to merit extremely heavy clothes. GOOD clothes in all sizes. Childrens shoes.
Clothes for the Bowlin Children; Bob size I6, Oscor size 15 Katly size 12 and Mary size S.

And don't forget sox, large "streachies" (both boys and girls) and und^wear i
Medical Supplies;

Cotton, tape, iodine, merthiolate, soda-mint tablets, aspirin, vitamins,

(pills ^d liquids) calcium, all medical samples that your Doctor v/ill give youand

EqUIPMElrT

too 1

Bedding; Sheets, (double, twin, and cot sizescrib sheets too) pillows and pillow cases,
quilts, blankets, towels and wash clothes, dish towels, sleeping pads. Sleeping pads
can be made from any heavy material, the

good parts of v;ork pants, for instance,

sewed together into a pad about UOxSO inches, filled with a worn cotton or wool blanket,

quilted type padding--anythingto make a pad to put on the ground-where most of the
people sleep. A sheet of plastic inside keeps the cold out.
Christmas in Summer; Balls, jacks, marbles, hair ribbons, combs, bobby pins, razors and
blades for the students, note books pencils, ball point pens, spiral note books. You
would be sunrised how thrilled &, kid ^s over a note book and a pencil for Christmas.

Sev/ing supplies; materials, thread (our thread here is especially poor) needles, pins,
bias tape, rick-rack, even pieces of such.

It is nothing to see a little girl v;ith

a dress made out of three or even four different pieces of material. Buttons too I

Vacation Bible School and Sunday School: Colored primary pictures, (WE CAWOH USE
PRINTED "A'F'ER IN E^TGLISH). Flannelgraph figures and backgrounds, Crayolas, scissors,

construction paper, paints.Plaster molds, in Soanish, or without letters, (Crayolas

in boxes of S ploase", they go fartherless argument about "he got more than I did"

These kids are "just kids" too.

Food: Cake mixes are just coming to Mexico at fabulous prices; dry fruit and canned
fruit are just for the "rich" and that doesn't include missionaries '. Dry food of

any sort, beans, rice, macaronis (particularly "Kraft Dinners").

Our kids think

Canned soups are a treat,

(How many Campbell's Vegetable soup would you by at 40 ^

(american) a small can? )

Candy for

Christmas sacks.

GARDBtl SB3D; Any and all kinds, we have several acres of tillable land, good soil for
almost any type of vegetables, and plenty of water. Flower seeds too, but these
for our yards and the church yards,

TRAP'S TOOLS;(For seminary students and graduates to support themselves v/hile they
establish churches.) Carpenter tools, auto mechanics tools, auto shop equipment,
acetylene and electric welders, barber's tools, cameras and equipment, d^kroom
equipment, cement and brick layers hand tools, electrical shop tools, also used

(repairable)small electric appliances (for shop courses.)

All packages MUST be sent to our forwarding agent, P. 0, Box 1530 Nogales,
Arizona, Anything that cannot go in an envelope cannot be sent to Mexico !
We have to refuse packages sent to Mexico because of the enormous duty charged.
We can Bring

things into Mexice duty free by making local arnangements.

Trucking conpanies take "Charity" shipments from a church or a group to the

Missioninquire locally. BUT be sure your copy of the waybill says "CHARITY"
or we will have to pay the freight on arrival.
THAHK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY.

SmiMARY OF PAST 12 MONTHS A0TIVITI3S;(Sept. 1, i960 to Aug. 31, l96l)

S3RVICIES

A. Services were held regularly "by mission workers or ministers partially suppor
ted by the mission in 7 axeas. Average attendance: Sunday School 30>
Sunday Evening 25 adults,
B, Work was renewed in the state of Jalisco, 3rd state south, "by members of the
Nogales, Sonora, church.
D.V.B.S.

Schools were held in all mission points and churches fellowshiping with the
Mission. Materials used were translation of Standard's "Heros of the Cross"

printed by missionary Eugene liorgan. El Paso, Texas.

Largest attendance reported

was at La Mesa where about 100 children attended the final service.
SURVEY OP NEW FIELD

A new field south of our present one was surveyed by Gerald Bowlin and Alejandro
Julian, president of Mexican Bible Seminary, A large home is open for service
We pray for workers.
CHURCH CONSTRUCTION

A. A tax-paper chapel vras built by our smallest and newest Hermosillo congrega
tion with their own money. Average wage $ 1.25 (dollars) per day.
B. Being built by the ^'ission in the Villa de Seris section of Hermosillo is a
two story brick building, first floor to be completed in l6l. To be used
Jointly by the congregation and Mexican Bible Seminary.

C. Adobe building at La Mesa village was roofed in time for our Western Mexico
Christian Convention in 1?60. Congregation is slowly doing the finish work.
MEXICAN BIBLE SEJUNARY

A. Student body continues steady at 6 to 8 men per semester; students now are
those who have grown up in our Sunday Schools.

B. In addition to chapel under construction (see Church Construction) a four

room brick men's dormitory unit is ready to be plastered.
CLINIC

A. Mrs. Geneva Bowlin participated in the Health Department's city-wide polio

vaccination campaign, in which an estimated 85^ of the children under 5 were

vaccinated.

B. Back yard "Clinic" was held two afternoons a week, with approximately 2,000
patients being treated.
C. Interior lots ha,ve been exchanged for a block on the Pan-American Highway at
tiie southern edge of the city. Change of administration in the State has

slowed plans for the clinic now being drawn by the Health Department Engineers.

NEEDS OF THE MISSION: Student sponsors at $30.00 (dollars) a month for students in
Mexican Bible Seminary. Pledged support (any amount) for Alejandro and Esther Julian.
Alex is President of Mexican Bible Seminary, both are second generation Christians,

actually missionaries to their own people, and spark-plugs of the work. Prayer for the
work here, for each worker, Bowlin and Julian families, for each student, for the native
"believers" and Christians. Medical supplies, san^jles and equipment.(To be sent to
Nogales, Arizona)
FUTURE:Goals for the vrork in Western Mexico are: more church buildings, more ministers,

more church trained members, more converts, a more efficient benevolent program, in short

a fully functioning NATIVE MEXICAN church program. At present the work is being caried
on by natives except for the Bowlin Family. (ALL missionaries who have worked with the
Bowlins in their aprenticeship have cau^t the vision of a Christian ICSXICO and have
gone on to open NEl'/ fields.) The Bowlins are often told " AFTER SIX YEARS LIVING V/ITH
US, YOU ARE NOW ONE OF US, YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THE?! ANYMORE J YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK UP
THEEE TO LIVE I"