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
Oct 12, 2012 | Spanish Prayer Letters
Estimados amigos y familiares,
3 Pero si nuestro evangelio está aún encubierto, entre los que se pierden está encubierto; 4 en los cuales el dios de este siglo cegó el entendimiento de los incrédulos, para que no les resplandezca la luz del evangelio de la gloria de Cristo, el cual es la imagen de Dios. – 2 Cor. 4:3-4
Durante las últimas semanas he sido animado en la obra del Señor sabiendo que “la luz del evangelio de la gloria de Cristo” definitivamente no se está apagando. En medio de todos los problemas y las luchas económicas que vienen a nuestro país, Dios sigue moviendo y trabajando en su pueblo. Aunque nuestro apoyo sigue bajando y el tipo de cambio tiende en nuestra contra, me recuerdo que Dios está en control y Él proveerá por su trabajo.
Noticias del Ministerio
Tuve el enorme privilegio de ser parte de una maravillosa conferencia misionera internacional en San Luis Potosi, Mexico en la Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de San Luis Potosí. Ésta iglesia es pastoreada por uno de los más humildes siervos de Dios que conozco – Pastor Luis Ramos. Él es un pastor con una visión y un corazón para personas en todo el mundo y tiene un ministerio impresionante. Fue un honor marcado compartir el púlpito con muchos destacados pastores nacionales hispanos y misioneros americanos trabajando por todo el mundo. Misioneros mexicanos presentaron sus campos de servicio representando 21 campos misioneros, tales como Israel, Turquía, Guinea Ecuatorial, Nicaragua, Perú, Venezuela, Columbia, y otros.
Pude ver cómo Dios está obrando entre nacionales hispano-hablantes para brillar la luz del Evangelio a las partes más lejanas del mundo. He estado en muchas conferencias misioneras en los EE.UU. y otros países, pero nunca he visto la carga, la pasión y el compromiso que viví en esta conferencia. Doy gracias a Dios por el privilegio de participar. 115 jóvenes fueron llamados a misiones y 105 pastores y misioneros de todo el mundo comprometimos orar juntos y hacer todo lo posible para misiones a nivel mundial.
Mi deseo aquí en el Perú es continuar predicando y alentando a nuestros predicadores nacionales y misioneros peruanos a tener la misma pasión y unidad para llegar a este mundo. Mientras Dios despierta el mundo latino para convertirse en un líder en las misiones mundiales, tenemos una gran responsabilidad de continuar entrenando y trabajando junto a nuestros hermanos latinos como iguales para llegar al mundo por Cristo. Misioneros norteamericanos están cada vez más marginados en el mundo y no tenemos el acceso ni la influencia en muchos países que una vez tuvimos. Sabemos las razones por ello, y no estoy aquí para hablar de eso. Mi punto es, necesitamos hacer más inversión en nuestros hermanos latinos capaces y llenos del espíritu mientras tenemos la capacidad económica para hacerlo, para que pueden desarrollar las infraestructuras necesarias para entrenar y equipar sus misioneros nacionales para ir al mundo; especialmente a los países donde nosotros los americanos no podemos ir.
Mis queridos hermanos, lamentablemente muchos de nuestros hermanos pastores de los EE.UU. no ven a los pastores y misioneros hispanos con el mismo respeto que brinden a nuestros propios misioneros. Nuestros hermanos hispanos tienen el mismo Dios, el mismo Salvador y el mismo Espíritu Santo. Muchos están haciendo obras increíbles en circunstancias espirituales y económicas muy difíciles, desafiando nuestras iglesias norteamericanas. Es hora de que se consideren como colegas en el espíritu y en el ministerio de la obra del Señor. Es mi opinión personal que la antorcha del Evangelio está pasando de América a Latinoamérica y Dios está bendiciendo con un gran movimiento espiritual en el mundo de habla hispana.
Aquí en el Perú, seguimos viendo gente salva y bautizada, y la iglesia está avanzando constantemente. Ora mientras trabajamos en los próximos meses para iniciar una nueva iglesia misión de Efata en una zona de Lima llamada Tablada de Lurín. Tenemos una ruta de bus allá, y actualmente alojamos grupos células para adultos y jóvenes en esa zona.
El Señor me ha privilegiado a predicar en varias conferencias y aniversarios aquí en el Perú. Estoy haciendo todo lo posible para alentar a pastores, misioneros y familias de las iglesias a participar activamente en el ministerio de reconciliación de Dios y tener una pasión intensa por almas, misiones y familias cristianas sólidas.
