longala, Author at COJ International

Beacon of Hope

Beacon of Hope

We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new church construction project starting soon in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Pastor Alberto and his congregation at Jesús Palabra de Vida in the Duran region are preparing to build a new two-story church building that will be a place of worship and provide essential classrooms for children’s ministry. Duran faces significant challenges, as it’s an area marked by gang activity and deeply affected by the drug trade. Yet, in the midst of these struggles, Pastor Alberto continues to share the hope and light of the Gospel. He reaches out to the children in his community, offering them a message of love, hope, and a future in Jesus Christ. This new church building will provide a safe and inspiring space for worship and learning, where children and families can be strengthened in their faith. As we move forward with this construction, we ask for your prayers. Please pray for God’s protection over Pastor Alberto, the construction team, and the church members who will be instrumental in building this safe haven. May this building stand as a beacon of hope and transformation for Duran, where all can come to know the power and peace found in Jesus Christ. Thank you for your support in making this vision a reality!

Changing World

Changing World

Jesus Christ is returning soon, and in these times, we see the enemy working hard to deceive and harm God’s people. In Peru, our pastors are facing heartbreaking challenges as they witness young children and teens being drawn away from the church and into worldly distractions. Many families are struggling—parents who want nothing to do with church, and children drifting from their faith and falling into difficult situations. Young girls face increasing risks of violence, and children as young as 15 find themselves in situations they should never have to face. Even pastors’ children are losing focus, becoming distant from their call to serve. Please read the following words and pray with us. I have a growing concern for the children at my church. It is located in a rural area of Cuzco. Once the children grow up, they leave into the city to work, get lost in the world, and never come back. -Pastor Patricio, Cusco We have a child here at the age of 15 who has given birth to a baby earlier this year. It is normal for young girls to become pregnant here in Satipo. I am saddened because children have to focus on providing for their families at such a young age. -Pastor Reyes, Satipo I have 3 boys, now in their 30s, who live in the city. They don’t know God. It breaks my heart that they have fallen away. I am thankful to the Lord that my two daughters continue to serve and support the church. I have faith and hope that my three boys will return to God. -Pastor Duner, Iquitos I am so worried about the children and their families. Their parents almost never come to church and God knows what they might be going through when they are not here at the sanctuary. I am praying for God to open up doors and resources for us to make a school of education and discipleship for the children so that they continue to remain in the Lord and grow in His Word. -Pastor Bobbio, Piura Yet, there is hope. The battle is not over, and we believe that God’s power and love can restore what the enemy is trying to destroy. We are called to pray with urgency and faith, lifting up everyone in the COJ ministry. Please join us in fervent prayer, asking for God’s protection, strength, and revival for these families, children, and leaders.

First Fruit

First Fruit

Last week marked our 31st anniversary, and we praise our awesome God for using unqualified people like us to reach and touch so many poor children and wandering youth over the past 31 years. The Lord gave us Matthew 25:40 as our theme verse and commanded us to feed, clothe, and visit the poor and neglected children around the world, especially through local churches in each community and region. After all these years of partnering with so many local churches, we have some of the most exciting and joyful news to share. One of the churches we’ve been supporting has decided to start its own internal COJ project this October. They have chosen to transform from a receiving church into a giving church. This church, “Strong Castle Church,” located in Satipo near the Amazon jungles (Pastor Perez Reyes), will begin supporting the children in the Pangoa region—the very region God revealed to us only a few months ago as we sought His guidance for our ministry in Peru. We are reminded of His promise in Psalm 126:6: “Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” God is ever faithful and great, and we give Him all the praise and glory. We will continue to update you on this exciting development. Thank you for your faithful support of the Children of Jesus ministry.

To Lend to God!

To Lend to God!

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17) During our recent RECOFA (National Directors Meeting for Abba Peru), a young lady approached us with a heartfelt greeting. She shared that she was from the region of Tarapoto and spoke passionately about the children there who are in desperate need. She asked, “Do you also help the poor and needy children?” Her concern was evident as she described the dire conditions many children face in the outskirts of Tarapoto. “There are so many children who have nothing to eat, drink, or wear. If someone could offer a helping hand, many of them could come to know the gospel of Jesus. Can you help them?” Peru has become a rapidly developing nation, and for some time, we had been seeking God’s direction—whether to remain in Peru or move to another nation or continent. As we prayed, the Lord opened doors in places like Pangoa, and now, Tarapoto. We believe God is calling us to lend to Him a little more in Peru, and we are ready to obey. Will you join us in prayer for the lost children of Tarapoto and for guidance as we continue this mission?

