Dear Friends & Prayer Partners -

I just realized that it has been since September since we sent out our last e-newsletter. While I knew it had been a while, it didn't realize it had been that long a while. So, for all of you we haven't talked to, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

We have been so busy since the last newsletter, that I almost don't know where to start. God has been increasing our ministry here in an incredible way, especially in the last quarter of 2004.

-- IN THIS ISSUE --

• TRIP TO VILLAHERMOSA, TABASCO, MEXICO

• MORE ON SPIRITUAL ROOTS

• PASTORS AND MINISTERS CONVENTION

• NEW SPIRITUAL CHILDREN

• INCREASE AND MORE INCREASE

• UPCOMING TRIP

• CHRISTMAS IN THE DUMP

• MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS

-- TRIP TO VILLAHERMOSA, TABASCO, MEXICO --

We completed our second trip to Tabasco in November and the first part of December. Once again, God was opening doors faster than we could walk through them. During the three weeks we were there, we ministered just about every day, and as many as three times on Sunday!

God has given us long-term contact with a number of pastors in the city, some of whom have churches of over 1,000 members. People are hungry for the Word of God, open to the Holy Spirit moving among them, and have received us with gladness.

While there, we visited "La Venta" one of the major Olmeca archeological sites in Mexico. The Olmecas are the oldest known inhabitants of what is known as Mesoamerica (the ancient peoples of Latin America, mostly centered in Mexico). While not as well preserved as some of the Mayan sites we've visited (probably because it is 3,000 years old), because of its age it is in some ways even more important.

There is a man-made hill, over 100 feet tall, in the center of La Venta, which was originally constructed to be a temple. At the base, on one side, there are a number of large stone altars, used for sacrifices. When we climbed to the top, we encountered a modern day stone survey marker on a concrete base. The base showed signs of carbonization, as if someone had burnt offerings there in modern times.

Not only did we find signs of offerings at the top of the temple mount. But, we also encountered a place where someone had recently burnt incense on another altar. The ashes were blown away, but the carbon was fresh enough that you could pick it up on your finger.

It appears that the Olmeca people practiced child sacrifice. On several of their stone altars (which each weigh a couple of tons) there is a figure carved who is coming out of a cave. This is quite probably a representation of their god of death. In some cases, this person has a child in its arms.

We believe that this city of Villahermosa is one of the strategic cities of Mexico. Not only is it the capital of the state of Tabasco, but it is the closest large city to the Olmeca region. It is also one of the major modern-day Mexican cities that is in the ancient Mayan area. Because of this, we believe that God will have us visiting Villahermosa many more times.

-- MORE ON SPIRITUAL ROOTS --

While coming back from the trip to Tabasco, we had the opportunity to stop at "El Tajin," another ancient archeological site in the state of Veracruz. This site is attributed to an indigenous group called the Totonacas, whom we haven't encountered before, but who also built the largest city in ancient Mexico.

This site was obviously a ceremonial center, although there was also a city around it. Typically, the only parts of these sites that remain are temples, and palaces, the only things constructed of stone. The temple pyramids differ in various ways from those that we've seen of the Mayans. Of all the archeological sites in Mexico, this is the only one in which the temples have niches built into the sides of them. One temple, known as the "Temple of the Niches" for some strange reason, has 365 of these niches built into its sides.

Each of these niches contains the remains of a body, curled up in a fetal position. There are no offerings with the bodies, as would be done for royalty. Nor are there enough niches to account for the entire population of the city. The most likely explanation is that these were sacrifices made to dedicate these temples, a practice that was done by both the Mayans, and the Aztecas.

It appears that, just like the Olmecas, the people of El Tajin sacrifices children. Some of the niches contain bodies that are obviously children.

This site is still used today for "cultural celebrations." That's another way of saying religious celebrations that are disguised as a remembrance of history. These cultural celebrations are done by indigenous priests, following the pattern passed down throughout their generations. By doing so, they are giving continued right and power to the ancient "gods" (otherwise knows as principalities) to continue operating in their area.

There was a room in the visitor's center there which was claimed to be a "healing room" for women. In it were healing herbs, a candle, and ceramic representations of hearts suspended from the ceiling. This probably has a connection with the ancient religion of the people of El Tajin, but it seemed very strongly New Age to me.

-- PASTORS AND MINISTERS CONVENTION --

Last week we had our first every pastors and ministers convention. It was held in one of the churches under our covering in Rio Bravo, Mexico (a town close to Reynosa). This is something that has been in our hearts to do for a while, as a means of ministering to the pastors under our covering.

Although there weren't many pastors, other than those under our covering, who came to be ministered to, the convention was a great success. Our spiritual covering, Vernon Holloway, came from Kansas to minister. The Holy Spirit moved mightily, the pastors received, and all were blessed. God brought forth a number of prophet words for various pastors, and even one prophetic song.

We are planning to make this an annual event, and have already scheduled next year's convention for the second week of January, 2006.

