Jan 27, 2016 | Prayer Letters
“I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4
Sorry this prayer letter is a bit late. I have been traveling a lot these past few months and so much has been going on. As the verse above implies, we must be busy about our Master´s business as time is short and there is much to do.
Ministry News
It has been a good year at Efata Ministries. This year we saw many deaf and hearing people saved and baptized and we are grateful to all the work that has been done.
School is out for our summer vacation as well as our seminary and Bible institute. We graduated a good-sized group of deaf children in December.
We are now working on repair and construction needs for new bathrooms, nursery, classrooms and workshops, as well as preparing for our Fires of Evangelism conference in February.
The new Deaf outreach in El Agustino that Joseph started is doing well and our mission churches in Tablada and Callao are going strong.
At the end of November, the container of donations of the Big Box Project from Jacksonville, FL. arrived in Peru. Please, please pray as the process of getting the container out of customs has been very difficult. We have to go through several government agencies and a private customs agency to get all the paperwork in order. What should be simple is very complicated, involving several changes to the donation letter itself and much revision of the cargo, which has been an expensive and laborious task. The government here required additional information for each item.
Four different government organizations are involved in approving the shipment. Requirements from one agency differ from those of another and the whole process is an exercise in bureaucracy. We pray that we are finally at the end. Almost 900 Bibles, 35,000 tracts, clothing and shoes, dormitory supplies and furniture, school supplies, computers, and toys—it will all be such a great blessing to Efata and our mission ministries. GOD can!
Because this process has taken longer than the 30-day window of free storage offered by the shipping facility, they will be charging us storage fees backdated from the date the container arrived. This will be very expensive. Please pray they will be merciful and donate some time to us and not charge what they could. Also, pray for the extra funds that will be needed to clear the container for release to us.
In December, a local mission church plant approached me to ask for help. They are currently meeting in a member’s home. I am preaching for them every Sunday and working with them to formalize their mission and strengthen their believers. This has been a blessing and we are thankful to be able to help.
We received three new dorm students this week. Please pray for them as they learn and grow. One little girl was carried by her single mother on her back for the first four years of her life, as the mother sold Mentos candies. She is looking desperately now for a different and better life for her little one.
Family News
He’s here! Joseph James Kotvas was born to Joseph and Zulema on December 18th. He is our second grandchild. We are so thankful to the Lord for this new gift of life.
Our children are enjoying their summer vacation. Judson turned 18 on the 16th of December. We now have five adult children. James begins his final semester in Bible College and Jared will finish up his second year in May as well. Pray for both of them as they make decisions for their futures.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We are so thankful for the two new churches that have taken us on for support.
Thank you.
Bro. Joe & Lisa
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Nov 2, 2015 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
“I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4
Sorry this prayer letter is a bit late. I have been traveling a lot these past few months and so much has been going on. As the verse above implies, we must be busy about our Master´s business as time is short and there is much to do.
Ministry News
In August I traveled to Trujillo to preach for another missionary who is away, at a Seminary youth meeting and for a church anniversary. In September I was invited to preach a mission conference at Iglesia Bautista Redención (Redemption Baptist Church) in Tampa, FL. It was this church’s first faith promise mission conference. Three people were saved during the course of the conference and many decisions were made for the Lord. Pastor Joel Marsh and his church family did a wonderful job. In mid-october, I preached another church anniversary in Chimbote and was blessed to lead a young lady to the Lord. This month I will be preaching in a pastor’s retreat and we also will have our Bible Conference in November. These have been very full months. We praise God that He continues to bless and give fruit.
Also in August, a mission team from Oswalt Baptist Church in Trotman, NC came, helped us with several projects, and ministered spiritually as well to our people. They were such a blessing. They also helped with our Big Box project by providing the shipping funds needed to send the container. Thank you so much! Thank you Pastor Wesley and Bro, Jamie and church for your coordination, care and help.
Things are BUSY at Efata. Missionary Bruce Martin came and taught a Bible history conference in September. We are so thankful for him coming and teaching our people the wonderful and rich history of the Spanish Bible.
The new Deaf ministry in El Augustino is going well. Joseph has been heading that up. He is also putting together a new webpage for our church as well as a Peruvian Sign Language Dictionary on-line to help people learn the language.
