1966—A young couple from Missouri made a trip to Mexico to assess how they could best work to meet needs and evangelize the people. They were met in Mexico City by veteran missionary Dean Cary. After much prayer they decided to begin a program that would later be called “Niños de Mexico”.
January 1967—The couple moved to Mexico and the work began. They received children into their rented home in Mexico City while they searched for a permanent facility. Late in 1967 property was located and purchased in San Vicente, Chicoloapan, just outside of the city. The property had a small three-bedroom house and another one-room building.
February 1968—The move was made from Mexico City. The “family” had grown to 25 and there were “wall-to-wall” children in the new home. An overall development plan was formulated and construction was started on the building that would later become known as Casa Genesis.
1972—Don and Vi Bader joined the work as Associate Directors. Their time was divided between Mexico and the United States.
June 1975—A second property was bought in Huexotla, a village about seven miles north of San Vicente. Jack and Vicki Yarnell accepted the ministry as house parents for the new home, Casa Agape.
1978—The young couple who started the ministry returned to the U.S. and Don Bader became the Director of the work. Shortly after, Keith Bader, Don’s son, joined the work as Business Manager, later becoming President of the non-profit Niños de México corporation. Jack and Vicki Yarnell took over the combined duties of caring for the children from both homes with assistance from the Baders.
1978—An office was opened in Union, Missouri to provide communication with U.S. churches and take care of the business end of this expanding ministry. It is from these offices that the overall work is now directed.
1984—Property was bought in Texcoco and the third house, “Casa Bethel”, began receiving children.
1986—Permits were finally issued for the expansion of the existing building.
Spring 1987—Work started on the expansion of Casa Bethel.
July 1987—Terry and Carol Stine were asked to join the Niños staff. Terry became the new Executive Director. Because of the need to have first-hand experience and knowledge of the work, the board asked the Stine family to live in Mexico for one year, which turned into three.
November 1988—Fernando and Martha Soriano came on staff to serve as house parents in Casa Agape.
1989—The Baders left the work and returned to the US.
Spring 1990—The Stines moved back to Union, Missouri to direct the ministry from there.
1990—Frances Ransom came on staff as a volunteer to help in various capacities including translation for the HUGS program, tutoring the children, assisting in the homes, and teaching in the school later on.
June 1990—Steve and Janet Ross accepted the ministry of Administrative Director, moving to Mexico.
January 1992—Rick Grove was added to the staff as Development Director. Rick helped people fulfill their wishes in estate planning as well as presenting the work to congregations.
January 1994—The Yarnells completed 19 years as house parents and began working with groups and public relations.
August 1996—Dr. Larry and Ellen Banta became permanent staff. Larry is a medical doctor as well as a Christian psychiatrist. Together, the Bantas staffed a clinic for the care of the Niños children as well as the community.
January 1997—Casa Esperanza was converted into home number four from a barn. Steve and Janet Ross started serving as the house parents.
August 1997—Nancy Urvon came on staff as a teacher and principal in the school.
September 1997—The mission to Chilapa was started. Bi-monthly visits for medical and evangelism were conducted by Dr. Banta and a team of Niños staff and older children.
September 1998—Niños’ school construction was finished and the school year started.
July 1999—The Bantas left the ministry and returned to the US.
August 1999—Dr. Noe and Saraid Flores came on staff to serve as medical doctor to Niños children, staff, and community.
August 2000—Denise Tindle came on staff to serve as the Accountant in Mexico and to assist in the homes.
September 2000—Jorge Bonilla (grew up at Niños) and Nancy Urvon were married.
April 2001—Jack and Vicki Yarnell retired from the ministry after 26 faithful years of service with Niños. Robi and Ani Renz came on staff to serve as house parents and teach in the school. Chrystal Gallacci came on staff to help in the school, assist in the homes, and translation of HUGS program correspondence.
August 2001—Mick and Lisa O’Hanahan moved to Mexico to help as relief house parents and work in the Administration. Bryan and Michal King also joined the staff to help in the school and as relief house parents.
