Dear Friends & Prayer Partners;

We'll, once again, time has gotten away from me. The last newsletter I sent out was in November of last year, and here it is the end of February. That's four months… way too long. I hope to change this, and start sending out short (1 page) newsletters every couple of weeks. Please pray for me, that I might actually accomplish this plan.

But, since it's been so long since I sent one out, this one's going to have to be another long newsletter (hopefully the last).

-- IN THIS ISSUE --

• CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

• ANNUAL MINISTRY CONVENTION

• TRIP TO TABASCO

• OUR BIG NEWS - WE'RE IN A HOUSE

-- CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE --

This was the second year of our Christmas toy drive for the children who live in the dumps of Reynosa, Mexico. Actually, it was the first time we did it as a toy drive, as last year, one church provided all the toys we gave out.

This year, we named the toy drive "Un Regalo por Jesus" (A Gift From Jesus). The plan was to ask local churches to hold a toy drive within the church, with each family donating one new $5.00 toy. These would be brought together, and distributed to the children living in some of the garbage dumps in Reynosa.

One of the local Christian radio stations found out about what we were doing, and offered to support us. Their support made all the difference in the world. I was on the air a number of times with them, doing interviews, promoting the toy drive. We also put a collection box in the lobby of the radio station. The response we received from the people was great! We even had a Catholic school who's students donated 250 toys!

Instead of the 150 toys we distributed for Christmas 2004, we collected a total of 1,860 toys! This allowed us to distribute toys to the children living in 4 of the 20 dumps in Reynosa. In addition to toys, we had 1,000 lbs of beans, 1,000 lbs of rice, 180 blankets, clothes, packets of baby things, and enough candy to give a herd of elephants a sugar buzz.

Since there are 20 dumps in Reynosa, with as many as 500 families living in each, there is a much greater need than we thought we could meet, but we were able to make an impact. Over 30 people made a first time commitment to Christ in the two days of distribution. In fact, the impact was great enough, that we were able to make an impact on the government as well. They were so impressed by what God did through us that they've given us official recognition.

-- ANNUAL MINISTRY CONVENTION  --

In January, we held out annual ministry convention. Our apostolic covering, Vernon & Peggy Holloway came down to minister with us to the pastors under our covering. Although the attendance wasn't what we wanted, God moved wonderfully, and those who were there received blessings from the Lord.

Our theme for this year's conference was "Kingdom Thinking, and Kingdom Living." God was speaking to us that it was time to quit thinking about the church, and start thinking about the Kingdom of God. Actually, the gospel Jesus preached, and that we are to preach isn't one of salvation, but one of the kingdom (Mt 24:14).

-- TRIP TO TABASCO --

I just got back from another trip to Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Pastor Hector Cruz, who is under our covering called me saying he needed me to come help deal with some problems in the leadership of the church. Since it is a priority of this ministry to support the pastors under our covering, I of course went.

We had a wonderful week of ministry together there in Puerto del Cielo (door of heaven), pastor Hector's church. The first three days, I ministered much of what the Lord spoke about during our ministry convention. Then, for the last four days I did a leadership conference on the five-fold ministry. Hector had felt, and I agree, that much of the problem he was having was due to lack of knowledge in the proper operation of these gifts within the church, and people thinking they are things that they are not.

They wanted me to stay longer so that I could participate in their first children's "encuentro" (encounter weekend). These encuentros are a method that God has been using for explosive church growth in Mexico and Central America. Since last year, the church has been having one of these every two weeks, each focused on a different group (men, women, teens…). They average 25 to 30 people per encuentro, and are winning 95% of them for the Lord. That means they are winning an average of two new people for the Lord every day! I know a church in Tabasco that grew from 300 people, to 1,200 in one year!

With all this rapid growth, it's no wonder that Hector is concerned about his leadership. Without solid leaders in the church, they won't be able to minister to that many new people. This also causes them another problem. They've just finished adding a balcony to the church, and now the church is full. Please pray that God gives them a piece of land, so they can build, or a bigger building.

-- OUR BIG NEWS - WE'RE IN A HOUSE --

After nine long years, we're finally out of the motorhome, and into a house. Hooray! Obviously, the family is glad to have more space and privacy, after all this time living literally in each other's laps. But, the day has finally come, and we've moved.

We've been writing you for some time about our ministry headquarters, and the land we've been trying to buy. This isn't the same thing. That land deal still hasn't gone through. This is something entirely different.

What happened is that a Christian brother here in the area was planning on going north to work, until October. Since he has a nice house, he didn't' want to leave it empty, but rather with someone to keep an eye on it. He went to the Christian radio station which supported us for the Christmas toy drive, and they put us in contact with each other.

Everything looked fine, and we moved in. But, the brother never left. Due to a number of different reasons, he had to change his plans. That left him with us in his house, along with him, his brother, and his sister-in-law. It was just a touch crowded (but not as bad as the motorhome).

So, where that left us is that the Murphys had to leave, and leave fairly quickly. While I was in Tabasco on the trip mentioned above, Deborah went hunting for a house we could rent. I don't know how much rent is where you live, but here it isn't cheap. Three bedroom houses were renting from $850.00 on up. That may not seem like much to you, but compared to our costs of living in the motorhome, it's a lot. However, she found a three bedroom house, with space for an office for $650.00 per month, a whole lot better.

What that means is that we've moved twice in the last month. That kills a lot of time and energy, and even a little bit of finances. But, at last, here we are in a house.

This is a large step of faith for us. We've lived on very little for the last nine years of living in the motorhome, even with paying campground rent and utilities, we're taking a big step up in costs. So, please pray for us in this. We're moving in faith, and we expect God to move with us.

Those are just the highlights of what's been going on here. In addition, we're still ministering in churches, ministering to the pastor, and everything else we normally do. God is still great, still moving, and we give Him all the glory.

All the family is doing well, especially now that we're out of the motorhome. The only one who's not happy with the move is Coco, because he has to stay outside. Jenni & Josh are doing extremely well in college. Josh got 1 "B" and the rest "A's" for his first semester of college. The two of them are planning on turning the house into the music department's hangout and practice room. That's okay with us, as we like the music they're doing.

Blessings in Jesus,

Rev. Rich Murphy