As it has been my custom since 2007, I went to Iquitos and Requena to preach and teach the Word of God to our brothers in Christ. This time I traveled with Missionary Caleb Stein, who works with me in the Baptist Seminary of Peru. (Photo: Caleb and I in the airport of Lima).
In Requena, Caleb taught “Prayer in the Book of Acts” during the day and preached about the holiness and sanctification that must grow in our lives as followers of Christ. He had 7 students in his class.
I taught “Church Administration” during the day and preached about the role that the believer and the church should have in politics. I had 17 students in my class. During the evening meetings we had a very good attendance. I spoke to the people about a political theme because, since we are in an election year, they asked me to teach the believers about this important theme.
As I had shared with you in a previous update, now the pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church in Requena is our brother Manuel Guevara, who is also the president of ABCDE Requena. I am pleased with this change because the church also has a new enthusiasm for our Lord and His work. (Photo: The brothers and sisters participated with enthusiasm in the night conferences).
Also, in my last letter, I spoke of Yamir, a youth from Requena. He was willing to go to prepare himself for God’s work in our Seminary in Trujillo. Sadly, he is not ready to start his preparation this year. I ask that you would pray for him so that God will confirm whether or not this is a true desire to prepare himself for ministry.
While we were there Ruth, the teen that we baptized last year, came to see us. She told us of her interest to serve Christ and to go to the Seminary to prepare herself. Her enthusiasm for serving the Lord is in contrast to her health because she suffers from a type of arthritis that prevents her from walking and moving her hands and body normally. If we would have had the money to bring her with us to the Seminary, we would have done it.
As we could not bring her with us, we encouraged her to wait until next year to start her preparation in Trujillo. Pray much for her, especially that God will confirm her desire to serve and that He will improve her health. God willing, we will see what God does in her live over these next months. (Photo: Ruth is smiling… She is happy because has to Christ in her heart!).
The work that we are doing in Requena has more fruit each time. Now we are receiving invitations to visit more villages along the banks of the river Ucayali. This gives me great joy because at first we not viewed with much confidence. Sadly, I do not have much time to visit all the villages, but I will do my best to visit the villages with churches that are the most involved in our ministry: Genaro Herrera, Flor de Punga, Requena and Iquitos.
In Iquitos, Caleb and I taught “Church Administration” to the leaders and the believers of Maranatha Baptist Church. The church members participated with enthusiasm and attention in our class times. We had 17 students who signed up and many others who attended in order to receive the teaching.
While we were in Iquitos, I was invited to start a new training center in a place called Oran, in the lower Amazon, in the direction of Columbia. They have informed me that one can arrive in this area in about 5 hours in a rapid transport boat. I have never visited this area, but I will make it a good visit if I am able to go. We will see what God plans to do in this respect. (Photo: The church members participated with enthusiasm and attention in our class times).
I have spoken with Pastor Milton Zambrano and the believers at Maranatha Baptist in Iquitos about this new ministry opportunity. I have asked them to take charge of coordinating and planning this new training center. For now, our brother Douglas Ferreyra, who is a deacon at Maranatha Baptist and a student in our center there, will be in charge of the initial interviews with the brothers in Oran. I will have more information in upcoming days.
Caleb and I enjoyed our time in Iquitos. The brothers were kind and hospitable to us. I ask that you continue to pray for the work of God in that area of Peru.
Thank you, beloved brothers, for your prayers and offerings given on behalf of the pastors, leaders, and churches in the jungle of Peru. May God bless you and keep you faithful in the path of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You can a video in my Chanel of YouTube: