Desert Streams Ministries

Note: The update is available as a printable PDF here.

Dear Friends and Family,

Summer has arrived and with it, many exciting activities in ministry and opportunities to see family! We are so thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness and for each of you who stands with us in prayer and support.

I would like to share some updates on what has been happening in our ministry and family life over these past couple of months.

Local Church Ministry

At the end of May, we celebrated a special breakfast for the women of our church and their friends. Gabriel and Paloma, a wonderful young couple from Morelia, Michoacán, joined us for the weekend to minister. Paloma led a beautiful ministry time with the ladies that included creative activities such as Bible journaling and hat painting. We were blessed to have a large turnout, and many women opened their hearts to Christ and His Word during this time. Paloma did an excellent job sharing the Word of God and guiding the activities.

The following Sunday, Gabriel and Paloma were with us to preach to our congregation. It was truly a fruitful weekend, and our church family was greatly blessed by their ministry. Gabriel and Paloma have been part of our online Bible School for several years as students, and more recently, as course facilitators. They have done outstanding work, and we’re hoping to have them soon as Bible School teachers as well. Both are excellent, well-grounded teachers who share the Word boldly.

Online Bible School

June 16 marked the closing meeting of our spring semester with our online Bible School. Well over 200 students successfully completed their courses, many working toward either a degree or a certificate program. There’s been particular excitement about our new certificate programs: 1) Certificate of Basic Old Testament Studies and 2) Certificate in Fundamental Theology. We concluded our semester with a special Zoom meeting where Pastor Ofir Peña shared a beautiful word on discernment. The meeting was so well attended that Zoom warned me our space was almost full on our current plan—a first for us!

We are now working on recording new courses—one on the covenants, and soon, another on the Local Church with Mark Simpson. I’m also using this summer break to make several improvements to our online platform. With AI going mainstream, we need to take this into account as students write essays. I’m integrating changes that will allow them to use AI but simultaneously require them to think critically through their answers. We believe these adjustments will help students improve their writing while keeping them academically honest (not copying and pasting or generating answers with AI).

Our fall semester begins in August, and we’re hoping that at least 100 of our students will graduate with a certificate when the semester concludes. We’re also looking forward to having Mark Simpson with us in early September to minister to our church and record the course on the local church.

Family

We are eagerly anticipating a week with our son Daniel, his wife Elisa, and our granddaughter Ella. We’ll be meeting Ella for the first time at the end of July when they come to spend about a week with us. In August, we plan to visit my parents, and then in November, our son David Jeremiah will join us for Thanksgiving. It will be such a blessing to spend time with family.

Thanks to Our Supporters

We want to sincerely thank each of you who prays for us or supports our ministry financially. We believe we are truly making an impact both in our local town of Tulancingo as well as across the nation through the online school and the Advanced School of Ministry. We appreciate your prayers for the Lord’s provision and safety as we and our guests travel this summer.

With love,

David and Sara Lont with Anna

Note: You can download a PDF version of this post here.

Hello once again, and happy May!

As I am writing to you today, Anna is graduating from BSSM, Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Sara and Anna are in Redding, California, and I just watched Anna online, walking across the platform, receiving her diploma, and shaking hands with the leadership team. She has completed three years of Biblical and practical ministry training online. Sara and I are so “humbly grateful” for what the Lord has allowed her to do.

Anna actually started the program four years ago, right out of high school, but took a year off between the second and third years of study, because the third year wasn’t yet being offered online. But as soon as it opened up (in the fall of 2024), she enrolled again and has now successfully completed this wonderful training program.

For those who know nothing about it, Bethel’s program is similar, yet quite different, to a Bible school. The emphasis is more on the practical aspects of ministry training and cultivating revival. It starts with a strong emphasis on personal growth, both as an individual and discovering God and His Word. During the second year, the students continue to develop their relationship with the Lord, but even more emphasis is placed on practical ministry and deeper Bible teaching. Finally, the third year involves mentorship and practical involvement in ministry, much like an internship. Anna has been involved in leading small groups (connected with Bethel) online in various nations, from Europe to Colombia, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, and more. It has been a great experience for her. She even led an “online mission trip” to Canada in March!

We are so blessed to reap the fruit of this practical ministry experience. Anna has become a vital part of our church, taking leadership in several areas, including leading small groups, women’s ministry, youth activities, regularly leading worship and also teaching/preaching on certain occasions.

As many of you know, Anna also works for our online Bible School, doing course development, facilitating courses, and teaching. We celebrate Anna today! Congratulations!

Death and New Life

We have a bit of sad news to share with you. The entire pine forest around our area has been infected by a bark beetle which has destroyed a large percentage of the forest for many miles around our area. We lost a total of over 750 trees on our little piece of property, but the entire mountain is also affected. Because of the situation, the government encourages landowners to remove all infected trees, so there have been chainsaws working constantly for the last several months. We are thankful that we were able to sell most of the wood, but at the same time, we were very sad to see the trees go. Thankfully, we still have some nice large oak trees in some areas. In fact, many of those trees have begun to grow even more abundantly, now that they are out of the shade of all the pine trees.

We remember that the death of all those trees is an opportunity for new life and new growth! We look forward to planting new trees when the rainy season starts in a couple of months. We plan on planting hundreds of them.

I can see several symbolic things in this. First and foremost, the death and resurrection of Jesus is our opportunity for new life. We recently celebrated Good Friday and Easter, and the death of Jesus is our opportunity to live with our Father forever!

Second, we are in a new season. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but these last few years (since COVID), we have been in a time of transition. Transition with our church (moving to a new space), transition with the Advanced School of Ministry (different team members leaving, others joining, etc.). Our church remains and it continues to prosper. The Advanced School of Ministry continues forward in vision. However, there has been a certain “shift” in the spiritual atmosphere. Things are going to be different from now on, but this isn’t bad, it isn’t the end. Rather, it’s a new beginning, an opportunity for new life. Just as certain trees need to be pruned to produce more fruit, in a similar manner, we see the hand of the Lord pruning certain things in our lives and in the ministries we are part of. We are confident that this pruning process will have the effect of bringing in even more fruit for the Kingdom of God!

Ministry Update

Now that I’ve shared all this with you, I also want to let you know briefly about each aspect of ministry that we are currently involved in.

Our Local Church: Our congregation is doing well. Ever since that pandemic, we’ve taken on a different form and do things differently than we used to, but we see the hand of God on the congregation. People are growing, some are getting saved, discipled and planted as true disciples of Christ.

Advanced School of Ministry: As I shared in our last newsletter, we had an excellent conference in January in Cuernavaca with great speakers and a good turnout, both in person and online. Since January, we have been doing several online planning meetings with our team, making plans for the next steps and the next conferences.

Online Bible School: We currently have the largest number of students in the history of our online school, with over 240 enrolled. This in part is due to the fact that we offered a couple of new Diploma options this semester. Sara, Anna and I are all involved in facilitating classes. Anna manages two sizable groups, and both Sara and I also oversee quite a number of participants in our classes. There are another 7 course facilitators working on this as well. It is a lot of work, but we know that what each of us sows into the lives of our students will reap eternal reward in the Kingdom of Heaven. Also, we are working on a couple of new courses we will soon be recording and offering, one on the Biblical Covenants and another on the Local Church.

Other News

Sara continues to be very active in the community school, which is basically a two-room elementary schoolhouse for the children in our community. She spends almost every Monday morning there teaching English, and the Lord has given her favor with the teachers and many of the parents. It has allowed her to be “light” and “salt” in our community.

Thank you!

We are so very grateful to every one of you who prays for us and gives to make what we do a reality. Thank you so much for being a part of our team!

In Christ,

David and Sara Lont with Anna

Note: This update is also available as a printable PDF: Download

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

As we move into spring, we are filled with gratitude for God’s faithfulness and for all of you who continue to support us through prayer and giving. We have much to share about what the Lord is doing here in Mexico!

Bible School Growth

We are excited to announce that our new semester began on February 12 with almost 250 students – our largest enrollment yet! This growth is both a blessing and a challenge, but God has provided a wonderful team of about 10 people who help facilitate the courses. We’re especially thankful for their dedication and service.

This semester brings two exciting new diploma options: a Diploma in Fundamental Theology and a Diploma in Basic Old Testament Studies. These programs are available to all our online students as well as those who attended the Advanced School of Ministry seminar, and is partially the reason for higher student enrollment. Students who complete these programs will receive their diplomas during a special graduation ceremony at the Advanced School of Ministry seminar in January 2026.

Our course offerings continue to expand each year, and we also continue to offer our “standard” classes in Old and New Testament studies, Homiletics, The Life of Christ, and many more. It’s amazing to see how the Lord is using this school to equip believers across Mexico and other countries for ministry in their local churches.

Advanced School of Ministry Conference

The annual Advanced School of Ministry seminar was held January 27-30 in Cuernavaca, with the theme “Foundations for the Future.” We were blessed to have Pastor Mark and DD Bryan, from Idaho, as our guest speakers. Their messages richly complemented our theme of “Foundations for the Future”, building strong Biblical foundations for the church, even as our world experiences rapid change. We were reminded that while methods may change, the foundation of God’s truth must remain constant.

Sara presented a powerful session called “Living Stones,” helping pastors and leaders identify and develop people in their local churches who can assist in various ministry areas. Anna did an excellent job interpreting for DD, who shared an impactful message focusing on Mary and Martha’s story. Anna also helped with online hosting, while I handled most of the seminar coordination and interpreted for Pastor Mark.

