Oct 10, 2019 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5
This has been an
incredible time here at Efata with much happening. The Lord has been working and doing wonderful
things amongst us and we rejoice every day to serve Him as we endeavor to “make
full proof” of the ministry that God has given us on the mission field of
Peru.
Ministry News
In July and August
over 260,000 Gospel tracts were distributed here in Lima as the city hosted the
Pan-American Games. Soul-winners from
four different churches, including Fargo Baptist in ND, Victory Baptist in
Wichita Falls, TX, Lehigh Valley Baptist Church in Emmaus, PA and Metropolitan
Baptist Church in Bloomington, MN—26 people in all—came down and along with
members of Efata Baptist Church distributed these tracts. What a great
blessing.
We had the privilege
of supporting International Baptist Church with their Pastor’s school this year
here in Chorrillos in Lima. For three
nights, we hosted about 70 pastors who came in from all over Peru here at
Efata. The conference was a great
inspiration and help to these pastors.
Our choir sang one of the days and we interpreted the services for our
Deaf and Deaf pastors.
Also in September, a group from Lighthouse Baptist
Church in Dawsonville, GA came down and were a great blessing. Pastor Blackstock preached and taught a
married couple’s mini retreat and preached in two of our churches as well as
preaching the first night of our youth conference. This was an extremely impacting and
insightful time for the couples and the youth.
The group was a great encouragement and blessing to us all. We had several young people rededicate their
lives, and several people were saved while they were here.
Right after the
wonderful visit and ministry of Lighthouse Baptist, we hosted a Spiritual
Warfare Conference with Pastor Marvin Smith from Harvest Baptist Church in Fort
Dodge, IA. What an incredible conference
that was. In addition to the preaching
each night, Bro. Smith took half a day to speak to our leadership team and
encourage, challenge and assist them in understanding and identifying spiritual
warfare principles and issues.
We can see God
working in all these back to back ministry efforts as we have had several Deaf
and hearing saved and baptized during these weeks.
We also had a special service on Sunday the 29th in the afternoon to honor the Deaf, as it was the designated “week of the Deaf” here in Peru. It was great, and I was able to preach a special message to them of how God loves and cares for them and they are not a mistake. There were over 100 Deaf in attendance.
Relating to our issues
with the municipality regarding the tax situation, things have gotten a bit
worse. The city here has frozen the
school’s local bank account. However,
this was an illegal move as we still have an appeal in process and there was
not notification beforehand. In
addition, we have been responding to their previous communication within the
legal timelines, but they have not responded back to our letters within that
same legal requirement. We now have a
lawyer helping us who is an expert in this area, and he says we have several
good options as the city has abused its authority and is not operating in good
faith. Please continue to pray as we work on this and investigate every avenue
we have to solve this issue.
Our mission works in
Tablada, Pucallpa, Callao, San Juan de Lurigancho and Chancay are doing well. Each has its unique needs and are at
different stages in their development. As you pray, please lift these works up
to the Lord.
Family News
Joy, our oldest at
home, just turned 19. She is such a
sweet young lady who is very involved in the ministry here with music and interpreting.
She also works directly with our teen and young adult girls in the ministry
here, all while doing a heavier than usual course load in order to finish up
high school.
Greetings from Joy,
John, Joel, Jessica and Jennifer. We had
the blessing of having a visit from Julianne and Frank and our four Miller
grandchildren for a week. They came from
Florida for a visit, and what a wonderful week it was! Please remember Joseph
and Zulema and their little ones and James and Ann and their little one in your
prayers as they continue on deputation.
Thank you for your prayers, support and care for us as we plant churches, train Deaf and hearing, care for orphans and widows and see people saved and baptized here in Peru and beyond through our ministry’s influences.
Blessings,
Aug 8, 2019 | Spanish Prayer Letters
A ti te fue mostrado, para que supieses que Jehová es Dios, y no hay otro fuera de él.
Deuteronomio 4:35
(¿Necesitas imprimir esta carta? ¡Haz click aquí para descargarlo!)
Estos dos meses han sido muy ocupados aquí en Efata y
en Perú. ¡Estamos agradecidos de servir al Único Dios Verdadero! Como dice el
versículo anterior, “¡No hay otro!”
Noticias del
ministerio
Tuvimos una conferencia misionera maravillosa en
junio. James (nuestro segundo hijo) vino a predicar la conferencia para
nosotros, e hizo un gran trabajo. Tres iglesias participaron con nosotros en la
conferencia y fue una gran bendición tanto para ellos como para nosotros. Varios
de nuestros misioneros dieron reportes, y disfrutamos el tiempo con ellos.
