MARYVALE CHRISTIAN CHURCH4027 North 48th DrivePhoenix 31, Arizona

Dear Christian Priehds:

One of the most thrilling things in planting a new congregation is thematter of securing missionary funds and making support available. Itis thriliingj but also a tremendous responsibility to direct the monieswisely.

The Maryvale Christian Church was started in 1959> and from the beginning^dedicated 10^ of all undesignated offerings to missions. Half of thisgoes to home missions and half to foreign missions. The first year, ourforeign mission fund was placed in a savings account, and our MissionaryCommittee made a careful study of foreign missionaries and the fieldsthat ®^ funds.

i^^^^^^^^pleasure, we finally ag^e^d unanimously to send our support toI f Geneva and Gerald Bowlin, at the' V/estern Mexico Christian Mission in\ '-J|?Jf:®osillo, Sonor§.,.^ committee actually visited the field,

and visiting the Christian homes and chur'bhsites. There are many reasons why we finally decided to support this work.We would like to share some of them with you:

1. In having the Bowlins visit our congregation, we found thatGerald is very effective as a GOSPEL PREACHER, a quality notoften found in our foreign missionaries.

2. In having the Bowlins in camp in the United States, we wereable to become even better acquainted, and we know of theirlove for our Lord, the plea of the restoration movement,and their fine concept of the New Testament Church.

3. In visiting the field, we find that their labors in Mexicoare appreciated by the native people, and they are deeplyloved by those whom they serve.

4» We found that they are building for an indigenous church inMexico...they are turning over as much of the responsibilities to the Mexican people as they are able to take. Thepeople in the Western Mexico Christian Mission area are nowbeing led by Mexican second generation Christians.

5- We were particularly impressed with the fact that the programin Hermosillo is CHRIST centered, and the Gospel is the coreof their program ... not sociology, etc. The Mexicsui peopleare CHRISTIANS FIRST, and the Mission Funds are not used upin sewing classes, etc.

6. While there, we visited the La Triguera congregation, thefirst congregation to acquire property and build a buildingWITHOUT ANY USE OF MISSION FUNDS. These people are beginningto become missionary minded, working for the day when theywill SEND missionaries, and contribute to world wide missionsin a substantial way.

There are many other reasons for our deciding on supporting the Bowlins.We are able to have a close relationship with them*Our minister conducted an evangelistic meeting with them last year, and now, Bro.Alexandro Julian, President of Western Mexico Bible Seminary, is goingto lead us in a crusade this spring*

We have not yet mentioned the wonderful work Geneva does in herbenevolent program, administering medicine to the sick, and going putto the far flung villages to give the only medical aid these peoplehave. We have not mentioned the fact that their home has become avirtual meeting place of the community, and in addition to theirfamily, there are ^ways from five to twenty people around the tableat meal time, morning, noon and night.

Truly, God has blessed the ministry of Christ through these servants,and we feel that our missionary money sent to Hermosillo is one of themost effective ways of contributing to the worldwide missionaryenterprise of our brotherhood.

We commend these brethren to you, praying that you will rejoice withus in this worthwhile ministry.

Bios le Bendiga,

MiRYV./VLH: CHRISTIAN CHURCHMISSIONARY COTMITl

\

Don Long,-^Chairm^

^ jo/c tyEsther Nilsen

Frances Wells

Don Dillari, Chairman ofCongregation

oYack E. Boal, MiniMinister

MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINAUYTEAR OF SKRVICB FOR AN INOKIKNOltB MRXICAN CHORCB

Western Mexico Christian MissionMAIL: APARTADO POBTAI. I»0. »SO OFFICE: CAU.K Tt.AXCALA 10» PTK.

