James Baird related in a sermon:

When we started the PCA (Presbyterian Church in American) in 1973, we had no money—not a dime—and we were going to start a new denomination. One group gave us $90,000 for world missions. The only two missionaries we had were down in Acapulco. We had Dick Dye and a young lady named Ellen Barnett.

Dick Dye was down there for about 2 months, and he was discouraged. He looked up every day, and on top of one of those mountains of Acapulco was a huge cross, and that encouraged him. Finally, after about 2 months of looking at it, he drove up there to find out about that cross. And when he did, he found it in a big hotel.

He drove in and asked the secretary, "Can I speak to the man who runs this whole establishment?"

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No appointment, I just want to tell him something."

"What do you want to tell him?"

"I want to tell him thank you."

"Okay." So she got the owner. He was a German. Dick Dye explained: "I'm a missionary from the U.S., here in Acapulco. I've been discouraged. It's been 2 months, and I see that cross and it so encourages me, and I want to thank you for having it up there."

The man looked at Dick Dye, put his head down on his desk, and began to weep. And he wept, and he wept, and he wept. Finally, he raised his head and said: "That cross has been up there for years. All I've heard is criticism. You're the first man that ever said 'thank you.' Now, who are you and what do you need?"

"Well, I'm just a missionary," Dick answered.

"Where do you meet?"

"We don't meet anywhere. I don't have any place to meet."

The owner said, "Come with me." He took Dick to a beautiful chapel and said: "We have church here at 9 A.M. and 11 A.M. But from now on, at 10 A.M., it is yours. You begin services next week."

That was the beginning, and within a matter of years, we turned four congregations over to the Presbyterian Church of Mexico. How did it start? With one guy who said "thank you."