Apr 3, 2013 | Spanish Prayer Letters
Queridos amigos y familiares:
…a quienes Dios quiso dar a conocer las riquezas de la gloria de este misterio entre los gentiles; que es Cristo en vosotros, la esperanza de gloria… – Col 1:27
Este ha sido un primer trimestre increíble. Nos alegramos mucho en lo que el Señor está haciendo en nuestras vidas y ministerio. Nuestro deseo es caminar en la vida de Cristo mientras servimos al Señor aquí en Perú, verdaderamente conociendo las riquezas de Cristo en nosotros.
Noticias del ministerio
Nuestra iglesia estuvo orando y planeando para plantar una nueva iglesia en un lugar llamado Tablada. El domingo 3 de marzo tuvimos nuestro primer culto. Fue una gran bendición, hubo tanta gente que no había donde sentarse, algunas personas fueron salvas. Por favor ore para encontrar un local y establecer la iglesia de forma permanente. Actualmente nos reunimos en un espacio pequeño alquilado, donde caben solo unas 50 personas.
Este año, juntamente con mi esposa y una pareja de esposos de nuestra iglesia tuvimos el honor de asistir a la Conferencia de Victoria en Falls Baptist Church en Milwaukee, WI. En este lugar estudia nuestro hijo James en el Baptist College of Ministry. ¡Qué conferencia tan llena del espíritu y de emoción! La pareja de mi iglesia fue afectada grandemente, como nosotros también. Volviendo a Perú, fuimos anfitriones de nuestra conferencia anual de Fuegos de Evangelismo aquí en Lima. La predicación fue impactante. Los pastores Gil Torres de la Iglesia Bautista el Faro en Lemon Grove, CA y José Agüero de la Iglesia Bautista Independiente en la República Dominicana representaron el equipo de Fuegos de Evangelismo, y se unieron con Pastor Wayne Van Gelderen Jr. De Falls Baptist Church. Muchas decisiones fueron hechas, y varias almas fueron salvas. Hubo un buen espíritu entre los pastores que vinieron de todo el Perú.
En marzo comenzamos nuestro Seminario Bíblico. Tenemos pocos alumnos, pero estamos mirando adelante lo que el Señor hará en sus vidas y en las nuestras mientras entrenamos a estos maravillosos jóvenes e invertimos en ellos para el Señor.
Nuestro colegio cristiano para sordos reinició en marzo. Anticipamos tener un año que honre a Cristo, invirtiendo en niños sordos para el Señor.
Noticias de la familia
Todo el mundo se mantiene muy ocupado. Joseph ha sido una ayuda bendita en el colegio. Este es su primer año como profesor de aula; se encuentra preparado y emocionado. También ha estado ayudando en los preparativos para el seminario, en el ministerio de música y con los jóvenes. Él está encargado de un estudio bíblico juvenil en la nueva misión en Tablada.
Julianne ha comenzado una relación de noviazgo con un joven excelente de LaBelle, Florida. Por favor oren para la dirección de Dios en esto y por sabiduría continua para ambas parejas de padres. El joven se llama Frank Miller. Hemos conocido a Frank por muchos años; antes de venir a Perú fui pastor asistente de su padre. Este año, Julianne está enseñando sexto grado para nuestros hijos y para los hijos del personal.
A James le va muy bien en el Seminario; está trabajando duro y haciendo bien en sus clases. Durante nuestra visita a la conferencia, mucha gente nos contó la bendición que él es allí. James está ayudando a establecer un ministerio hispano en Falls Baptist Church mientras trabaja y estudia.
Jared y Judson fueron una gran ayuda en la conferencia de Fuegos. Fue genial ver a todos mis hijos mayores ayudando, interpretando, cantando y sirviendo con un espíritu maravilloso de alegría y servicio.
Los pequeños están creciendo y aprendiendo como siempre. Lisa está enseñando primero y segundo grado para nuestros hijos y para los hijos del personal; estamos orando por ayuda.
Recibí un certificado de buena salud en mi visita anual a la clínica en Fort Myers. ¡Esa fue una sorpresa agradable!
Por favor oren por el padre de Lisa, Ray Judd, que está pasando por algunos problemas médicos graves durante estos tiempos.
Continúen orando por este ministerio maravilloso; Gracias por su cariño y apoyo. ¡Anticipamos mucho este próximo trimestre ver la obra de Dios en nuestras vidas individualmente y como iglesia!
