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Sunday, September 08, 2024
2024-08 Bill and Lena's Peru Update - August 2024
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Bill and Lena's Ministry Update - May 2024
Patience Produces Fruit
A year ago, I (Bill)
bought Lena an orchid. It looked great for a few months then went completely
bald. It was nothing but a stick. Then, buds sprouted. Now it is bigger and
more beautiful than before. God spoke to us about the ministry. Our labors are
bearing fruit and it is beautiful. Thanks to everyone who has partnered with
us! May you see the fruit of your investment in the kingdom!
In Mark 4:26-29, Jesus said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (NIV)
Church Revitalization
Our church revitalization project has turned into a church "revitalized" project. We're blessed to have a team that is willing to share the good news. Recently, we celebrated the church's 40th anniversary. When we took over the church, just before Covid hit, we dreamed of this day. We've now started a second service on Sunday nights, please keep us in prayer for that to grow.
Answered Prayers
Lena is a woman of
vision and prayer. She asked the Lord for three things: that our church would
be strong enough to survive without us, that we would spawn a daughter church
and that university ministry would be established in Peru. The Lord has been gracious
to answer these prayers. Our church is healthy and growing, and we have taken
on an adopted revitalization project. Rock of Faith church is located two hours
outside of Lima in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Our church team has
taken it on and are transforming an economically challenged community in the
desert. I'm proud of our associate pastors, Cesar and Ruth, for taking on this
challenge, along with our worship team and youth group. As for the university
ministry, Lena is the new national coordinator for the Assembly of God in Peru.
Please pray for her to develop a strong team.
Christmas may seem like
a distant memory for most, but for us it's still ongoing. Each year we give all
of the children in our ChildHope program a Christmas gift. That means traveling
all over the country to present the story of the incarnation, and processing
hundreds of thank you letters -- which Lena translates and our faithful
assistant, Janet, tracks! It's a great opportunity to fulfill our mission of
preaching the gospel and giving hope to children in poverty. Thank you to
everyone who helps us bless these beautiful ones who are made in the image of
God.
Prayer Requests
* Dengue (sometimes
known as "breakbone fever") is a mosquito born virus that causes
fever, upset stomach, extreme joint pain, and bleeding from your gums or other
orifices. It is horrible and can be deadly. Peru is currently in an epidemic
and Piura (where we have three ChildHope projects) is the epicenter. All of my
friends there have had it (including many members of our last team there). Each
time one gets it, it is worse. Please pray for a miraculous eradication of this
illness.
* Teams - Over the next
two months we have five teams coming to do ministry in the Amazon jungle, the
Andes mountains (next week!), Lima and Piura (where the dengue outbreak is).
Please pray for salvations, safety and divine appointments.
* Elisabeth Dreaden is
the newest member of our team. She's a Missionary Associate from Mobile,
Alabama. Please pray that the Lord uses her and that she adapts well to these
new challenges.
* University Ministry --
Lena is the new point person to lead this ministry nationally. Please pray for
a strong team, ministry fruit and the ability to apply our decades of
experience in this cultural context.
* Grandchildren -- We
are happy to announce that we have two new additions to the family on the way.
Our daughter-in-law, Tara, and our daughter, Hannah, are both pregnant. We're
delighted. Please pray for healthy pregnancies and easy deliveries.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Bill and Lena's Peru Update - October 2023
To view or download a PDF of this post, please click on the picture below or here.
In the song "Gratitude," Brandon Lake sings, "How could I express all my gratitude? ... except for a heart singing, ‘Hallelujah, hallelujah!’”That is how we feel! Hallelujah to God and gratitude to all of you who have sacrificed to make this mission possible. Thank you! Your faithfulness in prayer and giving is advancing Christ's kingdom in the Land of the Incas!
It was a busy summer. In July, we hosted a team made up of four churches from Akron, Ohio. We built two classrooms for one of our ChildHope schools, did awesome children's ministry at two schools and preached in three churches. Thanks to Akron First Assembly, New Life Church (Stow), and Mountain of Hope Faith Church. Thanks, also, to Connection Church (Wooster) for a generous offering to pay for construction materials. Finally, thanks to Calvary Church (Toledo) who took up a huge offering to provide ChildHope sponsorships for two new projects in areas of extreme poverty.
University Outreach and Church Growth
Our church revitalization project is looking good! We received a special offering and used it to put in a new kitchen, which has blessed every ministry of the church. People regularly walk in off of the street because they hear the music and Lena has ramped up our children's ministry. As a result, attendance is up, people are receiving Christ, and we recently held our second baptismal service this year. Lena also continues to direct our outreach to university students through on-campus discipleship and monthly worship services.
The Nest is Empty
The last of our four offspring has left the nest! Abigail graduated last June and is now attending Kent State University with her brother, Will. Both are faithful members of XA at Kent. In August, we were in Ohio for General Council and to drop Abi off at school. She needed a refresher course on how to drive. As you can see in the photo, it was a relaxing and peaceful experience! We're grateful to the XA Campus Missionaries, Nicole and Haidar Shafie, for taking Abi into their home and helping her adjust to the U.S.
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