2013 Bulletin Draft e

the power of the GospelRenewing Peru through

N O V E M B E R ’ 1 3B U L L E T I N / V O L 1 5 / I S S U E 1

Holistically Develops Leaders Missionaries Support Rural ChurchesApprenticeship Program Riding the Circuit: PAGE 2 PAGE 9

A L S O I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

New Clinic Brings Healing to

Neighborhood, Renewed Focus

to BethesdaPAGE 6

support for all ministries:Christian Missionary SocietyP. O. Box 14563 / Greenville, SC 29610864.735.8267

contact in peru:Peru Mission Los Álamos 427 / Urb. FátimaTrujillo, Perú / South America769.218.4584 / PeruMission.org

peru mission missionaries:

Church Planting & DevelopmentWes BakerAlonzo Ramírez

ConstructionAlbert den Oudsten

Economic DevelopmentJosh JohnsonHermes Tomás

Hinterland MinistrySteve Hill

Leadership DevelopmentStuart MillsAllen Smith

Medical MinistryDale EllisonElizabeth Johnson

SeminaryScott Davenport

Team AdministrationCaleb SuttonAlleen McLain Tomás

University MinistryEmilio Salaverry

Peru Mission is a strategic facilitator of urban church planting and Christian community development in Peru. We plant missional churches, train Christian leaders, and develop transformational institutions. These vibrant, reformed churches are actively involved in bringing God’s justice, mercy and peace to the world around them.

“So we are working in Peru from the bottom up, training an entire team to plant churches that will in turn plant more churches.”

P E R U M I S S I O N B U L L E T I N / 2

Emanuel is a member of Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church and participates in the Apprenticeship Program, a leadership training ministry co-sponsored by Cristo Rey and Peru Mission. Allen Smith, who led the church and mission in developing the program and serves as a program mentor, says the Apprenticeship Program is different from a traditional seminary in that it seeks to form a church planting team, and not just train individuals. “The reality in Peru is that there are hardly any established churches to call new pastors,” he explains. “So we are working in Peru from the bottom up, training an entire team to plant churches that will in turn plant more churches.”

Scott Davenport teaches two theology classes a week to the program’s three participants, and uses the materials of Third Millenium Ministries as the foundation for his classes. During the first half of the year, Pastor Scott led his students through an in-depth study of the foundations of Christian doctrine using the Apostles’ Creed as a guide, as well as an overview of the whole Bible. Pastor Scott is currently teaching a second set of courses which should conclude before the end of the year. One covers the Letters of Paul from Prison and the other focuses on the foundational chapters of Genesis 1-11.

This theological component of the program seeks to be thorough. In addition to attending classes, participants pursue a demanding reading schedule.

Emanuel says the theological training has deepened his knowledge of and appreciation for the Word of God. “Now, when I read [the Bible],” he says, “when I see the Biblical panorama, I understand things better, many things.” Pastor Scott is encouraged by what he sees in the apprentices. “I am very pleased with the progress and growth in theological and scriptural understanding of the men,” he says. “They have grown much stronger in their understanding and therefore in their conviction regarding the great and fundamental truths of the Triune God revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Beliefs that they already affirmed and followed have become all the more precious and convincing as they have seen, firsthand, through their formal studies, the consistency, depth, and richness of God’s Word.”

Pastor Allen adds to this that theological training is a part of the larger picture. “The context of ministry and mission forms a more balanced leader,” he says. “There are many advantages to the traditional seminary model, but most are very disconnected with real ministry. Within the Apprenticeship Program, participants are treated not just as students but also as assistants to our ministry.” Pastor Allen comments that this assistance includes participating in pastoral visits, making disciples in cell groups, and leading in the church.

Program participant Albert den Oudsten’s story is quite different from his classmates’. Albert is a missionary with Peru Mission and traveled thousands of miles from his home in the Netherlands to join the program. “I studied two years in England to prepare for mission,” he says, “and I thought it was sufficient to

apprenticeship program takes a holistic approach to leadership developmentAt the end of the long table, Emanuel Romero leans over his open notebook. His expression is earnest and friendly, and occasionally a warm smile spreads across his face as he engages his companions in discussion.

continued on page 5

Our Community members are not only supporters of Peru Mission; they are our family. Not only are they committed to supporting our ministry through regular giving and prayer, but they also love to share about Peru Mission with others and view themselves as partners with us in the work of pouring out the love of Christ to the people of northern Peru.

Community members give directly to the Peru Mission compassion fund, and we depend upon their ongoing financial support to continue to grow long ‐term relationships within Peru, provide for critical needs of the mission quickly, and share the grace of Christ with more Peruvian families through our core ministries.

This year, the Lord in His eternal providence allowed Community members to

Lay a firm foundation: Community members funded the Apprenticeship Program for an additional year and made it possible for apprentices to make vision trips to two cities as the first step in planting a new church.

Exemplify love: Community members provided three pastors generous support when they needed it most, helping them continue their pastoral ministry and covering vitally important medical expenses for their families.

Make eternal investments: Community members gave two students the help they needed to complete their third year in seminary.

Show mercy to the sick and wounded: Community members made it possible for the Bethesda Clinic in Wichanzao to continue their ministry by meeting significant financial obligations throughout the year.

See the difference just $1 a day makes.

Will you be a part of this community-transforming work? With your help, the ministries you read about in this issue of the Bulletin can continue to serve and grow. All it takes is $30 a month–just $1 a day–and you are helping to provide for the ongoing needs of Peru Mission’s five interconnected core urban ministries: church planting, seminary, medical ministry, economic development, and university ministry.

We invite you to join us. Bring transformation. Join the Community today.learn more at perumission.org/community


New Translation Brings 19th-Century Treasure to the Spanish-Speaking WorldWords that

strengthen and equip

the brethren, firmly founded on Holy Scripture and informed by the rich exegetical traditions of the Reformation, can transcend not only centuries, but also distance, culture and even language. This fact was deeply impressed upon Pastor Dinko Zambrano as he embarked on his latest translation project. “[The] book has not only enriched my theological understanding of the covenantal work of Christ,” Pastor Dinko says, “but on more than one occasion moved my soul even to tears."

The book Pastor Dinko refers to is The Atonement: In its Relations to the Covenant, the Priesthood, the Intercession of our Lord. Written in the 19th century by Scottish theologian Hugh Martin, The Atonement had never been translated into the Spanish language until a few friends of Peru Mission made the project possible earlier this year.

Wes Baker is effusive in his praise for the book, whose translation he championed. “This is a wonderful book on Christology,” he emphasizes. “But unlike standard textbook treatments that discuss his person, offices, states, and the atonement in dispassionate and abstract form, this book gives us a vivid picture of Jesus as the Covenant Mediator, the one who fulfills the Old Testament covenant promises and conditions and whose ongoing priestly intercession sends the Spirit to flow through our earthly worship and empower our mission in the world.”

Pastor Wes says the book was chosen first for its usefulness to pastors and students of theology, but, he adds, "anyone willing to enter these deep waters with prayer and a thirst to know the Savior better will benefit greatly from it."

