Peru Church Plant
Christ Community has a special bond with the people of Peru. Over the course of the past several years, thousands of Peruvian people have come to know Christ and many new churches have been established all over the country. This, in part, is a direct effect of Christ Community's many short-term mission trips to the Latin American country.
A team of short-term missionaries recently returned from Peru. Here's a bit of what they experienced:
After months of planning and praying, our team spent several days in Jicamarca, a shantytown outside of Lima. There, we joined forces with Peruvian healthcare professionals for a medical clinic, spoke in area schools, and even hosted a “World Cup” soccer tournament for the men of Jicamarca. Before the final soccer match, we spoke to the men about Jesus. They were all very engaged. It was thrilling to hear many of them pray audibly to accept Jesus as their Savior.
After spending several days in Jicamarca, the team split up to work with seven different churches, each a “daughter” or “granddaughter” church of Cristo Viene, the church of our Peruvian partners. Together we strategized about how these churches might expand their influence through community-focused compassionate ministries. One of these churches had a vision to establish a new church on top of a hill where hundreds of people live without a church. After building a fence to protect children at a local preschool and visiting many families, we were surprised when the local mayor sought us out in appreciation, offered free property to the church, and began plans with us to feed those in desperate need at a center right next to where the church would be located. The new church had its first service the following Saturday.
The team also visited El Niño Emanuel Orphanage, and heard the following testimony from a child there. “I am now 13 years old. I have lived at the orphanage in Huaycan, Peru for four years now. Before coming here, we were so poor that my mother chose to sell me to men in the community as a prostitute to provide income for the family. It was a very painful time for me. A lady from your team told her own story of abuse. She cared for me. I am thankful to be here and be rescued by the orphanage, and I now lead a dance and music team here as well as attend school each day. Someday I will be a lawyer to help people.”
After 10 days spent with the people surrounding Lima, we learned that God’s plans are so much better than what we could ever ask or imagine.
Project Beyond Catalyst funds support the travel and material needs for national-led outreaches. The Peru Church Plant team is also hoping to establish micro-business groups which, in time, will become self-supporting.
For more information or to get involved, contact Doug McMurren at dougmac@frii.com.