Cumberland Road

T.J.: 00:07

Exploring faith journeys and inspiring ministries that embody the good news of God. This is The Cumberland Road. I'm your host, TJ Malinowski. Hearing someone share their life journey connects us and binds us to one another. Listening can transport us to another time and place where we are temporarily invited to venture into someone else's space and feel and have experiences that are not our own. Today's guest had me traversing and crossing cultures and crumble barriers about God's faithfulness, about stewardship, and meeting people where they are. Reverend Alfonso Marquez is the church planter and minister at the Mercy Church in Lenoir City, Tennessee. The moment I pressed record, Alfonso invites me into his past and carries me into what the future may hold for the church. I hope you enjoy this journey of faith as much as I did with guest, Alfonso Marquez.

T.J.: 01:32

One of the first times I met you, Alfonso, was at a presbytery meeting, and I believe reverend Leonard Turner was telling part of your faith journey and how at when the 2 of you first met I don't wanna tell the story, but this is what I remember, and you can correct me. The 2 of you met at a truck stop, and you were a truck driver. And that was the first time I met you and heard the name Alfonso Marquez. So So thank you for joining. Heart. And that was a long, long time ago.

Alfonso: 02:17

Yeah. I met Leonard on June 2000, no, 1999. I was driving for CFI, one of the 10th largest companies at that moment, in United States, and I was driving border to border and coast to coast. And I I was traveling to Canada too and parts of Mexico, so I had a I really enjoy driving. And the reason that I start driving is because I had a business, which with the economy in Mexico crumbling down, I was forced to close.

Alfonso: 02:59

Like, right now, the pandemic forces, force many businesses on the border to close because they they cannot come and and buy stuff, across the border. So at that moment, it was the economy that the evaluation of pesos. So my great business, will was on bankruptcy. So I had a CDL, at that moment, so, I was kind of, down. I don't want to use the word depressed, but I was down and trying to figure out, what the lord want is want for me.

Alfonso: 03:38

And and I started putting, get on Internet and starting putting applications for truck drivers, for trucking companies just for for, wasting some time. And 2, 3 days later, I started receiving packages from all these companies because they were, in need of, drivers with good driving record and and good health. And so I saw the opportunity to drive and relax around while I was driving, and they're gonna pay me. And they were paying me 32¢, a mile at that moment. So 3 miles, $1.

Alfonso: 04:23

So I used to drive 700 miles per day. So I was making $200 per day, and it was a good good income while I was traveling around United States. Mhmm. I went to, all around United States. And on Sundays, I always look for places where we I can worship.

Alfonso: 04:45

And it was hard for me to to find a place with a an 18 wheeler. And then I noticed that some truck stops have their chaplains there. And in that, June 99, we are Alfonso, my son, was, like, 10 years old. He was with me, and we were on our way to, Ohio to this, toys, yeah, Toys R Us load. And and we stop at the petrol on I 40 at the exit 369.

Alfonso: 05:22

And I told my son, well, let's let's take a shower and rest. And while I I was walking in, I saw that they have a it was a Saturday night. So I saw the sign that they have a a worship service in the morning. So I told Alfonso, well, in the morning, we got up and and fix ourselves and and come to the worship service, and we continue our journey to to Ohio. So, we got up earlier and went to the shower, and Alfonso bit me.

Alfonso: 05:56

So he went to the TV room where Leonard was, and and Leonard welcomed him. And and he was kind of, this kid was are you by yourself? I said, no. My dad is coming, after me. And then I met Leonard.

Alfonso: 06:12

We have a church service there, and he invited me to go to to Union Church. And at that moment, he says, we're having a lunch after the worship service. I say, oh, free lunch. So I decided to go to the, unit church, and and, I never heard about Cumberland. I always have in my mind Presbyterian.

Alfonso: 06:40

And, we have a worship service. And after that, Leonard asked me if I I wanted to go around and visit, the community because at that moment, in Leonor City, it was an arson, and many Hispanic families lost everything. So many churches around tried to help the the people, the Hispanic people, but, they don't speak English and they don't speak Spanish. So he was, like, a language barrier. So Leonard said that he started praying for the Lord to to send someone who can speak their language and administer the the gospel to them.

