by Roger and Joanne Griffin | Feb 5, 2026 | SAMS Missionaries
Back in May we wrote about being hooked up with an expat group in a little town called, San Miguel de Allende. Here’s what has happened since:
A curious group of about twenty persons attended that first service in English. Among them, the owner of the chapel, Don Pablo, came with his sister and her husband. They were deeply moved to be worshiping in their family chapel, to the point that Don Pablo asked us to also offer a service in Spanish for his many employees. Oh yes! What joy! 
Two weeks later we had an English service with about twelve, and a Spanish service with almost thirty! Every month since May, we have returned to celebrate the Eucharist and bring the Gospel to both beautiful groups.
But is it a “church” yet?
It takes a lot of commitment from everyone to start a church. We knew we needed to have weekly Sunday services, but even the once-a-month rent for the chapel was more than the group could support. And where would we have Bible Study, or children’s church? San Miguel is expensive! How will God do this? Nonetheless, we saw that God had given Roger favor among both groups, and we love the community they are forming. But where, how, could things go forward? Was there no room at the Inns of San Miguel?
“God, what are you doing?” was our daily prayer while we continued to work in supply and support ministry, now working in three different states in Mexico every month.
By November we were perplexed and tired. We stepped back from all other services, thinking to get quiet. Instead, we decided to seek that quiet in San Miguel for a couple of weeks– long enough to really know the people involved. We needed clarity. We were exploring ways to overcome the practical hurdles and expenses of a full-time church, knowing it would change our lives radically to uproot from Aguascalientes, to serve in one place after seven years of circuit-riding.
While we were in San Miguel for Thanksgiving, Roger arranged a meeting with Don Pablo, ready to negotiate the possibility of weekly rental of the chapel. That was the first hurdle for the group. But Don Pablo surprised him with the generous suggestion that the group should consider his family chapel their home. For free. Any days or times. Extra garden space for the kids. Whatever. Free.
We were stunned into a quiet ride back to our AirBnB, our hearts full of wonder. The next day we procured a rental contract on a little casa for us in San Miguel starting in January. The adventure begins!
But first, we flew home for Christmas. We’d downsized and packed for the move while staring at the higher cost of living, the cost of the interstate move, the unknowns, and—none of it mattered! We see that God was already providing for what is obviously a church being born, by His will, in the fullness of time. We are merely His little donkey carrying the Light.
Like some anxious midwife, I immediately bought liturgical fabrics for the altar. Others had already stepped up and donated candlesticks, a podium, and a small sound system. My keyboard will now fill the little chapel with praise. Someone always brings flowers. Everyone brings something for the coffee/snack time between services so that expats and locals have time to meet each other. It’s beautiful to watch, and really, we had little to do with it except a plodding obedience. I think we got our answer: Yes. It’s a church!
We moved to San Miguel de Allende on January 14th. On the 28th, Bishop Steven Tighe and his diocesan staff joined us for a consecration of the Chapel of St. Mary and Joseph and confirmed Roger as the rector. On February 1st, we had our first official Sunday service.
by Roger and Joanne Griffin | May 15, 2025 | SAMS Missionaries
We never know where the Lord may lead us, but through an intercontinental rabbit trail involving Coloradans with relatives in Mexico, messages to GAFCON in Africa, then to ACNA in the U.S., to Bishop Tighe in the Diocese of the Southwest, to a clergy retreat in Santa Fe, NM, to a business card left in my purse for 2 weeks before someone reminded me (whew!)– we are grateful to God for completing the connection! He led us to the city of San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico, to worship with a group of ex-pats there. After we made contact, had a Zoom call, and agreed to drive the three hours to San Miguel, the group there assembled the funds to rent a lovely little chapel last Wednesday evening. May is a sweltering hot month, but we were 23 people together, excited at this kickoff of what may be a new Anglican Church in Mexico. It gave us a chance to make new friends, and the privilege to worship the Lord in our native language. Praise be to God! We are returning at the end of May to lead two services, one in English and one in Spanish, as there was much interest within the Mexican community.
