October 6, 2012
Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
It certainly is exciting to be serving the Lord here in Lima, Peru. What a privilege to be representatives of Christ here in South America. We are thanking God for His continued provision of all of our needs. Our family is thankful for good health and strength to serve our God. Our family is doing well, and the boys are growing like weeds!
We are also excited about the growth of our church family. At this time our church is at capacity; we cannot fit many more people inside our building. The children are meeting at the community center down the road on Sunday mornings. This allows for a bit more room. We are praying for God’s leading on a new building for our church. We are hoping to move soon to facilitate more growth in our main location.
I have been enjoying teaching on the subject of “The Church” in the adult Sunday school class. It is a blessing to teach on this while watching a church being formed. The people are eagerly learning more and more each week. One of the things that really is exciting is teaching young Christians how to win souls to Christ. In the last several weeks, I have been privileged to have a man named Paul as my soul-winning partner. He was able to lead his first soul to Christ. Then this last Saturday, I was able to take three adults soul winning with me, and two were able to lead their first soul to Christ! Soul winning here is such a blessing! People are very open to the Gospel. We are praying that we continue to see much fruit to your account.
Last week we attended the memorial service for the son of a man who faithfully attends our church. Although he lives in a district some distance away, Jose and his wife come each week and usually bring visitors. At the memorial service, 78 people attended, and 2 people trusted Christ after hearing a Gospel message by Bro. Hubbard. Jose and his wife have asked that I start a Bible study in their home each week so that they can reach some of these people who are dear to their hearts. Bro. Junior Martin and our family will be working with these people in the district of Villa Maria de Triunfo. Please be in prayer for this new work. We feel that God would have us to start a church there from this Bible study.
Please continue to be in prayer for our ministry here. Words cannot express how grateful we are to God for each of you. We pray for you often. Thank you again for your support and prayers.
His for souls,
Zach and Karin Foust, Zachary, C.J., and Logan
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
September Prayer Letter from the Raders
Dear Praying Friends,
September was exceptional! We presented our work in 9 churches in 4 different states. My wife and I were privileged to see 7 saved through personal soul winning. In Waupaca, Wisconsin, two men approached me after the evening service and asked me to come soul winning with them that evening. Marty, Pat, and I went to a park where a group of teenagers were congregated. We began to witness, and the scoffers spoke first. As we dwelt with them kindly, the sincere teenagers listened. When the
scoffers left, we spoke with the others. Rocky, York, and Marriah put all their trust in Christ close to midnight. This is my kind of late-night party!
A week later we were in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. I was soul winning with Tim Koslowski. We knocked on Sheila and Dean’s door. They both listened as we carefully witnessed. Sheila told us that this is the first time in years Dean had listened to anyone talking about the Bible. They were going to a wedding later that day where Sheila would meet her half-sister for the first time in 25 years. Sheila was
rescued from a dumpster when she was a baby. When she was a young adult, her half-sister dumped her children on Sheila’s doorstep and disappeared. The children are now grown. We led Sheila to Christ. Just as we were leaving, Sheila’s half-sister and her adult children were at the door. We had to dismiss ourselves, but it was a sweet reunion. God is good!
Speaking of the goodness of God, on September 17, we purchased our tickets to Peru.
“Woo, who!” We fly to Peru on November 27. We are so grateful for the grace of God shown through so many churches that have made this possible. We hope to represent you well as your ambassadors. For the time remaining, we are working on our outgoing and departure needs. If you would like to know our needs, you may request them by e-mail. Our e-mail address is markrader@fbmi.org.
We cannot properly express our gratitude for so many churches giving so much to make our ministry possible. Our support is now over 70% and increasing. Please pray that the rest will come in time. Our team already in Peru is already seeing amazing blessings and great progress. We’re looking forward to joining them. Thank you to so many for your love, support, and prayers. We love you. God bless you.
His for Peru,
Mark, Sarah,
Savannah, & Paul Rader
September was exceptional! We presented our work in 9 churches in 4 different states. My wife and I were privileged to see 7 saved through personal soul winning. In Waupaca, Wisconsin, two men approached me after the evening service and asked me to come soul winning with them that evening. Marty, Pat, and I went to a park where a group of teenagers were congregated. We began to witness, and the scoffers spoke first. As we dwelt with them kindly, the sincere teenagers listened. When the
scoffers left, we spoke with the others. Rocky, York, and Marriah put all their trust in Christ close to midnight. This is my kind of late-night party!
