How Can We Give Thanks Due to the third wave of Covid-19 and political issues, countless thoughts and doubts are filling the minds and hearts of many Peruvian pastors. Our COJ and ROL pastors are no exception. Restrictions have limited many churches from opening their doors. When we started monthly pastors meetings through
Dear Beloved of God, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:16) “May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.” (Colossians 1: 11,12) “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) “For
COJ Food Baskets Whether we enjoy it or not, grocery shopping is a routine part of our lives. It’s because we need to eat food to maintain our health and live. Yet, in Peru these basic and essential foods are becoming less affordable due the inflation the country is experiencing. In fact, it
Despite limitations from the pandemic, pastors in Peru are not staying still. They are doing the best they can to continue raising mighty, faithful children and youth of God and are constantly looking for ways to keep the body of Christ functioning. Of these pastors, we have four in Raven of Love in need of sponsors who will support and encourage them. We know God is the one who will bring the people to partner with them and support them in their ministry, so we pray for His provision. If you feel led by Holy Spirit to step in as a sponsor, please reach out to us.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. -Psalm 34:17 In 2016, Ana Cristina Paitanmala graduated from high school and was determined to attend college for an education degree, but she had a difficult decision to make. As an active Sunday School teacher and youth leader, she loved seeing the children of the Cristo Vive church grow in their walk with Christ, but if she wanted to achieve the degree, it would mean she would need to step down from serving. The state university she would be attending was a prestigious one. And though it was the closest college to her town, it was over an hour away. Her father worked at a small shop and her mom received a small fee from helping others in their community; Ana would need to find a job to cover the university expenses. She did not have any other options. Lost and without answers, she prayed fervently for God to intervene and perform a miracle. God answered her prayers through Riverside Tree where she was matched with loving sponsors who supported her financially to attend school. They also provided spiritual guidance, which encouraged her to continue to serve the youth in her church. God delivered her from her troubles and now, in 2021, Ana has graduated with her degree and found a job in a school near her. This would allow her to not only work professionally but also better serve her church family. Her future seemed so bright! But once again, Ana feels lost and without answers. Her parents both got infected with COVID-19 and her mother passed away a few days later. Her heart was devastated. While still grieving, her father was hospitalized. Ana Cristina and her father are in desperate need of our prayers. Please pray for a complete healing in her father, heavenly consolation of her heart, and reassurance that God will once again perform a miracle through this time of struggles.
How great is our God Almighty! The new “Encuentro con Abba Padre” (ECAP) devotional books are now published and have been shipped to the different regions of Peru! We are excited to introduce their new look. The devotionals will now have a theme, which will be reflected by the art on the cover and align with the content of the color pages inside. This year, God highlighted the importance of His armor; the devotional for the first semester covered the six pieces of armor and the need for them. The latest edition, “¡Armate y Pelea!” (Stand up and Fight!), is about using the armor to help fight against Satan’s lies. We pray the youth will be excited to receive the new ECAP. We pray they look forward to spending more intimate time with Abba Father and building a true and personal relationship with Him. May they become mighty warriors, equipped with the armor of God to stand and fight against Satan’s schemes and attacks. To God be the glory!
To say times are challenging in India seems like a massive understatement. COVID-19 has hit India hard and the repercussions are devastating. Though it would be easy to get discouraged and feel helpless, Pastor Abraham has been pressing on, looking to serve those who are in greater need than himself. Last month, he was able to buy enough groceries for 60 pastors and their families to last them at least one month. God is using many sponsors to bless his servants and give them hope in what may be one of the most hopeless times in their lives. We thank God, who never stops working in any circumstance through His children that see the spiritual and physical need around them and are willing and eager to be His hands and feet!