Lisa and the kids are doing well. Please especially pray for Lisa, Trisha Olson and our pastoral staff, as they are doing an incredible job finalizing the Big Box Project. Lisa has worked many late nights trying to get all the details worked out with the group of young people from Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, the customs in Peru, the shippers and the Peruvian ministries which have had to approve all of the donations. We have reached the finish line! The container is shipping on November first. Pray that everything goes smoothly when it reaches Peru and goes through the customs process. The contents of this container will be a tremendous blessing.
Also pray for several of our families who have lost loved ones recently. One of our missionaries lost his father, one of our members lost her 25-year-old granddaughter during child-birth and another former pastor with us lost his mother, as well. All this in the same week. We praise the Lord that Brigitte, the 23 year old sister of the deceased, was saved this week, as well as several others.
Recently we had our “Family Day” here at Efata Baptist Church. It was a great day. We had many visitors and seven people were saved and two baptized (one deaf and one hearing). We have had baptisms every Sunday in October. We also have seen several saved on visitation.
Family News
Lisa and I are awaiting our second grandson who is due in December. Please pray for Joseph and his wife Zulema for her pregnancy.
James and Jared are doing well in Bible College. This is James’ last year. Jared is planning to complete his associate degree in Bible and then go into the National Guard to go to college for pilot training.
The other kids are doing well in their normal routines. Joy just turned 15! They are growing up quickly. In December Judson will be 18. Wow! That will be five adult children with five minor children. Halfway there!
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We are so thankful for the two new churches that have taken us on for support.
Thank you.
Bro. Joe & Lisa
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Aug 9, 2015 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! – Psalm 107:8
These past two months have been very exciting here at Efata and in our family overall. It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful our God is all times of our lives and ministry. As the verse above mentions, we should always be a people that praises our LORD for his goodness and all that He does for, through and with us.
Ministry News
This past month we had a wonderful mission conference. Pastors Franco Loyola from Ecuador and Victor Paez from Venezuela were our special speakers as well as several of our missionaries. It was an incredible conference. It was our first ever “Round Robin” conference with three other churches involved. What a blessing. It seems that we will be able to increase our Faith Promise Giving. It is exciting to be a part of sending Peruvian missionaries around the world.
Recently God has allowed me to connect with a top general of the National Police. He is an evangelical Christian and loves to preach the Gospel. He is going to help us to a obtain permission to enter any prison in Peru to minister; even allowing us to start churches in some of the larger ones. There is only one other religious organization that has this permission. These fields are “white unto harvest”. He even wants to make it possible for me to preach and teach in the Officers academy of the National Police. What an opportunity. Pray that this all works out.
Joseph has started a new Deaf ministry in El Augustino, an area about 45 minutes north of us by private auto. A church there has allowed us to use its facilities to minister to the Deaf in that area. There are new deaf people who have not had much connection with us at Efata nor much education. This is the Deaf mission field that is right before our eyes in our large city. With the help of some of our Deaf here at Efata, he is working hard to reach these wonderful people with the Gospel.
We rejoice that we were able to put the new roof on the cafeteria. It has been a long time in coming. We still need funds to finish it. We need to run new electrical work, lighting, etc., as well as new paint and floor tile. Pray for God´s provision for this project. Our Pregnancy Crisis Center is under the same roof and we have had its operations scaled back until we can finish the roof and its accompanying repairs and installations.
The blessing is that the framework is in place to build six new classrooms for the school and church use. All we need to do is put a roof on the second story structure and build the walls and infrastructure.
Family News
Grandson David Jonathan Miller
IT’S OFFICIAL! Lisa and I are grandparents! Julianne and Frank were blessed with a healthy baby boy – David Jonathan – on June 14th. You can see how handsome he is in the photo! Lisa went up to help with the birth and I was able to coordinate a visit in conjunction to some VA medical exams that I had.
Zulema, Joseph’s wife, is doing much better with her pregnancy as well. She had it rough with morning sickness. Their baby is due in December.
We continue to see souls saved and are excited about the work the Lord is doing here at Efata and at our mission churches throughout Peru. Pray as we look at another area to start a new work during the coming months. I am currently discipling two men. One, Ronald, lives in one of the areas where we wish to start a work. Pray that God will help him to grow and become a leader in His work.
Jared 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 has decided to continue in the college this year. Continue to pray for God’s leading in his life.
James has one more year to go to finish at Baptist College of Ministry. Pray for him for his finances and his summer internship.
Thank you all for your wonderful love and care for our ministry here in Peru and beyond.
Joe & Lisa
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
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