The need to translate books like The Atonement is often invisible to native speakers of English, people who might

easily take for granted their access to nearly all that the world has to offer in terms of reformed theological resources. Yet the challenging truth confronts us that for millions of Christians such bounty is the stuff of dreams alone.

The Scriptures teach us that in order for the Church to flourish, its members must be taught and shepherded, and thereby protected from heresy and encouraged to fruitfulness:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Ephesians 4:11-14)

One of the blessings that God has given His Bride is the written word, by which Biblical doctrine can be transmitted across the boundaries of time and distance. That such a blessing can be quite easily extended to all the Church, given some time and attention, makes it even more startling that so few reformed theological materials have been translated into languages other than English, particularly languages as widely spoken as Spanish.

This was the problem that confronted Jeremy Weaver, a deacon at Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville, SC, during a short-term mission trip to Peru in 2012. “As we discussed our trip and the observations we had made while in country," recalls Jeremy, "we became aware of the fact that there seemed to be a large deficit of reformed theology works translated into Spanish.”

Jeremy, along with other friends of Peru Mission, decided to respond to this need. “We began exploring a list of books that would take a man from conversion to the pulpit,” he explains. The Atonement was the first on the list, and thanks to God's provision, in February of next year it will be available for distribution.

Jeremy hopes this is just the beginning. “We would like to make this a larger project by establishing the complete list and starting raising funds and knocking books off of the list,” he says. “Our goal in this is to train up leaders in Peru with all of the good resources that are available in English. We would like these resources to be used in the Kingdom in Peru and beyond.”

Other possible candidates for translation and publication include Masculine Mandate, by Richard Phillips, and The Church, by Edmund Clowney.

Those involved with the translation of The Atonement are greatly encouraged by God's provision in allowing this project to come to fruition. As Pastor Dinko puts it, "I am convinced that it will be a great blessing enriching the faith and understanding of the brethren. It should not be absent from the library of every serious student of the saving work of our Lord.” It is truly astounding to contemplate the lasting impact that every such book as this can make in the life of the Church throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

“Our goal in this is to train up leaders in Peru with all of the good resources that are available in English. We would like these resources to be used in the Kingdom in Peru and beyond.”

apprenticeship program ... con’t

work as a missionary. But I think I really need these two extra years to get more specific teaching in theology, and also more practice within the church.” Albert says that the program has allowed him to acquire many experiences in leadership he might otherwise never have had. “I think the main thing for me is that it gives me opportunities for practice, to get more experience in preaching and also in leading worship.”

Program participant Esdras Vásquez, who also serves as a deacon at Cristo Rey, echoes Albert: “Yes, it is true that the apprenticeship program forms us, trains us,” he says, “but to do something, right? This program has permitted us to put theory into practice, in the church, in the cell group, in the universities.” But Esdras says the program has done something else for him; it has helped him to grow spiritually and in his commitment to the church. “I have advanced, perhaps, a little in my maturity as a Christian,” he says, “taking on responsibilities, getting more involved in the church, too.”

This development is something Pastor Allen sees as lying at the heart of the Apprenticeship Program. He explains that the program is, at its essence, a holistic program to train men in all areas of spiritual development. “The context of the local church helps keep their feet in reality as well as cultivate humility—something most seminary students are not known for,” he says. “Our goal is not to produce men with big heads, little hearts, and untrained hands, but rather balanced men of godly character who also have the necessary skills to plant churches as well as a solid theological foundation.”

Over the past several months, the apprentices have grown to be good friends. Earlier this year the three joined Pastor Oscar Briones (who also serves as a mentor with the program) on two vision trips to the cities of Lima and Chiclayo, trips that not only gave them insight into locations for a possible future church plant, but as Pastor Allen explains, also helped them draw closer together. “Key to the program is not just theological

formation but team formation,” he says, “and in that sense, I am very pleased to see how traveling to different cities brought them closer together as they prayed and dreamed together.”

Up until now, the program has been a starting point for these men in their journey toward becoming pastors and leaders in the Church. They will soon complete the first year of the program, and it will be at least one more year before any definite plans come together for a church plant. Looking back on the inaugural year of the Apprenticeship Program, it is encouraging to see how God is already using this journey to bless and build up not only these three men, but also their church family.

One example of this blessing is the ministry of Emanuel, who, as part of his service to the Church, leads the music for Sunday worship at Cristo Rey. Anyone can see that this is a ministry that truly comes from his heart. His joy is visible from behind his keyboard as he leads the congregation in praise to the King. “My desire is to worship God directly,” he says, “not as though I were only a leader who brings a group of people before the Lord, but rather that I myself, in a personal way, am worshipping Christ. My primary desire is to be what I hope that others become, too: worshippers.”

Emanuel is grateful for the way the program is providing him with the knowledge and experience he needs to fulfill his life-long desire to serve his Lord through church planting. “I always remember the words of the Lord: ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,’” he says. “I want to thank Peru Mission and the Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church for giving me the opportunity to serve God with this noble project.”

Please pray that these men would continue to grow in their preparation for the ministry and to grow together as a team, and that the Lord would bless the efforts of their mentors. Above all, please pray that the Lord will continue to raise up godly leaders for His churches.


Daisy Aguirre sits beneath the soft glow of the skylight, her cheerfulness a brilliant spot of color against the calm, muted tones of the waiting area. Before, Daisy and her family had to travel to find quality health care. “Around here there are no [clinics],” she explains. Now, the journey to the Bethesda Christian Clinic, whose doors opened for the first time a few weeks earlier, takes them only three blocks from their front door.

The new clinic in the Manuel Arévalo neighborhood was built with the purpose of serving people like Daisy and her family, offering them quality health care and something even more important: an introduction to the gospel and to the Bride of Christ. With the first floor completed, the clinic offers several services, including general medicine, dentistry, obstetrics, and ophthalmology, and the pastor and members of Cristo Restaurador Presbyterian Church are faithfully reaching patients with the Word of God. When the entire structure is complete (current plans include two additional floors), the clinic will become a fully-functioning hospital, offering surgeries and in-patient services.

When we began this project, it was difficult to envision just how we would make it this far. To go from an empty, sand-filled plot to this facility is a truly amazing testament to the overwhelming power and grace of our God.

The Lord’s provision for the clinic came in the form of generous gifts from many friends of the mission, including most notably Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC) of Savannah, GA. In September, a team of medical professionals

New Clinic Brings Healing to Neighborhood,

Renewed Focus to Bethesda

UPDATE

Your investmentmaking a difference.

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and others from this church travelled to Trujillo to participate in the inauguration of the clinic with a multiple-day health campaign. Frankie Daniell is a member of IPC and leads the church’s outreach both in Savannah and in Peru. He joined the team in September. “Seeing the completed clinic was a wonderful blessing for those of us from IPC,” he shares. “The quality of the construction and finishing work is outstanding and a good witness for the excellence of our Lord. It is a beautiful and functional building.”

Frankie says that IPC hopes the clinic will not only “develop in the health services offered,” but also in its ministry to the neighborhood. “Our hope for the future of this clinic is that [ . . . ] it will support the gospel ministry of Cristo Restaurador (and all of Peru Mission), and that through the ministry of Cristo Restaurador many will be called to repentance and faith in Christ and will grow in their knowledge and practice of the grace and mercy of God.”

One of the most noticeable features of the new clinic is the natural light that floods its consultation rooms, common areas and offices. But it is not only physical light that illumines the clinic; “the true light, which gives light to everyone” is also present in abundance (John 1:9). “I really liked the way they start with the Word of God,” says Daisy, as she adjusts the knitting on her lap, “because sometimes a person gets so far away from God. And then our illnesses come. It is good that you have built this so that we can listen to the Word of God.” Daisy is referring to the devotional that the staff have early each morning as the first patients trickle in. Staff members hold the devotional in the open space in the center of the clinic that serves as the waiting area, demonstrating in a visible way the centrality of the Word of God in

all that happens within the clinic’s walls.Ricardo Hernández, pastor of Cristo

Restaurador, explains that Bethesda Christian Clinic is a natural expression of the church’s mission to its parish. “The mission of Cristo Restaurador is the mission of Christ, of restoring the world, making disciples,” he says. “As a church, we are not only occupied with the spiritual health of people (as if physical health were not within our calling), but also bodily health.”

As Pastor Ricardo suggests, at their very core Bethesda clinics are meant to have their ministry tightly interwoven with that of the local parish churches beside which they serve. Pastor Ricardo explains the relationship further: “We believe that as a church of the Lord we are called to be imitators of Him (1 Cor. 11:1). A part of our imitation is to preach and teach the Good News and the other part is the work of mercy. When He was on the earth our Lord was not indifferent to human misery; when He saw a sick person, He was ready to heal him; when He came upon a leper, He was ready to cleanse him.”

Pastor Ricardo adds that the clinic not only helps the church accomplish this dual mission, in addition it serves as a means of bringing people into the church. “The clinic also fulfills the purpose of letting the world see the body of Christ in action,” he says, “and through her see Christ Himself. When these sick people see what the ministry of the Church has done for them, then they will praise the Lord and feel encouraged to be a part of His Church.”

As a mission, our eleven years of experience in medical ministry have taught us that the relationship between church and clinic that Pastor Ricardo describes is something that physical proximity alone cannot produce. An example of this truth can be seen in

“As a church, we are not only occupied with the spiritual health of people (as if physical

health were not within our calling), but also bodily health.”

continued from page 6

the Wichanzao community, where the original Bethesda Clinic serves. There, says Dale Ellison, director of medical ministry at Peru Mission, the future of the clinic is uncertain.

Dale says the clinic in Wichanzao has never been able to reach its goal of self-sustainability and continues dependent on the mission for a portion of its operating budget. “We feel we have greater possibilities in Arevalo to be financially self-sustaining in the long run due to better facilities and a better location,” he explains. An additional problem Dale identifies is the lack of involvement of the local church in the ministry of the clinic. “We feel it is vital for the leadership of the church to participate in the ministry of the clinic,” he notes, “and we have not seen the level of commitment we want.”

Dale emphasizes that no final decision has been made and that the boards of Peru Mission and Bethesda have decided to wait until the year’s end to make a definitive call on the clinic’s future. He says that sharing administrative burdens between the two clinics may alleviate some of the Wichanzao clinic’s financial problems, and that there is also hope in the area of spiritual ministry on the part of Wichanzao Presbyterian Church. “Recently the session designated Pastor Jorge Honores to assist with evangelism in both the clinic and Stewardship Sinergia,” says Dale, adding that a recent donation from a church in the U.S. for just this purpose helped to make this possible. “We are hopeful this will bear fruit,” he shares.

In the meantime, Bethesda is seeking to learn from past experience as they embark on this next stage of their journey. The right place to start, they believe, is with the leadership of the local

church. This is why from the beginning it has been of greatest importance to Peru Mission, Bethesda, and Cristo Restaurador to establish Bethesda Christian Clinic as an extension of the church’s mercy ministry, and not as a stand-alone organization.

This of course requires commitment not only from church leaders like Pastor Ricardo, but from clinic staff as well. Elizabeth Johnson, a registered nurse and Bethesda Christian Clinic staff member, is hopeful about pursuing this combined mission in the Manuel Arévalo neighborhood. “I am really excited about the clinic here and the opportunity we have,” she says. Elizabeth adds that in just the first few weeks of ministry she has seen many reasons to be thankful. “We have been able to minister to the people in the church,” she explains, “but also to some neighbors, to talk to them more about Jesus and open up those doors for them to feel that the church is caring for the neighborhood, too. It is exciting to see, little bit by little bit, how God can use this not only to help people’s physical needs but also their spiritual needs.”

Karina Cabellos is another staff member who sees the new clinic as an opportunity for holistic ministry. “We need to pray incessantly that the patients would come,” she says, “and that they could see that here they are not only going to find people who are going to help them with their physical state, but also people who can offer spiritual help.”

The new clinic not only means reaching more hearts for Christ and ministering to the health needs of many hundreds more patients, but it also brings new hope to medical ministry at Peru Mission. With this gift from God comes a fresh reminder to Bethesda and our parish churches that although

physical healing is a tremendous blessing, it is only as durable as life itself. This is why our goal must remain to combine the faithful proclamation of the Good News of eternal life in Jesus Christ with merciful care for the sick and injured.

To do so we need God’s grace to be upon us all. For this reason, we ask you to keep several things in prayer. Please pray that the Lord would provide godly, faithful health professionals to join our team, and bring to Bethesda men and women who are dedicated to serving their God not only with their hands, but also with prayer and evangelism. Please pray that our clinics would be full of patients seeking care. Please pray for the pastors, elders and deacons of our churches, that God would equip them to become more and more engaged in the work of mercy ministry in their parish communities.

Lastly, in the coming months we will be seeking funds to complete construction of the clinic. Please pray that the Lord would provide for the completion of this project, but that more importantly He would give us wisdom to engage in medical ministry in a way that is both sustainable and spiritually focused.

We invite you to join with us in proclaiming Christ’s good news in word and deed through the Arévalo Missional Hospital project.

learn more or give online at perumission.org/arevalo

continue the impact.


C H U R C H P L A N T I N G

Missionaries Maintain an Old Custom to Support Rural Congregations

A single lightbulb illumines the room where the congregants sit, men on the right, women on the left. They sing from open Bibles, some straining to make out the words in the dim, others singing from memory, never having learned the art of reading.

The singing ends and a man stands before them, Bible in hand. Tall and bearded, he could hardly look more different from the small group watching him expectantly from their narrow benches. His name is Steve Hill, and two years ago he and his wife Dianne arrived in Cajamarca to minister to the city and its outlying villages.

Pastor Steve’s roots lie in Mississippi soil, thousands of miles away, but it is in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in the rural villages of Cajamarca that he finds true fulfillment. “My greatest joy,” he says, “has been serving God. Wherever He sends you is where you will be happiest.”