La semana después de la conferencia, tuvimos una
visita maravillosa de una de las iglesias que nos apoyan: Berean Baptist Church
de Raleigh, NC. ¡Qué bendición! Vino su grupo de jóvenes con su pastor de
jóvenes, Philip Rabon, y realizaron un proyecto instalando adoquines en forma
de michi (#) para agregar estacionamiento al lado de la calle a través del cual
pueda crecer el césped y ayudar a embellecer la zona. A nuestros vecinos les agrada
mucho. Tres predicadores jóvenes que vinieron con el grupo predicaron aquí en
Efata y en algunas de nuestras misiones alrededor de Lima. Su equipo también se
unió a nuestros jóvenes para ayudar en otra iglesia con un pequeño proyecto de
trabajo y salieron a ganar almas. Varias personas fueron salvadas. Estamos muy
agradecidos por la bendición que fueron.
Hemos tenido el gozo de bautizar a varias personas
sordas y oyentes recientemente en nuestros servicios, en obediencia al Señor.
Por favor oren por ellos para que crezcan y lleven más fruto.
Mientras escribo, Lima está organizando los Juegos
Panamericanos. Estamos encantados de haber recibido a un gran grupo de
ganadores de almas, venidos de cuatro iglesias diferentes—Fargo Baptist en ND, Victory
Baptist en Wichita Falls, TX, Lehigh Valley Baptist Church en Emmaus, PA y
Metropolitan Baptist Church en Bloomington, MN – 26 personas en total. Ellos,
junto con miembros de la Iglesia Bautista Efata, ya han distribuido alrededor
de 250,000 tratados evangélicos de los 300,000 que tenemos, y todavía les
quedan algunos días. Que gran bendición. Ya hemos recibido llamadas y consultas
como resultado de la distribución de folletos.
Si está pendiente de nuestras dificultades con el
municipio con respecto a los arbitrios, todavía no hay resolución. Estamos
esperando que proceda nuestra apelación antes de abordar esto con la ciudad.
Oren mientras trabajamos en esto e investigamos todas las vías disponibles para
resolver este problema.
¡La misión en Chancay ahora tiene un misionero
permanente! Nuestro misionero Henry Vásquez asumió el manto y se mudó a Chancay
para ministrar a tiempo completo. Oren por él y por su esposa Mirian,
especialmente por su salud, ya que Mirian tiene algunos problemas cardíacos crónicos.
Si alguno de ustedes nuestros fieles amigos quisiera ayudarlos económicamente para
fundar a esa iglesia, sé que sería una bendición verdadera. No tienen mucho apoyo,
y ahora además de sus necesidades regulares tienen gastos adicionales de ministerio
y costos de vida de alquiler, servicios públicos, etc. que enfrentan. Si desea
ayudarlos mensualmente por cualquier cantidad, simplemente designe eso a Henry
Vasquez cuando envíe su apoyo y cada dólar que designe para ellos y el proyecto
Chancay irá directamente a ellos.
Noticias de la
familia
Todo va bien con la familia. Los niños disfrutaron
celebrando su Día de la Independencia peruana el 28 de julio. Tanto Jessica
como Jennifer se vistieron de hermosos vestidos rojos y blancos, los colores de
la bandera peruana. ¡Mi hija menor está creciendo! Celebramos el cumpleaños noveno
de Jennifer el 22 de julio. Gracias a quienes envían notas y tarjetas en
nuestros días especiales. Es de mucho ánimo.
Jared y Judson están bien, sirviendo en sus respectivos
Servicios militares e iglesias. El pastor de Judson, un querido amigo mío a
quien mencioné en mi última carta de oración, Ray Warren, fue a casa para estar
con el Señor. Oren por su familia y su iglesia, Liberty Baptist Church en Holly
Springs, NC. ¡Extrañaré mucho a este siervo escogido de Dios, pero espero verlo
nuevamente en Gloria! Amaba al Perú y ministró aquí en muchas ocasiones.
Por favor, mantengan a Joseph, Zulema y sus dos
pequeños, J.J. y Esther, en sus oraciones mientras están en los Estados Unidos.
Pidan que Dios siga supliendo sus necesidades y proveyéndoles con las reuniones
que Él quiere darles para que puedan obtener el apoyo necesario. Oren para que
Dios los use mientras viajan.
También oren por James y Ann y la pequeña Elsie para
que Dios supla todas sus necesidades y los aliente, ya que también están levantando
apoyo misionero. Oren para que Dios los use y los guíe en su camino. ¡Extrañamos
a nuestros nietos!
