Who We Are

The Tarahumara Maranatha Alliance is a missional network of churches, ministries, and Christian leaders who choose to love one another, pray for one another, and work together shoulder to shoulder so that every Tarahumara person has a disciple-making fellowship within walking distance.

Our Vision for the Tarahumara Maranatha Alliance is to see the Tarahumara Body of Christ transform every corner of their nation in our lifetime. Our Mission is to forge Tarahumara disciples, churches, ministries, and alliances that catalyze the Tarahumara Body of Christ to finish her race well. Our Strategic Vision is to see the Tarahumara Body of Christ rise up - as a body - and send out their own pastors and missionaries in 5 years.

This vision cannot be fulfilled until the various Tarahumara ministries and churches unite into the Tarahumara Body of Christ. Right now, there are individual embers throughout the Tarahumara nation - some burning brightly. But like a fire being built, those embers are spread out. Even at their hottest, they aren't joined together to create an unstoppable fire.

However, the work that must be done to advance the Gospel and advance individual ministries can become the most powerful tool to unite us into the Body of Christ! If a project involves multiple ministries working together, they become invested in each other's success. They begin to naturally seek connections. A rising tide lifts all boats. Through shared work, we become the united Tarahumara Body of Christ.

The early church pooled diverse gifts and resources. For example, Antioch sending relief to Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30), Macedonia and Achaia partnering for the same cause (Romans 15:26-27), and Paul bringing young men from various churches with him on his missionary journeys for discipleship. The sum of that cooperative effort exceeded their isolated labor – the Body must be the Body. Likewise, Alliance projects must demonstrate multiple Tarahumara ministries working shoulder-to-shoulder to achieve what none could accomplish alone, so that “the whole body grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16). Paul exemplified this amongst the Thessalonians: “… we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7b-8. When we are a part of one-another’s lives we will begin to be a body – the Tarahumara Body of Christ.

Each member of the Maranatha Alliance fellowships with one-another, we pray for one another, and we come together annually to worship, study God's Word, network, celebrate successes, and consider the coming year. We find, develop, select, fund, shepherd, and complete projects that advance the Maranatha Alliance vision, mission, and strategic vision. We favor projects that create and unite the Tarahumara Body of Christ - not individual ministry grants or standalone construction projects. Our goal is transparency, accessibility, integrity, unity, and rapid Spirit-led advancement (1 Cor 14:40, 2 Cor 8:20-21). Paul carried offerings with men chosen by each church "so no one can discredit us" (2 Cor 8:19-21). We must steward Kingdom resources carefully. Jesus discipled people rather than building structures. He invested, released, and expected fruit that would multiply (John 15:16). We must do the same.

Our board is formed by 9 leaders (2 Tarahumaras, 2 Americans, and 5 Mestizos) from ministries and churches within the Tarahumara nation, elected every 2 years by the Alliance, to provide Spirit-led structure that allows the Alliance to make unified, prayerful, and strategic decisions. Each member must embrace the role of servant and shepherd, committed not just to board meetings but to the broader Alliance and Tarahumara Body of Christ. The Board exists to prayerfully evaluate proposed projects and ensure they align with the mission and vision, model unity in decision-making, communication, and actions (John 17:23), and Shepherd the vision of the Alliance.