Missions
Nearly 7,000 feet above sea-level in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico, lies Lake Patzcuaro, home of the Purepeche-speaking Tarascans. In 1936, Dr. Maxwell Lathrop together with missionary luminaries Drs. Kenneth Pike, Brainerd Legters, Richmond McKinney and Cameron Townsend, of the now world-wide Wycliffe Bible Translators / Summer Institute of Linguistics organizations, began a mission work to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Tarascan people. Dr. Lathrop dedicated himself to the writing of an alphabet that would introduce them to the Prince of Peace. This inaugural work was soon followed by a Tarascan language primer and then, over the course of years, successive books of the New Testament, Hymns and Biblical studies Dr. Lathrop carried on this work until he was called home by his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, Monday, the first day of March, Year of our Lord 2004.
It was the last prayers and wishes of Dr. Lathrop that some young man studying for ministry would serve the Tarascan people along the banks of the Patzcuaro. In God’s providence the important work in Mexico begun among the Purepeche was encouraged and supported by the visionary endeavors of the Westminister Biblical Missions, which continues to seek for a person who will follow in the footsteps of Dr. Lathrop’s Tarascan ministry. At the April 19, 1997 meeting of the board of Westminister Biblical Missions, Dr. Bill Higgins was examined and approved as a missionary serving Westminster Biblical Missions. At the April 26, 2003 Westminister Biblical Missions meeting, Dr. Higgins was unanimously approved to serve as Field Chairman for Westminster Biblical Missions to Mexico. Dr. Higgins together with Reverend Greg Poorman, Pastor of Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, continue the Tarascan ministry of Dr. Lathrop, bringing the Word of God to the people and contending earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
To learn more about this missions ministry please select the link below.