Every Sunday, a small troupe of circuit missionaries head out to teach and preach in churches without permanent pastors. The Hills are often joined by

their teammate Esther Ramírez, and by Juan Santa Cruz, pastor at Los Rosales Presbyterian Church in Cajamarca. Víctor Ventura, a local lawyer with a passion for the gospel, is another frequent companion. Together, these missionaries travel from village to village to share the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Aside from a few modern elements (they travel via a red ‘85 Toyota Land Cruiser, and not horses), their work differs little from that of their 19th-century counterparts. The women lead Sunday School classes for children and other women, and the men teach leadership training courses and preach.

Alonzo Ramírez, founder of Peru Mission and missionary to Cajamarca, says the harvest is ripe for this kind of circuit ministry. “On the whole, the village churches of Cajamarca are experiencing a spiritual awakening,” notes Pastor Alonzo. “They gather for worship and seem to have become more interested in learning and practicing the Bible’s teaching.”

In total, there are seven congregations that benefit regularly from this ministry.

Five of these are in Cajamarca proper, and two are in the neighboring department of Piura. All of these churches suffer from a lack of leadership and pastoral care, which makes the circuit ministry so valuable. Still, it is not a permanent solution and has inherent drawbacks. Pastor Steve identifies a lack of continuity and the difficulty of building relationships as some of the limitations of circuit ministry. “Being a circuit rider,” he says, “I do not have as much time to really get to know the people.” Pastor Steve confirms that having strong local leadership is best. “Of course,” he says, “our job is not to do the ministry for them but to train them to do the ministry. This is why we have our seminaries.” In the meantime, however, circuit preachers like Pastor Steve are greatly needed. “Until they have these leaders,” he explains, “they need the faithful preaching of God’s Word. It is very important that they have sound Biblical teaching in their churches.”

Pastor Steve says that, with some important exceptions, the spiritual needs

Riding the Circuit:

8

“All of these churches face a common spiritual struggle,

how to be faithful to the Lord

in a context where their communities demand that they continue to conform to their old customs.” We normally leave home at 8:00 AM

for a drive through magnificent mountain scenery for anywhere from thirty minutes to one and a half hours. On the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month we go to Jesús and then to Hualqui.

In Jesús, they want me to preach a full hour. If I don’t go that long, one of the elders will get up and comment or add to my message till the hour is met. We then have Sunday School. Dianne is teaching the ladies’ class a study of ‘Christ in the Tabernacle’.

We then go to lunch in a little restaurant on the main square of the village. Víctor leaves to go work with the young singles in another church in San José. Dianne and I wait for Esther and Pastor Juan to join us in Jesús after their service in the Los Rosales Church in Cajamarca. Then together we drive 45 minutes further from Jesús to the village of Hualqui.

Esther and Dianne teach a children’s Sunday School class there at 4:30. At 5:30 Dianne and I teach an English class to the teenagers. At 6:30 Pastor Juan teaches the officer training class. At 7:30 we have a worship service where I again preach. I preach the same sermon two to three times each month in the different churches, which gives me practice with my Spanish and makes my messages smoother for the people.

We then head back home, arriving one and a half hours later, sometime around 10:00 or 10:30 PM. A long but satisfying day. On the other two Sundays we hold a cell group in our home in the evenings after preaching mornings and afternoons.

Riding the Circuit: — Pastor Alonzo Ramírez

of the villagers are not much different from those of other Christians. “They have the same kinds of concerns that brothers and sisters in Christ have around the world. They want to see their children learn to love the Lord. They struggle with temptations to sin. They struggle to have Godly relationships with family, neighbors, and friends.” Pastor Steve adds that there are some trials these Christians face that would be virtually unknown to their brethren in the developed world. “Few have Bibles. Some cannot read. Older people lack the glasses they need to read.”

Pastor Alonzo would add yet another need to this list. “All of these churches face a common spiritual struggle,” he says, “how to be faithful to the Lord in a context where their communities demand that they continue to conform to their old customs.” He explains that as Christ is preached to the brethren in these churches, and as they are encouraged to grow in holiness, “we ourselves see how the Lord’s grace provides the only way out of the snares of Satan.”

A Circuit Preacher’s Typical SundayBy Steve Hill

Change comes slowly to the village of Hualqui. Here, amid bucolic surroundings, the people coax their living from the valley floor the same way their forefathers did, with technology perhaps not updated since the Conquest. Birthdays are forgotten; there is no time for celebration or even casual socializing. But Sunday evenings are an exception for a group of villagers. Just as others have done for over 100 years, they gather in the Presbyterian Church of Hualqui to worship the Lord and receive His Word.

It is a sign of God’s grace that these village churches continue to survive after so many years without pastoral guidance. And with the blessing of this year’s circuit preaching efforts, there are even more signs of life within these congregations. As Pastor Alonzo puts it, “we see improvement in their lives and some growth in every place.” Please join us in praising God for providing missionaries and circuit preachers to guide these sheep, and please join us in beseeching Him to produce pastors who can lead these flocks from day to day.

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Quiet, spotless, and painted a trustworthy cobalt blue, the Stewardship Sinergia office is a paragon of efficiency. The cupboards lined with neatly sorted binders and the tidy stacks of forms on desks are all visible emblems of the sound financial enterprise Sinergia has become during its seven years of service to the Esperanza district.

From day one Sinergia has striven to lift women out of abject poverty through the provision of low-interest loans. God has been abundantly gracious in allowing this part of the program to flourish and expand, particularly in the past year. “In 2013 we have worked hard to reach new clients,” says Judith Baltodano, Sinergia’s director. “And that has helped us a great deal because we have been able to reach places much farther away.” Judith says Sinergia currently serves around 260 clients and she is encouraged by the interest she sees in other communities to participate in the loan program.

This work has blessed hundreds of impoverished women and their families, but the loans were never intended to be the whole purpose for Sinergia’s existence. Peru Mission has always desired to address through Sinergia not only the material poverty in these people’s lives, but also the poverty of

agiftforsinergia:their souls through the gospel of Jesus Christ in cooperation with the local church in Wichanzao.

Since the beginning, the demonstration of the gospel has been an integral part of Sinergia’s DNA, with the proclamation of it being emphasized implicitly rather than explicitly. For eternal benefits, the two must go hand-in-hand. It is a source of great disappointment to the Sinergia team and to Peru Mission that while Sinergia has excelled in demonstrating the gospel through the alleviation of poverty, they have never been able to achieve lasting success in proclaiming the gospel verbally and openly to their clients.

This is not to say that, through God’s grace, Sinergia has not made significant and loving efforts in the past to cooperate with the church and help to care for the souls of its clients. These efforts have included Christmas gospel programs and pastoral home visits, and we are grateful for the service of the Peruvians and American missionaries who gave of their time and gifts to these valuable projects.

What has been lacking, however, is a more systematic and foundational integration of the gospel in interactions with clients. The reasons this has not

developed are many. Several pressures have consumed the Sinergia team’s time, including a chronic shortage of personnel and a series of changes in government regulations and the economic environment in the past. Perhaps the simplest way to put it is that the road to becoming solvent has been overwhelmingly demanding of the program’s resources. As a result, training team members how to implement the gospel in their day-to-day interactions with clients has often been neglected, as have seeking and obtaining consistent pastoral oversight and assistance, leaving team members ill-equipped to attend to this crucial component of the ministry.

