Sitting in a small storefront church on a Sunday morning, I gazed across a congregation of people as they partook in the Lord's Supper. Some had a tear in their eye, others a peaceful look on their face, but all the joy of salvation in their heart. This Sunday morning, God's people participated in what has become one of my personal favorite times in our young church. Young Christians realizing how great a Savior they have, what it took to save them from eternal hell, and how much God really loves them.
More and more our little church on the corner is becoming like a family. Many Wednesday evenings are filled with laughter, good teaching, and fellowship. Preacher always asks for a short time where we get to share blessings that have happened to us that week before we pray. I enjoy so much hearing our people praise the Lord.
We have gotten particularly close to one family: Carlos, Anita, Alexandra and Lucas Alvites. What a joy it has been to teach them the Bible every Thursday in our weekly Bible study. Their hunger for truth has been humbling and amazing to me. There are few things I like more than explaining the Bible to them.
It all started with a visit from Anita to our church. Anita had heard the buzz of the new church in Chorrillos, but being Catholic was a bit skeptical of Iglesia Bautista International. Finally one Sunday night about three months ago, she casually
walked in and sat in the back of our service. Her husband Carlos stayed outside the church walking back and forth scared to enter this "new" church. An invitation from the pulpit cured him as Preacher in the middle of his announcements compelled Carlos to enter. They were hooked. Both received Jesus Christ as their Savior that night. After the service both thanked preacher for his kindness and asked him to pray for
their daughter who was giving them trouble at home.
The very next Wednesday Alexandra attended our services. My wife had the wonderful
opportunity of sharing the Gospel with her. Alexandra was sweetly saved. Over the next week something incredible happened. I do not know what kind of girl Alexandra was before she entered our church building, but her parents say that she was completely transformed as a result of finding the truth. Jesus completely changed her life. She was no longer a rebellious teenager, but now a child of God with a sweet joyful spirit. She is now one of our core young people in our growing youth group.
There is something special about winning someone to Christ, but there is nothing like seeing your convert lead another person to the Lord. What a happy day it was when I looked down the street and saw my wife witnessing to a little girl and just across the way, Alexandra winning her first soul to Christ.
Our youth department is slowly growing. God's timing in our lives has truly been perfect. It seems the more of the Spanish language I am able to understand and speak, the more God allows me to do with our young people. We have started our youth choir this month who will be singing in church in a couple of weeks. We also had our first youth activity. The couple you see on the left of the picture are Anita and Carlos. They have and continue to change my life with each passing week. Carlos has a desire to teach and preach the Word of God. Their family has been a blessing to us in so many ways. It is funny, so many times when you are working to give a blessing whether through our Bible study, soul winning, or working with our young people, that I many times am the one receiving the blessing.
We also feel this way about you and your church through every kind word that is messaged, every phone call made, and every dollar given. We know that we represent you and God to these people here in Chorrillos, Lima, Peru. We do not take that lightly. Thank you never seems to be sufficient to say for all you have done for us. But, Thank You.
Always in our prayers,
Daniel & Heather Kokubun
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
October Prayer Letter from the Hubbard Family
September-October 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
It is unbelievable how quickly time is racing by. Shortly we will have been in Peru for five months. I pause amidst our busy lives and see all that God has done in five short months. All I can do is praise His name. It is truly to His praise and glory—
every soul that has been saved and every life that has been changed, and the little church on the corner is there only because He has allowed it to happen!
We have yet to secure a larger facility for our church, although we have been earnestly asking and seeking and knocking all around our district. The property we were so hopeful to get has fallen through. I am confident we are where we should be
at this moment, and I know God has what we need. We are simply waiting for God to open the door on His timetable.
We’ve held three baptismal services now. Because our little corner church is far too small to house a baptistery, we hold baptismal services at the house of a church
member every other Sunday. It is thrilling to see new believers make their faith public in following in obedience to be baptized. We’ve baptized 23 converts thus far.
Because we have maxed out our church facility’s space, we have not had one big push for attendance to services. Nonetheless, there has not been one public service that
we haven’t had visitors and souls saved, and we fill the house nearly every service! We have concentrated much on discipling our converts. I personally am teaching eight
to nine times a week. Outside of the three main services, I teach two different home Bible studies, as well as teaching the Spanish language to those on the team who don’t speak it. We meet three days a week, four hours a day.
