Have A Heart, Mission, TX (2026)

03/02/2026

Raising the Roof Again
Feeding Center Gets a Makeover
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The first thing you would have noticed was the sound—the clang of metal, the crunch of old boards, the whirring buzz of saws slicing through yesterday’s wear and tear. It was the soundtrack of renewal.

For more than thirty years, our feeding centers in Mexico have been lifelines of love, rescuing hungry little ones who line up with bright eyes and big appetites.

But even lifelines face storms.

When fierce winds ripped away the worn‑out roof at one of our centers—tossing about rusty metal sheets like mere sheets of paper—we faced a choice: pause the meals or press through the mess. And by God’s grace and your quick response, we pressed on.

We put the word out and oh, how you responded! Within just a few hours, not days, all the funding to complete the repair project had come in!

With money in hand, we were able to secure the materials and crew, and they quickly arrived on the scene.

Picture this: iron rafters rising like ribs of a giant, strong enough to shoulder tomorrow’s storms. Heavy-duty metal roofing being placed like armor, protecting a house of hope. The scent of sawdust mingling with the aroma of warm tortillas and refried beans. Children laughing beneath ladders. Volunteers passing plates while workers passed tools. A feeding center still feeding—because hunger doesn’t wait for construction crews.

It felt like living inside Nehemiah’s story, rebuilding with one hand while serving with the other. The joy of restoring Comedor ABCD (ABCD Feeding Center) echoed in every hammer strike.

The impact of our feeding centers cannot be overstated. Children from all over this city are drawn to a place of caring and love, where they are ministered to in spirit, soul, mind and body. We’ve heard a multitude of testimonies of how lives have been forever changed simply because we serve hot meals to needy children. And having friends like you to help in time of need means the world to us and the feeding program.

Yes, the challenges were real. But so were the triumphs. Every new rafter whispered, “God still provides.” Every secured sheet of roofing shouted, “Hope still holds.”

And now, beneath a roof reborn, the children continue to eat—safe, sheltered, smiling—proof that obstacles may detour us, but they cannot stop us.

To God be the glory!

02/03/2026

Please Help Us Replace the Roof on One of Our Feeding Centers

For many years Spirit and Truth Ministries has been a lifeline of hope in Mexico, serving nutritious meals to children who need them most. Our feeding centers are more than just a building -- they are a place of laughter, love and spiritual nourishment. But today, one of our busiest centers is in urgent need of repair.

As you can see in the pics, recent storms and years of wear have left the roof severely damaged. Corrugated metal sheets were peeled away and deteriorated wooden beams crumpled, threatening the safety of workers and the children we serve. We must get this repaired as quickly as possible!

The cost of the repair is $2,500. If just 25 people would give $100, or if 50 people would give $50, we will reach our goal. Your gift—large or small—will make a vital difference in the lives of children who rely on this ministry.

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 19:17: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.” Your generosity today is not only an investment in physical shelter—it’s an act of spiritual kindness that moves the heart and hand of God.

Please consider partnering with us to rebuild the roof of this bustling feeding center. Together, we can restore this vital facility and continue to serve meals seasoned with love, dignity, and hope.

UPDATE: Several have already responded generously to this need and we are well on our way to reaching the amount needed to complete the project! Contact us today and learn how you can be a part of putting a new roof back on this important feeding center.

Here are the many options that you can use to get your gift to us:

1) You can send your gift using a payment processor app on your smartphone. | Zelle: 956.802.7160 | Venmo: | Cash App: $STMMexico | PayPal: [email protected].

2) You can give online by going to paypal.com and donating from your checking account to [email protected].

3) You can give online using your debit or credit card at
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7CBWRP4QTQTFW

4) You can mail a check or money order to:

STM
PO Box 2635
Mission, TX 78573

From our hearts to yours, thank you for standing with Spirit and Truth Ministries. May the Lord bless you!
______________________________________
It's all about people, people helping people, working together, changing lives, seeing the world through Jesus' eyes.

