AP^ - 1985

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The Bill Baker Family
Serving Christ Through
Spanish American Evangelism
3135 Forney Lane
ElPaso, TX 79935
Volume No. 4 April, 1985 Number 1
Dear Christian Friends,
Hi! Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ. We pray that you are rich in God's blessings
and happy in Him.
We do thank you for your continued sharing through
your prayers and financial support. Without people like
you, our ministry could not continue.
January, February and March have been very busy and full
months. In January we made a trip to San Antonio and
spoke at the Heart of Texas Evangelistic Association and
at a couple other churches in the San Antonio area. It was
really good to be able to see so many of our Christian
friends. We do want to give the Albert Marks family our
sincere sympathy and let them know that we have been pray
ing for them in their time of loss and need.
Spanish American Evangelism has been very busy dur
ing this first quarter of 1985. During January over 600,000
tracts were printed. Bill did most of the printing on the press
which we received as an exchange with Platte Valley Bible
College. The press is doing rather well although there are
still a few bugs which need to be worked out. He was even
able to do a full-color process job on the cover of a special
Easter tract entitled La Resurreccion Para listed (The
Resurrection For You). I wish that you could see it. We
might put a sample of that tract in with this newsletter.
(Over 100,000 of that title were printed.) Because of the
volume of printing acomplished early in the year, two things
have happened: 1) SAE has been able to ship out in excess
of 300,000 tracts and 2) the general fund is extremely low.
Bill is not usually bothered with the problems of getting
materials in the mail as this is normally done by Ed Wecker-
ly. Ed was in the interior of Mexico for much of the last
of March and Bill had to spend four days in Juarez recent
ly trying to get over 25 boxes of tracts in the mail. During
the first two days, he was unsuccessful. At the Bi-Lingual
Convention in Eagle Pass, he was warned of a new ruling
from Mexico City which would no longer allow materials
printed in the US to be mailed into Mexico through the Mex
ican postal service. But, Praise the Lord! He was able to
mail 13 boxes on the third day and 12 on the fourth day.
He wanted to mail two more but ran out of pesos before
running out of boxes. Please be in prayer that Spanish
American Evangelism will continue to be able to mail
literature through the Post Office in Juarez-
We were able to attend the Bi-Lingual Convention in
Eagle Pass during the first week of March. I was asked to
play the piano and Marilyn Wood (Bill's secretary) played
the organ; Bill had a booth set up for both promotion and-
distribution of literature. So, Spanish American Evangelism
was well represented. I really enjoy this convention because
I get to see so many people that I haven't seen for such a
long time. Visiting my parents and the Cary's is also very
nice. Do pray for my momshe has not felt good for quite
a while.
After we got home, we received the sad news that Mrs.
Norma Maxey (Tibbs Maxey's wife) had passed away. I did
make it back in time to play for the funeral. It was an emo
tional service but it is beautiful to know that she is now
resting in our Saviour's arms.
Bill is also very excited because on March 26th, SAE
received the new typesetting equipment. It arrived three days
prior to the day it was scheduled to be shipped! Needless
to say, he was not ready for delivery since he figured that
it would be shipped at least a week after the scheduled ship
ping date. Furniture had to be made for the equipment and
he had just started that with Bob Church on the 25th of
March. He worked long hours into the night and early in
the morning in order to get all of the preparation completed
for the installation. Technicians from Compugraphic were
scheduled for initial set-up on the 28th and Bill was ready
when they got here. We praise God for this great advance
ment in the ministry of Spanish American Evangelism.
Please pray that the training period will not take too long
and that the funds for the machine will be in hand before
the payment due date, April 22nd. Every additional dollar
which can be raised before the payment due date will save
approximately 30 cents in interest over the term of the loan.
A little over $4,000.00 has been received to date. Some of
the costs have been paid and about $13,000.00 is still need
ed in order to have the equipment paid in full.
Sickness has been in our family since the Bi-Lingual Con
vention. We got home with Caleb having an ear and throat
infection. Frances followed with the same. Shortly after
that, Barbie and I came down with '*pink-eye". Billy
followed shortly after that and then Frances started to pick
up the same symptoms. What a household! It*s like an ar
my barracks. I think things will kind of slow down now.
I hope!!
As I write this, we are planning for another open house
on Sunday, March 31st. You will receive this letter after
that, but please continue to be in prayer concerning the sale
of the house. We have been current with all of our house
payments from October until January, but we fell a little
behind in February and haven't been able to catch up. It
seems that the Lord wants us to keep the house because
He hasn't sent a buyer our way. Patience in regards to the
payments is hard to learn. We know that if God wants us
to keep it, He will provide a way. We do use it for His honor
and glory. During March, we had a group of students come
through on their way into Mexico. The additional
bathrooms were a blessing as ten different people all wanted
to take baths at the same time. (The hot water did hold up!)