Alfonso: 07:23

So I didn't know that, but he was praying for that. And so when I arrived, we went around and I checked, we stopped at the grocery store, Mexican grocery store, and talked to the people, and they they told me that they were in big need of translations and many other stuff because the need was big. So I asked him if I start a church, would you come with me? And he says, yeah. We will join with you in.

Alfonso: 07:53

So I went back to to the truck stop, and when he was dropping me in my truck, the the 18 wheeler, every driver has their nickname. They call it handle, and my name was Preacher. And he asked me, what about the the name? And I said, well, when I'm driving, I preach the gospel through the city radio, and some some, you know, drivers have a hard time. So some, receive the gospel, and we stop.

Alfonso: 08:28

And I pray with them, and they receive Jesus. And they go to New York, and I go to LA, and we never see again. But and I was doing that while I was driving. But I was looking, and I told Leonard, I feel like the Lord is calling me to to preach, but, I don't have a place to. And I'm not educated.

Alfonso: 08:49

I I'm I don't have theological. When I said I'm not educated, people think that, I didn't I didn't attend school before. But, I told him, I had a teacher teaching degree in Mexico and but I I don't have any theological preparation. So says, what about, if we can we can send you to school then? And he looked my it took my attention.

Alfonso: 09:17

I said, well, probably. I told him, well, let's pray about it. And and he we just say goodbye, and and we continue our journey to Ohio. And about 3 months, no. 3 weeks later, I received a letter from Leonard and and and Junitchers, stating about our when we met, and they were were interested in interview me and if I was the person and for the ministry.

Alfonso: 09:45

And so then I told my wife, I met at this gringo over there, and she's offered me this. And I told her, I think they're Presbyterians, and you know, Presbyterians are very liberal, and we are we we were part of the our home church was a Pentecostal church, of Assembly of God, so and we're very traditional and conservative, and Hispanics are more. So my wife, Martha, said, well, let's talk to our preacher. So we went to our preacher and told him that all the experience, and and the preacher told asked me, what do you think about it? I said, well, I feel like going, but I don't know.

Alfonso: 10:29

I'm I'm I'm I'm seeking your advice and and guidance to see what we can do. And the preacher's wife say, Alfonso, I I I believe with all my heart that the Lord is calling you up there, and you just need to do like Paul. When he was with Romans, he was Roman. When he was with Greeks, he was Greek. And when he was with Jews, he was Jews.

Alfonso: 10:52

So so you can be you're bilingual. You can be bidenominational. You can be by by by I said, well, if you support us, we we go. So, I contacted Leonard, and and I had a a because Knoxville, it's the middle, on the when you go from Loretta to New York, Knoxville is the halfway. So I figured out I told them, well, I'm go I'm on my way to New York City, so when I pass there, I I may, I planted my my trip to stop there at the truck stop and and talk with Leonard again.

Alfonso: 11:39

So the second trip, it was, like, in mid July, around this time. And I stopped with him, and then, we have the the work the service at the truck stop, and then we will again to Union. And, after that, he invited me to a restaurant. They didn't have a lunch, but some, people from the session, invite us to eat lunch, and they took us to Monterey restaurant on on Kingston Pike. And, the the owner of the restaurant was, Hispanic and was Catholic.

Alfonso: 12:23

And Leonard was wearing that clerical shirt with the white collar, and and they thought he was a Catholic priest. So Leonard told me, every time I come over here, they they don't want me to pay. They they they're good to me, and that's why he was very often there. And I told him, Leonard, in the Hispanic culture, priests don't pay at stores. They don't pay at restaurants.

Alfonso: 12:49

They they they they take care of priests, so they think you are a priest. And, and I need to buy me a a one of those shirts too. And I start inviting them to to have a a bible study, and they agreed. So, I make those contacts at the grocery store and at that restaurant and went back. In September, we received 2 plane tickets to come to be interviewed by the board of missions, before I didn't know the they have a press return meeting in October.

Alfonso: 13:25

So we came in late September, and, we Martha was kind of it was hard for her to because she is still still learning English at that moment. Laredo, you can go everywhere and and everybody speaks Spanish. Mhmm. It's, so it was very comfortable for her and school system, everything. They everybody's doctors, everybody speaks Spanish down there.