We’re thankful for the strong attendance, with over 600 people participating in person and another 130 joining online. The presence of the Lord was evident throughout the conference, and many pastors left encouraged and equipped for their ministries.

Local Church Update

The weekend before the seminar, we were blessed to have Mark and DD Bryan visit our church in Tulancingo. DD ministered at a special ladies’ breakfast on Saturday, and we had valuable time with both of them and our local leaders that evening. On Sunday morning, Pastor Mark shared a powerful message on the power of unity with our congregation.

Our church continues to progress, with several new families joining us. Both Sara and Anna are actively involved in various aspects of ministry, and we’re seeing the Lord work in many lives.

Visit to “La Hermosa” in Mexico City

Sara and I recently had the privilege of visiting “La Hermosa” church in Mexico City for their 86th anniversary celebration. This church is pastored by one of our Bible School students, and it was encouraging to see many young people actively participating in worship with tambourines, flags, and dance. I shared a message on renewal, focusing on Noah’s story, and afterward, we all enjoyed traditional “mole” together. It was a beautiful picture of the vitality of the Mexican church, even as several generations of believers joined together in unity!

Prayer Requests

Please join us in prayer for:

1. Increased finances for our Bible School as we continue to grow
2. Leaders and leadership development for our local church
3. Health and safety as we minister

Thanks again!

Once again, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who support us through prayer and giving. Your partnership makes it possible for us to continue training leaders and building up the Body of Christ here in Mexico.

With love,

David and Sara Lont
with Anna

Note: A printable PDF version of this newsletter is available here.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Happy New Year to all of you! May the Lord bless and prosper you as we begin 2025. Here’s a little update from us.

Church Christmas Celebration

In December, we had a simple Christmas celebration with our local church in Tulancingo, remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. We worshiped and sang together, and then our team shared about Christ as the One who divides history. The birth of Jesus has divided the calendar used by most of the world today into B.C. and A.D. Jesus divided the Bible, as he came to bring the Old Testament to fulfillment and usher in the era of the New Testament. But perhaps the most important fact of all is that on the individual level, Jesus comes to divide our lives into two sections: “before Christ” and “after salvation”. Many in our congregation weren’t born into Christian families, but rather came to know Christ later in life. Just as the early Christians, we can see a marked difference in the life experiences before becoming disciples of Jesus and after.

After the service, we had a meal together and spent some time doing Christmas crafts and playing games. Fellowship was a big part of the lives of the first Christians in the book of Acts, and we believe it continues to play a crucial role in the local church today.

Family Time

The last couple of weeks of December were mostly for family time. Our son, David Jeremiah, came to visit us, as he has done each Christmas since he moved away to school. It’s been almost eight years already!

Also, Sara and I are now officially grandparents! Ella Lynn was born to Daniel and Elisa (in Vancouver, Washington) on November 20, 2024. We are so thankful for a healthy baby girl!

Bible School

We finished our fall semester in our Bible School at the beginning of the month of December. What a joy to see so many students receive the life-giving Word of God with a deeper understanding! Several commented on how they had begun to understand certain aspects of the Bible for the first time in their lives. Claudia, a sister who attends our church and recently started taking classes in the school, commented on how the Lord had used the course to help her understand many thing in the Old Testament for the first time, even after many years of being a Christian.

We have several students who are participating in the degree program with the Advanced School of Ministry and are making good progress toward their graduation, which is scheduled for January 2026. We plan on offering several different tracks or programs within our academic program and continue to work on several of the options.

Two new courses were available this past semester: Personal Prayer and Bible Study, and Evangelism. Both of these courses were very well received. We had especially great feedback on the course about prayer and Bible study. Anna taught this course and made it both very practical and personal. She really challenged the students to dive deeper into their relationship with God. There were many positive comments, confirming the spiritual growth this brought to our students.

We concluded with a special ministry time on Zoom with Mark Simpson. Thanks, Pastor Mark, for sharing with us about how to become useful in ministry. Your message was a true inspiration for all of us!

Advanced School of Ministry

In October, I began to rewrite the online registration system for the Advanced School of Ministry. I wrote the original software back in 2013 and then updated it in 2015. But another 9 years have gone by, so I decided it was time to do an entire rewrite. It now handles student registration by SMS and Email, automatic processing of payments by bank transfer, and provides a basic platform for transmitting the seminar live.

After this programming work, the teaching material started coming in, so I started on the seminar notebook in the month of November. This year’s student version is just under 150 pages, and I was finally able to send it for publishing on January 3, almost 2 full months after beginning this project. Although publishing a book each year is a lot of work and a big expense, it has long stood as one of the key goals of our annual conference. We want to put good teaching material into the hands of key pastors and leaders so that they can use it in their own local congregations.

