May 23, 2015 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Revelation 4:8-9
This past couple of months have been very busy for us. There is much going on here at Efata. As the verse above states, Holy is our God and worthy of all glory, honor and praise! We thank him for counting us worthy and putting us in the ministry.
School started again in March. We had a rough start with the high school program due to problems with changes in the local government education offices and the school that sponsors our deaf high school program. Thankfully, after a few weeks, it was all worked out, and we can continue our unique program.
One of our little deaf boys named Yerik had his surgery on his legs to straighten them out. The surgery went well. He has been in bed for a month with a body cast. Two weeks ago, they removed the cast, and he is in physical therapy to learn how to walk again. He is doing great. Thank God to all who donated their resources and time to make this happen.
Construction Work on New Roof
Currently, we are building the new roof on our cafeteria. We have been praying and working towards this goal for several years. An NGO has donated $10,000 towards this project, and we are well on our way to finally getting it done. With what is being donated by a businessman in our church, we will be able to complete this project.
This month we celebrated our church’s 38th anniversary. Missionary Ray Bradley from Ecuador was our special speaker. We are blessed to have had the opportunity to work here in Peru for 16 years with both Deaf and hearing people. During this anniversary, we ordained two men to the Gospel ministry.
We do have a very special financial need that we would ask you to pray about. The Deaf Department of Trinity Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL, has worked hard to bring together a massive donation for our School and Ministry that will be shipped by the Government via USAID. The shipping is FREE. The problem is that they have collected over $100,000 worth of clothing, school supplies and items for the children’s home, and they have a need for a storage facility with a loading dock as required by USAID.
We are asking if you, our supporters, could pray about a special offering to help with the costs of renting a facility and the mobilization of the supplies to the facility. We are hoping that we can get the items shipped within three months. The timing is dependent on paperwork processing both here in Peru and back in the States.
Thank you so much for your help and prayers for this project. It has been in the works for almost two years. Many have donated much-needed uniforms, equipment and supplies that will be a great help for us.
Ordination Service During Our 38th Anniversary
We continue to see souls saved and are excited about the work the Lord is doing here at Efata and at our mission works throughout Peru. Pray as we look at another area to start a work during the coming months. I am currently discipling two men. One, Ronald, lives in an area where we wish to start a work. Pray that God will help him grow and become a leader in His work.
As many of you know, Julianne and Frank are expecting our first grandson. He is due to make his appearance in June. Lisa will be leaving for a month to help her. I will be going to the States for ten days in June as well to see him and for follow-up appointments at the VA Clinic in Fort Myers. In addition, Joseph and Zulema are now expecting. Their baby is due in December. How thrilling it is that this new season in our lives has come upon us. I have been looking forward to this for a long time.
Jared has just graduated from the one-year Bible college program at Master’s Baptist College in Fargo, ND. He is very excited. He has a good job and great opportunities there. He will continue to live in Fargo and serve the Lord at Fargo Baptist Church. Pray for him has he makes decisions regarding college and the Air National Guard.
James has one more year to go to finish at Baptist College of Ministry. Pray for him for his finances and his summer internship.
All is well on the home front with the children who are still at home. Pray for God’s leading and care. Thank you all for your wonderful love and care for our ministry here in Peru and beyond.
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Mar 25, 2015 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8
Our desire is that He works continuously in our lives to make us fruitful in the ministry. God has worked in many wonderful ways in our ministry these last two months. The Fires of Evangelism conference that we had in Chiclayo was a great blessing and did see much fruit. There were classes for preachers, for women, for youth, and joint services with messages for all. At least fifteen people were saved, and at least five people surrendered to full time service to the Lord. We had been praying a long time for the salvation of one of the couples who trusted Christ. We thank God for Franco Loyola, and Galo Montalvo from Ecuador, and Gil Torres from California. These men of God preached with me and we are so grateful that they gave of their time, and shared their hearts, preaching God’s word to the people here in Peru.
Summer in Peru (December – February) passed quickly with the deaf children and ours also, but God has blessed them in many ways. They were blessed to go out and enjoy themselves many times, and the deaf children were given brand new shoes for school. We have had a donation for the roof of the cafeteria, and this is being constructed. We praise God for this and pray for safety and that the Lord will continue to provide for this.