12/08/2025

_____________________________
STM Shoebox Toy Drive in Full Swing
Annual Christmas distribution blesses needy children and families
_____________________________
Picture this: callused, curious, little hands curled around a gift box, eyes wide with excitement, eager to see what’s inside. Now that’s what it’s really all about: bringing smiles and Christmas cheer to little ones!

It’s hard to believe that we’ve threaded more than four decades into this ministry of collecting and distributing thousands of toys and gifts for needy children and families south of the border. It goes without saying that it is our Christmas tradition!

So, once again STM launches into this season of gathering gifts with great anticipation. What impact will this year’s demonstration of the love of Christ bring? We can’t wait to find out! In the past we have seen entire families come to Christ through this amazing outreach.

As we work our way through this rewarding event each year, there’s one thing we keep in mind: we never know whose life we’re touching.

Recently Donna and I met a young man and through the course of the conversation, he learned about our annual toy drive. In amazement, he shared how that he was once a poor little boy deep in the heart of Mexico with no hope, no future. He shared about some missionaries coming by and giving him and his siblings some toys at Christmas. It changed his life forever. Through the outpouring of love and kindness he and his entire family came to know the Lord and in the process, he developed a love for music. Later, he was able to obtain legal citizenship in the U.S. and today he is the worship leader at one of the largest churches in Dallas.

This is just one of the many stories we could tell about the incredible impact a simple shoebox gift makes.

Did you know that for each $20 donation you can provide a shoebox gift, candy and a traditional tamale Christmas dinner for a child? Or perhaps you would like to give toward the ladies handbag project, or to one of our sponsored families.

There are many ways that you can participate: by sending a check, money order, Bill Pay through your bank, or by scanning one of the QR codes provided in the pictures here.

If you’ve given before, you know the heartwarming feeling. If this is your first time, you too can start a Christmas tradition. Be a world changer this year; join our efforts and transform some curious, little lives!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

09/03/2025

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The Denton Diary
Fall 2025
__________________

When it Rains, . . .
STM staff has endured great hardship but God was there through it all

To say the year 2025 has been an eventful year would be an understatement. For certain members of our STM team in Mexico, it has been a tumultuous time.

It all started in March as our wonderful staff that we lovingly refer to as our “boots on the ground” had to make a trade in footwear to become “waders in the mud.” Torrential downpours in just a matter of a few hours brought a year’s worth of rain on the area where our works are located. The murky, toxic waters slithered into houses and vehicles near the STM headquarters, swallowing everything in its wake. Thankfully, our main church is built on an elevated pad so it didn’t flood; some of our pastors and workers were not as fortunate. But resilience runs deep, and through your generous heart, God’s help and a strong community, life for our staff and residents has returned somewhat back to normal.

The soggy mattresses and mildewed furniture were still drying out when tragedy struck again.

On a Sunday afternoon after church, Analí, a 10-year-old daughter of one of our pastors, suffered a stroke. That’s not a typo. Yes, I said a stroke; at 10! Analí’s parents rushed her from hospital to hospital, trying to get help. The bleeding on her brain had reached a critical point, and it appeared that she was not going to survive.

At the third hospital, surgeons drilled a hole in her skull to relieve the swelling. Even after the successful procedure, doctors warned the family that she was still in danger of not making it. The wait was agonizing as prayers for little Analí went up from all around the world. And God heard; she not only survived, she thrived! Within a few days she woke up, and then after a few more days she began to speak and move her extremities. It wasn’t long after that she was walking, talking and eating on her own as if nothing had ever happened! Doctors were amazed at her progress; she was released from the hospital exactly a month from that fateful day. In spite of her recovery, doctors stated she would still need a year of therapy. But I’m happy to say Analí is back at home, back to normal, and playing with her 3 younger siblings as her therapy. But God!

Even through all these setbacks, I’m also happy to report that the feeding centers never skipped a beat. Children (and families alike) were fed during the flood; one of the centers was used as a shelter. Church services continued and there was even a baptism that took place for several new converts!

The title of this article reads, “When it rains, . . .” Anyone can finish the saying, but I would like to close by wording it like this: “When it rains, God pours out more grace.”