January 2002—Israel and Dorcas Avalos came on staff to serve as house parents at Casa Esperanza. Jonathon Miller came on staff to help in the school and assist in the homes.
August 2002—Jorge and Nancy Bonilla left the ministry and moved to the US while Jorge finishes his Masters. Frances Ransom left the ministry and returned to the US. Seth and Dana Thomas moved to Mexico to help in the school and as relief house parents. Bryan King also became the secondary principal.
November 2002—The O’Hanahans took over coordinating groups and public relations.
December 2002—Eduardo Zamora joined the staff as Director of Education and began overseeing both Niños’ private Christian school as well as the educational programs of the technical and university students.
May 2003—Sergio and Jackie Rizo moved to Mexico to help in the school and as relief house parents. Armando Diaz came on staff to help in the school and assist in the homes. Jonathon Miller left the ministry and returned to the US.
June 2003—Niños began a planting ministry to plant alumni in the field in starting churches and other ministries throughout Mexico.
August 2003—Seth Thomas became the primary principal.
March 2004—Armando Diaz and Denise Tindle were married.
May 2004—Rick Grove left the Niños ministry.
June 2004—The O’Hanahans moved to Carl Junction, MO and Mick became the Development Director. The Thomas’ took over coordinating groups and public relations. Chrystal Gallacci left the ministry and returned to the US.
August 2004—Josh and Rachel Gordon moved to Mexico to help in the areas of evangelism, church planting, and as relief house parents. Michal King became the primary principal.
January 2005—The Gordons began serving as interim house parents at Casa Bethel.
April 2005—Alfredo and Amelia Coronel became the new house parents at Casa Bethel.
May 2005—Joshua and Rachel Gordon began serving in Hospitality and as the Group Coordinators.
July 2005—Terry and Carol Stine moved to Boise, ID to serve as professors at Boise Bible College and direct the Niños ministry from there.
July 2005—Seth Thomas became the Field Director in Mexico.
July 2005—Fernando and Martha Soriano retired as house parents at Casa Agape and began serving in the area of Alumni ministry, reaching out to the many alumni teenagers and adults who have lost contact through the years.
July 2005—Sergio and Jackie, along with their son Josiah, began serving as house parents at Casa Agape.
October 2005—Tomas and Ana Perez came on staff to serve in the area of relief house parents, school monitors, as well as serving in a ministry in Nexquipayac, Mexico.
October 2005—Ricardo and Azalia Rosales, along with their two boys, Ricardo and Miguel, came on staff to serve in the area of relief house parents and school monitors.
April 2006—Sergio and Jackie Rizo resigned as House Parents at Casa Agape and returned to the US. Ricardo and Azalia Rosales stepped in to the role as House Parents at Casa Agape.
August 2006—Matthew and Tiffany Carmichael joined the Niños team. Matthew serves as Principal of the Elementary School and Publications Staff. Tiffany is one of our HUGS Translators as well. Matthew and Tiffany both serve as relief house parents to one of our homes each week.
August 2006—Daniel and Julie Rangel moved to Mexico to work in the school, Daniel as Principal of the Secondary and Julie teaches English. Julie is one of our HUGS Translators as well. Daniel and Julie both serve as relief house parents to one of our homes each week.
December 2006—Both Israel and Dorcas Avalos and Tomas and Ana Perez left the ministry to serve in other church works in Mexico.
July 2007—Seth Thomas became the Executive Director of Niños de México. Terry Stine became the President of Boise Bible College (ID) and a member of the Board of Directors of Niños de México.
July 2007—Bryan King took on the role of Field Director in Mexico.
December 2007—Joshua and Rachel Gordon moved back to the States to continue their education.
January 2008—Matthew and Tiffany Carmichael stepped into the position of STM (Short-Term Mission) Hosts in the area of Hospitality and Maintenance. Luis and Lorena Escutia also took on the ministry as House Parents in Casa Genesis.