Yerik had his surgery, placing plates in his hips. Pray for his recovery. It is really hard for this little guy to be still. He doesn’t understand yet that this will help him. He is in a cast from his chest down, and can only lay flat on his back for a month. We are so thankful how God provided for his surgery. Thank you for your prayers!
Church services have been a blessing, we have seen spiritual growth in our newer members, as well as seeing souls saved. We have had both deaf and hearing baptized, and we thank God for his working in hearts. Please continue to pray for Efata Baptist Church and ministry, that God would continue to help us that we might be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jared and James are still in the States studying at Bible College, Julianne and Frank are expecting a baby in June, and Joseph and Zulema are a great help here in the Ministry. Judson was a great help interpreting for the Fires conference. We thank God for each of our children, and pray that God protects, leads, and guides them in all His ways.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support. May God bless you,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Feb 5, 2015 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
We are so thankful to the Lord for all he has done on our behalf; His protection, His provision and His providence in our lives. We are also thankful to each and every one of you who stands beside and with us as we serve here in Peru.
Ministry News
School ended with several younger children graduating from kindergarten. The seminary ended well and we look forward to the new year of school which will start in March. Many of our church family and workers, as well as students, are gone on vacation or back home for the summer.
November was a busy month with two tremendous Bible Conferences and several saved and many decisions made.
On Jan. 4th, we commissioned Wilder Rojas, one of our assistant pastors as our newest missionary to the mountain city of Cajamarca, Peru. He and his family have been such a blessing here as they have worked, trained and prepared for ministry.
Christmas was a wonderful time and we thank all of you who gave extra to make it special for the children and staff of Efata and for our family as well. From all of us to all of you, THANK YOU!
This year has been a great year for souls saved and converts baptized. Just before school ended, we has several deaf saved and two were baptized.
One wonderful blessing that we experienced here at Efata this year is that Serafin, the father of Zulema, Joseph’s bride, realized back in February that he was not truly saved. He trusted Christ as Saviour and came to me asking to be baptized. This has been an answer to many prayers and to see the change in his life is wonderful.
Family News
Joseph is finally married! What a time it has been getting everything prepared. There were almost 400 people in attendance here in Peru for the wedding and several others who watched the event online. Thank you to all of our friends and family who were able to come and participate in making this a special time for Joseph and his bride Zulema. They are now off enjoying their honeymoon.
When they get back, they will be working hard with our Deaf ministry, School ministry and every aspect of the work here at Efata.
It was great to have all of our children here for a short time. Both James and Jared, as well as Julianne and her husband Frank were able to come to the wedding.
In November I had the opportunity to fly to the States to accompany my father to my uncle and aunts home in NJ. The purpose of the trip was to have the opportunity to witness to them as my uncle had cancer Both he and my aunt prayed to receive Christ as Savior before he passed away in December. I cannot tell you what that meant to me. My uncle Frankie was a wonderful father and husband and tremendous uncle. My Aunt Charlotte as well is a tremendous mother, grandmother and aunt. We will miss Uncle Frankie. I look forward to seeing him again in Heaven.
Lord willing, I’m going to be a GRANPA!!! I cannot wait. Julianne and Frank are expecting a baby boy! He is set to present himself to the world the first part of June. Lisa, the family and I are so happy for them. Pray for Julianne’s health. This is her second pregnancy so they are being as careful as they can.
Some Special Needs
In November we were given a grant of $10,000 to replace the roof of our Kitchen/Cafeteria/Pregnancy Crisis Center. It is going to cost about $5000 more above the grant that was given. The current roof is over 30 years old and very dangerous. One good earthquake and it can come down. Please pray with us that the Lord will provide the much needed extra funds for this project.
As I mentioned in our previous letters, our “Big Box” project is still in the works. We are now in the final paperwork stages before packing and shipping and it is not an easy process. Please pray for all of our friends and workers that are involved in this project so that it can be completed and shipped within the next few months. It has been a long and blessed process, however with many frustrating turns.
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Oct 13, 2014 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is God.
Luke 18:19
What a busy time this has been for all of us, especially my family. “God is Good, all the Time! All the Time, God is good!” This is a catchy saying that I love telling to the church because it is a truth from the Word of God as stated in Luke.