As I look over my statement from the mission board the first of each month, I am reminded of the host of families that make it possible for us to do what we get to do here. Those families make up the faithful churches that send their support each month. We are so grateful for your faithful support. We are witnessing miracles every week here. Thank you for partnering with us to reach these precious people.
For His glory,
Dan Hubbard
Dear Praying Friends,
It is unbelievable how quickly time is racing by. Shortly we will have been in Peru for five months. I pause amidst our busy lives and see all that God has done in five short months. All I can do is praise His name. It is truly to His praise and glory—
every soul that has been saved and every life that has been changed, and the little church on the corner is there only because He has allowed it to happen!
We have yet to secure a larger facility for our church, although we have been earnestly asking and seeking and knocking all around our district. The property we were so hopeful to get has fallen through. I am confident we are where we should be
at this moment, and I know God has what we need. We are simply waiting for God to open the door on His timetable.
We’ve held three baptismal services now. Because our little corner church is far too small to house a baptistery, we hold baptismal services at the house of a church
member every other Sunday. It is thrilling to see new believers make their faith public in following in obedience to be baptized. We’ve baptized 23 converts thus far.
Because we have maxed out our church facility’s space, we have not had one big push for attendance to services. Nonetheless, there has not been one public service that
we haven’t had visitors and souls saved, and we fill the house nearly every service! We have concentrated much on discipling our converts. I personally am teaching eight
to nine times a week. Outside of the three main services, I teach two different home Bible studies, as well as teaching the Spanish language to those on the team who don’t speak it. We meet three days a week, four hours a day.
As I look over my statement from the mission board the first of each month, I am reminded of the host of families that make it possible for us to do what we get to do here. Those families make up the faithful churches that send their support each month. We are so grateful for your faithful support. We are witnessing miracles every week here. Thank you for partnering with us to reach these precious people.
For His glory,
Dan Hubbard
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
October Prayer Letter from the Martin Family
November 5, 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
Another month has passed, and God has continued to increase my faith and bless in ways I never thought possible. October is a very unique month in Peru. October is the Month of Purple, a “holy month” (as deemed by the Catholic church), an entire month dedicated to a so-called saint, Señor de los Milagros. Every day we watched as men, women, boys, and girls went about their daily routines dressed in purple and white outfits as seen in the picture. Each Sunday the large Catholic church down the street had parties, services, and parades, which many times marched in front of our church during our services! As weird and even annoying as this month may have been, these last few weeks have opened my eyes to the sad truth, the truth of how blinded the Peruvian people are! God is blessing us in an incredible way; however, we are barely scratching the surface! We still have a lot of work that needs to be done!
I am grateful for the work we have been able to do. In just a few days, our church will be a vibrant four months old! I am so thankful for all that God has done these last four months. Not a service goes by where we do not have visitors and people saved. We have been able to maintain our baptistery at the Yañez house, and we are having a baptismal service every other Sunday. In October we were able to baptize six of our converts. God is good! We also have eight Bible studies going on in different homes throughout the week.
As I mentioned in our last letter, Zach Foust and I were able to start a new Bible study four weeks ago in the San Gabriel neighborhood of Villa María del Triunfo. It has been a great success. We have been averaging 17 in the Salazar home and have seen a total of seven people saved. This is such a precious family with a great desire to have a church in their neighborhood. I believe that dream will come to fruition sooner than they realize!
Although Señor Milagros has no saving power, my God does, and His saving grace is available. A total of 108 people trusted Christ this month through soul winning and our church services! Amen! A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting in San Genaro like I do every Saturday. As I was leaving a visit, I passed by a young lady who was rushing home. I handed her tract and invited her to church. She was very kind and interested, so I asked her if she knew she was on her way to Heaven. She replied, “No, it all depends on how much good we do, right?” I told her it was not and began to share the Gospel with her. As soon as I started, she explained to me that her mom was at work, and she had to rush home to fix lunch for her little brother before going to work herself. Reluctantly, I asked her if I could come back earlier the next week and visit her. She said, “Yes,” and we parted company. The next Saturday, with high hopes, I went to her house. When she answered the door, she said with a smile, “You remembered to come!” I proceeded to share the plan of salvation with her, and Katy (not to be confused with the other one) prayed and asked Christ into her heart. What an open door God has given us here!
