birthday: October 21st

shaljc1@aol.com

011-52-899-926-8363

Mexico is a neighboring country with the United States. The primary language of Mexico is Spanish. The country is 95% Catholic, with some Baptists and Methodists, many Mormans, Jehovah's Witness and Trinitarian Pentecostals. 85% of the country is in poverty, while a small population is very rich and a growing middle class because of the many factories brought in the the United States and other foreign countries.

Our main church in Reynosa averages 80 to 100 in attendance with 300 or more for special occasions. There are missions in the cities of Reynosa (one million people), Rio Bravo (400,000 people), and Mante.

After years of renting buildings, the Lord gave us a two-story building in Reynosa in a very poor part of the city. Here in the church and in other missions we have had complete freedom to worship as we see fit. One new goal is to begin to teach and preach at radio stations throughout the country of Mexico.

The daughter of two ministers of the gospel, Sister Shirley Hickman grew up in an atmosphere of starting and pastoring churches. As an adult she received her ministerial license with the United Pentecostal Church. She assisted with starting several churches in the Houston area and later pastored in Rockport, Texas. Through the years she felt a burden for Mexico and visited many times, preaching and singing in the streets. In 1994, she went to language school and then began her work in Mexico. In 1998, she met the ALJC Foreign Missions Board and was appointed to Mexico.

She says, "I have a burden for the people of Mexico and I am so thankful for all the faithful brothers and sisters in the U.S. who have lended a hand to help save the lost country of Mexico. May the Lord bless you for your faithfulness."