As usual, Raul Martinez spent a week with us in March also.
We plan to be in Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana dur
ing June. If any of your churches would like to have us
present an update on the ministry, please get in touch with
us. We will try to get you scheduled. We will be represen
ting SAE at the North American Christian Convention in
California during the first of July. Speaking dates
are open there also.
We thank all of you for you help and prayers. Please con
tinue to pray for our ministry. We are doing a essential work
ill preparing evangelistic literature in Spanish.
May God continue to bless you.
Love in Him,
Bill, Billy, Barbie, Frances & Caleb
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of the family and their equipment in this newsletter. Please be in prayer
concerning this project. It should open many doors to the Gospel in
future years.
Well, I must close. Thank you for all of your prayers. They do mean
a lot to us. Many times when spirits are low, a card or letter arrives
indicating that someone is praying for our ministrythat is all it takes
to raise our spirits and encourage us to continue. We could not carry
on without those prayers and your financial assistance. Thank-you!!
Yours for a Christian Spanish-reading world,
Bill Baker
Rosa, Billy, Barbie, Frances & Caleb
P.S. In our last newsletter I mentioned that the Christian Standard had
accepted an article for publication. It came out in the December 22,
1985, issue. Look for it, The Backward Missionary Program, pages
ten and eleven.
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The Bill Baker FamilySeryinz Christ Through
Spanish American Evangelism
3135 Forney Lane, El Paso, TX 79935
Volume No. 4 DECEMBER 1985 Number 3
Dear Friends of the Bakers,
As I sit down to write this, it is December 20th, time to be getting
out a greeting during this special time of the year. May all the joys
which are associated with the birth of Christ be yours both now and
for all eternity.
This year has moved faster than any of the past twelve in which we
have been involved in Spanish missions. I know that life is traveling
at a faster pace, and in order to keep up in the Lord's work, we need
to speedup or be left in the dust. Sometimes I feel like I am in overdrive
and still eating dust. Perhaps this comes from increased responsibilities
in the work of our local congregation.
Wehave begun Spanish worship services at Logan Heights Christian
Church. In November Rosa's sister and her husband, Israel, worked
with us for a week of meetings in Spanish. The week started with a
few prospects but not enough to actually have a nucleus for starting
services in Spanish. After a week in the community and services each
night, a reasonable group had been gathered. Attendance has been
averaging in the high teens for each morning worship service and pros
pects are good for additional growth. In addition, we havea Spanish
Bible study in one of the homes on Thursday evenings. Preaching
on a regular basis in Spanish has been a new and rewarding
challenge.
In addition to these responsibilities, Brother Don Augenstine,
minister at Logan Heights Christian Church, and I have been
holding regular services at the El Paso County Jail on Saturday
night. Since many of the inmates speak Spanish, Don needed
assistance in that work. In October, I was privileged to baptize
three of the inmates. Baptismsare normallyscheduledfor Saturday
or Sunday. The opportunity came as I was preparing to enter
Mexico with the Robinson family. Because of this, Saturday and
Sunday were out of the picture for over two weeks. My original
thoughts wereto wait for the retiun from Mexicothose men were
not going anywhere! But, after prevailing upon the jail
administration, the red tape was cut, and the men were baptized
on Friday. Following the baptisms two of the inmates indicated
that I would probably never see them againthey werescheduled
to be sent to the state penitentiary before my return. Recently we
received a letter from one of the new Christianshe has started
a Bible study in his cell with other inmates and attends the regular
Bible study at the state facility.
These activities are all in addition to responsibilities at Spanish
American Evangelism. Tilings are a little slowduring the Christmas
season, but the coming months will be extremelybusy. Paper always
seems to be in short supply. Praise the Lord, it isn't at the present
time. God has provided through His people enough paper (It was
paid for one dayafter delivery!) for almost one milliontracts and
funds for several hundred thousand additional tracts. Just two
months ago, the general fund was extremelylow, and our prospects
for further tract production were very slim. In this short period
of tim^ approximately $3,500have been designated for paper. I
would ask for your continued prayers as this paper is transformed
into tools for evangelism. Please pray for the printing process as
well as for additional paper as we deplete the present stock.
I am firmlyconvinced that there is a specialpowerin the printing
of God's word. For example, early this year a letter was mailed
from SAE which advised church leaders in the Spanish world that
we had tracts available. Last week a letter was received from central
Mexico. As a means of introduction, the writer explained that while
walking down the street he came across a piece of paper. It was
a copy of the letter sent out approximately eight months ago. He
wanted to know if tracts were still available. (They are not now,
but soon will be!)
