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Joe and Amy have been married for 10 years and have spent the past 5 years serving in Oaxaca, Mexico as missionaries. Before God opened the doors for them to start deputation, they served in a bilingual ministry on the border of El Paso, Texas. Joe and Amy led the youth department, sang in the church choir, helped with church events and built relationships with the Mexican people in their town while working full time jobs in the secular realm. In November of 2016, Joe and Amy took their first of three survey trips to Oaxaca to begin preparation for future ministry. They began praying for the state of Oaxaca and their diverse people groups as well as the exact location God would have them start Mission of Grace Oaxaca. While in Oaxaca, God burdened Joe and Amy for the coastal region, specifically the market town of Santa María Huatulco. This town is strategically placed between 2 major coastal towns to the east and west and is situated at the base of the mountains that lead to the capitol city of Oaxaca. This location enables them to minister up in the mountain towns as well as towns along the coast in just a short amount of time.
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Joe |
Amy |
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I am a second generation missionary. My parents served along the border of Mexico, with Bearing Precious Seed, and with Worldview Ministries before my father passed in July of 2016. Worldview Ministries brings awareness to the need of Bible translation in foreign countries where people have yet to receive the Word of God in their native tongue. The burden my parents had for reaching the lost and growing up in a mission minded home ignited a fire within me to do something for Christ. I was saved at a young age in Green River, Wyoming, in the church that my dad started. I felt the call to missions at the age of 16 as Bob Hayes (Missionary to Africa) preached on missions at the First Baptist Church of Milford, Ohio. My parents moved to Edinburg, Texas, when I was a junior in high school. Shortly there after, I crossed the border for the first time in to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. I instantly fell in love with the culture, food, and people. I graduated Bible college and began to study the country of Mexico and found that the state of Oaxaca was one of the least missionary populated states. After taking a short trip to Oaxaca for the first time, my heart grew heavier for the indigenous groups. |
I am a third generation missionary who grew up in Uganda, East Africa. My parents, Jeff and Robbin Demarest, served in Uganda for 15 years and South Africa for 7 years together. My father still serves in Hillcrest, South Africa. Both of my grandparents served in Mexico and along the border of El Paso, Texas. My heart for foreign missions began during my childhood while living in Africa. While on furlough as a child, I realized my own personal need for salvation and received Jesus Christ as my Savior and followed in believers baptism. Settling in my heart where I would spend eternity gave me complete peace. Uganda has always been my "home," but experiencing Oaxaca first hand has shown me how small details matter to God. There are numerous similarities that Oaxaca and Uganda share. During each survey trip God showed me personally that He wanted me to serve Him in Oaxaca and that it could be "home" to me as well. Now that we have finished our first term, I now feel like it is my home. I am tied to the ladies that I am building relationships with and feel burdened for the women that still need Christ and for Him to work miraculously in their families. Presently, I am thrilled to be able to use my nursing skills in the clinic outreach ministry as an avenue to reach others for Christ. |