Thankfully, as the loan program began to run more smoothly and successfully than ever before, the aforementioned distractions gradually dissipated. Earlier this year, for the first time the Sinergia team realized with amazement that they had reached the goal for which they had struggled so long. And that is when Sinergia received a very providential opportunity.

It came in the form of a $25,000 grant to Sinergia from the GROVE group, a Memphis-based Christian non-profit. Shaun Sipe is a member of the GROVE group board as well as an

A financial grant provides a golden opportunity

Felipa de la Cruz Solano58 years old

Worked with Sinergia for 5 yearsHad her market stall for 11 years

She sells meals (breakfasts and lunches)

P E R U M I S S I O N B U L L E T I N / 1 2

continued on page 13

employee of the company that funds the group. He describes himself as a “champion” for several of the group’s ministry partners. “In serving the church,” says Shaun, “we seek to provide strategic openings for the gospel in many contexts. One of those areas where we have been very encouraged is the area of microfinance and microenterprise. Sinergia is providing an opportunity for the gospel through a program of microfinance and microenterprise and serving the poorest of the poor.” This grant allows Sinergia to serve more of the women in need within (and beyond) their current reach. Peru Mission missionary Josh Johnson, who arrived in Trujillo to work with Sinergia earlier this year, estimates that the grant will allow Sinergia to provide loans to around 70 new clients.

Alongside the grant came a humbling request. Josh explains: “They wanted to see an implementation strategy for using the gospel in more of what we do, in all areas.” He says the Sinergia team agreed to view this request as a significant opportunity. “We are here because we feel like the Lord has called us to be here,” he emphasizes. “We want to work with our clients to grow this community and to grow Christ in this

community, and that is our purpose, not to make money. Our purpose is to help the love of Christ be more evident.”

Josh believes the grant was vital for Sinergia’s health as an organization, not only because the funds were needed to grow the loan program to help more women, but because it has become the impetus for real heart change at Sinergia. “I think this is a great time for Sinergia,” he says, “a really pivotal moment, because this grant has allowed us to reassess what the real mission of Sinergia is. Are we just another micro-credit agency? What makes us different? We are different, and we need to really say that, over and over again. And in relation to the church it is a good time to have another go at building those strong relationships.”

All of this happened several months ago, and God has been at work among the team at Sinergia as they seek through prayer and the study of God’s word to make Christ the foundation of their work. It has been a true blessing to see the transformation that has taken place. Scripture verses now adorn the office’s walls, and current team members are learning how to be open about their faith with their clients.

A significant part of the improvement we have seen has come

as a result of the ministry of Pastor Jaime Avellaneda, a member of the Sinergia board and a pastor of Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church. Pastor Jaime has been giving weekly devotionals at Sinergia and training the team to think Biblically about what they do and why they do it. He says he has found many opportunities since starting this weekly Bible study to encourage the team to pray for their clients. Now, when team members discuss the personal problems of their clients that are affecting their participation in the program, Pastor Jaime encourages them to stop and pray for the client before doing anything else. “Now,” he says, “when we finish our devotional we take time to pray for our clients who are having health problems or economic problems.”

To help team members maintain a Biblical perspective, he has challenged them to memorize a series of scriptures relating to the mercy ministry in which they are involved. Judith laughs self-deprecatingly when asked to recite one of these verses. “I am not good with these things!” she protests. Still, Colossians 3:23 comes immediately to her mind. “It is one that talks about doing our work for the Lord, and not for other people,” she says. Whatever you do, work heartily,

continued from page 12

Delia Gariza Valle49 years oldWorked with Sinergia for 5 yearsSold meals for same amount of time


We are very humbled and excited to announce that CMS is now accredited by the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA).

According to the organization’s website, “ECFA is an accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™, which focus on board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fundraising, and proper use of charity resources.” Since the late 1970’s ECFA has been helping Christians give with wisdom and confidence, and has provided non-profit organizations like ours much-needed accountability and visibility.

As we give thanks for this blessing, we recognize with awe that all we have not only comes from God, but continues to belong to Him, though He place it in our care. As we read in Deuteronomy 10:14, “Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” As our friends with generosity and sacrifice entrust their gifts to us for the service of the Lord, we are struck by what a great responsibility this is. We ask for your prayers as we seek wisdom in administering these gifts, as well as watchfulness against temptation. We ask also that you would pray that God would be pleased to allow us to continue this work He has entrusted to us, and that we would do all these things for the exaltation of His holy name.

CMS Receives ECFA Accreditation

as for the Lord and not for men. Judith is excited about this new

opportunity. She says that as a result of this season of planning and learning, this year the team has grown to be more unified in their vision and their mission as a Christian ministry, and not just another financial entity.

We are encouraged by how the Lord has provided for more gospel-centered ministry at Sinergia, and ask that you join us in praying that He would continue to bless the men and women of Sinergia as they seek to walk faithfully with God in all they do, doing their work for Him.

For an introduction to the work of Stewardship Sinergia, visit perumission.org/stewardship-sinergia.

"We want to work with our clients to grow this community and to grow Christ in this community, and that is our purpose, not to make money. Our purpose is to help the love of Christ be more evident."

Parish’s two central goals remain to disciple men with the Word of God and equip them with the tools they need to provide financially for themselves and their families. The ministry is working with four carpenters and is partnering with a carpentry shop owned by two of these carpenters. Every day they meet to study the Bible and pray together. On the business end, while continuing to pray about what the Lord has in store for Parish as an export company, the ministry has decided to devote the upcoming year to developing a local market in Peru. Carpenters continue to produce high-quality furniture and crafts for sale locally, and have been able to sell some items through Peru Mission’s seasonal Marketplace fundraiser.

Please pray for continued spiritual growth for the carpenters of Parish and for their families. Please pray also for the ministry’s leaders as they seek wisdom for the future of the ministry both in terms of discipleship and economic development.

In addition to continuing the existing ministries of worship, pastoral care, and three different ministries to youth, the church has brought their seminary students back to Trujillo and is teaching them seminary courses and overseeing their internships, which include renewed work at the Clementina Chapel by Eduardo Laiza. Their theological training also includes continued work with biblical instruction for a charismatic church in Milagro that has been seeking help and leadership from Wichanzao throughout all of 2013. Also, thanks to a recent donation, the church was able to hire Pastor Jorge Honores to work part time with the Bethesda Clinic and Stewardship Sinergia in outreach.

Please pray that the Lord would bless this church’s faithful efforts to train leaders and bring the gospel to their community.

2013 has been an eventful year for this young church plant. In September the church moved from its downtown location to the new facility it now shares with Peru Mission. In contrast with the previous location, the church has access to this building seven days a week, which has been a tremendous blessing. Five cell groups meet throughout the city each week, and the church welcomed several new members. In addition, this year Cristo Rey has begun to introduce the congregation to Sunday School classes and evening worship services .

Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless this church, particularly as it begins ministry in its new neighborhood.

F I E L D N OT E S : Reports from the frontlines of some of our other ministries

ParishWichanzao Presbyterian Church

Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church


In addition to leading services in the church on Sundays and throughout the week, Pastor Percy Padilla has also taken on the responsibility of leading daily devotionals in the local public school in Parque Industrial. Every morning he leads all primary and secondary school students, and their teachers, through a Bible lesson and prayer. Pastor Percy has also found opportunities to minister to his neighbors through home visits and by consoling several families who have recently lost loved ones.

Please pray for Pastor Percy and his wife Julie, that the Lord would cause their efforts to bear fruit in the hearts and minds of their neighbors and that He would bring many to Him through the ministry of this church.

This year we are giving thanks for the Lord’s provision of new office space for the mission. The new building is shared between Peru Mission and Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church, and is centrally located for Cristo Rey’s congregants and Peru Mission’s missionaries. The mission is occupying two very suitable rooms on the second floor for administration offices, in addition to a sitting area and conference room which the mission shares with the church. The administrative team is excited not only by this opportunity to have a more permanent, visible office space in Trujillo, but also by the way this new space facilitates our support and service to our teammates.

Please pray for Peru Mission and CMS as we continue to strive to serve our missionaries and support them in their ministries in Peru.

The St. Augustine University Society (SUSA) continues its ministry to university students in two formats: small groups on university campuses and weekly large-group meetings. On the campuses of three universities in Trujillo students are learning how to evangelize their classmates and defend their faith. They receive training in these areas as well as personal discipleship. Cristo Rey’s recent move to a new rental facility means that the ministry can resume its weekly large-group meetings. In these meetings, students gather for prayer, singing, and fellowship with fellow Christian students, as well as receiving instruction in a variety of topics from university minister Oscar Briones, student leaders, and special guest speakers.

Please pray for Pastor Oscar and the many student leaders and other brethren involved in this ministry, that the Lord would allow them to fulfill their mission to “be disciples who make disciples.” Please pray for each student reached by SUSA, that they would have a personal encounter with God and that their lives would be transformed for the glory of God.

Cristo Redentor Presbyterian Church

University Ministry Administration

M I N I S T R Y U P D AT E S

Each year, the brothers and sisters who visit Trujillo and Cajamarca on short-term mission trips bless our communities through a variety of ministries, including construction projects, preaching, medical campaigns, evangelism, and relationship-building.

This year, teams helped to build a church for the people of San José, Cajamarca, first laying a foundation and then putting up walls. The new church will be a significant blessing for the rural community where for many months now brethren from Los Rosales Presbyterian Church have been working faithfully to evangelize and teach local children and their parents. Other teams constructed a perimeter wall around the Manuel Arévalo parish complex in Trujillo and laid a foundation for the kindergarten the church hopes one day will serve neighboring families. Their work secured the property in Manuel Arévalo, including the Bethesda Christian Clinic, and provided a solid beginning for the school project there.

Medical teams came, too. In Trujillo, these teams worked

alongside the staff of Bethesda Clinic in Wichanzao, Manuel Arévalo, and several other neighborhoods, many of them places where medical care is either scarce or non-existent. In Cajamarca, doctors treated hundreds of patients both in the city and in an outlying village. We received dentists, family practitioners, and a wide variety of doctors and medical professionals with specialties ranging from women’s health to physical therapy, and from pediatrics to pulmonology.

The first and most important benefit these teams bring is encouragement and support to local churches. “I want to thank the churches, pastors and brethren for their efforts and work, and also for the testimony that they have left us,” says Ricardo Hernández, pastor of Cristo Restaurador Presbyterian Church in Manuel Arévalo. He says that, although they faced cultural and language barriers, the Lord allowed the American visitors and the Peruvian congregation to be a team, working “under the same faith, the same Lord, and the same vision: to see the kingdom of the Lord advance.”

Peru Mission’s short-term teams coordinator Alleen McLain Tomás agrees that this relationship is the most valuable result of short-term missions and emphasizes that short-

term team ministry with Peru Mission is always linked to the local church. “We always start with what needs the local churches have,” she says. For example, this year the group of pastors and church leaders with whom Peru Mission serves in Trujillo decided that the most pressing need in our community of churches was the wall and foundation project in Manuel Arévalo. According to Alleen, occasionally the abilities and desires of a team do not match up with the needs of local pastors and ministry leaders. “When this happens,” she says, “we have to ask teams not to come.”

Once a team is matched with an expressed need, the benefits are not limited to the encouragement and help they bring to local churches. Members of teams also benefit tremendously from the experience. “This year we saw a lot of growth and heard team members tell stories of what Christ did in them during their week in Peru,” says Alleen. She adds that many team members leave Peru reflecting on their time and how they can bring the same passion and energy they had on the foreign mission field to their day-to-day life at home, “because your mission field does not always have to be abroad,” she explains.

This year, Peru Mission received 212 short-term visitors. These

Blessings Abound with Short-term Ministry


Blessings Abound with Short-term Ministryincluded not only members of teams, but also the individuals and families who made the long journey to serve alongside us. Many of these are old friends whose visits are always an encouragement not only to our mission team family, but to members of our churches. Each of these brothers and sisters generously gave of their time and treasure to demonstrate the love of Christ in our midst, and we are truly grateful to them for their gift of love.

The families and individuals who visited and worked with us this past year areDr. Gary Bird

Max Dysh

Londa English

Sarah Gunnells

John Hill

Patty Kinsey

Clara Lee

Heidi MacDonald

Dr. Rob Maddox

Jackson Maddox

Giancarlo Mondragon

Callie Mosher

Julia Muscarella

Lydia Rice

The Shepherd family

Thor Thornhill

Kaylee Welch

Patrick Woodyard

Erika Wyn

We were blessed to host the following teams:

Twin Lakes CampFirst Presbyterian Church of Jackson, MS, and Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, GA

Independent Presbyterian ChurchMemphis, TN

Woodruff Road Presbyterian ChurchGreenville, SC

Second Presbyterian ChurchGreenville, SC

All Saints Presbyterian ChurchAustin, TX

First Presbyterian ChurchJackson, MS

Matthews Orthodox Presbyterian ChurchMatthews, NC

Sandhills Presbyterian ChurchSouthern Pines, NC

Christ Covenant ChurchHernando, MS

Covenant Presbyterian ChurchOak Ridge, TN

Covenant Presbyterian ChurchLittle Rock, AR

City Presbyterian ChurchOklahoma City, Oklahoma

Independent Presbyterian ChurchSavannah, GA

“This year we saw a lot of growth and heard team members tell stories of what Christ did in them during their week in Peru.”

— Alleen McLain Tomás, Short-term Team Coordinator

“Popular Piety” Keeps Idolatry Alive in Peru

In 1664, word reached the mountain village of Otuzco that the Dutch pirates who had ransacked cities along the coasts of Ecuador and northern Peru were heading south toward Trujillo and its inland sister towns and villages. Desperate for protection, the villagers placed an image of the Virgin of the Conception at the village gate. For three days they pleaded with the image to save them from the raiders. The ships passed by and Otuzco and Trujillo were spared. Now, 250 years later, the image that has come to be known as the Virgin of the Gate (La Vírgen de la Puerta) has evolved into one of the most powerful and central objects of faith and religious devotion for Catholics throughout northern Peru.

The figure, representing Mary, is a child with sad, downcast eyes. Her fine gauzes and silks are embroidered in gold and silver, and spread from narrow above to wide below, giving her a distinctly triangular form, like a glittering mountain peak. At her feet lies a silver crescent moon, supporting the whole figure like a delicate skiff.

The presence of the moon gives us some insight into the nature of this image. In Revelation we read, “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon

under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (12:1). The Roman Church holds that this woman is Mary, and so in the image she stands with the moon underfoot. But in Incan religion, the moon was the Mother from whom all people descended. In this way, the image becomes not merely an image of Mary, but also of a deity whose adoration predates, perhaps by many centuries, the arrival of Roman Catholicism to Peru.

She holds court in a stone church set against a mountainside in Otuzco, and once a year she is carried down to the city of Trujillo. For several days the people celebrate her sojourn at the foot of the mountain, and the crowd that gathers is immense. The people throng. Parents lift their infants before her, and the masses leave trinkets at her feet, hoping for a miraculous cure for an incurable illness, the return of a loved one that some irreparable rift has torn from them, for love, prosperity, long life. To them, she is more than a doll in gowns and jewels. She is even more than the representation of Mary, the mother of Christ, whom they believe intercedes for them before the Lord. For many, the image itself is endued with a miraculous power.

It is not the official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that the image

carries with it some magical power, but complicity with this view is officially sanctioned. This procession, and others like it, are recognized by the Catholic Church as popular piety, a sort of pseudo-catholicism (usually syncretized with pre-Conquest religious practices) tolerated, if not always respected, by Catholic clergy.

It is actually quite difficult to tell where priests in Latin America stand on this issue. Anecdotally, one Catholic priest who ministered in the Wichanzao neighborhood told one of his parishioners that, although he disagreed with the idolatry, he could not say so publicly. His flock would never allow him to continue to be their priest.

It is possible that this fear of rejection and expulsion is at the heart not only of the public stances priests believe they must adopt in order to continue their ministry, but also of official Roman Catholic doctrine. In not speaking out against these displays of misdirected worship, these priests are following the leadership of their Church. Festivals dedicated to various saints and images of Mary and Christ are supported by the Vatican as a means of bringing the people closer to the God. As Pope John Paul II explained in a homily he delivered in Chile in 1987, “They [saints’

festivals] are signs of the true popular religiosity, that moves to direct the mind and the heart to God, our Father: that propels toward the sincere reconciliation with God and that makes you feel more connected with your brothers, with those whom you should love and serve as Jesus has taught us with his words and with his entire life.”

Despite the motive the late Pope provided in this homily, all of this is a dangerous game for the Roman Church to play. The rest of John Paul II’s homily is full of optimism. He goes on to encourage worshippers in their dances and rituals, and enumerates the benefits of these to them, their families, and the future of Christianity in their country. From a distance, it is not difficult to understand his eagerness to encourage them. It is hardly convenient to tell these thousands of worshippers they must leave all of this behind. It is easiest to explain it away, excuse it, even encourage it. But then you get up close, in the sweet, spicy haze of the incense, among the drummers beating out with flawless rhythm the paces of the altar-bearers upon whose grave shoulders the glowing and pristine figure makes her way, exalted and adored, through the city. The strength of emotion, the pomp, and all of the trappings of the procession, is all directed to the image. She receives the prayers, she receives the worship. Is it possible that these festivals draw some people closer to the true God? Perhaps it is possible. But if this is idolatry, the exaltation of the creature above the Creator, then it is a dangerous thing, accomplishing precisely the opposite of what the Church claims it accomplishes, bringing death, not life.

Or perhaps the danger is exaggerated. Perhaps this assembly is an anomaly, and not truly indicative of the

spiritual state of Catholics in northern Peru. Perhaps these are only the elderly, the infirm, clinging to traditions already dead. A brief glance across the plaza reveals a different and startling reality. This is no insignificant portion of the population, and neither is it confined to any one group. It is in effect an entire metropolis turned out for worship, taxi drivers and teachers, day laborers and doctors, street cleaners and mayors, and their children. The sheer number of people is awful as they strain to touch anything near her person, if only the edge of her pedestal, the hem of her garment.

Their devotion is celebrated throughout the country. The pageantry, the noise, the passion, are all marks of a truly devoted people, a people whose hearts are lifted up into the heavens. But there is tragedy beneath the devotion, and that is that the worshippers mistake their attitudes and actions for faith. So deep runs the lie, that this word, faith, is the word emblazoned on the broadsheets and emphasized with reverence on the television and radio news programs. Faith it may be, but upon what object is it placed?

This brings us to our central question: Why do we send missionaries to Catholic countries? Would not our time be better spent among the heathen? Those who know nothing of Christ? One of the reasons we send missionaries to Catholic countries like Peru is that the best of lies are mixed with enough truth to make them palatable. These dangers are real, not imagined.

The Bible is clear in its praise of Mary as a godly woman, a hero of the faith. What would she say about the adoration she now receives, an adoration that places her beside her Savior? It is a sad thing that the words of the Apostle

Paul in Acts 20 remain all too applicable to our ministry context in Peru: “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (vv. 29-30). Some leaders in the Catholic Church “speak twisted things;” others remain silent. Their motives may lie in a variety of places, but the result of their actions is the same. Ruin.

The Virgin must return to her mountain home, and return she does. What remains following her time among the mortals? There, on the pavement, among the candy wrappers and fruit rinds, lie the dreams of the people. They have been crushed beneath a thousand heels, the dust and grime of the city ground into their very fibers. The people, elevated by the experience, return home empty handed and empty hearted.

Thank God in heaven that there is hope, and that hope lies within the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone, the Good News that can bring light where darkness has for so long reigned. We ask for your prayers. Please pray for the souls of those who have misplaced their trust and bought into the lies, that the Holy Spirit would clear the mist from before their eyes. Please pray for those Catholics in Peru and elsewhere who are true believers and who have rejected this idolatry and are seeking reformation from within, particularly those in positions of leadership. Lastly, please pray for those in Peru who like the Apostle Paul faithfully and fearfully preach “the whole counsel of God”, that they would not lose heart and that the Lord would cause their ministry to be effective for the transformation and liberation of hearts and minds (v. 27).