Dios les bendiga,
Hno. Joe & Lisa,
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Apr 3, 2013 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: – Col 1:27
What an incredible first quarter this has been. We greatly rejoice in what the Lord is doing in our lives and ministry. Our desire is to walk in Christ as we serve the Lord here in Peru, truly making Christ known in ourselves!
Ministry News
Our church has been praying and planning to plant a new church in an area called the Tablada. On Sunday March 3rd we had our first service. It was a great blessing. There were souls saved and there was not even standing room available. Our church has really been a great support for this new church plant. Please pray that we will be able to find the right piece of property to permanently establish the church. We are currently meeting in a very small space we are renting that holds about 50.
This year, a couple from our church and my wife and I had the honor of attending the Victory Conference at Falls Baptist Church in Milwaukee, WI. That is where our son James is going to college at Baptist College of Ministry. What a spirit-filled and exciting conference that was! The couple from my church was greatly impacted, as were we. Following that conference, we hosted our annual Fires of Evangelism Conference here in Lima. The preaching was tremendous. Pastors Gil Torres from Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lemon Grove, CA and Pastor Jose Agüero from Independent Baptist Church in the Dominican Republic both representing the Fires of Evangelism team were joined by Pastor Wayne Van Gelderen Jr. From Falls Baptist Church. Many decisions were made and several souls saved. There was a great spirit among the pastors who came from all over Peru.
In March we started our formal Bible College at Efata. We have just a few students, but we are looking forward to what the Lord will be doing in their lives and ours as we train these wonderful young people and invest in them for the Lord.
Our Christian school for the Deaf started again in March as well. We are looking forward to a Christ-honoring year of investing in young deaf children’s lives for the Lord.
Family News
Everyone is keeping very busy. Joseph had been a blessed help in the deaf school. This is his first year as a primary teacher and he is prepared and excited. He has also been helping in the preparations for the Bible College, Church music ministry and youth ministry here at Efata. He is leading a youth Bible study for the new church plant.
Julianne has begun a courtship relationship with a wonderful young man from LaBelle, FL. Please pray for God’s leading in this and for wisdom for both sets of parents. His name is Frank Miller. We have known Frank for many years; I was his father’s assistant pastor before going into missions. Julianne is teaching sixth grade for our children and the staff children this year.
James is doing great in college. He is working hard and doing well in his classes. During our visit for the conference, many people came and told his mother and me how much of a blessing he is there. James is working to help establish a growing Spanish ministry there at Falls Baptist while working and studying.
Jared and Judson were a wonderful help for our Fires conference. It was great to see all of my older children helping, interpreting, singing and serving with a wonderful spirit of joy and service.
The little guys are growing and learning as always. Lisa is teaching first and second grades for our children and the staff children, and she is praying for help.
I received a clean bill of health from my annual VA Clinic physical in Fort Myers. That was a pleasant surprise!
Please pray for Lisa’s father, Ray Judd, who is going through some serious medical issues right now.
Please continue to pray for this wonderful ministry. Thank you for your support and care. We are looking forward to watching God work next quarter in our lives individually and as a church family!
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Dec 25, 2012 | Spanish Prayer Letters
Estimados amigos y familiares,
y conoceréis la verdad, y la verdad os hará libres.
– Juan 8:32
¡Alabamos a Dios por permitirnos compartir la verdad con otras personas aquí en Perú! Las fiestas de fin de año traen muchas oportunidades para llegar a los corazones de la gente, ya que son más tiernos y a veces se sienten muy solos. ¡El evangelio verdadero transforma vidas!
Noticias del Ministerio
Uno de nuestros objetivos para 2013 es iniciar una nueva iglesia en una zona llamada Tablada (foto arriba), donde actualmente contamos con una ruta de bus. Hemos estado visitado en esta área fuertemente durante las últimas semanas, y hemos visto a muchas personas salvadas. Por favor oren que Dios nos guie sobre exactamente dónde comenzar la nueva iglesia y nos proporcione los fondos necesarios para la nueva obra. Actualmente tenemos dos células que se reúnen durante la semana en esta zona.
Hay muchos Testigos de Jehová que engañan a las personas sordas y oyentes con su doctrina falsa. Para ayudar a nuestra gente, he preparado una serie de mensajes contra esta secta falsa. Un hombre sordo aceptó a Cristo la semana pasada después de enterarse de la verdad. Él había estado estudiando con ellos. Como dice el versículo arriba, ¡“la verdad os hará libres”!