A week later we were in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. I was soul winning with Tim Koslowski. We knocked on Sheila and Dean’s door. They both listened as we carefully witnessed. Sheila told us that this is the first time in years Dean had listened to anyone talking about the Bible. They were going to a wedding later that day where Sheila would meet her half-sister for the first time in 25 years. Sheila was
rescued from a dumpster when she was a baby. When she was a young adult, her half-sister dumped her children on Sheila’s doorstep and disappeared. The children are now grown. We led Sheila to Christ. Just as we were leaving, Sheila’s half-sister and her adult children were at the door. We had to dismiss ourselves, but it was a sweet reunion. God is good!
Speaking of the goodness of God, on September 17, we purchased our tickets to Peru.
“Woo, who!” We fly to Peru on November 27. We are so grateful for the grace of God shown through so many churches that have made this possible. We hope to represent you well as your ambassadors. For the time remaining, we are working on our outgoing and departure needs. If you would like to know our needs, you may request them by e-mail. Our e-mail address is markrader@fbmi.org.
We cannot properly express our gratitude for so many churches giving so much to make our ministry possible. Our support is now over 70% and increasing. Please pray that the rest will come in time. Our team already in Peru is already seeing amazing blessings and great progress. We’re looking forward to joining them. Thank you to so many for your love, support, and prayers. We love you. God bless you.
His for Peru,
Mark, Sarah,
Savannah, & Paul Rader
Thursday, October 11, 2012
September Prayer Letter from the Martin Family
October 8, 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
Spring has sprung here on the south side of the equator! The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining more, and God continues to bless us here in Chorrillos. September has been an interesting month for us, as well as one full of blessings. Don’t worry . . . I will try to condense!
A month of achievement. God granted many victories to us this last month. The biggest, of course, was our first baptismal service. I found a local man who constructed a baptistery for us out of fiberglass, and we set it up at the home of one of our church members. His large backyard was a huge blessing, as we have no space for it at our church. At the conclusion of our Sunday morning service, we relocated everyone over to Paul’s house and baptized 14 people! This was a huge step for so many of church people. We have since baptized 3 more and have 6 lined up for our next service. I wish I could tell you each story. The story of Miri and her children is especially amazing! Please take a moment to read more about her at this link from my wife’s blog: http://happytrails365.wordpress.com /2012/09/14/faiths-real-heroes/.
A month of accomplishment. Another great victory comes from our church people soul winning. In September, 6 of our Peruvian people led their first soul to Christ! Amen! Cecilia has already won 7 people to the Lord. There is nothing greater than seeing that excitement in their eyes and the hunger they have as they share the Gospel. Recently 2 of our teen girls, Katty and Esperanza, wanted me to meet one of their friends and talk to her parents about church. The next Saturday, Jess and I picked both of them up and were then informed we needed to pick up another one of their friends. We did and then went to make our visit. When we got to her house, we discovered her parents were not at home, but Katty had already told her she was coming with us. We took the four of them to lunch, and sitting around the table, I was able to lead both Estefani and Nicole to Christ. Best of all, the girls set the whole thing up!
A month of advancement. Knowing that God has great things in store for us, we are moving forward with the vision God has given us for Peru. We are currently conducting six Bible studies each week in the homes of our church people. However, we also realized we had two great opportunities that were waiting for us. We have two different groups of people that have been coming to our church from two different districts close to Chorrillos: Surco and Villa Maria del Triunfo. As these groups continue coming and continue bringing visitors, we realized we needed to start something in their district. So this week we will be starting a midweek Bible study in each of these districts! God has brought these families to us for a purpose. Within time, both of these Bibles studies will evolve into churches!
A month of asking. I am not so naïve to think that the Devil is oblivious to what God is doing here. These last two months have truly taught us to pray. Pray for our people for the growing pains and family pressure that come from being a new Christian. Please also continue to pray for our space issue. The church is maxed out in our current location, and if we are going to continue growing, we must get a new building. I mentioned in our last letter that God had opened a door for us on a new property. This door has not been shut, but the deal is very close to falling through. I know that God has a place for us in His timing. Please pray for patience, wisdom, direction, and, most of all, a permanent home for IBI that can sustain our growth.
A month of addition. In September we also had our best attendance yet of 92. This is incredible, especially because we still have not had a big attendance push (due to space). However, through our church services and Bible studies, we are averaging 116 different people attending our church each week! God is so good! We also saw a total of 78 saved last month through our services and personal soul winning.
I never feel as if words are adequate enough to express how grateful we are to each of you. It is your prayers and financial support that allow us to do everything we do. How great your rewards will be in Heaven one day! I hope one day you will be able to see the faces and hear firsthand all the stories of the lives you have touched. I would especially like to thank the Open Door Baptist Church in California for taking us on for support this last month.
God bless each of you and thank you again for the privilege of serving on your behalf in Lima, Peru!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Dear Praying Friends,
Spring has sprung here on the south side of the equator! The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining more, and God continues to bless us here in Chorrillos. September has been an interesting month for us, as well as one full of blessings. Don’t worry . . . I will try to condense!