Speaking of open doors, God has already begun to show us how we will begin to accomplish our goal of multiplying churches through Peru. Just last week Bro. Hubbard and I sat down with two Peruvian pastors to discuss the possibility of training young men from their churches to start churches. I also spoke with another Peruvian man this week who has a desire and wants help starting a church in Surco—where we just started a new Bible study! God is opening doors; we just need to be ready to walk through them!
Please continue to be in prayer for several items. First, we still are searching and praying that God will help us find a new, larger location for our church. Second, pray for our people as they continue to grow in the Christian life. Third, pray for our container from the States. I have not mentioned much about this, but despite a few setbacks, we should have it in our possession by the end of this week. This will be a huge answer to prayer. Finally, pray that God will continue to bring men across our path, as well as call men out of our church to help us take the Gospel throughout Peru.
Thank you to each and every one of you for your faithful prayers and support. It is truly an honor to serve in Peru on your behalf. Each day I get to live a dream and see miracle after miracle. This is only possible because of you. God bless you, and we appreciate your prayers!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Dear Praying Friends,
Another month has passed, and God has continued to increase my faith and bless in ways I never thought possible. October is a very unique month in Peru. October is the Month of Purple, a “holy month” (as deemed by the Catholic church), an entire month dedicated to a so-called saint, Señor de los Milagros. Every day we watched as men, women, boys, and girls went about their daily routines dressed in purple and white outfits as seen in the picture. Each Sunday the large Catholic church down the street had parties, services, and parades, which many times marched in front of our church during our services! As weird and even annoying as this month may have been, these last few weeks have opened my eyes to the sad truth, the truth of how blinded the Peruvian people are! God is blessing us in an incredible way; however, we are barely scratching the surface! We still have a lot of work that needs to be done!
I am grateful for the work we have been able to do. In just a few days, our church will be a vibrant four months old! I am so thankful for all that God has done these last four months. Not a service goes by where we do not have visitors and people saved. We have been able to maintain our baptistery at the Yañez house, and we are having a baptismal service every other Sunday. In October we were able to baptize six of our converts. God is good! We also have eight Bible studies going on in different homes throughout the week.
As I mentioned in our last letter, Zach Foust and I were able to start a new Bible study four weeks ago in the San Gabriel neighborhood of Villa María del Triunfo. It has been a great success. We have been averaging 17 in the Salazar home and have seen a total of seven people saved. This is such a precious family with a great desire to have a church in their neighborhood. I believe that dream will come to fruition sooner than they realize!
Although Señor Milagros has no saving power, my God does, and His saving grace is available. A total of 108 people trusted Christ this month through soul winning and our church services! Amen! A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting in San Genaro like I do every Saturday. As I was leaving a visit, I passed by a young lady who was rushing home. I handed her tract and invited her to church. She was very kind and interested, so I asked her if she knew she was on her way to Heaven. She replied, “No, it all depends on how much good we do, right?” I told her it was not and began to share the Gospel with her. As soon as I started, she explained to me that her mom was at work, and she had to rush home to fix lunch for her little brother before going to work herself. Reluctantly, I asked her if I could come back earlier the next week and visit her. She said, “Yes,” and we parted company. The next Saturday, with high hopes, I went to her house. When she answered the door, she said with a smile, “You remembered to come!” I proceeded to share the plan of salvation with her, and Katy (not to be confused with the other one) prayed and asked Christ into her heart. What an open door God has given us here!
Speaking of open doors, God has already begun to show us how we will begin to accomplish our goal of multiplying churches through Peru. Just last week Bro. Hubbard and I sat down with two Peruvian pastors to discuss the possibility of training young men from their churches to start churches. I also spoke with another Peruvian man this week who has a desire and wants help starting a church in Surco—where we just started a new Bible study! God is opening doors; we just need to be ready to walk through them!
Please continue to be in prayer for several items. First, we still are searching and praying that God will help us find a new, larger location for our church. Second, pray for our people as they continue to grow in the Christian life. Third, pray for our container from the States. I have not mentioned much about this, but despite a few setbacks, we should have it in our possession by the end of this week. This will be a huge answer to prayer. Finally, pray that God will continue to bring men across our path, as well as call men out of our church to help us take the Gospel throughout Peru.