Please be in prayer for this small, but dedicated group of Anglicans who are exploring the possibility of forming a congregation for the glory of the Lord and the extension of His kingdom in Mexico.
Last week we also ministered in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, and provided free tacos for Mother’s Day after the service. Tomorrow, May 16, we head out for a two-week driving circuit, visiting churches in the city of Puebla, and in Xalapa, Veracruz. On the way back we will stop again for the group in San Miguel de Allende. Please pray for our safety as we travel the Mexican highways, and for the churches in Mexico that are forming under the challenges of economy, safety, and uncertainty. Pray also for the local church here in Aguascalientes as it restarts with a new generation of families. We are grateful to be a small part of the work of the Gospel through SAMS, and blessed to read the blogs of others here and realize how great is our God!
by Roger and Joanne Griffin | Nov 19, 2023 | Latin America, Mexico, SAMS Missionaries, Theological Education
“A man makes his plans, but God directs his steps.”
Since January 2019, Roger and I have been living full time in Aguascalientes Mexico. Most of Roger’s service in that time has involved an unplanned appointment to the office of the Dean of Mexico. It wasn’t even imagined in our strategies, but God, through the ACNA Diocese of the Southwest, had His own.
Then, Roger was ordained as a priest in ACNA, which also was never in our plans! Best of all, the ordination was in the lovely palapa-church in Puerto Vallarta– complete with mariachis! Priestly ordination means Roger now works in the supply-side of available priests for the congregations in Mexico. 
It provides more opportunity to visit churches, to assist pastors, and to financially support them in their work and seminary studies.
Trinity Church in Guadalajara
Practical Plans
Whatever the plans, SAMS is our compass point of unflagging support with their prayers and care for us. That, too, wasn’t exactly planned, but the Diocese of South Carolina arranged that at the beginning of our journey. We have found out how wise that step was! To have a sending organization that is tuned in, available, and effective makes all the difference for length of service. And length of time in-country counts toward lasting fruit. The long vision is in the bones of SAMS’ founding, and we’re blessed –and challenged– to be part of that lengthy presence in missions.
44 Years as Supportive Sidekick 
My plans? Well, for the last 44 years of marriage, I’ve been the blogger, the chronicler, and the chief cook and laundry queen of my happy little domain of support. I am tasked to be the social-butterfly of outreach, to make connections with new neighbors, and find new events and opportunities to bless Mexico. Roger says it’s like I’m his social crash-test sidekick. (Heh. My plans are coming together!) We are growing lasting friendships here, as permanent residents. I write about it all, and more, in our Facebook group, The Griffins in Mexico, and will share more here in the coming year.
Certainly, in five years we have had many unplanned events, most of which turned out miraculously well!, may God be praised! We do depend on God to direct our steps to where He is working. We love His church here in Mexico and hope to help you love it, too.
Blessings in Christ,
-Joanne
by Roger and Joanne Griffin | May 18, 2018 | Latin America, Mexico, SAMS Missionaries
I just returned from Aguascalientes, Mexico where I teamed up once again with Peter Sholl of MOCLAM (Moore College Latin America) to teach an intensive course on the Pentateuch (pictured). The class was well attended with 7 students. I was expecting leaders from 2 of the area churches but was pleasantly surprised to have 5 leaders representing all 3 of the churches in the area.
The best thing to happen was when I was teaching on the 10 commandments. When we got to commandment number 4 – remember the Sabbath – I asked the leaders about their Sabbath, if and how they took time for rest and refreshment. The discussion went on for 10 to 15 minutes. At lunch I asked if they ever took time to get together for fellowship, sharing and to pray for each other. No, they said, this was the first time they had ever taken time to talk and share with each other. Then I made a suggestion, “while we’re all here together, why don’t we take some time to pray for each other?” Also, “Can I encourage you guys to do this on a regular basis? It is so important.” Immediately they began making plans as to how and when they could get together next.
It was a totally unexpected opportunity to speak into the lives of these hard-working ministers. I love it when God surprises me like this and orchestrates one of His divine appointments.
Enjoy the brief video of our worship time as Pastor Miguel Merino leads us – Praise and Prayer
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