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
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