Thank you to each and every one of you for your faithful prayers and support. It is truly an honor to serve in Peru on your behalf. Each day I get to live a dream and see miracle after miracle. This is only possible because of you. God bless you, and we appreciate your prayers!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
October Prayer Letter from the Raders
Dear Praying Friends,
October was outstanding! We presented our work in 7 churches in 4 different states. We devoted a great amount of time to our final preparations for Peru. We fly to Peru on November 27. One huge blessing to report concerning our preparations: the Lord gave us a pediatrician who took care of our children’s vaccinations free of charge. Another blessing is that our outgoing and departure needs are being met by so many kind friends and churches. Over half is raised now.
There are some soul-winning blessings from this month that are too good not to share. Aaron Vance and I were visiting during the week for a church bus route in Indiana. We were promoting a free carnival after church on Sunday. As we were signing up bus riders, one of the moms invited us in to pray over her husband Ken. While in the military, Ken fell out of a Blackhawk helicopter in Somalia. Half of his body was paralyzed. This caused his speech to be slurred, but his mind was very sharp. After we prayed over Ken, I knelt down next to him and firmly looked him in the eyes. I then asked softly, “Ken, if there was only one thing that you could ask from God, for what would you ask?” He said, “To walk.” I continued by telling a story in Mark 2: There was a crippled man who was brought to Jesus through the roof of a house. Before Jesus healed the man, He said to him, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Being healed
was important to the man. The man being saved from sin and Hell was much more important to God. Less than 30 minutes later, Ken accepted Christ as his only Saviour. While out visiting the next day, Ken’s wife found us and said, “Ever since you helped my husband get saved, he has been on Cloud 9. I have never seen him this happy.” Don’t worry. Ken will walk again. Hallelujah!
Later that week on Sunday, we had 44 first-time visitors ride our bus. I taught a Sunday school class of 4 boys. All 4 came on our bus. All 4, Jesse, Thomas, William, and Justin, were saved that morning; and after calling their moms, all 4 were baptized the same day. God is good!
Our deputation is coming to a close. We have enjoyed the fellowship of so many friends and churches and countless blessings along the way. Please pray for our family and Team Peru as a whole. Some of our teammates in Peru are sick right now. Please pray that God will continue to open great doors of opportunity for our team. If you would like to help with our outgoing and departure needs, you can request them by e-mail at rader.teamperu@gmail.com. Thank you to so many for your love, prayers, and support. We love you. God bless you.
His for souls,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, and Paul Rader
October was outstanding! We presented our work in 7 churches in 4 different states. We devoted a great amount of time to our final preparations for Peru. We fly to Peru on November 27. One huge blessing to report concerning our preparations: the Lord gave us a pediatrician who took care of our children’s vaccinations free of charge. Another blessing is that our outgoing and departure needs are being met by so many kind friends and churches. Over half is raised now.
There are some soul-winning blessings from this month that are too good not to share. Aaron Vance and I were visiting during the week for a church bus route in Indiana. We were promoting a free carnival after church on Sunday. As we were signing up bus riders, one of the moms invited us in to pray over her husband Ken. While in the military, Ken fell out of a Blackhawk helicopter in Somalia. Half of his body was paralyzed. This caused his speech to be slurred, but his mind was very sharp. After we prayed over Ken, I knelt down next to him and firmly looked him in the eyes. I then asked softly, “Ken, if there was only one thing that you could ask from God, for what would you ask?” He said, “To walk.” I continued by telling a story in Mark 2: There was a crippled man who was brought to Jesus through the roof of a house. Before Jesus healed the man, He said to him, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Being healed
was important to the man. The man being saved from sin and Hell was much more important to God. Less than 30 minutes later, Ken accepted Christ as his only Saviour. While out visiting the next day, Ken’s wife found us and said, “Ever since you helped my husband get saved, he has been on Cloud 9. I have never seen him this happy.” Don’t worry. Ken will walk again. Hallelujah!
Later that week on Sunday, we had 44 first-time visitors ride our bus. I taught a Sunday school class of 4 boys. All 4 came on our bus. All 4, Jesse, Thomas, William, and Justin, were saved that morning; and after calling their moms, all 4 were baptized the same day. God is good!
Our deputation is coming to a close. We have enjoyed the fellowship of so many friends and churches and countless blessings along the way. Please pray for our family and Team Peru as a whole. Some of our teammates in Peru are sick right now. Please pray that God will continue to open great doors of opportunity for our team. If you would like to help with our outgoing and departure needs, you can request them by e-mail at rader.teamperu@gmail.com. Thank you to so many for your love, prayers, and support. We love you. God bless you.
