For God so loved you that he gave Jesus. Jesus he is Emmanuel, God wrapped in human flesh. He became the Lamb of God, who would take away the sin of the world.
It was because of His great love for us that he gave up so much that he might come and deliver us from death and destruction. Jesus speaks with a voice of love to the one bound in his sin. He speaks with a voice of love to the downtrodden, the broken, the hurting, the hopeless, the helpless, the abused, the homeless and the forgotten.
To the weary he says, “come unto me and I will give you rest.”
To the thirsty he says, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."
To the woman caught in the act of adultery, he said "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
Jesus spoke with words of love and words of life.
Today Jesus is in heaven, standing at the right hand of the father speaking to the father concerning you and me. On earth Jesus speaks through his many followers and servants. They are like "Emmanuel", God wrapped in flesh.
Two such servants are Doug and Jan Welborn who serve with a heart of love to the many hurting in Aqua Prieta, Mexico.
Tuesday through Saturday Doug and Jan prepare a hearty breakfast for the homeless. Before they eat, Doug shares from the word of God to these homeless people. Some have responded by placing their trust in Christ, receiving salvation and following Christ in water baptism.
Manny is one of the homeless men who came with a desperate need, he heard the Gospel of Good News, received Christ and was baptized. Then he went to work in the community center serving other with the joy of the Lord. Just as a rainbow of God’s promise appears after the storm, so has the rainbow appeared to Manny through the mission of Voice of Love and gave him the hope of a brighter future.
So many other men have come to the breakfast and found more than nourishment for their physical man, but also life for their spiritual man. Each one has a story to tell, one of pain, suffering, addiction and trouble. Each one hears the story of God’s love.
Jan meets with about 50 women each week for a bible study. There, they hear about the love of God. They fall in the arms of a woman who loves and many of their lives have been transformed by the power of love. There have been many who have come to faith, baptized with water and are following Christ.
During our visit this year, we attended the Christmas program in which the families of these ladies received Christmas gifts. Joy filled the room and love filled your heart as they handed out these gifts and Jan hugged on every one of these ladies. 
Alejandra is the mother of 5 children and attends the ladies bible study. In February of 2007, as she was walking to work, she was abducted by a drug gang who blindfolded, tied her hands and feet. They beat her and held her hostage thinking they could get ransom money. The ladies prayed and believed God for her safety.
One of the men came to her later and told her that they thought she was part of another drug gang, but were mistaken. This man told her that he would release her if she promised not to make it public. They blindfolded her again, took her out to a secluded street and let her go. Alejandra knew she was delivered by the power of God. This girl went trough such a traumatic experience that she did not leave her house for nearly a year.
At the community center, hundreds of children have a safe place to play, receive food, haircuts, and biblical education. They also receive a warm smile, lots of hugs and regular encouragement. Through the giving of God's people we were able to take approx. 3000.00 dollars of food and clothing for these needy children and their families. God gave us favor and we were able to cross the border pulling the trailer full of food and clothing. The border guards stopped us, ask a few questions, briefly looked in the trailer and released us with no charge for "excise tax."
We pulled the trailer over to the community center, unloaded all the food and clothing in the trailer to a room that has become the “JESUS STORE” to those in the community because “anyone can come and get food with no money.”
On Sunday morning before church, while enjoying a cup of coffee, Clyde, Earl and I we're approached by a man named of Marcos. Marcos asked for money, "I’ve not eaten anything in 36 hours," he said. We gave him about seven dollars and I took him by the arm and said, “ Have you heard of a man called Jesus.” He then sat down and told us his story. He was abandoned as a child, raised by a relative, got into the drug culture and spent time in prison for selling drugs. Recently he was beaten and expelled from his “gang”. We told him of the love of God, the power of God to delivered and prayed for him to see the truth. He thanked us and left. I pray that Marcos will come to know Christ. I hope he will hear that voice of love and respond in faith.
On Monday, we shared breakfast with Jan before departing for our return home. I’ve known Jan for about 8 years and convinced that she is a woman who loves God. She has a Hugh heart for hurting people. At this breakfast she poured out her heart to us. With tears she shared how grateful they are for our ongoing support. She expressed how lonely it gets without family and friends and the need for encouragement. We bring encouragement with our presence each year. They are so very thankful for what you do.
I came away with a new appreciation for Voice of Love Ministries. On our way home, we talked about how this trip has affected us individually. Kendall was moved in his heart that he wrote a poem. I would like for him to share it with you.
As we enter a new year, I pray that each one of us would speak with the voice of love. Love is the most effective way to transform hearts.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
My Heart Goes Out
Written By: Kendall Karnes
My heart goes out;
the roads are paved with dirt, houses half built,
some people smile just to cover the hurt.
Some give you a glare, others just don’t care.
My heart goes out.
My heart goes out;
to the innocent whose blood shed has covered the streets,
to the mother who weeps because she hasn’t seen her baby in weeks who vanished off the streets.
My heart goes out.
My heart goes out;
to the drug pushers and kidnappers who roam the streets at night,
how they will see irony when Jesus comes like a thief in the night.
My heart goes out.
My heart goes out;
to the addicts and prostitutes looking for the next man to sleep with,
the next needle to shoot, the next drunk, the next high.
Will do anything to make a buck just to satisfy their own desires.
My heart goes out.
My heart goes out;
to the children who don’t have a home, who are hungry or alone,
the child with out clothes lying in the cold.
My heart goes out.
My heart goes out;
so I beg and I plead that you too share my heart to help spread this good news that Jesus’ blood was shed for the whole world to see His eternal glory.
My heart goes out.
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