“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24
Equip Updates
The final Equip trip of the year was to Mexico. The students spent April 1-9 in Monterrey doing outreach and evangelism. The first 4 days of the trip were spent doing street ministry, handing out Bibles, visiting churches, going to a men’s rehab, worshipping with ministries, and sharing about Christ. They built relationships with the YWAM MTY base and staff there, which helped for the last 3 days of the trip: the Homes of Hope house build.
Nolan Lapp had spent countless hours raising support to build a house for a family in Mexico. Anna Karen and her 4 children (twin pre-teen girls and 2 younger boys) had been sleeping on the dirt floor of her mother’s house. Three days later, their lives were changed when they received the keys to their new home. The Homes of Hope team had also presented the gospel to her and her children prior to our arrival. By building this home, the gospel was shared through words and actions, and when they received their home, they also received a Bible. Please pray that Anna Karen and her family would understand God’s love for them and make the decision to seek Him. Read more about this trip from Justin’s perspective below!
At the Ministry in Bernville, PA
Warehouse Distribution Center
With Justin in Mexico and Lisa helping with Mike’s recovery, Donny’s time and experience in Equip was a huge benefit this month. This month, the Warehouse Distribution Center saw 20+ ministries come through.
Justin got to see God move quickly through a donation of a refrigerator. Someone had asked him to pick their old one up Monday, and that evening, he received a text from a partner ministry saying their fridge had just broken, “do you have one?” God provided before there was even a need!
Automotive Shops
As the Equip year winds down, Nick will soon find himself without help in the Auto Shops after Caleb leaves. We trust God to provide for this impactful part of the ministry, so if you know of anyone interested in volunteering and who has mechanical skills, send them our way! With an average of 30 cars/month, Nick will definitely benefit from help.
Maintenance, Hospitality, & More
We continue to ask for prayer for the staff housing, specifically above the Auto Shop. The situation has not improved, and while it can seem discouraging, we trust that God is moving in ways we might not be seeing. As of now, we can’t move forward with building the apartments. Leam is still working on restoring the relationship between CMTS and the township.
Mike’s knee is getting better each day. He has been slowly getting back to working around campus and tackling different projects. Ray’s blood pressure problem is still unresolved, so please pray for him and Debbie.
Our first work group, Salem Christian School will join us in May. Thank you to everyone who donated clothing in the last year! The clothing trailer is FULL, and these clothes will be used for future shipments & outreach events. The group will help sort through it all with Sandra.
Justin Darnell | Mexico
“Every missions trip, regardless of where, has it’s own unique characteristics. The night before we left to go to Mexico, I prayed that God would move in a way that we wouldn’t be able to deny it was Him. That night, due to storms, our flight was canceled. So the leadership of the team got together and scheduled new plane tickets.
We arrived in Newark, at the airport, with plenty of time to check the bags and wait on the plane. The problem came when the airport folks told us half the team was flying out of JFK in New York City. Through some conversations, Nolan and Jenny managed to get all of our tickets changed to JFK. The only problem was that by this point it was rush hour in New York City. Through a series of crazy events, including the shuttle bus driver telling us to get off because he was done for the night, we made it to JFK. When you fly internationally, they want you to arrive 3 hours prior to the flight. When we arrived, the plane was boarding in 20 minutes. We had tried and failed to arrive on time. But God!! The lady checking the bags said no way, then she said ok I’ll take them. The security line was huge, and a TSA agent showed us a less known line. We just so made the flight and this was the beginning of our trip to Monterrey Mexico.
This trip was a really good one. God used us to touch a number of lives, bringing hope and light into hopelessness and darkness. We went to a drug rehab, did a day of door to door witnessing, went to a hospital, and even a home church out in the country. All of these events God used us to impact people’s lives with the truth that only comes in Jesus. We ourselves were deeply impacted all along the way.
The main story I want to speak of is the last three days of the trip. God put it on Nolan and Jenny’s heart to raise money to build a house for a family, months before the trip. The cost of the house was $12,000 and that would cover a 16×20 house, electric, two bunk beds, a gas stove, three ceiling fans, a kitchen table and chairs, and some food and basic supplies. The family that we selected was vetted by the mission in Mexico. This was a husband and wife and four children. These folks were not Christians. They were living in what I can only describe as a shack put together with random pieces of wood, and it had no floor. They did not own the shack, they slept on the dirt and rock floor in a small ‘kitchen’. These people were very poor, without God and without hope.