Resting in the Lord!

Resting in the Lord!

In late September, many pastors and church leaders came together for the ABBA Ecuador retreat, centered around the theme, “Rest in the Lord.” It was a time of renewal, reflection, and profound spiritual experiences. Below are two powerful testimonies of how God moved in the hearts of those present: I feel as though God had specifically prepared this retreat for me. Before attending, I was deeply frustrated, spending two weeks job-hunting without success. Now I see it was God’s will for me to be there. I was overwhelmed with worries about my future and often went to bed feeling depressed. The retreat was a great blessing. God spoke to me and taught me to surrender everything to Him and rest in His care. I prayed that I wouldn’t leave unchanged, and on Monday, God began to work in me. By Wednesday, the chains that had bound me were broken, and He revealed the wounds preventing me from being fully used by Him. I’m incredibly grateful to God for lifting me up. Even though I went to church and prayed, my mind was consumed with worries. Now I feel He will continue working in me, and I want to bless others who are struggling. The retreat also challenged us to read four books of the Bible in two days, which helped me get back into my reading. Without a doubt, this experience was transformative, and I now feel free and joyful in God’s presence. -Samira Muñoz, Iglesia Sanidad Celestial Greetings and blessings to all who made the ABBA Ecuador retreat possible. It has been such a significant help to me. Being a pastor does not mean I am free from difficulties; in fact, I arrived at the retreat feeling very sad and burdened by personal struggles. But thank God! He granted me rest in every moment of the retreat—through each session and every song. The retreat’s theme, “Rest in the Lord,” became my reality, and I truly found the rest, relief, and peace I so desperately needed. My health had not been well, but the Lord sustained me, and I felt strengthened. Every word spoken during the retreat brought me comfort, and it is clear that a retreat like this is truly a gift from God. He called me into His rest, and now I have returned home feeling renewed and uplifted. While my challenges remain, I now feel more protected, relieved, and have greater faith that God will not allow the enemy to harm me. God has been very good to me by allowing me to participate in this retreat. I pray that the Lord will bless us with another retreat like this in the near future, and I bless those who made it possible. I am grateful to God for raising up people to teach and equip us. Many blessings, my beloved brothers and sisters. -Pr. Carmen Quiñonez, Iglesia Sanidad Celestial These testimonies reflect the power of God’s rest, encouraging us all to slow down and allow the Lord to refresh and strengthen us in His presence.

Expanding God’s Kingdom of Hope

Expanding God’s Kingdom of Hope

We are thrilled to share updates on three important construction projects that will profoundly impact their communities. The first project is the completion of a new roof at the Cristo es la Roca (Christ is the Rock) Church, led by Pastor Jose Balon in Ecuador. This roof will provide a much-needed safe haven for children and families to worship, shielding them from the scorching sun and heavy rains. The church will now serve as a comfortable and welcoming place for all to gather and grow in their faith. The second project is just beginning at the Gummanivani Palem Church, located in a rural area of India. The land is currently being cleared in preparation for construction. Once completed, this new church will enable the pastor to serve the community even more effectively. Lastly, the PK Gudem Church has just completed its foundation work. This sturdy foundation marks the beginning of a vibrant space where many will come to know Christ and be strengthened in their faith. Please pray that the new roof at Cristo es la Roca Church, as well as the future churches at Gummanivani Palem and PK Gudem, will become beacons of light, serving to expand God’s Kingdom. May they bring hope, healing, and the love of Christ to all who encounter them. Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Building the Next Generation

Building the Next Generation

It was truly the greatest miracle we have ever experienced when 5,000 young Peruvians gathered at an army base in Peru 14 years ago. When we had nothing, our God had everything, and He required us to have faith and obey Him. The following 14 years were challenging as we carried on the work of our Father. Yet, we realized that it wasn’t our work but God’s work, and we were simply enjoying the ride, witnessing what He was doing. During these past 14 years, God inspired and called many wonderful men and women to serve Him through Abba Peru. Pastors and leaders, filled with a desire to join in where God was working, served in many different capacities without any compensation or reward. Despite the demands of their own local churches, families, and personal lives, they joyfully and passionately carried the workload of Abba Peru. We know that this was not possible through human effort and strength alone. It was all God—our awesome and wonderful Abba Father. In addition, God provided the most amazing and faithful sponsors who joyfully and cheerfully gave to expand His kingdom on earth. Now, God has given us another challenge for 2025, and we must have the same faith and obedient hearts to do His will. He desires to gather 500 pastors’ sons and daughters into one place and fill them with the power of the Holy Spirit to expand His kingdom in Peru and beyond. We will obey, and once again, we will witness the power of our God and bring Him the glory He deserves. However, we will need your prayers and support because we know that this is not possible by our own might or power, but only through the work of the Holy Spirit. God desires to raise up the next generation of true disciples of Christ, and we pray that His work will not only be done in Peru and Latin America but also in your homes, churches, and communities. Jesus is coming back soon, but until then, we are called to prepare the next generation for the final battle to fulfill God’s redemptive work of saving lost souls around the world! To God be the glory!