Now, we are looking forward to the conference at the end of the month. There is still much work to do, but it will be a great joy to see the hundreds of pastors and leaders who gather each year in Cuernavaca for the seminar. We truly believe that the Advanced School of Ministry serves the purpose of building up pastors and leaders, who, in turn, build up local churches all over Mexico and beyond.

Thanks again for everything!

Once again, we are very thankful to those who pray for us and support us financially. Please continue to pray for the conference (January 27-30, 2025), for our church in Tulancingo, for our family, and for finances to expand the Bible School.

With love,

David and Sara Lont
with Anna

Note: A printable PDF version of this newsletter is available here.

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanksgiving month has arrived and there are so many things to be thankful for! We are thankful for each and every one of you who stands behind us, lifts us up in prayer and supports us. Thank you so much!

I would like to give you a brief update on us and our ministry activities over the past few months.

Bible School

We started our Bible School semester in August with around 150 students from all across Mexico. In September, the students did their first partial exams. Most of them are doing very well in their studies. Our course facilitators are doing a great job of keeping in touch with them, answering their questions, grading their assignments and keeping them on track to finish the semester well.

We have many pastors and local church leaders involved taking classes. This makes the whole experience so worthwhile, because many of them take the material they are receiving and then teach it to their own leaders and local churches. We encourage them to freely give of everything they receive. It is so wonderful to see many of our students flourish in life and ministry, and then use the tools they receive to train others.

We have also heard good reports from members of our local congregation who are taking courses in the Bible School. Just last Saturday, I heard a comment from a young woman who has been so encouraged by the classes. Then, on Sunday, another person commented on how much the course is helping her to understand the Bible.

We believe that God has ordained this Bible School to make a difference here in Mexico and in other countries of Latin America. Please continue to pray with us for the Lord’s provision to grow the school. Please especially pray for the finances to invest in new courses and the connections with others of a like-minded vision. Together we can train thousands of pastors and leaders and change the destiny of families, communities, and nations!

Local Church

We have been pleased to see our local church growing again in terms of Sunday attendance. As you may know, we meet outside in a tent on our church’s property. This has been a wonderful experience for the most part, but we have had some Sundays with rain, wind, and temperatures in the 40’s. It can be a bit chilly out there! However, even on those Sundays, there is always a good group of people who come. When the weather is sunny and warm, attendance tends to be better, of course, but on average, we are seeing numeric growth again. We recently purchased material to cover a couple of the sides of the tent, which should help reduce the effects of the wind and rain coming in.

Sara has been leading the women in monthly meetings over the last year, and this has been a blessing to many of them. During these last months, they have been focusing on some of the basics – Bible reading and memorization, prayer, fellowship, and growing in their personal relationship with the Lord.

My Trip to Michigan and Canada

During the first couple of weeks of October, I went to Michigan to see my parents. It had been two years since I had last been up there, and I also wanted to visit the local church I grew up in, Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, in Grandville. I had the privilege of attending the 50th anniversary celebration of the church, and then, the following Sunday, I was invited to preach to the congregation. I shared a message on Jehdeiah, an obscure Biblical character known as “The Keeper of the Donkeys”. I hope many will remember the message, focused on the importance of being a servant for the King, and the value of humble service.

I also had the opportunity to visit my pastor and spiritual mentor, Bill Brown, with his wife, Barbara, near Toronto, Ontario. I hadn’t personally seen Bill since before the pandemic, although we often meet on FaceTime and Zoom. It was so nice to be able to spend several hours with Bill and Barbara! I took my parents to meet them, and we had a great dinner together on a Wednesday night. The following morning, I went to the apartment complex where Bill and Barbara live to meet with Bill again, and some of their neighbors at a coffee time they have each morning. Thanks so much, Bill and Barbara, for your fine hospitality!

Looking Forward

During the next couple of months, my focus will be on the Advanced School of Ministry conference. I will soon be dedicating much time to the creation of the conference workbook, implementing online registration for the event, and preparing all the other details for the conference, which will be held at the end of January. This conference usually attracts 700-1000 pastors and leaders from all over Mexico and God has used it to inspire, train and edify thousands of them in their ministries.

Prayer requests

• Please pray for the Advanced School of Ministry conference.
• We will be finishing our fall Bible School semester in December. Please pray that our students will finish strong!
• About a week ago I (David) slipped in the mud on the ground outside the house, fell, and dislocated my shoulder. I am doing well, but please pray for a full recovery.
• Please pray for the Lord’s provision and protection, both for us, and for the ministries we are involved in.

Thanks!

With love,

David and Sara Lont with Anna