The prospects for the Church are greater now in Latin America
than ever before. When thinking of the potential, I almost get
scared. I sense a whole new movement taking place in the Spanish
world. Oi^e reason for this feeling isthetype of tracts which we
have been providing and the people who are using them. No
punches are pulled in the material whichwe distribute. All of it
teaches the full plan of salvation and the return to the New
Tfestament pattern for the Church. Although most of the materials
are used l^y the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, a large
amount is being used by independent congregations which at
present arb notaffiliated with the"restoration movement". These
people ar^finding the concepts which we present compatible with
the scripture and are wanting more and more doctrinal teaching.
Seedsare beingplanted whichare crossingdenominational barriers.
I am praying that soon we will see a consolidation of the work
without a compromise of Scriptural teaching!
One result of this is a young man who began corresponding with
us through the tract ministry and has nowenrolled in the Instituto
Biblico Nacional (National Bible Institute) in Queretaro, Mexico.
The verynature of our ministryis allowing us to act in the position
of mediator, pulling together a stronger body of believers.
I could go on forever telling what God is doing in this ministry.
Rather than bore you, let me continue with some newsof the family.
Rosa was able to sing with the Eastside Christian Church Choir
in their Christmas cantata on December 15th. As you know, she
has an extra amount of musical talent and needs to participate
in programs such as this in order to feel used of God. She wants
to be able to do mor^ but the opportunity has not presented itself
as of yet. Pleasepray that God will open some doors for her and
her musical talents.
Billy made the "all A honor roll" at Eastwood Junior High
School. His interest in the violin is growing, and he is in the
Symphonic Orchestra. During a recent debate competition he
placed second ina city-wide contest anddefeated some high school
students at the same time. I am trying to get used to the shock
of having a son in high schoolin onlyninemonths he enrolls.
Barbie is continuing to excell in school. During the last parent-
teacher conference we were told that she is a "model student".
The surprise didn't last long as we were called in the following
weekand told of some shortcomings in her class. She is normally
hyper-active and that trait created a few problems. Socially she
iswell accepted andwill probably develop intothe "cheer-leader"
type.
Frahees has been fighting colds and sore throats but that has
not hindered her work in kindergarten. She is normally shy and
reserved but is beginning to comeout of her shell. She still wants
to be held and cuddled and quite often comes up and just grabs
my leg for a hug in return. Her height is increasing rapidly as she
is beginning stretch out without gaining additional weight.
Caleb has adjusted to be^ng the only child at home during the
school day and plays veryw^Il by himse^and with others. Grandma
Marge returned to El Paso )n the 16th of December and he is still
trying to get her to start bak ng cinnamon rolls again. Just yesterday
he was in the store with Gr mdma Marge. He stopped at the spice
rack and pointed to some >^tick citmamon and said, "Grandma,
this smellsjust likecinnarrion rolls!!' He is three (goingon eight)
and has a mind of his own. It is almost impossible to get ahead
of him as he continually keeps you thinking.
All of the children are very musically inclined. (I tell everyone
theygot theirmusical ability from me^because Rosa still hashers!)
They area joyand areproving to bea valuable asset to the Lord's
work. Please pray forusasWe encourage themthat we might know
when enough is enough in order that they might not "burn out"
before they understand th; true value of following the Lord.
In the last newsletter we i lentioned that our 1972 Suburban with
over 260,000 mileswashavi ngtransmission problems. Well, before
I returned from Mexico wit i the Robinson family, the transmission
was gone, and Rosa was n lyingon a borrowed vehicle. God has
a way of providing transportationwhen it is needed most. Alma
Zuelli, one of the secretaries at SAEloanedus her 1984 FordTfempo
for the trip to Orlando forthe National Missionary Convention.
Upon myreturn fromMedco, Rosa was driving a diesel rabbit,
and nowshe is using a 1983 BuickDiesel whichis fully equipped
(both loaners). We were able to trade in the 1972 Suburban on a
1983 DieselSuburban, 3/4 on, 9 passengermodel. So far, so good.
It looks like it will give u i many years of service on both sides
of the border. We have nol had car payments for some time, and
it willtake some adjustmei .tto get reacquaintedwiththis national
pasttime. Because diesel isivailable inMexico for50cents a gallon,
the newvehicle is savingus ipproximately 75to 100dollars a month
on fuel expense over the 972 model.
I have mentioned the Ro jinson family several times in this letter.
They area professional Comtry-Westem singing family. Their love
for the Lord has giventhem the desire to share God's love with
the Mexican people. The roid is their home. Theytravel in a convoy
of three greyhound-type lusses and two tractor-trailor rigs. The
convoy makes up their he me and sound-light stage. We made a
"trial run" into Mexico to letermine the feasibility of an extended
tour. The Mexican govermlent was veryagreeable to allowing the
equipment intothe country, and we averaged 800 to 1,000 people
in each ofthe four performances. Agoal for the Robinson family
is to give threeweeks of tneir timeeach year to share Christ and