Pastor Charles Alonso
Church Founder
The whole story is kind of long -here is a short version.
I was born in Cuba; lived in South FL from 1962-1986, and moved to Spruce Pine, NC on April 15, 1986. After years at Appalachian State University, in Boone, NC. I married a NC teacher, Lajeana, and started working as a Spanish/Social Studies teacher/translator in Mitchell County in 1989. We have five children: Abigail, Joel, Anneliese, Chariese, and Janiese, and three dogs, Tonky, Snicker Bar, and Feather.
My wife and I are proficient in both English and Spanish. I have written many short Bible studies in Spanish. In 2003, I was the editor and translator of the 480 pg. book "The Best of Bible Pathway" for Bible Pathway Ministries International (www.biblepathway.org).
We started our mission work about 30 years ago (on 25 acres at the North Toe River) among the migrant field-workers. This is where we now have "The Wilderness Hispanic Mission" outside of Spruce Pine on the Mitchell/Avery County line. We were able to build our church right next to our property and have all kinds of activities down by the river.
What We Believe
“THE WILDERNESS CAMP MINISTRIES” P.O. Box 132, Woodlake, TX 75865
Many of our families find themselves in “The Wilderness” of their lives as they struggle to fit in and to adjust to our culture – although some people wish they would just go away… “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6.)
God is in control and He always knows what’s best, so let us make the best of this situation, for God has sent the mission field right to our front door. Therefore, it is our heart’s desire to teach, to mentor, to train, and to equip our families – not only to live righteously and godly in this present world - and not only to become good law-abiding citizens of our society (Romans 13:1-8), but also to be “partakers of the heavenly calling” Hebrews 3:1. Our daily prayer is for everyone to have a good and godly day, as Dr. Woodrow Kroll always says: “For of what lasting value is a good day if it is not also a godly day.”
Titus 2:11-15 says: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world…” In Leviticus 19:34, the Scriptures exhort us this way: “But the stranger (foreigner) who dwells with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself… I am the Lord your God.” In the New Testament, our Lord commands us not only to love our neighbors but also our enemies: “For if you (only) love them who love you - What reward do you have?” Matthew 5:40-48. Even though the Hispanic families are not “our enemies” – at times many of us feel threatened by those from other cultures.
The best way to understand and be able to give a good answer to all of these situations is to follow the example of Ruth and Naomi. This is the way God wants things done: When the strangers (foreigners) among you are willing to give up their idols and their evil beliefs and deeds, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their only Savior and God, saying unto you (Ruth 1:16): “Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following you: for wherever you go, I will go; and where you live, I will live; your people shall be my people, and your God my God…” then, as believers, it is our calling to treat them as brothers and sisters in the Lord. You will always find and see “the good, the bad, and the ugly” in every culture, but to the wicked and evil, we will “speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority” Titus 2:15.
As true believers: “We know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28. Therefore: “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing (educating) those who oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (Jesus Christ); and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil…” II Timothy 2:24-26. “For the love of Christ constrains us” and moves us to go, to reach out and "to teach all nations (making disciples), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I (Jesus Christ) have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” II Corinthians 5:14 and Matthew 28:18-20.
“Making disciples” includes all of the following: bringing others to hear and believe the gospel of our salvation, edifying them, teaching and equipping them, and training them, both the young and the aged, in the work of our Lord. The Lord’s 2:2:2 principle: “And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” II Timothy 2:2. This we will continue to do as we have done in the past.
A few years ago, our ministry was instrumental in establishing a Hispanic Mission in Yancey County. Last year four of our most mature families were able to start another Hispanic Mission in Marion under our care, and presently we are helping a new mission in North Asheville. Many of us still meet also during the week for Bible study.
Again, let me express our gratitude and our thanks. Because of your generous hearts, and the sacrificial tithes and offerings from our Hispanic families, we have purchased 8 acres of land in Mitchell County and are happy in our new chuch home. Please, do continue to pray and support our efforts: “For we are His (truly God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10. All of your gifts are tax-deductible. Because God has called us and is sending us into this mission field, we are now partakers of this “heavenly vision.” One day we will all be able to stand before our Lord and say (together with the apostle Paul) that God gave us our “marching orders” and that we were not disobedient unto “the heavenly vision.” The apostle Paul expressed our feelings best when he explained it all to king Agrippa this way: God sent me “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto (the power of) God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in (Jesus Christ). Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” Acts 26:17-19.
May we continue to join our hearts together in order to bring this “heavenly vision” to pass. In His service, because of His great love,
Pastor Charles Alonso - Ephesians 2:10
“THE WILDERNESS CAMP MINISTRIES”
P.O. Box 132, Woodlake, TX 75865
Pastor Charles Alonso - (828) 765-1066 / 775-0009
Articles of Faith ~ We Believe That:
The Godhead (The Trinity): We believe in one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) each of Whom is fully and equally God; possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 1:14, John 10:30; 2 Cor. 13:14).God the Father: We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and is the eternal, unchanging all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, completely Just and perfectly Holy, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of all true believers (Gen. 1:1; Eph. 4:6; John 1:12-13, John 5:19-21, John 17:1-5; Isa. 40:21-28, Isa. 43:10-13, Isa. 46:8-11; Rom. 8:14-16).