UEICMOS1LL.O. 80N0RA, MEXICO!«>/ 20

OKnAJsTt t». ROWMN. F(»rRn«ll AND Df ftRCTOR

RHA.flRNRTA «. RUWMN. D I Hl*e N \ K V-<'t.l N f C

CHRISTMAS 1962 ALBJANnnO JVMAN, AflUTHTAKT UlRKCTOH

MHA RRTIfXn M. JCI.IAN. IIIBI.R SCUnuS.V

WANT TO SHARE GOD'S BLESSINGS THIS CHRISTMAS?????????????WESTERN MEHCO CHRISTIAN HISSTON PRESENTS-

MAT 1963Dear Friends:

One picture is worth 1000 vrord&^this nonthwe have tvro pictures for you, and a "thank •you for your pr^ersi" "THE lOST SOUL" ofour Christnas letter is nov/ your "brother andnine, in Christ. Words cannot descri'be thesnile on Bro. Begnino's face as he vra,s "bapti-zed last month, thus the second picture. Hisvrife "Chica" was baptized®-^ sane tine.

Begnino and "Chica" are neighbors of ours. Heis sick v/ith arrested T.B, and is tailingmedicine to keep it tliat way. Chica is ny"automatic wahing machine", she automaticallycomes three or more times a v/eek and rubs thedirt out on a built in cement "rub-BOAElD",i^ith bar soap and cold wateri They are typical of our converts in Mexico, first we makefriends of them, then bring then to the Savior.

Gerry has gone East on a peaking trip, someone asked him v/here he was going, his^swer:"To the ITorth American Convention in Long Beach,Calif., via Cincinnati, Ohio. Bobby, ^Kathy and Oscar are in the last month of school, LuLu v/orks in the office in the^nornings(if she doesn't have to stay hone and tal^e care of the babies.) and tal:es care of thebabies in the afternoons. Veva lias had her second birthday and Becl;y is 1 1/2, quite apairj With Gerry gone all I do is v/ell, lets not go into thatl

We have a new one at our liouse, we call her "liana", she is the little 70 ( or more) yearold care taker of the church property in Benjanin Kill. We did abdominal surgery on heron the first of Hay (tumors of aus removed) never have I helped \dth, nor seem such a mess.The Surgons remarks were "clinically speaking, it -is iimossihle". ilona i_s lione (five dayslater)aJid feeling fine. The tissue analysis vri.ll soon he hack, PRAY for rana health.

We do say "thanlc .von" and esoecially for your prayers in hehalf of our neighbors. Prayfor sufficient svmport for the vrorkers here, and renemher—we are United in the vrork forour lord in Western Iloxloo—only hy lack of funds. ... Please pray-and give -for SOULSPGR THR iUiSrai. Yours in Him,

I AH A LOST SOIFL. I NEED lESHS.

Geneva S, Bowlin

Q£C2bt96'ARev. 11/1/63.

BIOGRAPHY

DR. GERALD D. BOWL INmS, GENEVA S. BOWLIN ' .

i • . WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION . ^

It was .in the eyes of this -couple that V/estern Mexico Christian Mission,- ••Mexicari-Bible Seminary, and related- projects were ,originally visioned.-Other,;Aiterioan Missionaries have been trained by the Bowlins and haye^bpensd three'new fields in Mexico^ but this pair still carry on, continuallylifting theih vision for the Mexican church. .

Gerald, usually called Gerry, isa native of California,'raised in the richagricultural valley of Coachella, in the"American Sahara, near the SaltonSea. Living among, going .to school with, and working; with the Mexican- • >Americans of this area early gave Gerry an acute knowlege of the; Mexican*----people, and a great love for them. Gerry graduated from-the Los AngelesBaptist College and Seminary in*1943. He spent 1944-45 in Mexico as -anindependent missionary. The years'-1945-47 were spent in Pacific Bible _Seminary,., and'as ah assistant to Dr. Ben S. Hoff. -(On January first- of 1965Mexican. Bible Seminary conferred on him a Doctor of ^sacred Theology degree,honoring him for his 15 years of service on the Mexican missipn field.) •-

In 1945 Gerry married Geneva Chloe Staples of Oklahoma.' :.Geneva,, .a'trainednurse, was"ideally suited for the Mexican mission field, having supervised"bbstetrics, nite hospital supervisor, worked in a Peruvian doctor^s office,and f or good measure, worked in an emergency' industrial hospital,' several-sanitariums, as well as sepcial duty nursing, mostly auto, accident cases.She calls California home becausr^of'-th-e-many-friends-and-"-"homes--a;way:-fr.oia—home" the Bowlins have there. Her mother and step-father,. I.lf. • and,-.liesWalter Stringfellow live in Northern California near Sebastopol.

