Dear Supporting Churches and Praying Friends,
God has been so good to us since our last prayer letter that it is hard to sum it all up! When we stop to consider the ways in which God has been working, we come to the realization that He is all-powerful and all-knowing, and we rejoice that He has allowed us to be a part of His kingdom work here in South America. We also realize the power of prayer, and we are reminded to be grateful to you, our prayer partners.
I spoke to you in our last prayer letter of my upcoming trip to Moquegua, about twenty hours from Lima. I was excited to discover that the young men who had trained here with us in January and February had returned to their home area and had already started new churches under the leadership of their home pastor. I was able to preach in each of their churches and some others during my brief time in the area. Another pastor has decided to send two of his young men to us for further training next January as well. We are excited about the part we had in starting these new churches and look forward to working with two more young men soon.
IBI of San Gabriel is growing steadily. We are thrilled to see salvations every Sunday! We have had several new families begin attending, and many are bringing their family members and friends as visitors. We have recently started a men’s singing group, organized ushers, and trained children’s workers. We also had our first men’s meeting this month. Twelve men from San Gabriel joined me and expressed their desire to advance the ministry of our church, learn how to conduct Bible studies, and become soul winners. I am planning now to begin an intensive training of these men and others who will join us. Please pray with me that I can effectively use the time I have with these men to further God’s plan for their lives. We also had a ladies’ meeting this month. My wife taught on our need for prayer in our lives, and then she divided the ladies into prayer partners who will be praying for each other over the next year.
We recently spent a Saturday in the area next to San Gabriel named Vallecito. While only a few blocks from our church, it is an entirely different world. We saw several saved while visiting there and also met a family who invited us to have a Bible study there. We will be starting this soon; please pray that God will work there. We hope to start a church in that area soon as well. We have another area (La Chancheria) where we will be starting a church very soon. A family has offered part of their property to build the church on, and we are making plans to start improving that property. It is fun to see the people of IBI San Gabriel excited about starting new churches!
We also took a brief trip to the States since our last letter. My in-laws celebrated their 50 wedding anniversary, and we were pleased to be able to attend the celebration. While I made a quick trip there and back, my wife and boys were able to spend a couple weeks with the family in Michigan. Thank you to the Beth Haven Baptist Church in Sheridan, Michigan, for helping us to feel at home while we were there. And congratulations once again to my in-laws, Ken and Sandy Rahn! My wife truly has a goodly heritage.
Please continue to pray for us here in Lima, Peru. We are thrilled to represent you all here in South America.
His for souls,
Zach and Karin Foust, Zachary, C.J., and Logan
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
August Prayer Letter from the Kokubun Family
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you for your faithful prayers! This month we have again seen God do miracles! At the beginning of the month, one of the men of our team, Bro. Zach Foust, went down to Southern Peru to visit the two young men who attended our seminary January-March. Our team gave Alan and Fernando intense training during the time they were here. They returned to their home town excited and ready to start their own Bible studies. While we had been praying for their Bible studies, Bro. Foust notified us upon his arrival that they were no longer studies; instead they both have started churches! Bro. Foust had the opportunity to preach in their churches and train their members how to reach others for Christ!
During Bro. Foust's absence, we were blessed with the opportunity to go soul winning at his church plant with our teenagers. San Gabriel is a district of Lima that is up in the mountains. It's about 45 minutes away from our main church in Chorrillos. The people there are so sweet and very open to the Gospel. The Lord blessed our group in a special way that day, as 19 people bowed their heads to receive Christ.
Thank you for praying for us! Since last month's letter, God has answered several requests specifically, and I'm pleased to share one of those with you! We asked for prayer for Luis, who was starting a new Bible study in San Genaro II. His study has not only grown, but they have grown out of the home in which they were meeting! They have already located a larger building in which they can continue meeting. Seven families faithfully attend his study. Each of those families now attends our main church in Chorrillos. They are currently learning to win souls, usher, and serve in many other capacities. They hope, in the near future, to be able to start a church in their own area! Praise the Lord!
Although we are thrilled with everything that God is doing here, we are constantly reminded of how much more must be accomplished. Every day we see hundreds of people is in this busy city of Lima. Each and every one of them needs a Saviour. Each one has a story, a life, and a family that needs God. Please pray that God will continue to build His church and that many will be reached for His kingdom here in Lima, Peru. Thank you for partnering with us in the ministry. We appreciate you!
