Calvary Baptist from Chattanooga, Tennessee Visits Peru

Calvary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN sent a team of 25 on a mission trip to Peru.  They worked hard at the radio plant clearing the open ground and planting new grass.  They also ministered in two of our churches with songs, puppets, and messages.  The children who attend our church at the radio plant came to helped at times.  

The team also did some tract distribution and took time to shop and see some sights.  One day they went out on boats and saw some of the marine life of Peru.  For us, the best part of the week is the testimony time.  Ruth and I get to hear how others came to Christ and what the Lord is doing in their lives.   

They were a great blessing and encouragement to us.  We pray other churches will send a group as well.  Groups from our supporting churches lift our spirits. 

Faith Baptist Takes on First Missionary

Last month, the church we are starting in Lima (Faith Baptist Church) began supporting their first missionaries.  Javier Huaman and his wife, Rosa, are graduates from our Seminary in the city of Trujillo.  They have three children: Milca, Isaí and Keyla.  

The Huamán Family: Our First Missionaries

This is Milca and Isaí.

 Little Milca quoted John 3:16 word perfect.

Isaí gave his testimony on how he was saved.  It was so sweet.

We are excited to be a part of their ministry.  Although our church is only getting started, we want to learn from the beginning to have a missionary heart.

Pray for Javier and Rosa as they church plant in a very difficult area in Lima.  Pray for our new church plant to catch the missionary vision and be a great supporting church.

Our First Communion Service

Bob and Janet Johnson wrote and asked what they could do to serve us here in Peru, we shared with them the need for a communion set for the Lord's supper.  They shared the need with their home church and friends.  Thanks to Bob and Janet, Valley Forge Baptist Temple and many friends in Calvary Baptist in Lansdale, PA, our church has its own complete communion set.

When Bob and Janet came to Peru to visit, they brought part of the communion set with them.

Bob and Janet Johnson

Just a few days after they left Peru, we had our first Lord's supper. 

Our First Communion Service 

The Cup - His Blood Was Shed for Us

Remembering Christ's Death 'till He comes again

Scripture Reading on Christ's Death

It was a milestone for us and so wonderful to remember the Lord's death and sacrifice for our sins as a church family in this special way.  

Preaching in an Anniversary Campaign

Last month, Ruth and I ministered in a church on the other side of Lima.  

This is what the surrounding area looks like from the top of the church.  

These are typical views of many Lima urban areas Lima.

I preached every night on Thursday through Saturday and on Sunday taught Sunday School and preached twice.

Pastor Látimer Rengifo is the pastor and he does a great job.  His wife's name is Eunice and she does an excellent job in her role as pastor's wife.  

God is blessing their ministry and the church is growing.  Pastor Látimer is also the voice that gives a lot of our announcements over the radio.  He gives his time free of charge to help our ministry. 

And guess who was right by my side during the week?  

My Sweetheart who is also my best listener.

A Changed Life

Marco Antonio is our primary taxi driver.  He heard about our radio station and began attending our church.  For over 20 years he had attended a Baptist church, been baptized and believed he was on his way to heaven.  After hearing many messages explaining that salvation is by grace through faith alone in Christ’s work, he fell under conviction.  After hearing a message I gave on Cornelius and a message my assistant gave on the purpose of living, the conviction grew.

All this time, he is taxing us all over Lima.  For days, then weeks that stretched into months, Marco asked questions.  Just recently, he came to the understanding that he did not have eternal life and was converted.

 Presenting Marco Antonio to the church.

 Marco Antonio professes his faith in Christ.

The joy in his heart radiates from his face.  Marco is a changed man in every way. 

 A changed man.

What a joy it is to see someone come to Christ.

Radio Station Reaches All of Lima

 Our new transmitter is now connected and running smoothly.  

 Our new transmitter is now installed.

The signal is strong, clear and covers all of Lima.  There are only a few, small pockets where mountains interfere with the signal.  

 The transmitter humming along at 20,000 watts.

Consider what God done up to this point through His people in this ministry.  The radio ministry gives the gospel and preaches the Word of God 24 hours a day 7 days a week non-stop to a potential listening audience of approximately 10 million people.  It penetrates effectively the capitol of Lima where one-third of the entire country lives.  Our broadcast also reaches beyond Lima to thousands more.  Others hear it over the internet.  

We have increased our staff to five and the transmitting power has recently quadrupled.  The free-will offerings from radio listeners already cover most of our monthly budget costs. 

 

It has taken years to accomplish and the road was not easy.  We thank the Lord for so many who have had a part.  We want to publically express our gratitude for the work teams from the following churches:

Calvary Baptist Church (Lansdale, PA)

Valley Forge Baptist Temple (Collegeville, PA)

            Marantha Baptist Church (Hayesville, OH)

Mountain Showdows Baptist Church (Pueblo West,CO)

            Chris Collins, Jr. from Suber Road Baptist Church (Greer, SC). 

Several returned to Peru a second time to help us!   Thanks to all of you who have given, prayed, poured cement, sanded boards, and done a hundred other things.  Many dug and dug and dug to put in our radial wires. 

A special word of thanks to Les Crist and John Stanley, who have been our engineering consultants guiding us from a distance through the project.  Wilfredo Carrera came from Trujillo and has worked tirelessly for many weeks.  Jorge Ávila has given his heart and soul into this ministry and is now our caretaker who lives at the plant.  Our associate pastor, Edward Zacarías has worked untold hours and has an uncanny ability in technical matters coupled with spiritual discernment and a heart for Christ.  He and his wife (Margarita), supporting him in the shadows, have been key.  My sweet wife, Ruth, has continually encouraged me and stayed many nights in a shipping container for the cause of Christ and never uttered a word of complaint.

We hope we have not left anyone out in our recognition of those who have labored to see this project become a reality.  There are others who cannot be mentioned who have prayed continually and given sacrificially.

But most of all, we want our wonderful Lord to be glorified and praised in what HE has done.  It is His ministry and it is for His glory.  The project was beyond us and it is obvious that His hand has accomplished what He has determined.

 Our new sign at the radio plant.

We thank and praise Him.  We thank you.  We rejoice and are humbled by His goodness to us.  The work has only begun as we continue to guide, counsel, preach and teach through the tool God has given us.  The opportunities are flooding in as God enlarges His work. 

Visits from Baptist Mid-Missions Office

 We recently enjoyed the visit of Bro. V.W. Peters.  He is our mission administrator. 

He took the time to greet our church in the evening service. Bro. Peters travels a lot and guides those who serve Christ as missionaries under Baptist Mid-Missions on foreign soil. He is a very hard working man and has a difficult job. The Lord has used him many times by giving us helpful counsel in decision making.  

Steve Fulks (my brother-in-law) also accompanied Bro. Peters. 

Steve served Christ for years as a missionary in Peru. He brought the message in our church in Lima.  It was an honor to introduce him to our church family.  We had several decisions on the night he spoke. 

On Sunday, we squeezed in a lunch with all the Mission family meeting together. 

The food and fellowship were great.  Not pictured is Ruth as she was taking the picture.