Pat DeVore, Founder
Pat DeVore founded Casa de Niños in 1972 and was the Director of that ministry until late in 1991 when Dave & Sheri DeBolt started their ministry in the house.
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David & Sheri DeBolt
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 David and Sheri began their journey as missionaries to Mexico long before they became the second Casa de Niños/Emanuel Mexico Mission directors on September 25, 1991 located in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. David and Sheri both were born and raised on Indiana farms and that was their dream of doing just that, farming, for the rest of their married lives (September 13, 1975). Farming came natural for both of them but church was their first priority. Serving as a deacon and later an elder at the Markle Church of Christ, Markle, Indiana provided David with an opportunity to travel and lead their first mission group to Mexico during July 1987. Casa de Niños was their destination as they were doing a building project of the current site of the mission that Markle helped to establish with their former church secretary and youth director, Pat Devore. January 1988 the DeBolt family left their farm life and enrolled into Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio. During their college years, 1988-1991 they had the opportunity to lead several mission groups to Casa de Niños so when they were asked to become the new directors of the ministry they accepted. |
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September 25, 1991 David (35), Sheri (34), and their three daughters, Amy (14), Renae (11) and Mari (8) started their missionary journey together not knowing the language but quickly learned their new culture and language.
Sheri home schooled their girls, Renae and Mari, for their first year and their second year was at a private Christian school located in San Luis Potosi. Then the following year they began attending regular public schools all in Spanish. Amy finished her high school years through homeschooling and Liberty Christian School correspondence course from Chicago, Illinois. They began the Ontañon Church of Christ on October 4, 1992 due to the tremendous response (120 children) from their first inner city Vacation Bible School during the summer of 1992 with the help of Bible College (Colegio Cristiano del Centro) student, Joel Córdova. From 1991 to 2015 they received over 2000 visitors who came on short term mission trips to the ministry. The ministry was blessed to have supporters see the needs of the mission first hand. Other faithful supporters saw the need for Higher Education funds. This allowed for many of the children to accomplish their dreams of receiving a University degree. One of the biggest challenges they encountered was on February 23, 2001 when Jorge, age 19, was killed in an accident near the home. He came to the home at age 7 and was a blessing to everyone who entered into the home. At his young age he was a true Christian in all aspects of his life. For over 10 years special memorial gifts were received that in return helped Bible College students at the local college. Today many of these students/ministers continue to preach and teach throughout Mexico. Niños de la Calle was a street ministry they started in 2000 to help feed, clothe and serve children who were literally living alone on the streets of San Luis Potosi. That is where they came into contact with teachers who helped with the education of these children who in return brought Jose to Casa de Niños. In 2018, Jose joined our mission team as Lead Minister for Ontañon Church of Christ. Jose printed and published a Christian Chorus book with over 208 songs and that book is used in churches and camps in small unreached communities. Sheri published in 2012 her first ever Casa de Niños cookbook which includes all the children’s favorite meals during their time in the children’s home. |
David and Sheri accepted to serve at Colegio Biblico located at Piedras Negras, Mexico from 2015 to 2018 as their student counselors. During their Bible College time another ministry entered into the home and then David and Sheri returned in 2018 to San Luis Potosi and to the ministry that is when Casa de Niños became Emanuel Mexico Mission. In 2021 they returned to the same Indiana farm after serving on the mission field for over 30 years. Today they continue serving the ministry as their state side field directors helping with correspondence, finances and leading mission groups to the ministry located in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Even though they accomplished many projects in the children’s home and church activities throughout Mexico, first and foremost, their ministry consisted of providing a Christian home for children who came to them abused, abandoned or neglected. In doing so they cared for and raised 193 children during their time in Mexico. Today Emanuel Mexico Mission is the umbrella ministry covering the needs of their church ministry, Ontañon Church of Christ, children´s ministry, Casa de Niños and their University level Bible Classes taught throughout the week.
“Therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
Even though they accomplished many projects in the children’s home and church activities throughout Mexico, first and foremost, their ministry consisted of providing a Christian home for children who came to them abused, abandoned or neglected. In doing so they cared for and raised 193 children during their time in Mexico. Today Emanuel Mexico Mission is the umbrella ministry covering the needs of their church ministry, Ontañon Church of Christ, children´s ministry, Casa de Niños and their University level Bible Classes taught throughout the week.
“Therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
EMM Ministries