God the Son: We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and is the only begotten eternal Son of God Who became flesh to reveal God to man, to fulfill prophecy, and to become the Savior of the lost world. In becoming a man, Jesus did not cease in any way to be God, so that He is fully God and fully man, inseparably united in the Person of the Godhead forever. Jesus Christ was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the virgin Mary (Mary was a virgin in the sense that she had never been sexually involved – she was not deity and she was not the mother of God). Jesus Christ lived a sinless life; died on the cross as the substitutionary, all-sufficient atoning sacrifice for all of the sins of all men of all time; was buried; bodily rose from the dead according to the Scriptures; physically ascended into heaven in His glorified and resurrected body; He is seated at the right hand of God the Father performing His ministry of intercession; He will return in the air to claim His bride (the church); and after seven years (at the end of the Tribulation Judgment – Rev. 6 – 19) He will come again to earth in bodily form, personally and visibly, to conclude human history and consummate God’s eternal plan by executing judgment and ushering in His Millennial Kingdom reign to be followed by the eternal state (John 1:1,14,18; John 3:16; Luke 1:30-35; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:3,9; Mark 10:45; Acts 2:22-24; John 1:29; Rom. 3:25-26; Heb. 10:5-14; 1 Pet. 2:24, 1 Pet. 3:18; John 20:20; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 1:3; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1; Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 2:7; Matt. 24:44; Rev. 19:11-21; Rev. 21-22).
God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, Who especially came as the Promised Comforter (John 14:26, 15:26 & 16:7-13) on the day of Pentecost to glorify Christ and to enable men and women to appropriate the salvation wrought by Christ. He is the primary agent for the conviction of sin and for regeneration. Simultaneously with faith in Christ and salvation, the Holy Spirit imparts new life, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (His church), permanently indwells the believer, and securely seals the believer unto the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit fills (directs and guides) those believers who are yielded to Him, enables believers to bear fruit, and empowers believers to live a life free from sin’s power and dominion. We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the purpose of edifying the church in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures (1 Cor. 13:8, 1 Cor. 14:22; John 16:7-8; 1 Cor. 6:19, 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14, Eph. 4:30; Gal. 5:16-17, Gal. 22-23; Rom. 8:5-13; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rom. 12:3-8).
Mankind: We believe that mankind was created in the image of God by the direct act of God, different from animal form, and did not come into being as the result of evolution. Mankind was created to glorify God, worship and serve Him, and have fellowship with Him. Mankind fell through sin by disobeying God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated him/her from God. Mankind’s nature was thus corrupted and he/she is utterly lost, “dead in trespasses and sins,” and totally incapable of saving himself/herself and coming back into right relationship with God by his/her own merit or effort (Gen. 1:26, Gen. 2:6,17, Gen. 3:17-24; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:9-19,23, Rom. 5:8; Luke 18:26-27; Eph. 2:13).
Satan: We believe that Satan is the instigator of evil and a real spirit being, not simply the personification of evil. He is a fallen angel who, under the sovereign permission of God, has been given temporary rulership of the earth. He was utterly defeated at the cross, but the execution of his judgment has been postponed by God until after the Millennial Kingdom when he will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. In the meantime, he deceives the world and seeks to establish his counterfeit kingdom on earth to discredit and blaspheme God and to tempt, accuse, attack and destroy believers. He can be resisted by the believer through faith and reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 3:1-5; Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Job 1-2; 1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 11:14; 1 Tim. 3:6; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; James 4:7; Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 7-10).
Salvation: We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God’s grace. Salvation is effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and cannot be secured by mankind’s works or personal merit. Salvation is only appropriated by a person placing his/her faith in the finished work of Christ. Repentance is a turning toward God and away from sin and it becomes more and more relevant as we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18. “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” and those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born again, have their sins forgiven, become children of God, are a new creation in Christ, and “are sealed by the Holy spirit until the day of redemption,” being kept by the power of God (Eph. 1:7:13-14; John 1:12-13, John 3:1-7, John 14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 1:16, Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 8:14-17, Rom. 31-39; John 10:27-29, Rom. 14:6; Acts 26:20; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).
The Christian Life: We believe that every Christian should live for Christ and not for himself/herself and should, by the power of the indwelling Spirit, allow Christ to manifest His life through him/her to God’s glory. By ever increasing obedience to the Word of God, each believer should mature and progressively become more like Jesus. In the power of the Spirit, each believer should live a holy life; not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh; exercising his/her spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ; witnessing for Christ; be personally involved in making disciples to fulfilling the great commission; and performing good works, bearing fruit to the glory of God (Gal. 2:20; 1 Pet. 1:15-16, 1 Pet. 2:11; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:11-13; Eph. 2:10, Eph. 4:11-12, Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20; Col. 1:10; John 15:8, 16).
The Church: We believe that the church is the body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head and whose members are those who have truly received Christ by faith. The local church is a tangible expression of the body of Christ in a particular location. Since all members of the body of Christ are united in Christ by the same Spirit, they should live in love, harmony and unity, being intent on the same purpose and accepting those sectarian or denominational practices which are based on a sincere interpretation of the Bible, which do not relate to substantive doctrinal matters, and which do not in practice cause disunity or hinder the ministry. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to lost men and to make disciples, and glorify God on earth (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23, Eph. 4:1-6, Eph. 4:12-16; Matt. 28:18-20; John 17; Col. 1:24-29).