-- NEW SPIRITUAL CHILDREN --

While in Villahermosa, one of the pastors came to us and asked to come under our covering. His name is Hector Cruz, and he pastors the church "Puerta del Cielo." Hector is also the spiritual covering for eight missions he has planted in that area. Hector had been needing a spiritual covering, and praying for God's direction. God gave him three names, one of which was "Ricardo Murphy." The other two names that God had given him were large ministries in Central America, who when he tried to contact them, never responded. So, he came to us.

God has been moving powerfully in Hector's church. In the last two months, they completed building a 2nd floor balcony for the sanctuary. In the same time period, the church has grown to the point where that new space is full.

During the convention, a pastor from Orizaba, Vericruz came to be with us. This pastor, Abel Larrinaga, had been under the spiritual covering of Enrique Galan, the pastor under our covering who had died last spring. Before dying, Enrique had spoken to Abel about coming under our covering, obviously setting things in order before his death.

Unfortunately, we hadn't had a chance to meet Abel before this convention, but knowing about his situation, we invited him to come. He was thrilled with the opportunity, and was greatly refreshed throughout the week of the convention. On the last day, he asked for the opportunity to talk to us, and asked to come under our covering.

The Holy Spirit had already spoken to me about him, so I was quickly able to accept him, even though we didn't know each other well. That's something that the Lord has been doing in each and every one of these cases. Before the pastor speaks to us, the Holy Spirit does. In this way, we have a confirmation that it is the will of the Father.

Please pray for Hector and Abel and their ministries. They need God to continue to work in them and through them. They also need his miraculous provision for the work that they are doing.

-- INCREASE AND MORE INCREASE --

The year 2004 was a year of increase for us. In every direction we've looked, God has been increasing our ministry. Of the pastors who are officially under our covering now, only one was under our covering at the beginning of the year. We are seeing an increase of the apostolic anointing and work that the Lord is having us do.

We have also had a great increase in the number of pastors we are ministering to on a monthly basis. As of December, we are passing out, or mailing 270 copies of the studies that we right each month. That's 270 Hispanic pastors who are receiving from us every month!

In addition, our finances have increased through 2004. This increase has been coming through the Mexican church. While most missionaries depend upon churches up north to support them, God is providing for us in a unique way. We only have two churches up north who support us on a monthly basis, one who has been supporting us for a number of years, and another that started in 2004. But, we have four Mexican churches who support us on a regular basis. While most missionaries go north to raise funds, God has been blessing us financially through our trips to the southern part of Mexico.

Thank you to those of you "up north" who have been supporting us, and thanks to God for those "down south" who are.

-- UPCOMING TRIP --

We'll be leaving to go south again in the middle of February. One of the pastors in Macuspana, Tabasco has asked us to come and conduct two weeks of pastors and ministers conferences. The first week will be in Campeche, on the Yucatan peninsula. The second week will be at his church in Macuspana.

This pastor has over 70 churches under his covering, he is hoping and believing that all the pastors will be able to make it to one, or the other of these two meetings.

This will be our first opportunity to minister on the Yucatan peninsula. We will be close to some other important Mayan archeological sites, and of course plan to take the opportunity to visit them, continuing our study on the spiritual roots of Mexico.

Please pray for the pastors who will be coming to these conferences, that God provide to get them there, and that their hearts are open to receive. Please pray for us that the Holy Spirit give us a fresh word to fill them, guide them, and help them along the way.

-- CHRISTMAS IN THE DUMP --

We had a very special opportunity to share Christmas in a very special way this holiday season. Benjamin Vivas, one of the pastors under our covering has been ministering on a monthly basis to the people living in one of the dumps (there are 12) in Reynosa. He invited us to go with him and his church the day after Christmas and be a blessing to the people living there.

We were able to take food, clothes, toys, candy, and a message of Jesus' love to the people there. More than 70 families received food and clothing, and about 200 children received toys, probably the only toys they received for Christmas.

In addition, we were able to help send 400 toys to the indigenous children in the mountains of Chiapas, in southern Mexico. This is the area where the Christians have been persecuted, and some pastors have been killed. One of our Mexican pastor friends helps the churches there, and brings them whatever he can. This year, in addition to other things, he was able to take 400 toys.

We are preparing a power point presentation on CD of Christmas in the Dump. If you would like a copy when we have it finished, please let us know. We will need your snail mail address, as I don't know how to fit a CD in the phone lines.

Pray and ask the Lord if He would have you be a part of this for Christmas 2005.

-- MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS --

We are still praying and believing the Lord for our ministry headquarters. The motorhome seems to keep getting smaller and smaller as the ministry (and the kids) are growing bigger and bigger. I would say that we're desperate for God's provision in this area, but I don't believe in being desperate.

The Lord has been giving us a plan for this center, which I just drew up. We are believing God for His provision to buy the land and start the construction of this ministry center this year. By faith, we expect to be living on site within a few months, as the work continues.

Well, as you can see, there's a lot going on. Please forgive us for not writing sooner, but it seems like there are never enough hours in the day to do all that we have to do. Please keep us in your prayers, that God accomplishes His will in and through us.

Blessings in Jesus,

Rev. Rich Murphy