Ministry News
We are seeing steady growth and blessing in the church these past few months. Several people have been saved and we have had several baptized. One of the men who was saved has been in our prayers for quite some time. He has a brain tumor, and God brought him successfully through hours of surgery. This caused some paralysis, and he is no longer able to speak, but thanks God for his life as well as the salvation of his soul. His little girl is in our Christian School. We praise God for his salvation. We have also passed through some very trying difficulties as a ministry. These difficulties have come from within and without. Through prayer and fasting, we have seen God give the victory in many things. We have felt His presence through these difficulties, and we know that our God is great. We do covet your continued prayers.
We are preparing for our annual Bible conference October 21st – 26th. Missionary Bill Patterson is our special speaker this year. He is a wonderful man of God and has worked for many years in Bible translation in various languages. Please pray that God will use him in a mighty way to strengthen the hearts of our people in their love for the Bible and obedience to His Word.
Family News
Things are marching forward for Joseph’s wedding on January 3, 2015. Please continue to pray for him and his fiancé, Zulema. Joseph is on deputation raising support at this time but will be returning to Peru in December to prepare for his wedding. He will stay in Peru working here at Efata with us in ministry and then after a year, they will return to the States to complete deputation.
With Jared in North Dakota
I had the privilege of bringing Jared back to the States in late August and September so he could start college. He is attending Master’s Baptist College in Fargo, ND. He is loving it, and has his first job at Culver’s. He has a great work environment. Pray for him as he embarks on this new stage in his life. We are all very proud of him.
While in the States, I had the privilege of visiting four of our supporting churches, two new churches and other churches we are friends with and have not seen for over eight years. It was so good to see the pastors and friends and to report to them what the Lord is doing in the ministry He has allowed us the privilege of having here in Peru. What a blessing to see old friends and meet new ones. Joseph was able to travel with me to these churches and present his work as well.
James is doing well at Baptist College of Ministry in Menomonee Falls, WI. He enjoyed a great summer of hard work, and attended a missionary training camp where he learned a great deal. He was also able to work enough to pay his school bill through this semester. What a blessing!
I was able to see my daughter Julianne and her husband Frank while in the States. They are doing great and serving in their local church in Labelle, FL, Labelle Baptist Temple.
The rest of the children are doing fine. They survived Dad! As I was coming back to Peru, Lisa left to go to her mother’s to help her move to her new home. She was gone for two weeks, and I was able to hold the fort through three sick kids, a new puppy and a virus that is going around Efata right now. Joy did a great job helping me cook, and Judson was a big help with the little ones and cleaning up as well.
Thank you all once again for all you do for us. Please pray for our Big Box project that we have been telling you about. It is being prepared to ship. Please pray all goes well. They are shipping over 95 boxes, plus furniture! We thank the Lord for this blessing.
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Aug 2, 2014 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
The Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul… Proverbs 13:19
May and June are very busy months for us here at Efata as the church’s anniversary is in May and our mission conference is in June. This year was no exception. We had a wonderful anniversary celebrating 37 years for the church and the mission conference was wonderful. In addition to these events, we had the privilege of hosting several visiting groups that were wonderful blessings to us while they were here. These months were definitely “sweet to the soul”!
Ministry News
Pastor Steven Smallwood from Hope Baptist Church in Winder, Ga, brought a group from his church. They were a great blessing to us here. Two of the ladies from the group were medical professionals and were able to care for the children in the home and school. Pastor Smallwood preached and he and the others in the group helped us with a work project.
For the mission conference We were blessed to have visiting with us Bro. Stephen Zempel from Falls Baptist Church in Menomenee Falls, WI, and a small group of young men (including my son James who is studying at Baptist College of Ministry). Bro. Zempel and the young men preached our mission conference and did a wonderful Job.
Our international banquet was incredible this year and we are looking forward to what the Lord will do through the Church in the area of missions. Missionary to the Deaf Jim Sloan also paid us a visit with two young people. He has always been a personal blessing and help to me and an encouragement to the church. It was great to see him again.
The work in Tablada is going strong with new families coming. Several have been saved and we are rejoicing in what the Lord is doing there. We are praying and planning for our next church plant in another area of the city. Please be in prayer for wisdom regarding this.