"There is tragedy beneath the devotion, and that is that the worshippers mistake their

attitudes and actions for faith."


the bakers - Wes is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. He and his wife Jami have seven children ranging in age from ten to twenty-three. They are currently on Home Assignment in Texas with plans to return next year. While in Peru, Wes serves as a pastor in the Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church in Trujillo, trains pastors and church planters in the seminary, and helps with the mission's strategic planning. The Bakers have been with Peru Mission in Cajamarca and Trujillo for almost fourteen years.

the johnsons - Josh and Elizabeth Johnson are from Chattanooga, TN and are both graduates of Covenant College. Josh is an associate missionary with the economic development ministry working primarily with Stewardship Sinergia. Additionally, Josh uses his love for soccer as an outreach ministry to build edifying relationships with men around Trujillo. Elizabeth uses her gifts of creativity and hospitality by having people over, painting regularly, and helping coordinate church events. Josh and Elizabeth attend the Wichanzao Church in the community where Stewardship Sinergia is located and teach in the children's Sunday School program there.

the den oudstens - Originally from Veenendaal, Netherlands, Albert is a civil engineer who studied Biblical and Intercultural Studies at All Nations Christian College in London. Albert receives theological training and pastoral experience through the Apprenticeship Program. Apart from his involvement in our university ministry and as a leader in his cell group, Albert works with music, construction, and short-term teams. Maresa (from Trujillo, Peru) is involved in the Cristo Rey Church events planning team and women’s group, and opens their home for hospitality. The den Oudstens are expecting their first child next year.

the hills - Steve and Dianne Hill work with the Hinterland ministries. Steve, an ordained PCA pastor, is supply preaching in four different churches each month around the city of Cajamarca in the Andes mountains of northern Peru. Dianne teaches the ladies’ and children’s Sunday School classes. They teach as many as four different English classes as a service and outreach in the community. Steve assists Dr. Alonzo Ramírez in constructing new churches as God opens doors. Dianne uses her administrative gifts to procure and organize Spanish teaching material for children’s ministries and serve the short-term teams that come each summer.

the davenports - Scott and Julie Davenport, from Charlotte, NC, moved to Peru in 2011. Scott works with the seminary ministry and church planting. As a pastor at Cristo Rey, he has particular charge of Christian Education. This includes overseeing the Sunday School Program, teaching the adult class, and teaching seminary classes for the Apprenticeship Program. Scott also supports church planting in other churches in Trujillo. Julie and their six children (Kevin 14, Nathan 12, Ellie 11, Bonnie 9, Seth 7 and Joseph 5) serve alongside Scott in multiple facets of the mission, including hospitality, outreach, and short-term teams.

the mills - The Mills family is from Zachary, LA. Stuart and Megumi have three children: Satomi, Samuel and Ezra. The Mills family have just returned to Peru for a second term. Stuart continues to lead the Parish Woodshop and was recently ordained to serve as pastor of discipleship in Cristo Restaurador Presbyterian Church in the Manuel Arévalo neighborhood of Trujillo. Meg takes care of their children and plays the violin. She plans to use her science background (PhD. in Microbiology) to bless the ministries of Peru Mission.

the ellisons -Dale and Susan are from Jackson, MS and are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Dale is a medical technologist and Susan has a degree in communication. They have served previously in Slovakia with Mission to the World. Dale oversees management of medical staff, plans for growth, oversees maintenance of facilities, develops our health network in Trujillo, and plans medical outreach. He is also a ruling elder at Cristo Restaurador Presbyterian Church in Manuel Arévalo. Susan homeschools their five children and keeps their home open in hospitality to their community.

elizabeth johnson - Elizabeth is from Greenville, South Carolina. A pediatric nurse by training, Elizabeth serves in the new Bethesda Christian Clinic, assists with medical campaigns, and makes home visits throughout our parish communities. She is a member of the church in Wichanzao and participates in the children’s program “Yo Aprendo.” Elizabeth is serving with Peru Mission for two years as an associate missionary.

M I S S I O N A R I E S S E RV I N G I N P E R U

Learn more or join online at perumission.org/community

Thank you! Your gift is tax-deductible and will be receipted.Please return to: Christian Missionary Society P.O. Box 14563 | Greenville, SC 29610-4563

the ramirezes - The Ramírez family is from Cajamarca, Peru. Alonzo is an organizing member of Peru Mission and a minister in the Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana del Perú. He and his wife Esther have two children (Samuel and Anna). Alonzo is a pastor in the Los Rosales Church, Cajamarca, and director of the university ministry at the National University of Cajamarca. He is also rector of the Seminario Bíblico Reformado for the Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana del Perú. Esther teaches religion classes at a public school in Cajamarca and directs the children's Sunday School at Second Presbyterian Church.

the smiths - Allen and Sandi have served in Peru since January 2006. Allen works with leadership development and serves as interim pastor at Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church, where he oversees its missional cell groups and equips leaders. He has recently launched an Apprenticeship Program that is preparing a future church planting team. Sandi stays busy with their four daughters, works as a local photographer and plays in a tennis league, all of which have enabled her to befriend many in their city. The Smiths enjoy hosting a missional cell group and planning parties and social projects to serve their community.

the tomáses - Hermes serves as assistant manager for Parish, leads a missional cell group, and is a deacon at Cristo Rey Church. As team administrator, Alleen oversees the day-to-day business of the mission including budgeting, legal matters, and human resources. Both Hermes and Alleen work as short-term teams coordinators, and plan and prepare for the dozens of teams that visit each year. They enjoy hosting these teams throughout the year and providing them a view of God's kingdom and how He is reforming northern Peru.

emilio salaverry - Emilio is originally from Trujillo, Peru, but moved with his mother and brother to the U.S. when he was four years old. Emilio returned to Peru in 2010. After serving in various ministries at Peru Mission, Emilio was invited to become an official Peru Mission missionary and scholarship student. Emilio’s tasks include coordinating Bible studies on university campuses, discipling students, helping to lead his missional gospel-centered small group, and assisting with communications for Spanish outreach and keeping all the Peruvian brethren updated.

the suttons - Caleb and Cassandra Sutton live in Trujillo, Peru with their two young daughters. As Peru Mission’s Communications Coordinator, Caleb’s tasks include writing, editing, translating, and publishing for the mission’s newsletters, websites, and other publications. He is responsible for keeping supporters in the U.S. informed about Peru Mission news, as well as facilitating communication among Peru Mission ministries. Cassandra supports Caleb’s ministry and keeps an open home to their friends and neighbors. The Suttons also lead a missional community group.


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Please join us in praying that the Lord would• Grant us wisdom, grace and favor as we

labor in His harvest.

• Provide godly leaders for His Church in Peru.

• Cause love (for Christ, for each other, and for the unreached) to be at the heart of all we do.

• Allow our actions of mercy to bear fruit in the hearts of the lost.

Trujillo, Peru

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We thank God for many blessings these past months, including• New members and growth in maturity

within the Church in Peru.

• The completion and inauguration of phase one of the Arévalo Missional Hospital project.

• Raising up men with a vision for shepherding Christ’s flock.

• Providing for Stewardship Sinergia’s continued ministry to the poor.

the power of the GospelRenewing Peru through

N O V E M B E R ’ 1 3B U L L E T I N / V O L 1 5 / I S S U E 1

Seminary classes draw to a close Sinergia confronts a new enemyA Blessed Year: Debt is not the answerPAGE 8 PAGE 10

A L S O I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

New Clinic Brings Healing to Neighborhood, Renewed Focus to Bethesda

2013 Bulletin Draft e

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