Heal Us Lord!

Heal Us Lord!

The conferences are over! We thank the Lord Jesus for healing the hearts of all the youth during the rallies across Perú. It is only by His grace that youth, leaders, and pastors were able to come together to seek and worship our God. Here are some testimonies from some of our youth who attended the conferences: This year’s ABBA conference was very enriching. What impacted me the most was the first teaching. The speaker emphasized very important points about how sin begins and what it entails in our lives. The phrase he highlighted was, “only he who recognizes his condition as illness will know how to value the cure.” The cure to restore our lives is Christ. I had the desire to be healed and renewed. From now on, I want to live for the One who has given His life to heal me from my sins and eternal condemnation. -Joel Rivasplata, Lima Sur I was part of this year’s production team for the youth rally in Satipo. It has been such a tremendous blessing being a part of this ministry. God has kept me in every project we have undertaken for this conference. God showed us His awesome glory. Hearts were touched and healed, and we could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is so important to know God and have ABBA in our hearts. Do not be discouraged! We may face many obstacles, but God will guide your heart if you seek Him. If you want to serve the Lord, do it with all your heart willingly, and you will see how God will use you to bless many youth. -Abel Zambrano, Satipo During this conference, youth from various churches came together to worship our God. We had so much fun participating in different activities, such as the Bible Quiz. Our theme this year was “Heal our Hearts, Lord!” We were taught how important it is to do our devotionals, as it is a crucial time to grow close to our Lord Jesus. I hope this conference happens again, as youth like me really need it. May God be present in all our lives! -Wilma Bautista Valera, Madre de Dios

Blessing of Giving

Blessing of Giving

This summer, we have been experiencing unusual weather patterns, with temperatures reaching record highs globally. As Christians, we recognize that these signs have been predicted in the Bible as part of the end times. Although we do not know what the future holds or even what tomorrow will bring, we strive to continue being channels of God’s blessings while the opportunity is present, for God promises that “those who give to the poor will lack nothing.” As we brainstormed gift ideas for our COJ children this winter, we decided to include not only soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo but also colorful bath towels for each child in each gift bag. Additionally. in the colder regions of Peru (Lima, Cusco, and Huancayo), we provided body lotion and sweatshirts to help them stay warm. In the warmer regions (Satipo, Iquitos, and Piura), we distributed bug repellents and t-shirts to help them stay cool. All of the children have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors, but most importantly, they thank our awesome God for providing for their needs.

After 30 Years…

After 30 Years…

What is mission? We often asked ourselves this question after serving in the mission field for over 30 years. The answer we reached was somewhat unorthodox. Mission is about completing a full and perfect circle. We find these words in Romans 11:36: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” All things come from our God, and all things return to Him. It is a complete and perfect circle. Rain comes down from above, and vapor returns to the ocean. As the earth rotates, the seasons change-spring turns to summer, fall, and winter, and then returns to spring once again. God’s creation of the entire universe deals with circles, not triangles or rectangles. Mission is about giving all, not just part. But the recipient must become a giver one day in order to complete the principle of the perfect circle. God has used us to serve thousands of children, young people, pastors, and churches. Our prayer from the beginning has been for these churches and nations to transition from being receivers to becoming givers one day. One particular church in the jungles of Peru exemplifies this transformation: Strong Fortress Church in Satipo, Peru. This spring, God opened a new door for us to share the gospel. There is a region called Pangoa, consisting of 127 tribal villages, that had not yet heard the gospel. Our mission team was blessed to visit this area last week. Something amazing happened: Pastor Reyes and 12 selected youth from Strong Fortress Church were able to join our mission team to serve the children of Pangoa. This marked the first fruits of completing the circle after all these 30 years. We pray that Strong Fortress Church will continue this mission work in Pangoa. Will you please join us in praying that not only Strong Fortress Church but all the churches that have received your support and love will now be transformed into giving churches so that there will be a harvest of 30, 60, 100-fold for His kingdom? We cannot thank you enough for your faithful support in making the complete circle of His love to all nations and peoples. God bless you!

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