Wednesday, May 16, 2012

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.