In His service,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
Thank you for your faithful prayers! This month we have again seen God do miracles! At the beginning of the month, one of the men of our team, Bro. Zach Foust, went down to Southern Peru to visit the two young men who attended our seminary January-March. Our team gave Alan and Fernando intense training during the time they were here. They returned to their home town excited and ready to start their own Bible studies. While we had been praying for their Bible studies, Bro. Foust notified us upon his arrival that they were no longer studies; instead they both have started churches! Bro. Foust had the opportunity to preach in their churches and train their members how to reach others for Christ!
During Bro. Foust's absence, we were blessed with the opportunity to go soul winning at his church plant with our teenagers. San Gabriel is a district of Lima that is up in the mountains. It's about 45 minutes away from our main church in Chorrillos. The people there are so sweet and very open to the Gospel. The Lord blessed our group in a special way that day, as 19 people bowed their heads to receive Christ.
Thank you for praying for us! Since last month's letter, God has answered several requests specifically, and I'm pleased to share one of those with you! We asked for prayer for Luis, who was starting a new Bible study in San Genaro II. His study has not only grown, but they have grown out of the home in which they were meeting! They have already located a larger building in which they can continue meeting. Seven families faithfully attend his study. Each of those families now attends our main church in Chorrillos. They are currently learning to win souls, usher, and serve in many other capacities. They hope, in the near future, to be able to start a church in their own area! Praise the Lord!
Although we are thrilled with everything that God is doing here, we are constantly reminded of how much more must be accomplished. Every day we see hundreds of people is in this busy city of Lima. Each and every one of them needs a Saviour. Each one has a story, a life, and a family that needs God. Please pray that God will continue to build His church and that many will be reached for His kingdom here in Lima, Peru. Thank you for partnering with us in the ministry. We appreciate you!
In His service,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
Thursday, September 12, 2013
August Prayer Letter from the Rader Family
Dear Praying friends,
Here in Peru during July and August God has been doing marvelous things before our eyes. All four churches here in Lima are moving forward with increased attendances, souls saved, and baptisms. One of the biggest blessings with all of our churches is that many more of our people are coming out soul winning with us. Many more of our converts are winning souls than ever before. Another blessing was celebrating our first anniversary Sunday for our church in Chorrillos, Lima. We had 242 in attendance with 34 saved and 7 baptized. A week or so later, our team member, Zach Foust, went to Arequipa to visit 2 men that came to us in January and February for training. Brother Foust found out that both men had started a church. Both churches are running a congregation of 40 or more every Sunday. Our team as a whole has been showered by the blessings of God!
The showers of God’s blessings have been on our family and our work as well. Construction on the church has been moving forward as well as my Spanish. In the last 2 months I have personally led 35 souls to Christ, and my wife has led 12 souls to Christ. Together we host a Saturday soul winning team, Team Villa Marina. Our team, including our children, consists on average of 8 people out soul winning on a weekly basis. The last 2 months our team has had more than 45 souls saved and many visitors in church. We have enjoyed many other blessings. I am now teaching Sunday school in our Junior Church on a weekly basis, we now have a weekly Bible study with our construction workers, and we are enjoying our monthly visits to the midwife.
Thank you all for your prayers during our trip to Ecuador. As many of you know we had to leave the country to renew our visas. God took this curse and turned it into the best family vacation we’ve ever had together. While in Ecuador we saw 5 souls saved and visited a church of like faith.
Another trip that we would like to share with you is my trip to Jauja. My soul winning partner, John, told me that he wanted to go visit his family in Jauja to witness to them. Jauja is an 8 hour bus ride through the mountains from Lima. I told him to seek his pastor’s counsel about this, and so he did. Two days after he left; I joined him to survey the city for Baptist churches for his family and the possibilities of starting churches there. Before I arrived, John had already won 16 of his family members to Christ. We then found 3 Baptist churches there that were excited about the possibility of working with our church planting ministry. We also had a Bible Study on the last day there. John taught a Bible study for the first time and led his aunt to Christ during the study. In total we saw 24 souls saved during our half week trip. Let me tell you something, brother, “GOD IS GOOD!”