The idea for. a Mission School to train workers for Western Mexico was bornin, April 1947 when Gerry visited "Colegio Biblico", Eagle .Pass, Texas, toacquaint himself with that mission and personnel. Previous to this he-hadrealized that little value was to be gained by making short visits to thefield. The results obtained by "Colegio Biblico" in -its .few short years-was impressed upon' him, .and when he was invited to join the staff he accepted. This happy relationship continued till 1949 when the Bowlins left toorganize the work of.Western Mexico Christian Mission, which began -in theform of and with,the riame, Mexican Bible Seminary.

Gerry says: "V/e have long advocated the propriety^ yes the wisdom of.,training Mexican Christians, then gradually integrating them'ihto thC-mission work so that someday .they will be able to manage the work ofevangelism in their own country." . • . -

During this time first Robert(Bob), now 16-, and Kathryn-AnnCKAthy) ,^14,were born. Both-attend Mexican. .Federal Schools with public students, andof course speak Spanish as well as do their classmates, although Englishis spoken at home--when there are no Mexican visitors, at least.

Oscar Carrlllo, 17, Geneva, 2 yrs. 7 mo., and Elizabeth, 2yrs. were addedto the Bowlln family aft.er they moved to Hermosillo in 1955. Oscar, son

• (OVER)

-2- Biography, Bowlins. Rev, ll/l/65

of a Christian widow with a large family in Nogales, Sonora, came to theBowlins in 1959. All the children, including foster son, Oscar, have beenprominent in one field or another. Oscar was a-member of the MexicanNational Pony League Championship team from Sonora in 1960; The other daywhen. G.erry'invited him l^o attend where he preaches- Sundays, Oscar replied*;"Thank-you', but I can' t go as there would be no one to. serve communion at 'San Benito." Bob .won the district-wide. scholarship.'honors in 1960; he isnow in' third year -ef Secondary School(Jr .High). He has been, active in BoyScouts, Bible classes, is now jn. Deacon in his neighborhoO.d. congregation',and taking a nite-class at the Seminary in"^Homiletics"3h his-free-time-he-.attenda'the Jr. Police Academy (Traffic Div.), and dreams of sports cars',

Kathy at 9 was Spring 'Queen of .her .Grammar School n.f '600 students (Eirfettime' an -American girl has been-...so-^honored in Mexico, ..according "to theAssociated Press'.). And, she .is being mentioned as a candidate for Queen;of her Secondary School as this •is written . .-She teaches "A Beginners-Priyj;maryr»Junior Bible class each. Lord's day, a .Seminary bite. ClA^.s in ele-~'mehtary Spanish grammar, and is in her s econd year, of piAnp( jrphn'Vi/illiA^s ,.book- IV)-i Little Geneva(Veva) , *adopted .at. 4 ,months, is quiet /Ipving^-herfeelings •easily hurt--has to be loved, after each spanking pr scoldih^',-Elizabeth(Becky), adopted at birth, is independent, lovable, an' imp, afraidof nothings and an angel when she is asleep.

.Former Dean of Pacific Bible College, Richard C» Mills had this tb'sAy ofG.brry: "Gerald Bowlin is not considered a foreigner by these M.fexicanpeo.pl.e. They s.ay, 'He is not an American, he is a Mexicanl' Ih; fact, hehas •so .identified himself with them as-a-servarit. -of—llhiLlsij^hinhknoMd^e—Cf:their-rWays •and language, and in deep sympathy and concern, they think, ofhim as their, 'patron'. • : .