Alfonso: 13:53

So even where the 98% Hispanics and the 2% are Anglos and Asians, and and the other 2%, they have to learn Spanish even if so it was an issue for her, and and and she was kind of well, we got settled over here. We're doing good, and and I told her, well, let's take a it's a weekend. We can go, and let's take a just a a trip, and and we don't lose anything. It's everything paid. So I'm pretty sure they send the tickets, so they they may feed us.

Alfonso: 14:33

So but we decided to come. And and, that day when we were coming to to East Tennessee, as always with the hurries and everything, we arrived to the airport right on time, but I forgot my wallet.

T.J.: 14:52

Oh, no.

Alfonso: 14:53

And and when while I was at the, checking in, I told Martha, I forgot my wallet, and and we don't have time to go back. And and there's no time for us, someone to bring my wallet in. So it's gonna be 3 days. So I I told her, well, we may need to fast because I don't have any money. With me, all my cards and everything were in in the my wallet.

Alfonso: 15:19

So we we got on the plane, and on the planes at that moment, they give you a little lunch, very small, and and a drink and and peanuts and all the stuff. And they said, well, we can make it from Loreto to Dallas. And from Dallas, we thought we were flying to Knoxville, but they they put the tickets to Nashville because it's cheaper. So churches are looking for cheaper stuff. So so we we arrived to to Nashville and Bruce Potter and Leonard Turner were there.

Alfonso: 15:53

Bruce Potter was the associate pastor at that moment in at Union. So what they were there with, flowers for Martha and a pen for me and a great welcome in to the airport. We I we feel very important. And and, I said, okay. Well, let's go.

Alfonso: 16:10

And and then they said, are you hungry? I said, no. No. We're okay. We we we we we wait on the plan, and we're okay.

Alfonso: 16:19

And and they say, well, from here to Knoxville, it's about 2 hours, but in the middle of the road, there's a a little town named Cookeville. We're gonna stop there and eat dinner. That way you can arrive and say, oh, wonderful. So when we arrived to Cookeville, all the state houses and all the restaurants have it was a Friday night. So they had hour hour 20 minutes, waiting, list.

Alfonso: 16:49

So they asked me if I want if I was willing to eat at the, Golden Corral, this buffet, and say, man, this that's what I was looking for. So we ate at the Golden Corral, and and I told Martha, you know, we don't have money, so tag will well, eat well because we don't know tomorrow, but Friday is done. So and I told her, I know that all the motels over here, they serve continental breakfast. So at least we we're gonna eat something in the morning. Mhmm.

Alfonso: 17:24

So we arrived to the motel, and I never had a headache. Never. And then, when we got to a room, I I start having a headache, and and I told Martha, you know, I had a headache, and I saw machine downstairs, but they were 50¢. And I don't have a few 2 quarters. And I was and I told her, well, let me walk down to see what's if I can find those quarters.

Alfonso: 17:51

So I went down and I I got him in front of the machine and and look the the aspirin, and and I put my fingers, where the change can they were too. Someone put a dollar and got the whatever, and they got the 2 2 quarter. I guess was the door, and and someone shared, say to me, it's it's like when Jesus told Peter, go get the the the fish and get the the money from the fish mouth to pay our taxes. So I got my aspirins and and got up, go up and and told Martha, I got I got the aspirins, and I told her what happened. He says, well so in the morning, I asked her, Martha, how do you feel?

Alfonso: 18:36

And he says, well, I didn't sleep well. I don't I didn't like this room, and and she was putting all and all the obstacles for that way we don't have. And she said to me, if the Lord don't give us in our bed without asking, we're not coming. And I look her and say, Martha, you're asking something impossible. So I know Americans, they're very, strategic.

Alfonso: 19:05

They they do very logistics. They're they're very good. So I'm pretty sure they rented this room the this, motel room for until Monday. So how unless we ask for an iron room, they they may put us in our room. But then she said, no.

Alfonso: 19:21

No. We we don't need to ask. And I thought, well, let's eat breakfast and and eat breakfast, and I had to grab a a banana for the road because we don't know how it's gonna be the lunch. So when after we we finish breakfast, Bruce Potter arrived to pick us up and, to go to to the meeting with the president's board of admissions, committee, and he asked us, where's the luggage? I thought, well, it's in the room.