And that, my friend, He does!
__________________________
Want to Have a Heart?
Did you know that children who attend the feeding centers, before their meal, pray over the Day Sponsor (or the name of the Day Sponsor's loved one of their choosing) who provided the food for that day? In each feeding center, we have calendars with hearts posted on them for every day of the month. On each heart is the name the children pray over before they eat.
To become a Day Sponsor we ask that you commit to at least a year of giving $25 per month (or $300 for the year.) The program is called Have a Heart and you can enroll in one (or even more!) of our feeding centers. Check out below the various methods of giving that are available to you.
1) You can give automatically from your checking account each month by using Bill Pay or bank draft. Contact us or your bank to find out how to get set up with either one of these methods.
2) You can send your gift using a payment processor app on your smart phone. | Zelle: 956.802.7160 | Venmo: | Cash App: $STMMexico |
3) You can give online by going to paypal.com and donating from your checking account to [email protected]. Recurring giving is available.
4) You can give online using your debit or credit card at
tinyurl.com/stmdonation
5) You can mail a check or money order to:
STM
PO Box 2635
Mission, TX 78573
____________________________________________________
pages:
fb.com/stmin.mx
fb.com/randyrdenton
fb.com/donnadenton1
fb.com/haveaheartfeedingministry
____________________________________________________
It's all about people, people helping people, working together,
Changing lives, seeing the world through Jesus' eyes.

07/07/2025

It was a typical Sunday morning in early May. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, it was another warm start of the week in the tropics along the northern border of Mexico.

For the Ponce’s, one of the pastoral families who serve in our ministry, it was the day to make their way to church. The oldest of the four Ponce children, 10-year-old Analí, (pronounced ah-nah-LEE) scurried about, getting herself dressed and helping with her younger siblings.

It was a great day of worship in the Lord’s house, and now the family was ready for an afternoon of relaxation and preparing for a busy work week ahead. On the way home from church, Analí began to feel unwell. She told her parents that her head hurt……

A month later Analí made her way out of the hospital and down to the waiting car, anxious to start her journey home.The protective helmet covered an open puncture in her skull that was awaiting corrective surgery. It was the only indication that anything was amiss. Her steady walk, her ready smile and playful demeanor of a pre-teen gave no glimpse of the tortuous month that she had just endured.

As the Ponce family frantically pulled into their driveway that Sunday afternoon, Analí held her head and started throwing up. By the time her dad had gotten the vehicle stopped, her eyes were wide with panic, she could not speak and she could not move her right side. In the throes of a stroke, she went unconscious.

The next several hours became a blur as she was rushed from hospital to hospital. Scans revealed that there was bleeding on her brain. The hemorrhaging eventually reached such a critical point that without intervention, she would surely die. They finally got her to a third hospital that was better equipped for this type of emergency. Quickly, surgeons drilled a hole in her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain.

And then everyone waited, not sure that she would wake up. Doctors told the family that without a miracle, she would not make it. But God! With prayers going up from all around the globe, Analí did wake up!

In an incredible turn of events, doctors had to admit a true miracle had transpired. Within just a few days, Analí was breathing without assistance. A few days later she was speaking, and then eventually she was eating and walking, all on her own! It wasn’t long until she was back to her normal self!

What had been projected as a year’s recovery at the very best, God did in 30 days. The hospital said, “You know what? You don’t need to be here any longer, you’re doing great. We’re discharging you!”

You prayed, God answered. Analí’s family is so grateful for your prayers. They have their little girl back!

04/02/2025

Breaking News from STM: Recovery efforts have begun from the flood that swamped two of our lead pastors' homes last week in the northeastern region of Mexico. Your donations have been a tremendous help and we thank you! We're happy to report that all our feeding centers are back in operation. So many families lost everything, so the feeding programs are filling a vital role in helping people to get back on their feet. We are so grateful to you for helping us in this critical situation.
______________________________________
_____________________
The Denton Diary
April - May 2025
_____________________

Tracing the Beginning of the Feeding Program
A look back at where it all started

Everything that exists today had to have a starting point: our lives, our jobs, our walk with the Lord, even back to the creation of the world. They are all marked by a specific beginning.