Una vez más, gracias por sus oraciones, apoyo y cuidado por nosotros mientras plantamos iglesias, capacitamos a sordos y oyentes, cuidamos a huérfanos y viudas y vemos personas salvas y bautizadas aquí en Perú y más allá.
Bendiciones,
Aug 8, 2019 | Prayer Letters
Dear friends and family,
Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Deuteronomy 4:35
(Need to print this letter? Click here to download a PDF!)
These have been an
eventful two months here at Efata and in Peru.
We are thankful that we serve the One True God! As the verse above states, “There is no
other!”
Ministry News
We had a wonderful
Mission Conference in June. James (our
second son) came down to preach the conference for us, and he did a great
job. We had three churches participate
in our round-robin conference, and it was such a blessing to our people and to
the other churches. We had several of
our missionaries here who gave updates, and we enjoyed spending time with them.
The week after the
conference, we had a wonderful visit from one of our supporting churches–Berean
Baptist Church from Raleigh, NC. What a
blessing they were! Their youth group led
by their Youth Pastor Philip Rabon came down and did a work project installing
hashtag-shaped pavers (#) to add parking next to the street that grass can grow
through and help to beautify the area.
Our neighbors really like it as well.
Three preacher boys who came with the group were able to preach here at
Efata and at some of our satellite churches around Lima. Their team also joined our young people to help
at another church with a small work project and go soul winning. Several people
were saved. We are very thankful for
the blessing they were.
We have had the joy
of both deaf and hearing following the Lord in baptism recently in our
services. Please pray for them to grow
and for more fruit.
As I write, Lima is hosting
the Pan-American Games. We are thrilled
to be hosting a large group of soul-winners, who have come down from four
different churches. Fargo Baptist in ND,
Victory Baptist in Wichita Falls, TX, Lehigh Valley Baptist Church in Emmaus,
PA and Metropolitan Baptist Church in Bloomington, MN–26 people in all. They, along with members of Efata Baptist Church,
have already distributed about 250,000 gospel tracts of the 300,000 we have,
and they still have several days left. What a great blessing. We have already received
phone calls and inquiries from the tract distribution.
If you are following
our issues with the municipality regarding the tax issues, it is still no closer
to a resolution. We are still waiting
for our appeal before we can further address this with the city. Please pray as
we work on this and investigate every available avenue to solve this issue.
The mission plant in
Chancay now has a permanent missionary! Our missionary Henry Vasquez has taken up
the mantle and has moved to Chancay to minister full time at that location.
Please pray for him and his wife Mirian, especially for her health as she has
some chronic heart issues. If any of you
who have been faithful supporters and friends would like to help them
financially for this church plant, I know it would be a real blessing. They do not have a great deal of support, and
now on top of their regular needs, they have extra ministry expenses and living
costs of rent, utilities, etc. that they are facing. If you would like to help
them on a monthly basis for any amount, just designate that to Henry Vasquez
when you send in your support and every dollar that you designate to them and
the Chancay project will go directly to them.
Family News
All is well on the
family home front. The kids enjoyed
celebrating their Peruvian Independence Day on the 28th of
July. Both Jessica and Jennifer wore
beautiful red and white dresses, the colors of the Peruvian flag. My youngest is getting older! We celebrated Jennifer’s 9th
birthday on the 22nd. Thank you to those who send notes and cards on our
special days. It is an encouragement.
Jared and Judson are
well, serving in their respective Services and churches. Judson’s Pastor, a dear friend of mine whom I
mentioned in my last prayer letter, Ray Warren, went home to be with the Lord.
Please pray for his family and his church, Liberty Baptist Church in Holly
Springs, NC. I will greatly miss this choice servant of God, but I look forward
to seeing him again in Glory! He loved Peru and ministered here on many
occasions.
Please keep Joseph, Zulema
and their two little ones, J.J. and Esther, in your prayers while they are on
furlough, asking that God would continue
to supply their needs and give them just the meetings that He would have for
them to be able to raise the needed support. Pray that God would use them as
they travel.
Also please pray for
James and Ann and little Elsie that God would supply their every need and
encourage them as they are also on deputation.
Pray that God will use them as well and lead them as they go. We’re missing the grandkids!
Once again, thank you
for your prayers, support and care for us as we plant churches, train deaf and
hearing, care for orphans and widows and see people saved and baptized here in
Peru and beyond.
Blessings,
May 29, 2019 | Spanish Prayer Letters
Queridos amigos y
familia,
Porque ¿cuál es nuestra esperanza, o gozo, o corona de que me gloríe? ¿No lo sois vosotros, delante de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, en su venida?