Alfonso: 19:49

And he told us, no. You need to get the luggage because we just it was a YouTube game, and it was the only room open for that night. And they have rented the other Saturday and Sunday nights across the interstate. Oh. So I told Martha, I guess the Lord want us to to be here.

Alfonso: 20:11

So I picked up the, I went to pick up the luggage and and went to the our interview. And the committee was formed by session meeting from members of the session meeting of Union and some of the Presbyterian East Tennessee. And they they start when we arrived, there were, like, 8 or 9 people around and mostly elderly people, and we we felt like, what's going on over here? Do we need to confess or something? And and they start asking us question ask questions about our faith, our salvation, and, about feeling to go on the ministry and all all the stuff.

Alfonso: 20:55

And we were answering questions, and and then suddenly, Janice Middleton, Bill Middleton's wife, she was part of the, meeting, and she says, you and she say, you you know me. I'm not like this, but I feel like Dolores talking to me, and I want to pick up an offer for Alfonso and Martha. And I say, no. No. No.

Alfonso: 21:23

No. No. You we we don't we we don't need money. We're okay. And and she said, the Lord asked me to to to to do that, so I'm gonna do it.

Alfonso: 21:31

And she told me, when you go on on on the ministry, you need to be humble. I say, okay. And she says, but if you don't want to get I'm gonna ask Martha to open her purse, and I'm gonna ask every committee member to be generous to you. So Martha opened her purse, and everybody went around and put their so they put, like, $800 together for that

T.J.: 22:02

Wow.

Alfonso: 22:02

That mean I I I didn't know until we finished the the the meeting. And then one of the, elder, Dee Pinker from Union Church, came and said, well, we understand you're a truck driver, so I got this new car for you. So there's the key, so you can go everywhere. That way, I don't have to drive you or pick you and drop you and so you can go around and and I said, well, okay. I see ensure everything is on the here, he fixed everything.

Alfonso: 22:35

So so after that, we went out of the meeting. We we went around to to see, the community, and and then I asked Martha, well, we got money now, but we don't know how much. So she she started counting, and she says, it's more than $800. I thought, is that right? And she said, yes.

Alfonso: 23:00

I thought, well, I have we I have we have money to to buy souvenirs for our kids. So we went to the Walgreens, and it was a duty game. So we got a lot of stuff from Tennessee taken down to to Laredo, and then, we went we went to the truck stop with Leonard that Sunday and then to to Union again. And then Bruce Potter took us Monday morning to to Nashville. That way, we can get the When we pick up the the plane in in Laredo, there's a monastery in like, 2 2 blocks from our house.

Alfonso: 23:42

And one of the monks was visiting his family, and he got on Laredo on the same plane from Laredo to Dallas. And from Dallas, I think he went to, Kansas to on the other way, and we came to to Tennessee. And then I start asking him why he was on the ministry, and and and he just told me because I love Jesus. And and I thought, well, I heard that mostly monks or, nuns go to a ministry because they they lost their sweethearts or something. Their their heart is broken.

Alfonso: 24:21

And he's, no. No. I I decided to go on the ministry, and and he he was I tried to outreach the Spanish community. I made, 20, 2,000 invitations, and only 2 people show up to this heart ministry and lalalala. And I said, well, I saw you around walking because they they walk in pairs with the rosary praying.

Alfonso: 24:44

If you talk to them, they they just wait to you and but they continue praying. And and if you want to talk to them, they say, I'm sorry. We're praying. And and it was very common to see those saw those monks. And so when we were we wish you a good flight and and and and then when we were coming back from Nashville to to Dallas, there was the monk again, the Catholic.

Alfonso: 25:12

So we were fabulous. Hey. Very good. How about your visit? Thank you.

Alfonso: 25:16

Oh, very good then. Well, we met this group up there, and and probably the Lord is calling us up there. So so he said, I'm I'm gonna pray for you. So we went back to Laredo, and I have to continue driving. And in in in November late November, they sent me a an invitation, a letter that the the presbytery has approved us, and and they send us a check to to move from Loretta to Loretta to East Tennessee, and and that's why how our urine started, 21 years ago in January 2000.

Alfonso: 25:58

Right right after, y two k.

T.J.: 26:04

That's right. I'd forgotten about that.