STM has been operating feeding centers in Mexico for more than 30 years. Perhaps you may have wondered how they began. What made us decide to start the Feeding Hungry Children program? What moment in time can be looked at as the start of it all?

It happened on a day that we had looked forward to all year long. It was our annual Christmas distribution. On this occasion we were going door-to-door in impoverished neighborhoods giving out gifts to children as well as blankets and care packages of food to families.

The dirt road was lined with lean-to shanties made from warehouse pallets and ragged tarps. Some were fortunate enough to have a “roof” made out of rusty tin.

Most did not.

We stopped at one such place, our hands filled with goodies for everyone. From the rickety, barbed-wire fence that lined the tiny lot, Donna called out “Buenos dias!” to whoever was inside the little hovel. With eyes trained on the torn bedsheet, draped over an opening they called a doorway, she waited for someone to come out.

No one did.

Donna continued to call out and finally a little girl came out of the hut. After much persuasion, we got her to come toward us as other littles began to emerge.

By this time a neighbor had arrived and let us know that there were four children in the home alone. Their mother, a pr******te, was in the city “working.” If that wasn’t unsettling enough, it turned out that the oldest girl was 4 years old and she was having to take care of her three younger siblings, aged 3, 2 and 1.

We lavished gifts upon the four children and after their shyness had subsided, they were all smiles as they excitedly played with the toys they had received. We wanted to stay awhile and love longer on the precious kids, but there were lots more toys to give, lots more children to bless. As we walked away, we looked back to see the girl dancing and twirling about, lovingly holding the baby doll she had just received.

With that image forever stamped in her mind, Donna began to think about all the food that we had left for the family. There were beans, rice and flour to make tortillas, all items that had to be cooked. And no four-year-old would be able to do that! How were they going to eat? All that food and no way to prepare it!

That was the spark that ignited her desire to start the Feeding Hungry Children program. And now, three decades later, we have witnessed a multitude of children from all over coming to our various feeding centers to be nourished with hot meals, loving caregivers and the Good News of Jesus Christ.

To God be the glory!
____________________________

Want to Have a Heart?
Did you know that children who attend the feeding centers, before their meal, pray over the Day Sponsor (or the name of the Day Sponsor's loved one of their choosing) who provided the food for that day? In each feeding center, we have calendars with hearts posted on them for every day of the month. On each heart is the name the children pray over before they eat.
To become a Day Sponsor we ask that you commit to at least a year of giving $25 per month (or $300 for the year.) The program is called Have a Heart and you can enroll in one (or even more!) of our feeding centers. Check out below the various methods of giving that are available to you.
1) You can give automatically from your checking account each month by using Bill Pay or bank draft. Contact us or your bank to find out how to get set up with either one of these methods.
2) You can send your gift using a payment processor app on your smart phone. | Zelle: 956.802.7160 | Venmo: | Cash App: $STMMexico |
3) You can give online by going to paypal.com and donating from your checking account to [email protected]. Recurring giving is available.
4) You can give online using your debit or credit card at
tinyurl.com/stmdonation
5) You can mail a check or money order to:
STM
PO Box 2635
Mission, TX 78573
____________________________________________________
pages:
fb.com/stmin.mx
fb.com/randyrdenton
fb.com/donnadenton1
fb.com/haveaheartfeedingministry
____________________________________________________
It's all about people, people helping people, working together,
Changing lives, seeing the world through Jesus' eyes.
____________________________________________________

03/29/2025

UPDATE: Donations are starting to come in for the relief efforts. Thank you so very much!

We have a team of boots-on-the-ground (or should I say, rubber-boots-in-the mud) making their way into the flood-stricken area where Spirit and Truth Ministries' mission work is headquartered. With the water slowly receding, they are trying to get to the two pastors' homes that were flooded, and the feeding center where refugees are staying.

The cart full of groceries pictured here is a symbol of hope for a full recovery that will take weeks, perhaps months. It's the first relief of much more to come.

