Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Houston man ‘can’t keep quiet’ about new life in Christ

  • March 16, 2022
  • Southern Baptist Texan
  • Conferences, Latest News, Leadership, Texas
Margarito Balon, a business owner and member of Champion Forest Baptist Church, has been able to share the gospel with professionals in the Houston area.
(Photo courtesy of the Southern Baptist Texan)

Houston man ‘can’t keep quiet’ about new life in Christ

Margarito Balon, a business owner and member of Champion Forest Baptist Church, has been able to share the gospel with different professionals in the Houston area by offering a personal and organizational training through John Maxwell’s leadership course.

“I can’t keep quiet about what God did in my life!” Balon said.  

His business offers maintenance and repair for commercial kitchen and refrigeration equipment, serving an average of 100 restaurants. Balon said all his clients are now his candidates for sharing the gospel through the leadership workshops he offers. 

Balon was born and raised in a town in Mexico called Tetelcingo, and he came to the United States at a very young age. When he migrated to this country, he came with many dreams but said he made bad decisions that led him to become a drug dealer and work for the mafia. He was in jail for a while and on the verge of losing his family — his wife, Marta Guzman, and their three children. 

Persistent witness

While he was immersed in alcoholism, his family came to know Christ through his son’s girlfriend, who is a Christian. Through the persistent invitation of his now daughter-in-law, Balon was the last in his family to receive Jesus as his Savior. She invited him to church, and he agreed to go until, little by little, he surrendered to God’s love.

Now he is doing the same work, walking people toward the cross through the second chance God gave him. “I have seen many people come to Christ through this leadership program,” Balon said.  

For five years he has served in this ministry accompanying his pastor and mentor, Esteban Vazquez, who is the Conroe campus pastor for Champion Forest. Vazquez is the director of the leadership program “Un Millón de Líderes” (A Million Leaders) in Latin America and John C. Maxwell’s “Más Allá del Éxito USA” (Beyond Success – USA). Balon was trained by Vazquez, and he assisted the pastor for several years before becoming a trainer and course leader himself. 

“At first, I didn’t want to because I didn’t feel qualified, but with God’s help and the support of my pastor, I was able to begin to share with others what I learned,” Balon said.  

‘No excuses’

He said the pandemic did not stop him from continuing with the trainings.

“There are no excuses; it is a matter of wanting to,” he said. Balon began to teach the course to family members in Mexico via video call and at the same time began contacting the owners or leaders of the restaurants that serve as his clients.

Balon has been leading the courses for two years. During that time he has trained about 10 businesses, in addition to former colleagues and family members, and seen an average of 40 people come to Christ in Houston and other countries. 

Balon is now in charge of the Texas area to raise up leaders so they, too, can teach others this evangelistic leadership course.

“We use the model of Christ, who prepared his disciples so that they could then go and prepare others,” Balon said. “Many are surprised that this course is free of charge, but it is. My pastor once told me to never dare charge for this course because the gospel is free.”


EDITOR’S NOTE —This article was written by Arlene Sanabria and first published by the Southern Baptist Texan, newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • 27 Christians killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria
    27 Christians killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for April 2
    Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for April 2
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Children’s ministry leader shares helpful practices for teaching gospel to kids
    Children’s ministry leader shares helpful practices for teaching gospel to kids
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

27 Christians killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria

Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed 27 Christians in two attacks this month in Kaduna State, Nigeria, Morning Star News reported. Both attacks took place

Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for April 2

Remain in Me John 15:1–17 Viticulture is an interesting year-round business. My contacts in the vineyard business testify to the hard work involved as well

Children’s ministry leader shares helpful practices for teaching gospel to kids

Talking to her eight grandchildren about Jesus comes as naturally as breathing for Jenni Carter. “I pray for them to have authentic relationships with Jesus,”

Church sign represents rebuild, new beginnings for KY town

Call it a sign of the times. Cayce Baptist Church Fulton, Kentucky, had its new church sign installed March 20 after the previous one had

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel