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Dennis and Lucy Smith, founders
of Manos de Dios, have been married twenty-five years and have two
adult children.
Background, Dennis Smith
I am from a southern family, and was reared in the inner city of
Detroit Michigan. I was baptized at the age of 13 but in my mid
teens fell away from the Lord. Eight years as a Detroit Police Officer
only pushed me further away from Jesus.
I moved to Tucson in the late 70's and was still walking far from
Jesus. In the mid 1980's I met Lucy, got married and returned to
the Lord with Lucy's encouragment. As we fell more in love with
Jesus we felt a strong calling to be His hands and feet in areas
where there is much poverty spiritually and physically.
We spent two years balancing the running of our business and doing
mission work. We then sold our businnes and committed our lives
to serving the Lord full time. From 2006 to 2010 we served in Sonora,
Mexico. In 2011 the Holy Spirit called us to change direction a
little and to focus on reaching out to His children and adults in
Arizona and on the Indian reservations.
With the help of the Holy Spirit I will contine to serve Jesus
faithfully and go in any direction I am sent without complaint.
I know there will be challenges, but none that Jesus and I can't
overcome.
Background, Lucy Smith
I was raised in a wonderful Christian family in Tucson, Arizona.
My family has always loved Mexico and I remember traveling in Mexico
with my grandfather and parents when I was a young girl. I gave
my life to Jesus in Jr. High School. I married at age 20 and had
one daughter, Megan, in 1983. While going through an ugly divorce,
I appreciated my parent's unconditional love and acceptance. They
have always been a model of walking in faith with the Lord.
Dennis and I met when I was teaching his IBM aerobics class. We
fell in love and because he loved God and Megan...we were married
in 1986. IBM moved us around the country and we finally landed in
Prescott, AZ and started our own business there. After a few years,
my mom and dad needed help as my mom's health was declining and
we moved home to Tucson. After searching for many years for a church
home, we found Pantano Christian Church. I re-dedicated my life
to total service to my Lord and was baptized by immersion at Pantano
Church September 27, 2003. We found our calling in mission work
in Mexico and were mentored by those in Pantano Church that had
hearts for the mission field.
We began serving in full time ministry in Sonora, Mexico. I love
the people of Mexico. I love their language and find them to be
very beautiful people. I count my friends in Sonora, Mexico as some
of my closest sisters and brothers in Christ. It is a difficult
time to live in Mexico. The poverty and violence add to the oppression
of the government, making it very challenging to survive and thrive.
Jesus is the hope that all need and is the answer that so many are
looking for in Mexico (and around the world!).
In 2011 Dennis and I felt the Lord leading us to reach out to people
in our own country and state. We were led to make contacts on the
Apache and Navajo Indian Reservations of northern Arizona. We are
using what we have learned from our work in Mexico to reach The
First Americans with Jesus' love and Good News.
“The best thing we can offer the poor is their identity in
Christ.” Manos de Dios is living this out by building relationships,
encouraging, and praying with and for the precious people of Mexico
and the Indian Reservations. Prayer is becoming a bigger and bigger
part of our ministry. As things get more difficult, we turn more
and more to God. He is the only Light, the only Hope. Another of
my favorite quotes is “Prayer is not what we do before the
work, it is the work” (Rhonda Haughey, author of Desperate
for His Presence).
As a couple ...
We are a great example of “opposites attract”. God
is showing us how to use the very different gifts and talents we
have to serve Him and to work in unity! Dennis has the gifts of
giving, service and hospitably. He is very compassionate and great
with children. He also has the gift of teaching. In the past there
has been a lot of interest in building projects in Mexico with teams
from the USA. Dennis loved working with these teams as they built
and provided shelter for needy families. With the increased fear
of the violence in Mexico and the downturn economically in the USA,
the opportunity to have teams come down to Mexico has all but dissolved.
Dennis has sought God for His leading and is growing his gift of
teaching by preparing messages for the men’s rehab center.
He continues to love on the children and provide much needed relief
items to the prison, churches and the men’s and women’s
rehab centers. He is now using his gifst of service and giving at
the American Indian Christian Mission in Show Low, AZ.
Lucy has the gift of encouragement and also is a teacher. She has
been growing her gift of intercession and spends much time praying
with and for many in Mexico and on the Indian Rervations. She teaches
and encourages women and children and continues to work on becoming
fluent in Spanish.
Manos de Dios is a about “Transformation, God’s Way!”
We are joining with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Mexico
and on the Indian Reservations praying this prayer of 2 Chronicles
7:14 “if my people, who are called
by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and
turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
So, what do we do?
Pray…with and for the people. This
includes prayer walking, prayer gatherings, and joining with praying
churches.
Serve…build/repair homes, mission
schools and churches; provide relief items (blankets, food, medical
supplies); help in community projects
Teach/Disciple…share the love of
Jesus with all we are in relationship with; teach what we have learned
and experienced about God and His way of living in group and individual
settings.
Encourage pastors…with friendship,
sharing of resources, prayer, vision casting
Bring conferences…for training, encouraging
of pastors, church leaders, individuals on topics including blessings,
marriage, finances.
Manos de Dios missions includes, but is not limited to, working
with and through local pastors and being personally involved with
the people in the community to identify where assistance is needed.
We evaluate the request/needs and if satisfying those needs will
not enable the recipients, we rely on God to help us accomplish
the tasks He has sat in front of us. Some of the projects we are
and have been involved in are;
• Providing blankets for prisoners and people in the community.
• Providing vehicles for pastors and ministries; (including
a church bus!)
• Building houses for needy families and pastors.
• Assist with evangelical outreach programs and Vacation Bible
Schools.
• Undergird Prison Ministry. Sponsoring a yearly Christmas
Posada, and provide clothing and shoes as needed, and medical assistance.
• Provide Bibles and musical instruments for churches and
rehabilitation centers.
• Providing office equipment and computers for church offices
and the Men’s and Women’s Rehabilitation Centers.
Manos de Dios is constantly seeking God for HIS VISION. Please
join us in praying for God’s direction.
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