"A' ipatron' in Mexico, is usually that aged patriach or.-matriarch of thevillage: who is looked to for advice and counsel, for leadership, anb ,authority. Gerald: Bowlin has earned this litle among them', -in;, his.; devotion to them as individuals in their need for a personal SaviorHo hasmade. Him, the Savior., personal too—no 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, otherthings being aqual. If we want to know if our missionaries are doing agood job, perhaps we should ask the people'they servet 'Do these, ourmissionaries, identify themselves with you, or do you regard them as _foreigners?'" • "

Gerald D. and Mrs.-Geneva S. Bowlin' are in their fourth te of aqrvi-ce--—(16th year) in Mexico under the eldership of the First Christian Church,9501 Virginia Ave., South Gate, California, USA. ; •

FOR. SPECIFIC LIVHTG LINK-'NEEDS, WRITE;

DR. GERAlb D.'BOWLINWESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION..

... . APDO. .POSTAL 350 'HERMOSILLO, SONORA, HfflXIC O"

^ Revo 11/1/63niOGRAPIIY

ALEX s ESTHER JULIANBy Tars. Geneva S. Bowlin

V/ESTKRN I.1EXIC0 CTIRISTIAr T.IISSIOTT

Among the first teachers in MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY, were two^youngpeople showing unusual ability and insight, and it was with joy that wesaw ALEX JULIAN and ESTHER MARTINEZ, unite in marriage on JUly 13, 1952.(Esther* s father, Maoario Martinez, our first native evangelist in Western Mexico, recently revived the work in Nogales and is now opening anew work, under Mission auspices, in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, the next statesouth.)

Since Bro. Julian jolnod the work he has advanced from teacher of OldTestament in the Seminary until today he is Director or President of thisinstitution for the Mexican Church. Because of the Importance of thisposition and his ability in all phases of the Mexican work, Bro. Julianhas earned full Missionary status--he IS a Mlssionary--that is he hasopened a new field, even tho itbe in his own country. (Long-time sponsors aret Bellflower, La Habra, Northridge, Vi^estside Long Beach, Calif;Butler, Bid.; and Ferry, Ohio.)

"Alex", a second generation Christian, is the son of middle class parentsin the State of Coahuila in North Central Mexico. His father was formany years foreman for the American Mining Company operating in his homestate, and leader in the Church during the early years of evangelism there.Esther was raised as a minister's daughter. The uniting of these two people of like background in the Church's program has proved extraordinarilyfrutiful for the Kindgom. We believe the future years will prove a placefor this young couple (They are 31 years old) alongside giants of the faithin the Mission field. God grant it may be so.

Alex is a B.S.L. graduate of Colegio Biblico in Eagle Pass, Texas, andEsther holds a certificate from Mexican Bible Seminary. One of the ambitions of this young couple is to spend a year in the U- S- A. studying methods of church government and systems in our Churches there. Estherspeaks Spanish and the Yaqui-Mayo Indian dialect fluently, and both sheand Alex continue to study English in "spare" moments. Esther was raisedas the "darling" of two Indian tribes on the Mexican west Coast and spokeYaqui-Mayo and Spanish interchangeably while still a young girl. Alex haspreached in the area where Esther was raised and speaks a smattering of thedialects as well as some of his home area's tribal words.

In complete charge of the development and recruiting program for the Seminary, the dormitory arrangement, student affairs, as a minister, evangelist,construction superintendent, representative to the Mexican government, andadvisor to the Mexican ministry and American missionaries, this man and hiswife-have proven themselves a vital and important part of Vi/ESTERN MEXICOCHRISTIAN MISSION.

Let's not forget the two boys; Pedro 10, and Esau, a bright 7 year old.Alex and Esther have lost two little girls, which Mexican tradition tellsus are "little angels" in haven with God and Jesus. The boys are a definitepart of the Seminary family. If you don't believe it--j*u3t ask one of them'

ADDITIONAL LIV3NG LINK SUPPORT IS URGENTLY NEEDED. PLEASE CONTACT;V/ESTERN TfflXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

APDO. POSTAL 350HERMOSILLO, SONORA, TffiXIDO

Rev. 11/1/63.

WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

I. FOblTDED January, 1950/ Missionaries Gerald & Geneva Bowlin.

II. LOCATION Hermoslllo, oapital, Sonora/lOO,000 pop.

III. PURPOSE Indigenous or native Mexican Church.

IV. PERSONJJSL Dr. Gerald D. and I^^s. Geneva S. Bov/lin (Americans)Alex and Mrs. Esther Julian (Mexicans)

V. ACTIVITIES- —

A. EVANGELISM 7 churches/SmissIons/300 members/Sl baptisms, 1963/500 total baptisms/ some 10,000 contacted the Gospel.

B. CHURCH BLDGS.---4 churches/2' chapels/3 strategic lots.

C. SEMINARY 150 trained/l5 degrees/2 classrooms/dorm./house/chapel.2 graduates, 1963/nite classes for working men, 1963.

D. SEMINARY RANCH 40A./15 mi. city/good well/v/heat, sesame, beans,corn/goal, support Seminary/profit, 1964???

E. CLINIC cement block mach./lst. proj., 3 rd. dispensary/ nativedoctor/Health Dept. okay/s T.clothes, 1 T. medicine.

VI. NEEDS —-

YOUR PRAYERS'.

A. EVANGELISM Living Link Still Needed For 4th Term of Service§450,mo.,Bowllns/|200,mo,,Jullans/$100,mo.,evangelist.

B. CHWCH BLDG3. §2,500., each, 3 Ghapels/§10,000 city church.

C. SEMINARY §30mo,,ea-. 3tudent/§100 mo. ,Prof ./f50 ea. bicycle.

D. SEMINARY RANCH §500,pump/§2,500,tractor, equip/§l,500, plant,raise, harvest crop wheat.

E. CLINIC Sample medlcines/layettes/quilts/used instruments & equip/(future)§500,room, §1,000,surgery, maternity ward.

VII. ADDRESS---

A. CHECKS TO GERALD D. BOWLRT, DIRECTORWESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

APDO. POSTAL 350HERMOSILLO, SON ORA, i.'EXICO.

B. PACKAGES TO IvRS. FRAN TINKER, FORWARDING AGENTWESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION

P.O. BOX 1530NOGALES, ARIZONA, U.S.A.

MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY

ELEVENTH YEAR OF SERVICE FOR AN INDIGENOUS MEXICAN CHURCH^ ''j

Western Mexico Christian MissionMAIL: APARTADO POSTAL No. 350 OFFICE: CALLE TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

HERMOSIU.O. SONOKA, MEXICO.

GERALD D. BOWLIN, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR ALEJANDRO JULIAN. ASSISTANT DIRECTORMRS. GENEVA S. BOWLIN, DISPENSAKY-CLINIC December 1963 MRS, ESTHER M. JULIAN. BIBLE SCHOOLS

Beloved Friends In cfhrist?

THA'"K you Yes, this is a "Thank You Letter" to thank you and sayGod bless you for your financial help and your prayers, this month,and all this year, 1963, for WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION.

THANK YOU V/ho gave living-link and personal gifts to the BOVVLINand JULIAN MISSIONARY FAMILIES so they could live on the field inWESTERN P'EXIGO.

THANK YOU Who supported MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY, and her studentshere in WESTERN PffiXICO,

THANK YOU Who supported our EVANGELISM program, our student evangelist, and especially you, who paid bro, MARTINEZ salary for sixmonths while reviving the work in Nogsles, Sonera, and beginning anew work in Los Mochis, Sinaloa in Vi/ESTERN T.IEXIGO.

THANK YOU Who helped pay for the work on the RANCH (FARM) to helpneedy Seminary students from WESTERN J.ffiXICO.

THANK YOU Y/ho helped Mrs. Geneva S. Bov/lin carry on her fruitfulCHARITABLE and BENEVOLENT work here In V/ESTERN MEXICO.

THANK YOU Mere words will not suffice, so WE THANK YOU BY PEACHIMGCHRIST as the enclosed picture shbws me doing in Colonia Olivares,my regular preaching point in V/ESTERN /ilEXICO.

THANK YOU ^And may you have a Joyful Holiday Season, is our wishand prayer from V/ESTERN MEXICO.

Your Colaborers and Christ^a,

WESTERN TTEXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION,

Gerald D. Bowlln, S..T.D., Director-