His for souls,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, and Paul Rader
Thursday, November 1, 2012
October Prayer Letter from the Miskovics
November 1, 2012
Dear Friend,
As October has come to an end and I reflect back on all the blessings that have come our way, I am still overwhelmed at the greatness of God. We started our weekly Friday night Bible study in the district of Surco, Peru. The attendance has been great. We are using a storefront building where a Christian lady has a curtain business. She came to the main church in Villa Marina and asked us to start a Bible study there. We have seen people saved and coming to the main church because of the Bible study.
The main church, Iglesia Bautista International, in Villa Marina has been doing great. We have been seeing people saved every week and during every service. The church is growing so fast we don’t have enough room to put everybody. The properties that we have been praying about have all fallen through. We have several other places we are looking at, and the most exciting thing is that our Peruvian members are looking aggressively for property also. They see the vision that we came with and want to be a big part of that vision. They want their people to get saved and see churches started all over this city.
Several weeks ago a man named Julio walked up to our church before the service started and was very curious about the church and wondered why all these Americans were here. I had the opportunity to witness to him in Spanish, and he trusted Christ as his Savior. He came back that Sunday evening and brought his son with him, and his son got saved that night. He then brought his wife to one of our Tuesday night home Bible studies near his house, and she got saved. Praise the Lord! God is still in the saving business.
The month of October is the big Catholic holy month where they parade all around the city carrying their statues to be worshiped. This past Sunday was the big parade by our church. It happened to be the same time that we start our service. They paraded right in front of our church, and we began to sing and preach the Word. There were hundreds of people in that parade. Many stopped to watch us and listened, wondering what it was all about. We sang so loudly that it drowned out their singing. The louder they sang, the louder we sang. Some of them even came into the service and got saved.
God has opened an effectual door for us, but as the Bible says, there are many adversaries. Please continue to pray for us as we do the work of God here. We appreciate every one of you and the prayers that you have prayed for us. Many times we have felt the presence of God in a mighty way because of your praying. We could not be doing what we are doing without your prayers and financial support. Marsha and I appreciate you all very much, and we often have you in our prayers. Thank you for your support.
Serving Christ in Peru,
Mark and Marsha Miskovic
Dear Friend,
As October has come to an end and I reflect back on all the blessings that have come our way, I am still overwhelmed at the greatness of God. We started our weekly Friday night Bible study in the district of Surco, Peru. The attendance has been great. We are using a storefront building where a Christian lady has a curtain business. She came to the main church in Villa Marina and asked us to start a Bible study there. We have seen people saved and coming to the main church because of the Bible study.
The main church, Iglesia Bautista International, in Villa Marina has been doing great. We have been seeing people saved every week and during every service. The church is growing so fast we don’t have enough room to put everybody. The properties that we have been praying about have all fallen through. We have several other places we are looking at, and the most exciting thing is that our Peruvian members are looking aggressively for property also. They see the vision that we came with and want to be a big part of that vision. They want their people to get saved and see churches started all over this city.
Several weeks ago a man named Julio walked up to our church before the service started and was very curious about the church and wondered why all these Americans were here. I had the opportunity to witness to him in Spanish, and he trusted Christ as his Savior. He came back that Sunday evening and brought his son with him, and his son got saved that night. He then brought his wife to one of our Tuesday night home Bible studies near his house, and she got saved. Praise the Lord! God is still in the saving business.
The month of October is the big Catholic holy month where they parade all around the city carrying their statues to be worshiped. This past Sunday was the big parade by our church. It happened to be the same time that we start our service. They paraded right in front of our church, and we began to sing and preach the Word. There were hundreds of people in that parade. Many stopped to watch us and listened, wondering what it was all about. We sang so loudly that it drowned out their singing. The louder they sang, the louder we sang. Some of them even came into the service and got saved.
God has opened an effectual door for us, but as the Bible says, there are many adversaries. Please continue to pray for us as we do the work of God here. We appreciate every one of you and the prayers that you have prayed for us. Many times we have felt the presence of God in a mighty way because of your praying. We could not be doing what we are doing without your prayers and financial support. Marsha and I appreciate you all very much, and we often have you in our prayers. Thank you for your support.
Serving Christ in Peru,
Mark and Marsha Miskovic
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