Thursday, March 29, 2012

Seminary Graduation 2012

The Bible school graduates with their cakeDr. Ricardo Gomez taught the last seminary class on Pastoral EthicsPasto Ricaro Gómez, FM missionary to Chile, preached at the service2012 graduates and director Pastor Garry CruceSeminary graduates with some of their professorsPastor Maria gives her testimony
Pastora Maria with son LuiciñoBecky with Pastor Juan PedroJ.R. with Pastor GuillermoSeminary director Garry Cruce with Pastor GuillermoPastor Juan Pedro with his diploma

Seminary Graduation 2012, a set on Flickr.

This past weekend we attended a historic event for the Free Methodist Church in Peru. The first four students to complete all the requirements of the FM Light and Life Seminary graduated. Congratulations to Hna. Julia Doria Bravo, Pastora Maria Elena Salinas Calderón, Pastor Juan Pedro Hernandez Perez, and Pastor Guillermo Landa Jorge!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Shalom Church Repairs

Pastor Guillermo patching the kitchen wallThe Crouse girls in actionRossi and Beatriz clean the floorPierro helps clean upMarissa sweeps under new transparent roof panelsGraciela and Marissa working away
J.R. prepping the hallway walls for paintingBecky scrubbing off the greasePastor Guillermo at work in the sanctuarySinging time at Sunday school on our patioCarmen and Marissa lead the singingAdolescents' Sunday school class
Primary kids meet in the dining roomPreschool class in the play room

Shalom Church Repairs, a set on Flickr.

The Tarma Shalom church is moving to a new location. The building is larger with a nicer layout. Several church people have been helping out with the fix-up during the month of March. We hope to be meeting there by April 1. In the meantime church ministries are meeting in various church members' homes. The Sunday school meets at our house on Sunday mornings. Enjoy the photos!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Man Knows Not His Time

For five years Anibal had been inviting his father Rosario to come to church with him, so that his father's life could be changed like his had been.  Every time his father declined the invitation.  On Saturday, February 11, Anibal again called his parents to invite them to the small group that met in his home that night.  His parents once again declined.  So when his father showed up later at the meeting, Anibal was pleasantly surprised.  Pastor Miguel Algorta prayed with Rosario to accept Jesus that night.  Even though Rosario's body was weakened by cirrhosis, Anibal looked forward to spending time with his "new" father.

That was not to be.  A couple days later Rosario fell and soon had a heart attack.  On February 19, only 8 days after he became a Christian, he passed away at only 60 years of age. We are so thankful that he made his decision in time.  And though the timing was not what Anibal had hoped for, God is using this incident for his purposes.  Anibal's youngest brother and sister prayed to become Christians the day before their father died.  Anibal and Pastor Miguel spoke at the most evangelistic funeral I have ever attended.  Several attendees prayed along with Pastor Miguel to give their hearts to Jesus. 

"Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds."  John 12:24