We just have a few prayer requests. Please pray for Sarah’s pregnancy to continue well. She is 4 months now. Please pray that the cheaper apartment we found will be ready for us to move in by the end of September. Please pray for the Spiritual growth of our disciples. Thank you all for your tangible help along the way. Also, thank you for your intangible help of love and prayer. We are seeing God do great works. Please pray that He will continue to work through us. God bless you.
Thank you,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah,
Paul, & one more Rader
Here in Peru during July and August God has been doing marvelous things before our eyes. All four churches here in Lima are moving forward with increased attendances, souls saved, and baptisms. One of the biggest blessings with all of our churches is that many more of our people are coming out soul winning with us. Many more of our converts are winning souls than ever before. Another blessing was celebrating our first anniversary Sunday for our church in Chorrillos, Lima. We had 242 in attendance with 34 saved and 7 baptized. A week or so later, our team member, Zach Foust, went to Arequipa to visit 2 men that came to us in January and February for training. Brother Foust found out that both men had started a church. Both churches are running a congregation of 40 or more every Sunday. Our team as a whole has been showered by the blessings of God!
The showers of God’s blessings have been on our family and our work as well. Construction on the church has been moving forward as well as my Spanish. In the last 2 months I have personally led 35 souls to Christ, and my wife has led 12 souls to Christ. Together we host a Saturday soul winning team, Team Villa Marina. Our team, including our children, consists on average of 8 people out soul winning on a weekly basis. The last 2 months our team has had more than 45 souls saved and many visitors in church. We have enjoyed many other blessings. I am now teaching Sunday school in our Junior Church on a weekly basis, we now have a weekly Bible study with our construction workers, and we are enjoying our monthly visits to the midwife.
Thank you all for your prayers during our trip to Ecuador. As many of you know we had to leave the country to renew our visas. God took this curse and turned it into the best family vacation we’ve ever had together. While in Ecuador we saw 5 souls saved and visited a church of like faith.
Another trip that we would like to share with you is my trip to Jauja. My soul winning partner, John, told me that he wanted to go visit his family in Jauja to witness to them. Jauja is an 8 hour bus ride through the mountains from Lima. I told him to seek his pastor’s counsel about this, and so he did. Two days after he left; I joined him to survey the city for Baptist churches for his family and the possibilities of starting churches there. Before I arrived, John had already won 16 of his family members to Christ. We then found 3 Baptist churches there that were excited about the possibility of working with our church planting ministry. We also had a Bible Study on the last day there. John taught a Bible study for the first time and led his aunt to Christ during the study. In total we saw 24 souls saved during our half week trip. Let me tell you something, brother, “GOD IS GOOD!”
We just have a few prayer requests. Please pray for Sarah’s pregnancy to continue well. She is 4 months now. Please pray that the cheaper apartment we found will be ready for us to move in by the end of September. Please pray for the Spiritual growth of our disciples. Thank you all for your tangible help along the way. Also, thank you for your intangible help of love and prayer. We are seeing God do great works. Please pray that He will continue to work through us. God bless you.
Thank you,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah,
Paul, & one more Rader
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
August Prayer Letter from the Martins
Dear Praying Friends,
I opened my eyes, and there they were! Even after all my years in FBC Hammond, I have never been able to adjust to “Spanish time.” Our people are so much better than they were in the beginning. Now most of them arrive before the preaching starts! Two Saturday nights ago was no exception. We seemed to be especially low as I was making announcements. I had just recognized visitors and decided to pray for a special prayer request. Apparently, as I was praying, our entire church came in! I opened my eyes to a full house and several visitors. We had our highest attendance to date, with 58 in church and 11 saved!
God has blessed our San Genaro church with several new families this last month. I am excited for what the future holds. This last Friday was a holiday, Santa Rosa Day. Since most of our people had the day off, we decided to have a big lunch at our church; 31 of our people came and helped us devour 7 pollos con papas and ensalada! We sang some choruses and had a question-and-answer time, and then I took a few minutes to share my vision for the future of our church. Please continue to pray for our young church. God has blessed us with some great people, and I know God has big plans for us.
God is blessing in all of our churches as well. Our church plants in San Gabriel and Surco are growing steadily. Two of our Bible studies are also rapidly nearing the process of being converted into churches. Please pray for both these areas, Chanchería and San Genaro II. Both of these studies have enormous potential. Of course, our biggest need is men. Please pray that God will help us to have men ready to help start these churches in the coming months.