A month of achievement. God granted many victories to us this last month. The biggest, of course, was our first baptismal service. I found a local man who constructed a baptistery for us out of fiberglass, and we set it up at the home of one of our church members. His large backyard was a huge blessing, as we have no space for it at our church. At the conclusion of our Sunday morning service, we relocated everyone over to Paul’s house and baptized 14 people! This was a huge step for so many of church people. We have since baptized 3 more and have 6 lined up for our next service. I wish I could tell you each story. The story of Miri and her children is especially amazing! Please take a moment to read more about her at this link from my wife’s blog: http://happytrails365.wordpress.com /2012/09/14/faiths-real-heroes/.
A month of accomplishment. Another great victory comes from our church people soul winning. In September, 6 of our Peruvian people led their first soul to Christ! Amen! Cecilia has already won 7 people to the Lord. There is nothing greater than seeing that excitement in their eyes and the hunger they have as they share the Gospel. Recently 2 of our teen girls, Katty and Esperanza, wanted me to meet one of their friends and talk to her parents about church. The next Saturday, Jess and I picked both of them up and were then informed we needed to pick up another one of their friends. We did and then went to make our visit. When we got to her house, we discovered her parents were not at home, but Katty had already told her she was coming with us. We took the four of them to lunch, and sitting around the table, I was able to lead both Estefani and Nicole to Christ. Best of all, the girls set the whole thing up!
A month of advancement. Knowing that God has great things in store for us, we are moving forward with the vision God has given us for Peru. We are currently conducting six Bible studies each week in the homes of our church people. However, we also realized we had two great opportunities that were waiting for us. We have two different groups of people that have been coming to our church from two different districts close to Chorrillos: Surco and Villa Maria del Triunfo. As these groups continue coming and continue bringing visitors, we realized we needed to start something in their district. So this week we will be starting a midweek Bible study in each of these districts! God has brought these families to us for a purpose. Within time, both of these Bibles studies will evolve into churches!
A month of asking. I am not so naïve to think that the Devil is oblivious to what God is doing here. These last two months have truly taught us to pray. Pray for our people for the growing pains and family pressure that come from being a new Christian. Please also continue to pray for our space issue. The church is maxed out in our current location, and if we are going to continue growing, we must get a new building. I mentioned in our last letter that God had opened a door for us on a new property. This door has not been shut, but the deal is very close to falling through. I know that God has a place for us in His timing. Please pray for patience, wisdom, direction, and, most of all, a permanent home for IBI that can sustain our growth.
A month of addition. In September we also had our best attendance yet of 92. This is incredible, especially because we still have not had a big attendance push (due to space). However, through our church services and Bible studies, we are averaging 116 different people attending our church each week! God is so good! We also saw a total of 78 saved last month through our services and personal soul winning.
I never feel as if words are adequate enough to express how grateful we are to each of you. It is your prayers and financial support that allow us to do everything we do. How great your rewards will be in Heaven one day! I hope one day you will be able to see the faces and hear firsthand all the stories of the lives you have touched. I would especially like to thank the Open Door Baptist Church in California for taking us on for support this last month.
God bless each of you and thank you again for the privilege of serving on your behalf in Lima, Peru!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
September Prayer Letter from the Kokubuns
Dear Friends,
Growth is the one word that describes the recent events here at Iglesia Bautista Internfacional. Physically and spiritually, we have seen the church in the heart of Chorrillos mature little by little. "Line upon line; precept upon precept," the little church on the corner is bringing new life to a dying area.
The first baptismal service of IBI was a very sweet time in the life our young church. We recently had a local Peruvian construct a semi-portable baptistery tank. (It’s amazing what they can construct on an empty lot!) With the church full to capacity every Sunday morning, we had nowhere to put it comfortably. A couple of our faithful members, Paul and his father Percy, allowed us to use their back patio to stage the baptistery service. Living only a couple blocks from the church, this was perfect.
You could feel the excitement as you pulled into church that morning. Every other person had a Bible in one hand and a change of clothes in the other. After the morning service, the whole church walked down the street a couple of blocks to Paul's house for the baptismal service. I asked one of the older gentlemen in the church if he wanted a ride to the house. He looked at me and said, "No, I'm still young. I'm only seventy years old. I'll walk." He laughed as he turned around to join the others walking to the house. I remember looking over his shoulder and seeing an army of people walking down the street to get baptized. What a sight!
The service was so sweet. Seeing those people who had trusted Christ and now make up Iglesia Bautista Internacional was incredible. Anna, a practicing Catholic, was the first to get in the water. For her this was, yes, a step of obedience but more a change of life. It was a decision to forsake all that she had been taught to walk in the right path.