For those who pray for this ministry, please continue. They are being felt. Thank you!
________________________________________

As some of you may know, the area where our mission work is located was inundated with a torrential flood over the past couple of days. At this writing, the waters are still rising and information, as well as pictures, are limited.

But this much I know: the situation is extremely critical.

At least two of our pastors' homes are flooded and they have lost everything. They will have to start over. At least one of our churches has water in it.

The bright spot is that several years ago we built one of our feeding centers on a higher pad and it has not flooded....yet. At this time we are using the center as an emergency shelter and several displaced families are coming there to seek refuge.

As with any disaster such as this, we are in need of food, water, and cleaning supplies for starters.

If you would like to help, there are several ways to send a donation:
1) You can give from your checking account by using Bill Pay.
2) You can send your gift using a payment processor app on your smart phone. | Zelle: 956.802.7160 | Venmo: | Cash App: $STMMexico |
3) You can give online by going to paypal.com and donating from your checking account to [email protected].
4) You can give online using your debit or credit card at
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick...
5) You can mail a check or money order to:
STM
PO Box 2635
Mission, TX 78573

I will update as I get more information.

Thank you and God bless you!

02/05/2025

____________________
The Denton Diary
February - March 2025
____________________

Ordinary Gifts Become Extraordinary Blessings
Children and families receive love of Christ through Christmas gifts

They say that the truest measure of life isn't in what we gather
but in what we give away. Pouring into the lives of those who can
offer nothing in return has been the signature of this missions
journey for over three decades. And let me tell you, there is no
greater joy.

Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, arrived once again
like a sparkling invitation to give extravagantly. Over the years
we've had the privilege of lighting up the faces of children in
Mexico with gifts tucked into shoeboxes -- simple treasures that
spark a lot of excitement. This year was no different, yet it was
uniquely beautiful in ways that only God could orchestrate. The love of Christ on display changed lives.

How amazing it would be to know where those children are today that we blessed way back in the beginning of the Christmas outreaches. It's hard to imagine, but those little ones have grown up and are now well into adulthood. Only eternity will reveal the impact that was made on their futures.

But life is a cycle and each year there are always more children to
which we can give, and they offer us the most adorable smiles.

In addition to the shoebox toys, we honored our pastors and staff
with gifts. We also selected some families to bless who had suffered
extreme hardships. We call them Sponsored Families.

One family in particular included some children who had been orphaned just a few months prior to Christmas. Their parents had been kidnapped by a drug gang. The children are now living with their grandparents who are having trouble providing for themselves, let alone grandchildren. We gave them many gifts, and one of the children wanted a bicycle. Guess what? She got it!

The heart-rending stories of loss, injustice and destitution prevail
in the communities in which we do mission work. But at least for a
moment, perhaps a day, perhaps more, they get to experience some joy.

So, on behalf of every child whose excitement and laughter filled the crisp, December air, every family whose burdens were momentarily lifted, and every worker who felt the weight of your love, we say Gracias!

Thank you for turning ordinary gifts into extraordinary blessings.
____________________________________

Want to Have a Heart?

Did you know that children who attend the feeding centers, before
their meal, pray over the Day Sponsor (or the name of the Day
Sponsor's loved one of their choosing) who provided the food for that day? In each feeding center, we have calendars with hearts posted on them for every day of the month. On each heart is the name the children pray over before they eat.

To become a Day Sponsor we ask that you commit to at least a year of giving $25 per month (or $300 for the year.) The program is called Have a Heart and you can enroll in one (or even more!) of our feeding centers. Check out below the various methods of giving that are available to you.

1) You can give automatically from your checking account each month by using Bill Pay or bank draft. Contact us or your bank to find out how to get set up with either one of these methods.

2) You can send your gift using a payment processor app on your smart phone. | Zelle: 956.802.7160 | Venmo: | Cash App: $STMMexico |

3) You can give online by going to paypal.com and donating from your checking account to [email protected]. Recurring giving is available.

