Arequipa News - February 2010
Arequipa News - February 2010
Moses My servant is dead, now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Joshua 1: 2
Those words must have filled Joshua both with joy and trepidation. He had waited 40 years for that day, but what he is asked to do, is do the impossible. 
There was one massive obstacle; the river Jordan in flood! If that was formidable, then dare I say it is nothing compared to the task we are called to do; preach to sinners who are dead and believe to see God raising them from spiritual death to life; surely the greatest miracle. There is no entrance to the promised land until God is pleased by an act of his omnipotence to lead his people through the turbulent waters. So there is no Christian life and joy until the Lord removes the heart of unbelief. The priority of our prayers should constantly be that the Lord will by his power bring to fruition the new birth in those who hear the word. Without that our preaching will be in word only, and death will prevail.
VILLA MAGISTERIAL
We had an encouraging beginning in the new area when we had over 120 women and children gathered for the special Christmas service. I will be starting a Bible Study at the beginning of March on a Sunday afternoon, and a children´s club starting also in March on Friday afternoons. Pray that the Lord will be pleased to give early encouragements as we reach out further in the area. Pray for “Joachin”, Lucresia´s husband who is coming to church more regularly and showing interest. We would love to see him saved and involved in the work with his wife, as we use their home to begin the meetings.
We have used funds to put up a wall and room on their property which allows us to have the children´s club in the open air, and to have the Bible Study inside which is needed during the cooler months during the year. This has also both enabled us to help a poor family from our fellowship get established in the area, and also reach out in an area where there is no church. It has been encouraging that this has arisen through the desire and prayers of Lucresia to reach the people with the Gospel. The initial interest has been encouraging, but as the text above explains, we need the power of God to bring people through to life in Christ; pray!
CHURCH NEWS
We have seen a number of new couples with us and the congregation increasing, but the great need is for a move of the Spirit creating conviction and adding to the church. It´s one thing to have more attending, but that means little unless the word and Spirit bring new life with a body full of the Holy Spirit and the joy of salvation. The Lord has given me sure promises with which to intercede, so we must wait and anticipate the breakthrough. We have now begun the process to obtain the Title deed for the church and later in the year we will work to put together the church constitution. I have had studies with both Alfredo & Adolfo in preparation for their service toward the Lord and the church as deacons later in the year. We are going through the Baptist confession of faith, church government, and various aspects and responsibility of the Diaconate. Pray for these two men, that they will be discerning and diligent, knowing that trials and attacks will most certainly come to oppose their commitment to the will of God. The life of faith is a life of conflict, and for every new day we need fresh “manna” from the presence of the Lord.
IT´S NEVER TOO LATE!
Many of you will remember Tomasa who was knocked down by a car and seriously injured last year. She and her husband have been married legally, but never in church. Tomasa and her husband Antonio wanted to renew their vows before the Lord, and they wanted to testify in such a way to most of their children who follow the culture here in living together. The same is true in the UK now as everybody now has a ”partner” as Gods word and marriage is rejected and redefined by a secular culture, as the world does what is right in its own eyes. It was lovely to see these Elderly believers obeying the Lord from the heart. Again we were the “Padrinos” and bought the rings. If anymore come forward we may have to plead poverty or go on deputation!!!!!!
One of their daughters “Lucia” has now been attending church regularly for over 3 months. Pray that the Lord will call her by his grace through the word.” Aurelio” we were informed recently was found dead and the news spread quickly, but amazingly he came round and is at the moment in intensive care and improving. He was divorced more than 20 years ago and his former wife appeared travelling from Argentina. Thinking he was dead the vultures appear for the financial pickings; he has a very good pension that passes on to the spouse! He has made an improvement, so we pray he may have some time yet this time of eternity to be granted repentance, and also to disappoint the waiting vultures!!
Faustino & Anna Maria have come to us recently. They come with their bibles and are showing a real hunger and desire for the word. They also come to the prayer meeting which is s good indication of life when folk want to pray. They came this Sunday with their son “Alex” . Máximo & Sylvia have recently come to us. The lady has a very sad background of sexual abuse within the family and one of the children is a product of her past suffering at the hands of a stepfather. Pray that the Lord will bring healing and salvation to this woman. Both have also been attending the prayer meeting during the week. We are having camp later this year, at the end of this month. We will have some new folk with us, and we have been more careful and selective regarding those we accept to attend. There were some who appear at the church in January hoping to have a cheap holiday! But the purpose of the camp is spiritual, both for fellowship as a church and to reach those unsaved who have recently attended the church. So we have given priority to some, and had to disappoint others. But please pray that those unsaved at camp this year would hear the call of the Good Shepherd and be really and truly added to his body, the church.
Pray for all the church activities, especially the young people´s meetings and the ladies meetings. The hardness of the human heart and unbelief is in your face continually when folk are content with just meetings. Pray for Ronny and Rocio who are leading these meetings. The church would be full on Sunday if the folk from these meetings were saved. If the Lord saved all our contacts we would then have a wonderful problem. It is for that wonderful problem that we pray, and believe that day will come to the Glory of God.
One of our vital needs in the work is for two reliable vehicles in the work. We do need to replace our second vehicle which is more than 15 years old and costing us money in repairs. We make this need known so the Lord may provide for us this year a more reliable van for the next 5 years.
On behalf of us all thanks again for your prayers and support for us in the work here in Arequipa. We are all well as a family, at the moment still in the school holidays and for that reason extra busy!
Contact details:
Trevor Condy, 22 Kirkstall Road, Southport. PR8 4RA. trevor@condy.co.uk
Anthony, Roxy & Melly: New email: antroxmel@googlemail.com
Ronny, Rocio & Samuel : Casilla 411 (Mission PO BOX)