Rebecca Houghton y nuestro coro de niños completaron un maravillosa CD de música con 42 canciones de sus estudiantes que abarca muchos años de enseñanza en México, Estados Unidos y Perú. Nuestros niños hicieron un trabajo muy duro y de muchas horas para realizar el sueño de Hna. Rebecca. Alabado sea el Señor por un trabajo bien hecho y por hermosa música para niños del mundo Hispano.
He tenido la oportunidad de predicar varias conferencias en otras ciudades, como también en Lima durante este trimestre; hemos visto muchas almas salvadas. La última fue una conferencia para familias, y el último domingo por la mañana, el altar se llenó de familias que se unieron para orar, llorar y reconciliarse. Oren por nuestros viajes a Huancayo en enero y a Iquitos en febrero para enseñar y predicar.
El sexto Grado 2012
El año escolar 2012 ha llegado a su fin. Muchos de los niños sordos en la escuela residencial se van a casa para el verano y volverán la primera semana de marzo para comenzar de nuevo. Por favor oren por ellos que Dios les cuide; algunos no vuelven a hogares ideales. Alabamos a Dios por las almas que han sido salvadas este año en la escuela, tanto estudiantes como padres de familia.
Tenemos a nueve niños sordos desde 2 hasta 17 años de edad que llaman casa a Efata; por favor oren por estos niños mientras les mostramos el amor y el cuidado de Cristo. Una niña está siendo adoptada por una familia cristiana en los Estados Unidos; por favor oren para que Dios haga su voluntad en este proceso.
Noticias de la Familia
Nuestros hijos se encuentran muy ocupados; han pasado mucho tiempo practicando con el coro para la cantata de Navidad. ¡Por supuesto, hay mucha tarea que hacer también! Estamos disfrutando de la temporada de los cumpleaños; en los últimos tres meses, James cumplió 19, Jared 17, yo soy mayor (¡sonrisa!), Judson 15 y John cumplirá 9. ¡Wow! ¡Tres cumpleaños más vienen el próximo trimestre!
James completó su primer semestre de Bible College en Baptist College of Ministry en Wisconsin. Él pasará la Navidad en la casa de sus abuelos en Missouri. Esta será su primera Navidad lejos de la familia.
Gracias por su apoyo y sus oraciones por el trabajo que estamos realizando con personas sordas y oyentes en Perú y más allá.
Gracias también por las ofrendas de Navidad. Nos han ayudado a hacer que este sea un momento muy especial para todos aquí en Efata. Esperamos un año nuevo maravilloso lleno de oportunidades para servir al Señor.
Por favor siéntase libre de seguirme en Twitter en @JoeFKotvas, el único red social que me gusta – ¡corto y al punto!
Dios los bendiga,
Hno. Joe y Lisa,
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Dec 25, 2012 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
– John 8:32
We praise God for allowing us to share the truth with others here in Peru! The year-end holidays bring many extra opportunities to reach out as people’s hearts are more tender and sometimes very lonely. The true Gospel transforms lives!
Ministry News
One of our goals for 2013 is to start a new church in an area called Tablada (pictured above), where we currently have a bus route. We have been visiting this area heavily for the past several weeks and have seen many people saved. Please pray that God will give us guidance on exactly where to start the new church and provide the funds necessary for a new church plant. We currently have two cell groups meeting during the week in this area.
There are so many Jehovah’s Witnesses falsely indoctrinating both the deaf and hearing. To help our people, I have prepared a series of messages against this false cult. One deaf man was saved last week after learning about the truth. He had been studying with them. As the verse above states, the truth does set you free!
Rebecca Houghton and our children’s choir completed a wonderful music CD with 42 songs from her students that span many years of teaching in Mexico, the U.S, and Peru. Our children did a great job working very hard and long together to complete this lifelong ministry dream of Miss Rebecca. Praise the Lord for a job well done and for beautiful children’s music for the Spanish world.
I have had the opportunity to preach several conferences in other cities as well as here in Lima during this quarter. We have seen many encouraged and saved. The last conference was a family conference, and on the final Sunday morning, the altar was filled with families that came together to pray and weep and forgive. Pray as we go to Huancayo in January and Iquitos in February to teach and preach.
This year’s sixth grade class
The 2012 school year has come to an end. Many of the deaf children in the residential school are going home for the summer and will return the first week of March to start anew. Please pray for them that God will keep them safe; some are not going back to ideal home circumstances. We praise God for souls saved this year in the school, both of students and parents.