Our main church continues to thrive. We have been averaging well over 100 in both of our Sunday services. Many new families have begun attending, and our Saturday soul-winning meeting is growing as well. It has been very exciting to see our people learn to win souls. God blesses soul winning! Through soul winning and public services, we were able to see 143 people accept Christ as Saviour this last month.
As I stated earlier, our greatest need is always men, men with the desire and the knowledge to help us do what God has put us here to do. Every day we are reminded of the great need here, opportunities that are before us, and yet the limits that we have because of manpower. Recently,one of our men, Jhon, took a trip to Jauja, a city five hours away. He went for the purpose of witnessing to his family. In three days he was able to lead 24 of his friends and family to Christ! The sad part is that there is no good Baptist church to which we can send them. We could start a church there tomorrow . . . but we don’t have a man ready whom we could send.
The same could be said for Ayacucho. Many of you have read much about our faithful church lady Cecilia. At the beginning of this month, she went to Ayacucho, a large city eight hours away. She went to witness to the family of her stepfather. She was there for just over a week and won 51 people to Christ. She e-mailed me a list of the names and phone numbers of all 51 people so we could start a church there. I would love to . . . and we could tomorrow . . . if there were someone we could send.
Thank you for your prayers and faithful support. God has blessed our ministry here in amazing ways. This would not be possible without each of you. Please continue to pray. Our ministry is still very young, and God is opening many doors for us. Pray that we will be able to find, win, and train the people who can help us reach Perú for Christ.
Your ambassadors to Perú,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
I opened my eyes, and there they were! Even after all my years in FBC Hammond, I have never been able to adjust to “Spanish time.” Our people are so much better than they were in the beginning. Now most of them arrive before the preaching starts! Two Saturday nights ago was no exception. We seemed to be especially low as I was making announcements. I had just recognized visitors and decided to pray for a special prayer request. Apparently, as I was praying, our entire church came in! I opened my eyes to a full house and several visitors. We had our highest attendance to date, with 58 in church and 11 saved!
God has blessed our San Genaro church with several new families this last month. I am excited for what the future holds. This last Friday was a holiday, Santa Rosa Day. Since most of our people had the day off, we decided to have a big lunch at our church; 31 of our people came and helped us devour 7 pollos con papas and ensalada! We sang some choruses and had a question-and-answer time, and then I took a few minutes to share my vision for the future of our church. Please continue to pray for our young church. God has blessed us with some great people, and I know God has big plans for us.
God is blessing in all of our churches as well. Our church plants in San Gabriel and Surco are growing steadily. Two of our Bible studies are also rapidly nearing the process of being converted into churches. Please pray for both these areas, Chanchería and San Genaro II. Both of these studies have enormous potential. Of course, our biggest need is men. Please pray that God will help us to have men ready to help start these churches in the coming months.
Our main church continues to thrive. We have been averaging well over 100 in both of our Sunday services. Many new families have begun attending, and our Saturday soul-winning meeting is growing as well. It has been very exciting to see our people learn to win souls. God blesses soul winning! Through soul winning and public services, we were able to see 143 people accept Christ as Saviour this last month.
As I stated earlier, our greatest need is always men, men with the desire and the knowledge to help us do what God has put us here to do. Every day we are reminded of the great need here, opportunities that are before us, and yet the limits that we have because of manpower. Recently,one of our men, Jhon, took a trip to Jauja, a city five hours away. He went for the purpose of witnessing to his family. In three days he was able to lead 24 of his friends and family to Christ! The sad part is that there is no good Baptist church to which we can send them. We could start a church there tomorrow . . . but we don’t have a man ready whom we could send.
The same could be said for Ayacucho. Many of you have read much about our faithful church lady Cecilia. At the beginning of this month, she went to Ayacucho, a large city eight hours away. She went to witness to the family of her stepfather. She was there for just over a week and won 51 people to Christ. She e-mailed me a list of the names and phone numbers of all 51 people so we could start a church there. I would love to . . . and we could tomorrow . . . if there were someone we could send.
Thank you for your prayers and faithful support. God has blessed our ministry here in amazing ways. This would not be possible without each of you. Please continue to pray. Our ministry is still very young, and God is opening many doors for us. Pray that we will be able to find, win, and train the people who can help us reach Perú for Christ.
Your ambassadors to Perú,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
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