Sovereign Grace Missionaries In Mexico

Walter and Betty Groover - Cody and Winna Groover

Walter and Betty Groover moved to Merida, Mexico in October 1964, after Walter’s graduation from Texas College of Theology in Pasadena, Texas, USA. They arrived in Merida, with five small children ranging in age from nine months to nine years old. Today, their children are all grown with families of their own; but Walter and Betty remain in the place of their calling.

For thirty-five years, Walter has faithfully preached the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ. Travelling almost every night of the week for many years to different pueblos throughout the state of Yucatan, the Lord has been pleased to use his faithful servant for the conversion of many and to establish several local churches.

Churches Established

Today, gospel churches with faithful pastors are found in Tekal, Yobain, Seye, Dzidzantun, Tecoh, Takzibichen and Calcehtok Each of the churches which have been established in that time are independent, self-supporting, self-governing Baptist churches. They are each firmly committed to preaching the gospel of God’s sovereign grace.

Like any faithful servant of God, Walter has been required to endure trials and afflictions for the gospel’s sake. He and Betty say little about those things, and count them but “light afflictions,” in comparison to the blessed privilege of knowing and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father And Son Together

Four years ago, the Lord called the Groovers’ oldest Son, Cody, to the work of the gospel as well. In August of 1995, Cody and his wife Winna, with their three small children (ages 5, 7, and 9), moved to Merida. Cody has joined his father in all aspects of ministry throughout the Yucatan.

In addition to the established churches mentioned above, Walter and Cody are currently working with three pastors from those churches and a student from their preachers’ school to establish new churches in Merida, Opichen, San Pedro and Acanke.

Preachers’ School

A preachers’ school was established in 1977 to train the pastors of the churches. It is not a typical Bible College preacher mill. There is no graduation from this school. The pastors continue to come for as long as they desire. Each Monday the school gathers in Merida. The students and pastors travel many hours to and from Merida for the classes. Walter and Cody each teach classes; and five of the pastors teach classes as well on a rotating basis in the afternoon sessions.

Other Works

In June of 1998, Cody began travelling to the state of Chiapas to help the saints of God there. Bro. Milton Howard (now pastoring in Ball, Louisiana, USA) served as a missionary in Chiapas for twenty-five years. The church he established in Tuxtla lost its pastor a while back. So Cody is trying to assist them, as much as he is able. He is hoping the Lord will be pleased to send one of the students in the preachers’ school there.

In August of that same year, a small group of believers in the Dominican Republic asked Walter and Cody if they would come there to help them. Cody has taken two trips there; and Walter has gone once. Perhaps the Lord will be pleased to raise up a gospel church there as well.

If you are interested in learning more about the Groovers and the work the Lord is doing through them in Mexico and elsewhere, you may wish to visit their web site at (http:// Error! Bookmark not defined.), or write to them at

Correos Reforma

Apartado 33

Merida, Yucatan,

Mexico. 97006