Noticias de la Familia
La familia está muy bien. James está disfrutando sus estudios en “Baptist College of Ministry” en WI, y Joseph está trabajando duro en nuestro Ministerio en muchos frentes, en la escuela, con formación musical y con la interpretación.
Muchísimas gracias por su apoyo y sus oraciones por el trabajo que realizamos entre los sordos y oyentes de Perú y más allá.
Siéntese libre de seguirme en Twitter @JoeFKotvas, el único red social que me gusta – ¡breve y al punto!
Dios les bendiga,
Hno. Joe y Lisa,
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Jul 3, 2012 | Spanish Prayer Letters
Queridos Amigos y Familiares,
Marcos 7:37 dice “bien lo ha hecho todo….” Dios todo lo hace bien! Estamos tan agradecidos de que Él nos ha salvado, y nos eligió para usarnos en su ministerio.
Iglesia Bautista Efata en Perú fue bendecida de celebrar su aniversario de 35 años el 20 de mayo. A pesar de que estamos en los EE.UU. de furlough durante estos cinco meses, tuve la oportunidad de volar a Perú y compartir en este momento tan especial. Vimos a unas 5 personas salvadas. Alabado sea el Señor por la fruta. Realmente disfrutamos de Pastor Joel Marsh – Pastor de los hispanos en Westgate Baptist Church, Tampa, FL y Dr. Bill Schutt – Previo pastor sordo en la Primera Iglesia Bautista, Hammond, IN, quienes nos visitaron como nuestros predicadores especiales. Cuando pensamos en el crecimiento que Dios nos ha dado, nos recuerda que Él es Señor de la mies, y le damos gracias por los obreros que Él ha enviado.
A través de la visión de un hombre sordo desde hace muchos años, Dios ha obrado y bendecido y nos ha permitido construir sobre esta base – muchos peruanos sordos y oyentes han sido salvados gloriosamente. Agradecemos a Dios por los peruanos y americanos fieles quienes sirven con nosotros. Nuestra labor no es en vano, ya que está en Él.
Pedimos sus oraciones por una pareja peruana, Pastor Henry Vásquez y su esposa Mirian. Enero pasado, Pastor Henry tomó una obra en la selva de Pucallpa, y ha hecho un trabajo tremendo con los sordos y oyentes allá. Su esposa está sufriendo algunos problemas de salud muy graves, y el doctor le dice que ella no debería estar vivo, su corazón es tan débil. Les pedimos que intercedan con nosotros en oración. Oren que ella tenga suficiente fuerza para que los doctores puedan operarle y remover varios tumores que le están causando mucho dolor. Por favor, oren para que Dios le dé una recuperación completa, y que puedan continuar sirviendo a Dios juntos, si es Su voluntad. Tienen dos hijos adolescentes.
El colegio cristiano ha tenido que hacer muchos ajustes; sin embargo, hemos visto mucho fruto este año en las familias a través de este ministerio. Más de 30 padres han llegado a conocer a Cristo.
Damos gracias a Dios también por el fruto que vemos en el hogar de niños y el ministerio del colegio residencial. En los últimos 4 años, hemos visto a cinco niños adoptados por familias cristianas quienes han experimentado un cuadro maravilloso de lo que Dios hace en nuestras vidas cuando llegamos a conocer a Cristo. Se nos recordó de esto recientemente cuando una niña recibió una partida de nacimiento, un nombre nuevo, una vida nueva, esperanza y alegría. Los demás niños están bien, y nos encanta poder cuidarlos como Dios quiere que hagamos, compartiendo su amor ágape con ellos. Laborando, pero NO en vano.
Damos gracias a Dios por el Centro de Crisis de Embarazo. Tenemos a una pareja con su hija hermosa quienes ahora son salvos, bautizados y adoran a Dios con nosotros en la Iglesia Bautista Efata, cuya familia recién formada es una imagen dada por Dios del misterio que es Cristo y su iglesia. Alabado sea Dios por la influencia que nuestro Centro Pro Vida ha tenido. Por favor, oren para que Dios extienda esa influencia.
Nuestra familia está muy emocionada de volver al Perú el 11 de julio. Estos cinco meses han sido una gran bendición, para poder visitar algunas de nuestras iglesias que nos apoyan y presentar nuestro ministerio en algunas iglesias nuevas. Será difícil regresar sin nuestra hija Julianne, 20, y James, 18, quienes se hospedan en Mukwonago, WI, preparándose para ir a la universidad “Baptist College of Ministry” este otoño. Los queremos mucho y nos alegramos de que se están preparando para servir al Señor.