4) You can give online using your debit or credit card at
tinyurl.com/stmdonation

5) You can mail a check or money order to:

STM
PO Box 2635
Mission, TX 78573
____________________________________________________

pages:
fb.com/stmin.mx
fb.com/randyrdenton
fb.com/donnadenton1
fb.com/haveaheartfeedingministry
____________________________________________________

It's all about people, people helping people, working together,
Changing lives, seeing the world through Jesus' eyes.
____________________________________________________

01/09/2025

Happy New Year from Spirit and Truth Ministries and the Feeding Hungry Children program!

The Christmas distribution was a huge success once again this year and many kiddos and families as well as STM staff members were abundantly blessed. Please take a couple of minutes to watch this short video.

We cannot thank you enough for helping us touch so many lives during this most wonderful time of the year. The love of Christ was on full display!

May you experience a blessed and Christ-filled 2025 with an abundance of prosperity and good health.

We love you!
Randy and Donna Denton

11/16/2024

Only 39 more days until Christmas.
We still need dolls, trucks and shoebox gift sponsors. Your $20 gift will make a child’s dream come true this Christmas. 🎄 How many children would you like to bless??
They will receive a gift, a bag of candy and Christmas dinner. 🎄

10/03/2024

Great News from the VBS in Mexico
Several children give their hearts to Jesus during week-long event

The summer season of long, hot days has finally given way to the cooler, refreshing air of fall. That means kids are back in school. But fond memories of another kind of school over the summer lingers on in the minds of children in this region of Mexico.

I’m talking about Vacation Bible School, and what a great success it was!

The theme for this year’s VBS was Adventure through Mexico: Who does God say that I am? Following a week of teachings, prayer and praise, several kids could answer that question by stating that God could now say they were His child!

The ultimate goal of the "escuela de verano" (VBS) came to completion as the children knelt at the altar and surrendered their heart to Jesus Christ!

We live in a world (Mexico included) where there is a deluge of indoctrination against our children by anti-God influencers. The aim of the VBS was to counteract all the immoral voices by helping them understand that what is important is who God says they are, not what the world says.

The good news is they got the message! The week concluded with the children affirming their identities and establishing their purpose in being: to live for God and to worship Him.

While the teaching of God’s word was most important, there were also other fun activities and prizes for the children to enjoy. Crafts, games and, of course, snacks were on the menu.

Something that families in our area cannot afford on a regular basis are sweets such as cake and cookies. So we make it a point every year to treat the children to delightful cupcakes on the last day of VBS. And, oh what a perfect treat! Can you say sugar rush? :-)

Something else we give the kiddos on the last day are bags chock full of school supplies. In Mexico, children can go to school at no charge through the sixth grade — as long as they have school supplies. Earlier this summer we set up a registry at a retailer and then put out an appeal on Facebook to you, our friends and supporters, to help us in getting the school supplies and materials for the VBS. Your response was great; we were able to completely fund both projects!

Who knows but what one of these children will grow up to become someone great in ministry or in a profession? Your investment into their lives will pay eternal dividends.

Thank you and may God bless you for all you do!
____________________________________

Want to Have a Heart?

Did you know that children who attend the feeding centers, before their meal, pray over the Day Sponsor (or the name of the Day Sponsor's loved one) who provided the food for that day? In each feeding center, we have calendars with hearts posted on them for every day of the month. On each heart is the name the children pray over before they eat.

To become a Day Sponsor we ask that you commit to at least a year of giving $25 per month (or $300 for the year.) The program is called Have a Heart and you can enroll in one (or even more!) of our feeding centers. Check out below the various methods of giving that are available to you.

1) You can give automatically from your checking account each month by using Bill Pay or bank draft. Contact us or your bank to find out how to get set up with either one of these methods.

2) You can send your gift using a payment processor app on your smart phone. | Zelle: 956.802.7160 | Venmo: | Cash App: $STMMexico |

3) You can give online by going to paypal.com and donating from your checking account to [email protected]. Recurring giving is available.

4) You can give online using your debit or credit card at
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7CBWRP4QTQTFW

5) You can mail a check or money order to:

STM
PO Box 2635
Mission, TX 78573

So take that next step; become a Day Sponsor and Have a Heart!

Have A Heart

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