Alfonso: 26:07

We thought the the war is gonna to to come to me to an end. So we waited and and nothing happened. So I told Martha, well, we need to go. We arrived at we arrived to Leonard City on January 21, 2000. So right now, it's a little bit more than 21 years.

T.J.: 26:29

Well, Alfonso, I really hadn't introduced you yet. So, this was a great introduction, by the way. Talk a little bit about, who you are and the the congregation that you're serving, and just do a brief introduction. We jumped right into the story, which was great.

Alfonso: 26:49

Okay. Well, I'm originally from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. I grew up there until 17, and I was I received a scholarship to go to, this, normal school. And, in Mexico, you go to normal school to be normal, but every teacher has to attend the normal school in Mexico. Now it's a little bit different, but on on the at those times, I went to to Mexico City and started preparing myself to be a teacher.

Alfonso: 27:23

After that, I just served, like, 6 months, and I didn't like I don't like big cities. So I went back to to Juarez, and then, the situation was kind of difficult there, so I got across the border and came to United States, and started working on the fields, and whatever I in construction and until I was undocumented for 8 years until the amnesty. So I apply and I qualify, and they give me a, temporary residency. And after that, they get, after 2 years, they it was a permanent residency, and after 5 years, I applied for my citizenship. So Mark and I came, and and we we were a couple.

Alfonso: 28:13

I came first in 1980, and she came joined me in 1980 3, and move around from Texas to West Texas to New Mexico and Colorado and went all around, because we were more seasonal workers. And, we established finally in Loretto, Texas, and Martha was 7 months pregnant of Alfonso. So in 1988, we we moved to Laredo, Texas where, we got safe in August 18, 94. And, 5 years later, the Lord call us to ministry, and we raised 4 children of our own, and we adopt adapted, 2 of our my sis Martha's sister's kids. So we raised 2 nephews as as our children too, and, we raised 6.

Alfonso: 29:19

So that's when we came up up here to Lenoir City. We were 6 children and Martha and I and a dog. We're originally from Juarez, and we move around United States in many different places and establish in Laredo. And from Laredo, we talked the Lord is gonna send us back to to El Paso, to Juarez to start a church and or Mexico or Central America, but the Lord sent us to East Tennessee.

T.J.: 29:50

That's pretty far away.

Alfonso: 29:54

God's plans.

T.J.: 29:55

Yeah. Talk about the congregation that you are serving with, Martha, your wife, who is also a minister.

Alfonso: 30:05

Yes. We both, went through the program of alternate status, pass program, and I got graduated. I spent 4 years taking in English, and then I start translating for new candidates for the ministry. And Martha, registered for for that program too, and, she graduated in 2012 and got ordained in in 2012. And but she's been helping me in ministry because we started the church, from from nothing.

Alfonso: 30:38

Mhmm. And, before I started going to pause, I started preaching to the chairs first and then but we we did more community service, and let know people that we really care about them. So now we have a congregation organized in 2010, and we have a good good group of, good Cumberland Presbyterian people. We we didn't steal from Baptist or panic also. Every single one was, received Christ through our ministry and baptized, through the Cumberland Church, and, we are serving now our community in many different ways.

Alfonso: 31:25

Right now, I'm teaching ESL and GED now is HiSET. I do a lot of immigration documents, translations, and and Social Security in the, schools. And Martha, my daughter now is working with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. So she's working with me, but she's working in Morristown now. She's in in church of that area, in Hamlin County.

Alfonso: 31:53

And that's that's what we have been doing, serving our community over here. And now because it's a federal program, we teach GED or HiSET who to anybody. And we received some, non Spanish speakers taking their GED with us too.

T.J.: 32:14

Interesting. You are man you are a man of many skills.

Alfonso: 32:20

Well, the law is you know, I always say that the in the land of the blind, the one eye is the king. So I've been learning. That's what I I have to wear many caps, and, I learned to do the immigration documents. I learned to translate. I learned to to do, Social Security and yeah.

Alfonso: 32:46

And to teach well, that's my, I started to to be a teacher, so it it was easier for me to. And when I preach, I don't preach, I I try to teach too, the the word of God.