As I mentioned in our last prayer letter, we are praying about taking the watch-care again of one of the former Efata missions in Iquitos. The trip was informative and fruitful. We spoke with the Deaf and the leadership who is maintaining that ministry at this time and believe that there was a positive desire one the part of the Deaf to have us reintegrate with that work. Missionary Matt Mckendree, who is part of our ministry team, as well as one of our national pastors, are praying about moving to Iquitos to lead that work. We are waiting for a final decision from the congregation there.
Family News
Well it is official, Joseph is engaged to be married! He came down for a few weeks to ask for the young ladies hand in marriage. Her name is Zulema. She has grown up most of her teen years here at Efata. She is a “CODA” (Child of deaf adults). Zulema is a faithful worker here and a Bible college student. They are planning to be married on January 3rd, 2015. Please pray for them as the Lord works in their lives. She and Joseph have been friend since their early teen years. She is going to make a wonderful help-meet for Joseph and the ministry God has given him.
In August I will be taking Jared to the States to Bible College. Please pray for him as he begins his own journey of life and that God will continue to work in his life and Guide him.
Pray for us and the ministry here at Efata. Souls continue to be saved and converts baptized. Please pray for a couple named Maximo and Gisela. They are new Christians that Lisa and I are discipling and counseling. Gisela is having a very difficult time letting go and allowing God and His Word to have the preeminence in her life.
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
May 12, 2014 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
These past two months have been busy and exciting. As you read our letter you will see both how God has supplied, and a pressing need. We look forward to seeing how He will continue to supply through his wonderful people.
Ministry News
In March we celebrated our first anniversary for our Tablada mission. God has really blessed this ministry. Up until recently, they had Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services. Beginning in March, however, we added Sunday morning services. This addition has pulled several of our leaders out of Efata on Sunday morning to be a part of the new work, and God has blessed this with more visitors at every service in Tablada, and many saved. We are seeing new converts and visitors here at Efata every Sunday as well, and the attendance has been fairly stable.
In April, Associate Pastor Robert Sutton from Winker Road Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL, came down and preached the anniversary service of our mission work in the jungle city of Pucallpa. What a blessing! God used him to help us raise over $12,000 to build a new church building and parsonage four years ago, and we were able to have the dedication service of the new church building during this anniversary. Six people were saved, four deaf and two hearing. The congregation in Pucallpa was greatly encouraged that Brother Sutton came to preach and visit. He also raised an additional $2,100 to repair the damaged parsonage roof that is leaking heavily when it rains. What a blessing this is for Pastor Vasquez and his family!
Our school and home for the deaf is growing and blessed. We have a good increase in students this year, from kindergarten all the way through secondary school. Your gifts to help us teach and raise these children, from little Danilo, (3) thru Francisco (19), are investments in lives and make a difference that COUNTS. Thank you! Each month, both children and parents come to know Christ through this ministry.
As you know, the Deaf department of Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL have been organizing a “Big Box” project to ship needed supplies to us. We have asked for your help previously in a special letter sent out regarding this.
We are so thankful for those of you who have responded and given items to put in the container! The items for the school, home and church are very needed and appreciated.
We have been given 460 Bibles from Beams Bibles, and we have a pallet of tracts, but we have learned that the humanitarian government organization which is shipping the “Big Box” is not allowed to deliver any religious literature because they are a government organization. Please pray that God provides the funds to have these shipped to us separately. We need the Bibles and Tracts for our church planting annexes and missions, as well as for some national pastors. We know God will get them here somehow.
Please pray for us as we begin the ground work to start a new church plant in an area call José Galvez. We are in the initial “cost counting,” praying and planning stages. We are praying that the Lord will allow us to actually begin the work in January 2015. We hope to begin home Bible studies and targeted soul-winning in this area in the next few months.
Lisa and I will be flying to the jungle city of Iquitos with several members of our team to plan and prepare to revive a work with the Deaf in Iquitos that was once a part of our ministry but was estranged several years ago. Please pray as we work to reestablish our mission work there as well.
Family News
The family is well. We are missing Julianne but are grateful for how God is working in her new life with our son-in-law Frank.
Continue to pray for Joseph on deputation and James in college. Lord willing, in August I will be bringing Jared up to Bible College in Fargo, ND.
It is quite an adjustment having several of our children “out of the nest” and still having very young ones in the home. What a blessing!
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