1 Tesalonicenses 2:19
Sirviendo juntos aquí en Perú como sus fieles
compañeros en el Señor, ocupándonos en los asuntos del Maestro, sabemos que un
día estaremos con nuestro Salvador y gozaremos en Su presencia con los que le
reciben. Es maravilloso ver el entendimiento de las personas abrirse y sus ojos
alumbrar con alegría al conocer a Cristo. Tuvimos muchas oportunidades este
verano.
(¿Necesitas imprimir esta carta?¡Haz click aquí para descargarlo!)
Noticias del
ministerio
El nuevo año escolar ha comenzado para los niños
sordos, y es bueno verlos otra vez, junto con los nuevos estudiantes que Dios nos
ha enviado.
Dos de los niños sordos que crecieron aquí y vivieron aquí como huérfanos se han reunido con su familia. Se graduaron del colegio, y hace unos meses su hermano vino a visitarlos. Desde allí, pudimos contactarnos con su madre. Vive a unas horas de Lima en una comunidad rural.
El juez le entregó la custodia, y con la ayuda de una ONG, pudimos darles varios cuyes para que los criaran y los vendieran como un negocio. Estamos encantados de que después de todos estos años hayan podido volver a conectarse con su familia. Ambos niños fueron salvos y bautizados durante sus años con nosotros.
Estoy enseñando en nuestro Instituto Bíblico, y lo
disfruto mucho. Tenemos veinte estudiantes inscritos de nuestra iglesia.
Nuestro seminario empezó un poco tarde debido a una reestructuración, pero va
bien con siete alumnos oyentes y un sordo. Dos de los jóvenes en el seminario
se han rendido para predicar a los sordos, y estamos emocionados por ellos.
Oremos para que mantengan su enfoque y dedicación durante estos años de
preparación.
Oren por la familia Montufar; Pudimos guiarlos al
Señor y hemos comenzado a darles consejería matrimonial y discipulado. Hermano
Montufar es un coronel jubilado de la policía. Uno de sus hijos, piloto de
helicóptero de la policía, también recibió a Cristo con su esposa en nuestro
ministerio anexo en Pucallpa, una ciudad de la selva. Han sido fieles a los
servicios según lo permite su horario de trabajo. Estamos orando por su otro
hijo que también es piloto junto a la policía aquí en Lima. Esta familia tiene
una carga para sus amigos, y ha traído a otros quiénes también han recibido a
Cristo. Alabamos al Señor por estas oportunidades.
En el Día de la Madre, más de 120 asistieron a un
banquete, y muchas damas vinieron por primera vez y escucharon el Evangelio. A
muchas damas sordas también se les presentó la preciosa Palabra de Dios.
El día 19 tuvimos un maravilloso servicio de
aniversario. Pudimos ver a cinco personas bautizadas y tuvimos un momento
agradable de comunión con la familia de la iglesia.
Seguimos trabajando en el tema tributario con el
municipio. Realmente no ha habido movimiento en ese frente mientras esperamos al
proceso de apelación. Oramos para que a través del sistema legal tengamos un
alivio.
Noticias Familiares
Joseph y James y sus familias están actualmente en
diputación para aumentar su apoyo para regresar a Perú. Alabamos a Dios por
haber provisto sus necesidades de vehículos. Oremos para que Dios provea sus
necesidades diarias y especialmente reuniones para presentar su ministerio. Sé
que estarían encantados de recibir su contacto. Información de contacto: Joseph
y Zulema Kotvas – 904-335-8563, joseph.kotvas@gmail.com; James y Ann Kotvas –
303-718-2801, jameskotvas@gmail.com.
A Jared le va bien en la Fuerza Aérea, y Judson
actualmente está desplegado en el exterior en los Marines. Él también está
bien. Por favor ore por su pastor, el Dr. Ray Warren de Liberty Baptist Church
en Holly Springs, NC. para que el Señor interceda por su salud. Él es un buen
amigo nuestro.
Los niños en casa están bien. Joy asiste al instituto Bíblico
y está empezando su último año de secundaria. A John, Joel, Jessica y Jennifer
les va bien en sus estudios y en casa. Nos agrada que tanto John como Joy
interpretan. Es difícil creer que nuestra menor tendrá nueve años en julio.