Every Thursday now for about a month, Anna, her husband Carlos, and their two kids come to my house to study the Bible with another family. I marvel every week as they hang on every word that I teach. Our Bible study starts at 7:00 p.m., and there has not been a night yet that we have finished before 10:00 p.m.—over three hours of just teaching and answering questions about the Bible. I love it! It never ceases to amaze me how God has placed us here for just this time.
I went out to lunch the other day with one of my teenagers. He is a little older. He has finished what we would call high school. Renzo was telling me how he had pursued other professions; but nothing had every worked out, and he did not understand why. He told me that now that he and his family have attended our church, God has showed him he believes why: to attend our seminary that we plan to start this spring. Just the other day after Bro. Hubbard finished preaching, Renzo told Preacher that he feels like God wants him in the ministry.
I got to pray with Renzo Wednesday morning at our first church-wide prayer meeting. God has given our church a core of strong, educated, working men. What an honor it was for me to pray with such men of faith, who, in the past of couple months, have had their lives and families transformed.
Many things are happening. The church is growing. We had 92 in attendance a couple weeks of ago. People are getting involved through tithes, painting the church, repairing the building, soul winning, cleaning, praying, and much more. We are very excited about the future.
I would ask that you pray for two pressing things at the moment. We need another location for the church; we are over capacity right now. Pray for God to open a door there. Also pray for God's protection from Satan during these times. It is becoming more and more evident that Satan is aware and hates what is going on in the little church on the corner. Please pray for God's protection.
Thank you for your love and support through these times. I look forward to serving on your and my Saviour’s behalf for many years to come. My wife and I love you and pray for you often.
Very sincerely,
Daniel & Heather Kokubun
Growth is the one word that describes the recent events here at Iglesia Bautista Internfacional. Physically and spiritually, we have seen the church in the heart of Chorrillos mature little by little. "Line upon line; precept upon precept," the little church on the corner is bringing new life to a dying area.
The first baptismal service of IBI was a very sweet time in the life our young church. We recently had a local Peruvian construct a semi-portable baptistery tank. (It’s amazing what they can construct on an empty lot!) With the church full to capacity every Sunday morning, we had nowhere to put it comfortably. A couple of our faithful members, Paul and his father Percy, allowed us to use their back patio to stage the baptistery service. Living only a couple blocks from the church, this was perfect.
You could feel the excitement as you pulled into church that morning. Every other person had a Bible in one hand and a change of clothes in the other. After the morning service, the whole church walked down the street a couple of blocks to Paul's house for the baptismal service. I asked one of the older gentlemen in the church if he wanted a ride to the house. He looked at me and said, "No, I'm still young. I'm only seventy years old. I'll walk." He laughed as he turned around to join the others walking to the house. I remember looking over his shoulder and seeing an army of people walking down the street to get baptized. What a sight!
The service was so sweet. Seeing those people who had trusted Christ and now make up Iglesia Bautista Internacional was incredible. Anna, a practicing Catholic, was the first to get in the water. For her this was, yes, a step of obedience but more a change of life. It was a decision to forsake all that she had been taught to walk in the right path.
Every Thursday now for about a month, Anna, her husband Carlos, and their two kids come to my house to study the Bible with another family. I marvel every week as they hang on every word that I teach. Our Bible study starts at 7:00 p.m., and there has not been a night yet that we have finished before 10:00 p.m.—over three hours of just teaching and answering questions about the Bible. I love it! It never ceases to amaze me how God has placed us here for just this time.
I went out to lunch the other day with one of my teenagers. He is a little older. He has finished what we would call high school. Renzo was telling me how he had pursued other professions; but nothing had every worked out, and he did not understand why. He told me that now that he and his family have attended our church, God has showed him he believes why: to attend our seminary that we plan to start this spring. Just the other day after Bro. Hubbard finished preaching, Renzo told Preacher that he feels like God wants him in the ministry.
I got to pray with Renzo Wednesday morning at our first church-wide prayer meeting. God has given our church a core of strong, educated, working men. What an honor it was for me to pray with such men of faith, who, in the past of couple months, have had their lives and families transformed.
Many things are happening. The church is growing. We had 92 in attendance a couple weeks of ago. People are getting involved through tithes, painting the church, repairing the building, soul winning, cleaning, praying, and much more. We are very excited about the future.
I would ask that you pray for two pressing things at the moment. We need another location for the church; we are over capacity right now. Pray for God to open a door there. Also pray for God's protection from Satan during these times. It is becoming more and more evident that Satan is aware and hates what is going on in the little church on the corner. Please pray for God's protection.
Thank you for your love and support through these times. I look forward to serving on your and my Saviour’s behalf for many years to come. My wife and I love you and pray for you often.
Very sincerely,
Daniel & Heather Kokubun
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