Baptisms in the Sonoran Desert

Located in the middle of the Sonoran Desert of northwestern Mexico, Timothy House is a safe, loving home for boys who have been orphaned or abandoned.  ACTION USA Director Rex Lee Carlaw recently traveled to Imuris, Mexico, with his wife, Donna, and ACTION International Director Nelson Reed to visit this ministry which is directed by Bob & Joy Huber and their four children.

The ministry goal of the Hubers is to mentor young boys to become godly men, faithful husbands, responsible fathers, and productive citizens. Timothy House is currently home to 20 boys between the ages of six and 14. 

The Hubers have been missionaries in Mexico since 2003 and founded Timothy House three years ago. They only recently joined the ACTION team and this visit to Timothy House was the first by the mission’s leadership. 

Bob and Joy were very encouraged throughout the visit as Rex, Donna, and Nelson observed the ministry firsthand and learned how they could better support the Hubers’ activities. Bob said, “It was wonderful to learn from these experienced missionaries. We spent a lot of time discussing children in need, church planting, discipleship, and other topics.”

A highlight of the trip was the baptism of four new believers. The Hubers have been planting a church in conjunction with their work at the orphanage and this was the congregation’s first baptismal service! On Saturday evening, four new converts shared their testimonies with the children at Timothy House. The boys listened intently to these stories of how Christ’s love has changed lives! The boys know each of these converts well: Ramona is their soccer coach, Adela is a houseparent, Claudia is Adela’s daughter, and Ivan is a neighbor of the Hubers’.

The following morning, Rex preached at the church service. Since the culture in this area is heavily influenced by Catholicism, Rex used his sermon to explain the difference between Catholic baptism and the upcoming baptisms and addressed many related issues from a Biblical point of view. He explained baptism so that church members of all ages could clearly understand its purpose. 

After the service, the entire church went to Timothy House to celebrate the public profession of Christ. Rex baptized all four new believers in a small swimming pool. It was a special opportunity for the Timothy House children because many had never before seen a baptism! Following the service, several of the boys expressed a desire to be baptized. This gave Bob and Joy an opportunity to talk with the boys about their relationships with Christ and the meaning of baptism.

Rex, Donna, and Nelson spent the remainder of the trip encouraging the Huber family in their ministry and fellowshipping with them and the Timothy House boys. Bob and Joy wrote, “The entire weekend was a blessing to all involved and God was glorified!”

For more information about the Hubers’ ministry, please visit their Web site at http://tihmin.org.