Joseph, nuestro hijo mayor, ha decidido venir con nosotros a Perú para una práctica de dos años en Efata. Se graduó de la universidad con honores en mayo este año, y está muy entusiasmado por venir y trabajar personalmente en nuestro colegio para niños sordos y con los jóvenes en la iglesia. Nuestros otros hijos han disfrutado de sus viajes en los EE.UU., pero todos estamos listos para volver.
Me he lanzado en este nuevo mundo moderno de redes sociales. Ahora tengo una cuenta de Twitter, y me puedes seguir en @JoeFKotvas. Ministerios Efata tiene una página de Facebook en Efata Ministries. Se actualiza con bastante regularidad, mayormente en español. Siempre hay imágenes disponibles para que puedan ver lo que está pasando.
Gracias otra vez a todos ustedes por su cuidado por nosotros y por el ministerio de Dios en la cual tenemos el privilegio de server.
Bendiciones a todos,
Joe y Lisa
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Jul 2, 2012 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
Mark 7:37 states “he hath done all things well…” God does all things well! We are so thankful that He has saved us, and chosen to use us in His ministry.
Efata Baptist Church in Peru was blessed to celebrate its 35th anniversary on the 20th of May. Though we are in the states on Furlough these five months, I was able to fly back and share in this special time. We saw about 5 saved. Praise the Lord for fruit. We really enjoyed Pastor Joel Marsh – Spanish Pastor of Westgate Baptist Church, Tampa, FL and Dr. Bill Schutt – Former Deaf Pastor of First Baptist Church, Hammond, IN, coming down as our special speakers. When we think about the growth that God has given, it reminds us that He is Lord of the harvest and we thank Him for the laborers that He has sent.
Through the vision of a deaf man many years ago, God has worked and continued to bless and has allowed us to build upon this foundation and many deaf and hearing Peruvians have been gloriously saved. We thank God for the faithful Peruvian and American Staff we have laboring with us. Our labor is not in vain because it is in Him.
We ask your prayer for a Peruvian couple, Pastor Henry Vasquez and his wife Mirian. He took a work last January in the jungle of Pucallpa, and did a tremendous job working with the Deaf and hearing. His wife is suffering some very serious health issues, and her doctor said that she should not even be alive, her heart is very weak. We ask that you intercede with us in prayer, that she might be able to get strong enough to have several tumors removed that have caused her much pain. Please pray that God will give her a full recovery, and that they might continue to serve God together if it is His will. They have two teenage children.
The Christian school has had many adjustments to make, yet we have seen more fruit this year alone in families through the labor in this ministry. Over 30 parents have come to know Christ.
We thank God also for the fruit that we see in the children’s home, residential school ministry as well. Over the past four years, we have seen five children adopted into Christian families, and they have experienced a marvelous picture of what God does in our lives when we come to know Christ. We were reminded of this recently when a little girl received a birth certificate, a brand new name, a new life, hope, and joy. The other children are doing well, and we love being able to care for them as God would have us to do, sharing His agape love with them. Laboring, but, NOT in vain.
We thank God for the Pregnancy Crisis Center. We have a couple with their beautiful baby daughter who now are saved, baptized, and worship God with us in Efata Baptist Church, whose newly formed family is a God-given picture of the mystery that is Christ and his church. Praise God for the influence that our Pro Life Center has had, and please pray that God will extend this influence.
Our family is very excited to get back to Peru the 11th of July. These five months have been a great blessing, to be able to visit some of our supporting churches, and present our ministry in some new churches as well. It will be hard to go back without our daughter Julianne, 20, and James, 18 who are staying up in Mukwonago, WI, preparing to go to Baptist College of Ministry this fall. We love them greatly and are glad that they are preparing to serve the Lord.
Joseph, our oldest has decided to come down with us to Peru to work a 2 year internship in Efata. He graduated with honors in May from College and is excited about coming down and doing hands on in our Christian Deaf School, and with the young people in the church. Our other children have enjoyed their travels in the USA but are all looking forward to getting back.
I have taken the plunge into this new modern social networking world. I now have a twitter account and you can follow me at @JoeFKotvas. Efata Ministries has a Facebook page at Efata Ministries. It is updated fairly regularly but mostly in Spanish. However, there are always pictures being posted so you can see what’s going on.
Thank you all once again for your care for us and the ministry of God in which we are privileged to serve.
Blessings to all,
Joe & Lisa
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson,
Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