We showed up on the job site and all there was was a cement pad and the materials needed to build the house. This house would be built on the side of a mountain in a very poor area. All of the team had jobs, and we did our best to work in a tight area on the side of a mountain. By the end of the first day, we had the exterior walls up and some of the roof trusses in place. As we were leaving, I saw the family go in their shell of a house and laugh and play. It touched my heart deeply to see them realizing it was real.
Throughout the three days we would be able to interact with the mother and children. She would cook some food for us for lunch. The second day, I think, Nathan was having a conversation with the mom. She said she had cooked some burritos to say thank you, but she knew in comparison to receiving a house, it was a very small thank you. Nathan explained to her that it was like that with Jesus. He gave everything to forgive our sins and redeem us back to the Father, and all we can do is live a life that says thank you. It was a very powerful illustration.
Day three the family went shopping and we finished the house and furnished it. It was beautiful because they didn’t know we were furnishing the house. When they came home we did a key ceremony. This is where each member of the team held the keys to the house and said stuff to the family. When it was my turn to say something, I lost it. I told the family that I have four daughters. When I left my daughters they were crying and didn’t want me to leave. But I explained to my girls that I am going to Mexico to share the love of Christ with people who needed to know there is a God who sees them and loves them. I told the family that Jesus loves them and here is one evidence. The whole ceremony was deeply moving. Then I handed the keys to the mother and she unlocked her door and went in with her children. The idea was that they go in alone, see the house, then we knock and become the first guests. When she closed the door, she cried very loudly because she was so moved by the gift. Her young daughters went in their bed room and saw that they would be sleeping on a bed and they couldn’t come out for 15 minutes because they were trying to stop crying.
It was a moment in my life that was a highlight and I will never forget. We then prayed with the family, hugged them and took some pictures. This house had become a home. This home would be a place of security and healing. These people, when we left, knew that there was a God who saw them and visited them with His love. They were literally without hope when we met them, and when we left, they were so filled with thankfulness!! This was literally a home of hope! And I am so glad to have taken part in this difficult but super awesome trip! There were many more things that happened, and those of us that went are forever changed and impacted by what God can do when we say yes.”
John Debkowski Celebration of Life
On April 9th John left this world to be with our Creator. He was our friend and brother and he will be missed very much. John spent many years sacrificing his time to serve others and share the love of Jesus. He could turn any conversation into a Jesus conversation. Please join us on May 17th at 1pm to hear testimonies about how John affected so many people. Let’s celebrate his life and his new life in Heaven!
Join us for music, testimonies, a gospel presentation, sharing stories about John, and games & a bounce house for the kids!
May 17, 2025, 1:00PM @ CMTS Ministries
1119 N Boundary RD, Bernville, PA 19506
Mission Opportunities & Events
CMTS Fun Fest Fundraiser
Mark your Calendars for the CMTS Fun Fest Fundraiser on July 19th, 2025! More details will follow, but for now we want you to know to be there at 11AM, entry is free, tickets to play games or buy food will be available for purchase at ticket booths.
Monterrey, Mexico Mission Trip
While in Mexico, we will be helping Compasión Ministry build on to their men’s rehab location. In addition, we will be visiting churches where you will experience Christian culture in Mexico, and evangelizing with Compasión. As always, there will be a rest day where we will tour the city, and throughout the week times when we will enjoy the local cuisine (tacos and so much more)!
July 5 – 12, 2025 Click here for more details: https://cmts.gomethod.app/!/51297/mexico–summer-2025
Montego Bay, Jamaica Mission Trip
We will be helping to build onto a school for the deaf as well as assist with a medical missions team, from Global Hope International, that will be going down with us. We will be praying for people as we go and help build or with the medical missions. We will get to visit the city, go sightseeing, and of course eat local yummy food!
September 14 – 20, 2025 More details to be announced!
Prayer Requests
This month, please be praying for:
This month, please be praying for:
- Funding for the ministry
- The apartments above the Auto Shop
- The Merricks serving & building up CMTS Belize
- Favor with the township in getting permits for the different building projects
- EQUIP students & E2 interns
- Financial support for the staff members
- The leadership & board members
- Mission trips to Mexico & Jamaica
- The fundraiser in July