We have nine deaf children from 17 down to 2 years old who call Efata home. Please pray for these children as we show them Christ’s love and care. One young girl is in the process of being adopted by a Christian family in the States. Please pray for God to have His will in this process.
Family News
Our children are staying very busy. They have spent a great deal of time practicing with the choir for our Christmas cantata. Of course, there is a great deal of school to get done! We are enjoying the birthday season, as well. Over the past three months, James turned 19, Jared turned 17, I got older (smile!), Judson turned 15, and John will turn 9. Wow! Three more to go next quarter!
James completed his first semester of Bible College at Baptist College of Ministry in Wisconsin. He will spend Christmas at his grandparents’ home in Missouri. This will be his first Christmas away from the family.
Thank you so very much for your continued support and prayers for the work we are doing among the Deaf and hearing of Peru and beyond.
Thank you also for the Christmas offerings. They have helped us make this a very special time for all here at Efata. We look forward to a wonderful new year of opportunities to serve the Lord.
Please feel free to follow me on Twitter at @JoeFKotvas, the only social media I like – short & to the point!
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Oct 12, 2012 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. – 2Cor 4:3-4
Over the past few weeks I have been encouraged in the work of the Lord to know that the “Light of the glorious gospel of Christ” is definitely no going out. Amidst all of the trouble and economic struggles our country is facing, God is still moving and working in and through his people. Though our support continues to decline and the exchange rate continues to drop out of our favor, I am reminded that God is in control and provides for His work.
Ministry News
I had the tremendous privilege to be a part of a wonderful international mission conference in San Luis Potosí, Mexico at the Bible Baptist Church of San Luis Potosi. This church is pastored by one of the most humble servants of God that I know – Pastor Luis Ramos. He is a pastor with a vision and a heart for people all over the world and has a stunning ministry. It was a distinct honor to share the pulpit with many outstanding Spanish national and American pastors and missionaries working all around the world. Presenting their fields of service where Mexican missionaries that represented 21 foreign mission fields such as Israel, Turkey, Equatorial Guinea, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia as well as others.
I was able to see how God is moving amongst Spanish speaking nationals to shine the Light of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. I have been in many missions conferences in the United States and other countries, but never have I seen the burden, passion and commitment that I experienced in this conference. I thank God that I was privileged to participate. 115 young people were called to missions and 105 pastors and missionaries from all over the world pledged together to pray and do all we can for world missions.
My desire here in Peru is to continue to preach and encourage our Peruvian national preachers and missionaries to have the same passion and drive to reach this world. As God wakes up the Spanish world to become a leader in world missions, we have a great responsibility to continue to train and work side by side with our Spanish brethren as EQUALS to reach this world for Christ. American missionaries are becoming more and more marginalized in the world and we do not have the access and influence in many countries that we once had. We all know the reasons for this and I am not here to focus on that. My point is, we need to do more to invest in our very capable and spirit filled Spanish brethren while we still have the economic ability to do so, that they may develop the infrastructures necessary to train and equip their national missionaries to go to the world; especially countries that we as Americans are hindered from going.
My dear brethren, sadly many of our American pastor brethren do no look upon Spanish pastors and missionaries with the same respect and quality that they look upon our own. Our Spanish brethren have the same God, the same Savior and the same Holy Spirit. Many are doing incredible works in very difficult spiritual and economic circumstances that rival our American churches. It is time they were looked upon them as spiritual and ministerial equals in the work of the Lord. It is my personal opinion that the torch of the Gospel is passing from America to Spanish speaking America and God is blessing with a great spiritual moving in the Spanish speaking world.
Here in Peru, we continue to see people saved and baptized and the church is steadily moving forward. Pray as we are moving in the next few months to start a new mission church from Efata in an area of Lima called Tablada de Lurin. We have a bus route there are currently hosting cell groups for adults and young people in that area.
The Lord has privileged me to preach in several conferences and anniversaries here in Peru. I am doing all I can to encourage pastors, missionaries and church families to be active participants in God’s ministry of reconciliation and to have an intense passion for souls, missions and solid Christian families.
Family News
The family is doing well. James is greatly enjoying his studies at Baptist College of Ministry in WI, and Joseph is working hard in our ministry on many fronts, in the school, with music and training and with interpreting.
Thank you so very much for your continued support and prayers for the work we are doing amongst the Deaf and hearing of Peru and beyond.
Please feel free to follow me on Twitter at @JoeFKotvas, the only social media I like – Short & to the point!
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
