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“‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you a stranger and invite you in?’ ... The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:35-40

Over 900,000 international students will attend U.S. universities this year. They are strangers in a foreign land, experiencing separation from friends and family and the challenge of navigating a different culture and language. Fortunately, International Students Incorporated (ISI) is there to help them get settled at over 900 university campuses across the U.S.

MCC teams with the local ISI chapter serving the University of New Mexico. It is part of our strategy for accomplishing cross-cultural missions right here in our own community. Working with ISI we are able to expose international students to the gospel as well as disciple those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord. Many of these students return home to influential careers, as well as the opportunity to have influence for the gospel.

Welcoming the stranger takes many forms. At UNM alone, ISI has served hundreds of international students through:

• Airport pick-ups for 95 students
• Temporary homestays for 85 students
• Furniture for 480 students
• Friendship partners for 85 students
• Hiking and sightseeing trips for 77 students
• Serving 1,750 lunches at the Welcome Center
• Three home groups meeting weekly
• Forty students attending Bible studies
• Fifteen students being discipled

More important than the statistics is the lasting impact that the welcoming of international students is having. One student started going to church with her host family and after several months made a profession of faith and was baptized. She was discipled for several months before she returned home to Germany. She is now leading a Bible study with six high school age girls, teaching them the truths she learned during her time in the U.S. Another student was introduced to Jesus through his friend who was an ISI volunteer at the English Corner. The student and friend met together regularly and often went grocery shopping. After a short while, the student announced he wanted to follow Jesus. He is now being discipled before he returns home in December. Beyond these two, three other students made a decision to follow Jesus this year through the efforts of ISI.

With ISI we have a unique opportunity to do cross-cultural ministry right in Albuquerque. If you are looking for a new opportunity to serve, there are a lot of different ways to get involved with ISI. If you are interested in helping or want more information contact Vince Tidwell at (505) 413-2647.

Here at Mountain Christian, we affirm believer’s baptism, the obedient act of immersion, demonstrating the believer’s faith in and identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior. For those who have placed their faith in Christ, the Lord desires that we make a public confession of His work in us.

We’ve had several baptisms in the past few months, and what a blessing to see each person being obedient to the Lord’s calling through a public profession of their faith. Here's a part of what we have heard from some of them.

Jana Crum:  Initially, I was baptized as a young adult. But I only knew of the Lord; I didn't truly know Him yet. I didn't let Him into my heart to mold me into a Christian. I didn't let Him change my thinking. 

It wasn't until I started attending Bible studies here at Mountain Christian that I truly learned who He was, and I knew I wanted Him to lead me. I began to listen to the Holy Spirit when He was trying to teach me and guide my life.

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Celia Cortez:  Despite knowing Jesus as a loving Savior and friend who has always been there for me in dark times and blessed times, I looked back and realized that at various points of my life I often found my schedule too busy for Him. After an “awakening” I came to realize I could no longer come to Jesus only when convenient for me and ever since that day, I have sought Him earnestly daily. I want to proclaim my faith and commitment to Jesus through baptism. Thank goodness He is a loving God that never stopped pursuing me!

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Chuck Draper:  I want to share some great news with everyone. I've accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior!

What baptism means to me is an opportunity to say publicly that I'm making a covenant with Christ. That I'll strive daily to be more like Him and that with His help I'll work on a daily basis to overcome my sins in this world. 

I would like to thank everyone at Mountain Christian Church, past and present, as well as my Bible Study Fellowship brothers who have helped me to get to this point in my life. 

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Ruby Draper:  Jesus died for our sins, to take away all the sins of the world because He loves us. He rose again proving He was God and forgiving our sins. He gave those who believe the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us eternal life. 

I have learned so much since coming to Mountain Christian. I've been so blessed getting to know so many loving believers. I've learned so much about our Lord studying the Bible in small community groups, Bible Study Fellowship, and women's discipleship. I have experienced true joy with the Lord, studying and following His word. 

