Known today as the city
under seven flags, Laredo has emerged as the principal
port of entry into Mexico. As the second fastest growing
city in the nation, this border metropolis has greatly
benefited from the well-planned, historic "Streets
of Laredo," and its urban core continues to be
reinvigorated as commercial areas and neighborhoods
make the "Gateway City" their home.
read
more here |
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Iglesia
La Vid (The Vine Church) (PCA)
Iglesia
La Vid has an over ten-year history in Laredo, TX. Begun
by Pastor Erwin Lopez as a church of the denomination
Castillo del Rey out of Monterrey, Mexico, the church
was charismatic in worship style. A few years ago, Carlos
Ireta, former pastor of the Divine Providence PCA church
in Laredo, began meeting with other pastors in Laredo,
studying and praying with them. Erwin Lopez was one
of those pastors attending these meetings. As time passed,
Carlos began sharing the doctrines of grace from the
Scriptures with these men. Erwin became so enamored
with this teaching that he asked Carlos to share with
him Reformed teaching more intensely. Finally, both
Erwin and members of the congregation felt that they
had to leave the Castillo del Rey denomination and join
themselves with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
In October, 2004, the South Texas Presbytery of the
PCA accepted The Vine Church as a mission church of
the PCA.
Because
he did not meet all of the educational requirements
of the PCA at that time, Erwin began preparing for ordination
in the PCA under the mentorship of Carlos Ireta. However,
he was delayed in the process during the late Spring
of 2005 because of a visa issue. Erwin had to return
to Mexico for two years until the problems with his
visa could be resolved. We praise God that Erwin was
able to stay on the border and is currently serving
with the Isaiah 55
Deaf Ministries as a Christian counselor while continuing
his studies for ordination in the PCA.
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At
this same time, God was preparing Carlos
and Andrea Cano for ministry on the border. BEAMM
had been trying to raise support for the Canos so
that they may be able to begin planting a church in
Reynosa. However, when the visa issue occurred in
May, 2005, with Erwin Lopez, The Vine Church called
Carlos Cano as their pastor. Carlos has been tirelessly
teaching Reformed doctrine to the members of The Vine
as well as adding hymns and more preaching to the
worship services. Pastor Cano has now been officially
ordained by the South Texas Presbytery.
The
church owns property next to where it is currently meeting,
and is in the process of constructing a new meeting
place on this land. In July, 2007, a BEAMM short-term
team began painting the outside of the building and
constructed the framing for interior bathrooms. |
Pastor Carlos and Andrea Cano |