Gracias a cupones y puntos, Lisa
y yo pudimos viajar a los Estados en abril por unos días para visitar a nuestro
nuevo nieto, Nathaniel Miller. ¡Es tan precioso! Julianne y Frank nos han dado
cuatro nietos. También pudimos ver a Judson antes de que se desplegara, y disfrutar
una cena junto a Jared y Joseph con su familia. ¡Qué gran bendición!
Estamos muy agradecidos por los medios modernos de
comunicación para mantenernos al día con nuestros siete nietos y cinco hijos
adultos, ya que todos están muy lejos ahora.
Como siempre, muchas gracias por sus oraciones, apoyo y
solicitud por nosotros mientras plantamos iglesias, entrenamos a personas
sordas y oyentes, cuidamos a huérfanos y viudas y vemos personas salvadas y
bautizadas aquí en Perú.
Bendiciones,
May 29, 2019 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1 Thessalonians 2:19
(¿Need to print this letter? Click here to download a PDF!)
As we serve together
here in Peru as your faithful partners in the Lord, busy about the Master’s
business, we know that one day we will be with our Savior and rejoice in His
presence with those who came to know Him. It is wonderful to see people’s
understanding opened and their eyes alight with joy to know Christ. We have
been blessed by many different opportunities this summer.
Ministry News
The new school year
has started for the Deaf children, and it is good to see them back again along
with some new students God sent our way.
Two of the Deaf boys who grew up here and lived here as orphans were reunited with their family. They graduated from the school, and a few months ago their brother came to visit them. From there, we were able to get in touch with their mom. She lives several hours from Lima in a rural community.
The judge turned custody over to her, and with the help of an organization, we were able to purchase several Guinea pigs for them to raise and sell as a business. We are thrilled that after all these years they were able to reconnect with their family. Both boys were saved and baptized during their years with us.
I am currently teaching
our Bible Institute which I enjoy immensely.
We have twenty students from our church enrolled. Our Bible College started a bit late due to a
reorganization, but it is going well with seven hearing students and one
Deaf. Two young men in the seminary have
surrendered to preach to the Deaf and we are excited for them. Please pray that they will stay focused and
dedicated during these years of preparation.
Please pray for the
Montufar family; we were able to lead them to the Lord and have begun marriage
counseling and discipleship with them. Brother
Montufar is a retired police colonel.
One of his sons, who is a police helicopter pilot, also received Christ with
his wife in our annex ministry in Pucallpa, a jungle city. They have been
faithful to services as his work schedule allows. We are praying for his other son who also is
a pilot with the police here in Lima. This family has a burden for their friends,
and invited others over who we were also able to lead to the Lord. We praise
the Lord for these opportunities.
On Mother’s Day we
had over 120 come for a banquet, and many ladies came for the first time and
heard the Gospel. Many deaf ladies as well as hearing were presented with God’s
precious Word.
On the 19th
we had a wonderful anniversary service. We were able to see five people
baptized and just had a sweet time of fellowship with the church family.
We are still working
on the issue with the municipality and the tax situation. There really has been no movement on that
front as we wait for the appeal process to move. We are praying that through the current laws
and our situation, we will see some relief.
Family News
Joseph and James and
their families are currently on deputation/furlough to raise their support to
come back to Peru. We praise God for
providing for their vehicle needs. Please
pray that God will provide for their daily needs and especially meetings to
present their ministry. I know they
would love to hear from you. Contact info: Joseph & Zulema Kotvas –
904-335-8563, joseph.kotvas@gmail.com; James & Ann Kotvas – 303-718-2801,
jameskotvas@gmail.com.
Jared is doing well
in the Air Force, and Judson is currently deployed overseas in the Marine
Corps. He is also doing well. Please
pray for his Pastor, Dr. Ray Warren from Liberty Baptist Church in Holly
Springs, NC. for the Lord to intercede for his health. He is a good friend of ours.
The children at home
are doing well. Joy is attending the
Bible institute as well as starting her last year of high school. John, Joel,
Jessica and Jennifer are doing well in school and at home. We enjoy having both
Joy and John interpret. It is hard to
believe that our youngest will be nine in July.
Lisa and I were able with points and a voucher to fly
to the States in April for a few days to visit our new grandson, Nathaniel
Miller. He is so precious! Julianne and
Frank have now given us four grandchildren. We were also able to see Judson
before he deployed and catch a dinner with Jared and Joseph and family. What a
blessing!
We are so thankful
for modern means of communication to keep up with our seven grandchildren and five
adult children as they are all so far away now.
As always, thank you
so much for your prayers, support and care for us as we plant churches, train
deaf and hearing, care for orphans and widows and see people saved and baptized
here in Peru.
Blessings,
Bro. Joe & Lisa
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