We love our family attending MCC VBS annually because our kids come home happy, rejuvenated and sharing their love for Jesus through what they’ve learned at camp. They love the songs and dance and come home asking us to find the songs to show us the dances they’ve learned.

Every year they come home excited about their camp leaders and how much fun they have with them and how special they are! Although we don’t attend MCC as our home church, we always feel welcome as if we are part of their family!

Our kids also rave about the water play days. We appreciate all that you do for our kiddos. Thank you!

- Jordan Teresa Ortiz

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I had the great privilege and responsibility of leading a group of kindergarteners around the Emerald Isles last week. The kids spent their time playing games, memorizing verses, singing songs about Jesus, and overall being in a safe, Christ-centered environment. What a high and holy privilege was ours to represent Christ to these children! 

Growing up at MCC, I took VBS for granted. Since I was hearing the same message week in and week out, I never learned anything from VBS. It was merely a fun summertime activity. I figured that every child shared my experience. Once I was old enough to volunteer, I found other things to fill my time with. After all, why should I spend my time and energy on something unproductive?

How wrong I was! Just because I was a poor student doesn't mean that Christ can't use creative costumes, strategic snacks, and silly songs to reach the children right here in Cedar Crest. Additionally, the kids donated money to help provide for the basic needs of some children in India - VBS was being used to reach children on the other side of the world!

No, VBS is not a waste of time and energy. VBS is not entertainment at the expense of the church. Rather, it is a means by which we can let the little children come to Jesus. Lord willing, I plan to prioritize Vacation Bible School in years to come. What I saw last week was people dedicating their time and energy for the praise of the glory of His name. I can't think of a better way for us to spend our time! 

- Sarah Robertson

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Thank you so much to everyone at Mountain Christian Church as my girls really enjoyed themselves and will not stop talking about all they learned. Everyone there had been so nice and welcoming and I just want to say thank you so much. It was greatly appreciated. 

These are my foster girls who we want to adopt, and we know that God has a plan for these beautiful little girls.  Thank you all!

- A Local Parent

On the 250^th Anniversary of Independence Day for the United States of America, July 4, 2026, we offer prayers to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; prayers of thanksgiving and petition.

“Count your blessings. Name them one by one.” And our blessings are many; primarily as believers, purchased by the blood of Christ, and secondarily as American citizens, living in a country of “the land of the free and the home of the brave”.

In the New Testament book of John, chapter 8, verse 36, we are told what real freedom is: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

So, we praise God for our redemption, true freedom in Christ. We praise our Lord for the privilege of being Americans, the most sought after country in the world. Here we have opportunity to work hard, to learn, to grow, to flourish. In his “no free lunch” speech, George Washington said “Life doesn’t give free lessons to anyone. So when I say life taught me, rest assured that I paid the price”. Yes, we do seem to learn the most in difficult circumstances.

One very special privilege and opportunity we have in this republic is to vote. As expressed in the Federalist Papers, voting is an act of simulated warfare. If men can’t vote to express their opinions, the situation can easily become physical warfare. Voting affords a “pressure relief valve” to keep men from killing each other.” (Witness the American Revolution)

George Washington’s prayer for America on June 8, 1783 reads as follows:

“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have the United States in His holy protection, that He would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation. Amen.”

It seems he was praying God’s will over America, for a “spirit of subordination and obedience to government (Romans 13:1-7), for brotherly love for one another (1 John 2:7-11), and for a disposition of justice, mercy and humility (Micah 6:8). It seems that Washington understood the destruction that would come from insubordination or the despising of authority (2 Peter 2:4-12).

Let’s petition for our country on this auspicious occasion that our freedoms (to worship, to speak our minds, and to have representation in government) would remain intact; and as Alexis de Tocqueville said in the early 1800s, “America is great because America is good, and if America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great”. Also, he said “a nation cannot remain strong when every man belonging to it is individually weak.” We need God’s strength to be able.

So, we pray for ourselves to be strong seekers of truth; for our state and country to be lovers of good, lovers of truth; for our educators, media and “influencers” to be truth-tellers; for us all by the power of the Holy Spirit, to do what the Lord requires of us – to act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God. Amen.