“Sir, you may have only a few days to live, so you need to get your things in order and make sure to sign all the important and necessary documents.” In the early part of April this year, I had to make a business trip to Lima. When I returned home, I started to show symptoms of Covid-19 and ended up testing positive. I tried to get more rest and take some medicine, figuring it would pass by quickly like the first time I had it. But I was wrong. I only got worse day by day. It was April 26th. I had no choice but to go to the hospital because I could barely breathe. After thorough examination, the doctor told me that my situation was far worse than expected. Then, my doctor shared words my ears couldn’t believe and caused my heart to sink. He told me to prepare for the worst because I may only have a week or so to live. In the moment of despair, the staff from COJ International in Denver called me and prayed for me over a video call. The second time they called to pray for me, I felt the amazing and powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in my body and in my home. My condition started to improve and to the doctor’s surprise I am now Covid-19 negative, on my way to full recovery. It is so good to be able to breathe again on my own. I praise God for hearing and answering the prayers of righteous people. I praise God for He has power to heal the sick. I praise God for His mercy and love endures forever. Only by His grace, I walked through the valley of death and made it out alive. Now, I live for Christ alone and one day, I will die for Christ alone for He is everything to me!
We all have a story. A story of how Jesus came, met us, and changed our lives. And each of our stories is unique and personal, but all share a common link – the grace of a Father in heaven who loves us beyond imagination. We are connected through our individual stories into God’s one great story. This includes all who are a part of Children of Jesus (COJ), Raven of Love (ROL), and ABBA ministries. We would like to highlight one of them this month–the testimony of Pastor Inocencio Aguirre Principe, now 70, who we came to know in 2004 through the COJ ministry. In 2008, he was one of the first pastors to be sponsored when the Raven of Love ministry began. All our stories are meant to be shared because we can bring honor to God, who is the author, and encourage one another as we are reminded of the heart of the one who pursues each of us with immeasurable passion. This is His story. I grew up in a large family, 1 of 8 children. My family was not Christian and there were many problems at home, including physical and psychological abuse. I felt broken and lonely, which led to anger. When my father told me he wasn’t going to support my secondary education, I ran away from home to the capital city of Peru – Lima – where I joined the army and became more lost. At age 29, the darkness and rage that had built up inside of me was directed towards society and mankind. I decided I would either become a terrorist and kill people without discrimination, lose myself in the jungle, or just buy a gun and kill everyone who made my life miserable and then end my own. Whatever it would be, my resolution was to do it by December of that year. November came and a big evangelical revival camp was held in the city I was in; the whole community was invited. As the meeting time drew near, an announcement was made through the megaphone: “Men, women, youth! If you are sick and can’t find healing, if you have problems and can’t find a solution, or if you believe your life is worthless, come tonight! Jesus is here to heal sickness, solve your problems, and give you an abundant life! Christ heals and saves!” I stood in the corner with my girlfriend at the time and listened to two people share testimonies of God’s miraculous work in their lives. I knew I needed God’s help, but a voice of doubt tried to hinder me from coming to Him. It is truly by God’s grace that a lady who was sitting close by led me by the arm to the front, where I kneeled down before the Lord. As the pastor prayed for me, I was filled with a fire. I was crying and sweating at the same time. In that moment, Jesus came into my life, forever to stay. My girlfriend, who is now my wife, also received Jesus and is my amazing helper in doing the Lord’s work. Fast forward 40 years. I am still serving the church God called me to pastor and there have been many tears, doubts, discouragements along the way. But in each moment, the Lord reassured me, telling me, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” My God lifted me out from the pits of despair and hopelessness and brought me into a life of purpose and hope. He has helped me fight the good fight and I know He will most certainly continue to do so until my very last day.
Rome wasn’t built in a day; it took inspiration, careful planning and strategy, revisions, carried out over the course of time. In the same way, building up mighty soldiers for God’s kingdom requires an intentional structure and process. The ABBA ministry serves to raise up a strong and powerful army of God from the next generation. We are in the midst of reorganizing our structure to more actively help and encourage approximately 11,000 Peruvian youth to deepen their personal relationships with the Lord. Holy Spirit convicted us to form a national task force, a team of 12 members, which will focus its efforts on training up all ABBA participant church pastors and leaders to train their youth on Bible meditation through the ECAP devotional and purposeful follow up on whether it is changing lives of youth to become true disciples of Jesus. Another focus will be on creating a prayer movement that will spread throughout churches across Peru, to cry out for the next generation. Please pray with us for God to bring alongside workers with the heart of the Father for the youth and who desire to take on this great task. The process will seem long and daunting at times, but we know in all things, God’s sovereign will is done. To God be the glory forever! Amen!
