In His last words before ascending into Heaven, our Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 FBC Weslaco follows Christ’s directive by: Evangelizing – lost people everywhere; Educating – all the people with the Word of God; Exalting – the Lord in prayer and congregational worship; Edifying – the people of God through fellowship and love; and Equipping – disciples to use their time, talents, and treasure in ministry. In carrying out our Lord’s assignment, FBC Weslaco and its staff must address the following special challenges and/or opportunities: Weslaco is located in the geographic center of an area with a population of approximately 1,000,000 people (in the US) and 1,500,000 (in Mexico) – with a seasonal influx of another 500,000 persons (“Winter Texans”). Most persons in Weslaco are “unchurched.” A majority of the individuals who claim religious affiliation are Catholic. Vast segments of our population are convinced they will go to heaven when they die solely because they believe that God exists, they do good deeds, and they feel they are “good persons.” Satan is waging war in Weslaco. Examples of his influence abound including an appalling incidence of crime, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, divorce, abortion, and homosexuality. Many cults actively worship and recruit members in our community. Many persons in Weslaco either only speak Spanish, or speak English only as a second language. An exceptionally large number of the FBC Weslaco church members are bilingual or multilingual. A large number of Winter Texans spend September through April in Weslaco. These persons effectively double our church family during these months. They have needs which must be met, and many are eager to serve Christ as part of our congregation. Many of these individuals will carry the message of Christ to their friends and family when they return to their permanent homes. Some of these people come from superior churches from which we can profit. Weslaco is located only a few miles north of Mexico. Many of the town’s citizens have family members and close friends who live in Mexico – relationships which “open doors” and lead to further helpful contacts. As a result, FBC Weslaco represents an unusually good portal for staging missions throughout Latin America. FBC Weslaco follows a very practical approach toward fulfilling Christ's calling. We follow only Him, only as directed through His Word, by doing as opposed to just observing. You can see the benefits of this by looking at some of our specific ministries which we describe in more detail here and here.