T.J.: 32:58

So because of the many skills that you have, that places you in in, spaces where you get to meet a lot of people and be able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Alfonso, one of the things that, I wanted to ask you about is when you're sharing the good news, how do you tell people that, Christ gives you purpose in your life? How do you share that with somebody who may not know a lot about the Christian faith?

Alfonso: 33:32

Actually, I always share my testimony and, how God can take a Mexican out of, that neighborhood where I grew up and, got him off out of hell and bring him to paradise. And, my my salvation was very dramatic, and and I just shared that the lord can if he fix a Mexican, he can fix anything. And I I just I meet people where they are. And, you know, at one time, we went on our way to to Juarez, Martha and I in in Texas, we stopped at a truck stop where, it was, like, 3 o'clock in the morning. And I stopped I stopped it to to fill it up, And Martha went to the restroom, and she, she spent 10, 15 minutes, and I was kind of, why it's just taking too long?

Alfonso: 34:36

So I waited, and then she came out of the the store crying. I said, what happened? I was ready to fight anybody. And she says, you know, there's as soon as I walk into the restroom, I heard this cry, but not not, it was a crying from the inside, from the guts. Mhmm.

Alfonso: 35:01

It was and then I it was a girl. It was a hot white girl, like, 19 or 20 years old. And I don't speak English, and she didn't she didn't speak Spanish. But, when I heard that cry, she says I I got to her and and holler, and I just told her everything Jesus loves you. Everything is gonna be okay.

Alfonso: 35:21

And she just she says she just grabbed me and hugged me, and she started and and she didn't wanna go with me, on that trip. And I told her, you know, the lord the the lord put you on on on that lady, lady's way. And somehow without English, without but the hug and that kiss that you gave her and and hope without words. Just, and and we just went from there to Juarez. It was, like, 6 hours, more the of the trip.

Alfonso: 35:57

So we were rejoicing and happy that that girl, she gave her phone number. And, I never we never heard from from her, but, that's sharing the gospel. I I like that theologian who says, share the gospel always, and when there is when whenever it's necessary, use words.

T.J.: 36:19

Well, Alfonso, as a as a man who has traveled the continental US and and North and Central America, where where do you see god working in the world today? It's almost easier to be able to point out the evils and the troubles of the world, but that's sort of a negative way to look at the the gift and the gifts that god has given us. But still, it can be challenging. So I posed a question to you. Where Alfonso, where are you seeing God working in the world today?

Alfonso: 36:55

The I think, this is a very important question for the church. I believe with all my heart that God continues working through his church, through all of us. In 2nd Corinthians 5/20, it says that we're ambassadors. 1 in in 5 17, we know mostly everybody knows if you're a new creature in Christ and a lot of all things passed away, but the 20th says we are ambassadors. And I think when the church represents Jesus in in our capacity, I I believe God continues working through through that remnant.

Alfonso: 37:36

It may be a few, but that's what is is happen. If we weren't here, I don't know how the in what condition see, if the world is in bad shape, imagine without his church. One time one time I went to my my kids. Abraham started attending, this group, John Life, and they met in this farm in Philadelphia. And while while I was teaching ESL after he asked me to if if I can let him stay late because they they have some kind of, meeting there.

Alfonso: 38:16

So I asked him to give me the address just in case anything. And after I finished my ESL classes, I asked Martha, let's go check what kind of farm is is this. And, we drove through those back roads, and we've we arrived to the to the, that farm. And we found it was a big barn, and it was, like, 60 high schoolers. And the Young Life leader was sharing his testimony and was, telling them exactly who they represent, and and he was sharing Ephesians 12, and he was, telling them, because Satan, fights our identity in Christ.

Alfonso: 39:03

If he make us doubt who we are in Christ, he he he's he's on us. But when we remember who we are in Christ, we we step on him. So I saw all those kids, and I told Martha, I work in a high school, and there's 1200 kids there. But with these 50, Jesus continued shining in the world. And and and I I believe with all my heart that God hasn't finished with his church, and he's coming for his church.

Alfonso: 39:33

We just need to be remain faithful. And and that's what I I believe how God is working, and he's working through any any any believer who wants to share his the good news with love. Sometimes we're too legalistic about I am one of those.

T.J.: 39:53

Alright. Well, hey. That leads me to my next question. We've been talking about the church. Let's talk about, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

T.J.: 40:02

Alfonso, our church. What ideas do you have for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 2021 and beyond?

