SC Church in Peru

Updated 12.30.05

The leadership conference was a blessing. Praise God for answered prayers. We had 130 or so attendees with 75% coming from the rural areas where the REAP churches are working. Some walked 8 hours to catch the bus with others coming from more than 16 hours away by bus. All of the areas where we are working in the mountains were represented. The teachers who came from the U.S. were well prepared and combined with our translator "Dream Team" were well received.

One of the themes most well received was the "Lessons in Leadership from the Life of Jesus" by Lee Robinson on Tuesday. Wednesday was perhaps the most moving day. The day began with Brian Larson sharing about the attributes of God. This set a most worshipful tone for the day. Brian was followed by Carter Bates who shared of God's amazing grace. Later Mike Williams taught about the church and the ordinances of the Lord's Supper and baptism. This was followed by a very moving time of service with Mike and Terry Aumiller washing the feet and sharing communion with a representative from each of the areas where we have been working. As a result of the Spirit's communication through Mike, three of the leaders were motivated to be baptized by Peruvian pastors with Mike in the water to help. Phillip Adams, who recently lost a son in Iraq, followed Mike with a stirring presentation about the return of Christ. Many in the audience were moved to tears as Phillip spoke of the day when there would be no more pain. A leader from the Ocros area approached the stage to lead the audience in a spontaneous time of singing praise to God. On Thursday, Cesar Santiago and William Evaristo, two of our Peruvian partners, taught on evangelism and were followed by Brian Larson who taught on prayer. In the afternoon, the 100 plus group divided into three groups and traveled to Yungay, Recuay, and Huaraz to do prayer walking and evangelism. Yungay and Recuay are the most unreached areas. God saved 89 persons in Recuay, 54 in Yungay and 44 in Huaraz on that day. Our local partners will be following up on those who received Christ to make sure they will be discipled. On Friday, Stephen Reams taught about studying the Bible and How to start a Bible study in the home. After a short question and answer session in the afternoon, 120 or so of the attendees participated in a time of worship and received a certificate for completing the conference. Each day during the teaching times, the missionaries and the speakers who were not speaking prayed for the same prayer requests that we sent you all.

We are hoping and praying that God will move in a mighty way in the Ancash region. We ask that you continue praying for these folks and say a special prayer of thanksgiving for the way that God blessed those who attended the conference.

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