Alfonso: 40:15

Wow. One of the great things that I admire from the Cumberland churches because the Cumberland church is a missionary church, always working on different on different tier, and different tier is everywhere now.

T.J.: 40:34

Yeah.

Alfonso: 40:35

So I I believe if the Cumberland Church continue sharing the gospel in any way possible, I think, if we continue remaining our biblical principles When I was at the I'm using this, example because I I was member of the trustees of the children's home for 9 years. And when I was there, twice a year, we always deal with money. Money money money money. Mostly of the the meeting was about budgeting, how we wanna do this and ladda ladda ladda. And I remember the the first time when I arrived, they were discussing this, and they they were, about to, hire a new, director.

Alfonso: 41:31

And then I saw the the treasurer. He he was very concerned about the income. And I asked the the the the board, how long is the the children's home established? And and they said, well, they start in Bowling Green, and then they move in 1930 to to Denton, Tennessee, and and we're in 2010, and the Lord has been faithful. And I told them, as far as we are serving people, as far as we are doing ministry in any way we can, don't worry about the finances.

Alfonso: 42:16

The Lord is gonna because one of my things is and that's what I believe, TJ. I've been on the ministry 21 years, and the one thing that I can share with everybody is God is faithful. And, I'm not concerned about anything. And he's been he's been faithful, and we're but stewards. But, he I I got every day, every week, every month, every year, wherever I needed to to to live and and do my job happy.

Alfonso: 42:49

I I enjoy doing ministry. So I I hope that the common Lutheran Church ministers quit whining about elders, whining about because they're with the wrong purpose. Mhmm. But if we if we see those whining people in need, we may we may be used to to let them know that Jesus is is the main thing. I learned in the ministry that people are more important than things and money.

T.J.: 43:25

That is a challenge that I think our denomination and many churches face is keeping our eyes on the prize

Alfonso: 43:37

Yeah.

T.J.: 43:38

And sharing the good news, and God will take care of the rest.

Alfonso: 43:45

That's correct.

T.J.: 43:46

Has and will take care of the rest.

Alfonso: 43:49

Yeah. And it's a challenge. It's a it's a challenge that we face, but we need to remember that we're serving the almighty God.

T.J.: 44:00

And then faith is is growing. Yeah. It's not like a an achievement or a destination point. Faith in god grows. And maybe even ebbs a little bit, but it flows right back.

T.J.: 44:17

And and, thank you for sharing your your aspirations and your hope for our for our Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Alfonso, as skilled and as busy you are, I'm gonna ask you this question anyway. How can our listeners continue to follow you on your faith journey?

Alfonso: 44:40

I use the term join the boat. Partner and and pray for us. I think, I'm I I share with my family. I'm about to to be 60 in December, and my plan says to work 5 more years with all my my strength if the Lord allowed me, if I have good health, to continue reaching people, to to continue working in Mexico and Central, or anywhere where the Lord sends me. And, just I I believe in prayer, and and, I ask everybody to pray for us.

Alfonso: 45:18

And, we're on Facebook live every Sunday. We use It's in Spanish, but, you can translate their things. I we put everything on on the, screen. That way, people can grasp something. But, just pray that that the Lord juices in the right way to continue reaching people for Jesus.

T.J.: 45:44

Alright.

Alfonso: 45:45

That's that's what I I just I have some people who came all with negative things. I'd say, I don't want to talk to you. I want to talk with, or come with people who who are positive, who have faith, who have mission minded. And because I always say, a church without vision is a blind church. We have to have a mission, a purpose.

Alfonso: 46:10

If we don't, Satan is very good to to get us focused out of out of Jesus, out out of, mission work.

T.J.: 46:20

Alfonso, thank you for being my friend. Thank you for being an encourager in my life in different times of of my own faith journey, and thank you for sharing your faith journey with me. I appreciate it, and I appreciate you.

Alfonso: 46:38

It has been a pleasure, TJ. You know, we I I admire you and and respect you, and and thank you for this opportunity too to to share a a little bit of Alfonso to to the CP church.

T.J.: 46:51

That's right. And thank you for listening to today's podcast. Grab a friend and travel with us on our next journey down Cumberland Road.