Report from BHW Sth America Partnership Facilitator Following Visit in May

Recent Events

Activities

• Church planting in the north and the south of Peru
• Marriage counselling
• Discipleship training
• Evangelism
• Training leaders 

Programmes

Godofredo and Teresa have a group of 16 churches that they have planted and in which they are now discipling and teaching Christians. These churches are mainly within the Cajamarca region and the coastal area around Trujillo, but one is in the south of Peru, in Curahuasi. They are training leaders among these churches.

They have a discipleship programme in the church entitled – Life, Fellowship, Maturity, Ministry and Missions, a course that Godo and Richard Pembroke (an English missionary) wrote over 10 years ago. It is used in England, Bolivia, Argentina, Germany, Spain, USA and Colombia.  It is very practical, 95% get baptised after doing this course. Their passion is to lead people to the Lord and grow their passion.

Marriage counselling is an important part of their ministry. This ministry is something they offer to the couples in all of the churches that they have planted.

They see that it is important to train leaders in small sessions. A leader or a pastor with a family doesn’t have the time to go to Institutes for training so Godo and Teresa provide training for them in short bursts.

They, and their church, have been providing a “soup kitchen” for the poor in Cajamarca every Saturday morning. 

Partnership's Influence within the Community

In the Cajamarca community this partnership’s influence has been felt at many levels. The “soup kitchen" on Saturday mornings has been providing food for the needy in Cajamarca.

Godo and Teresa, along with the CBC church, have established a primary and secondary school called Diego Thompson. It is a state recognised school. The aim is to provide quality education to people in Cajamarca, both Christian and non-Christian.

They also have influence in the local community through the marriage counselling they offer. This ministry is to the couples that attend the CBC church.

Ideas for the Future

Church Planting

Godo and Teresa are considering carrying out church planting in the south of Peru, around the area of Cusco and Curahuasi. They have a large input into a current church plant in Curahuasi where their daughter Jessica and her husband Agustin are full time workers.

This area of Peru has many opportunities to start new churches. Curahuasi is in the Apurimac region of Peru, known as “the poor house” of Peru.

They also have a passion to evangelise and plant churches in the Arequipa area of Peru, the most under-evangelised part of the country. 

Godo and Teresa will continue to live in Cajamarca but will travel to the south to evangelise and church plant.

Dental Surgery

They also have an idea for a dental surgery project. Their youngest daughter, Katia, has completed her theoretical training as an orthodontist and has been contracting to local dental surgeries in Cajamarca which is part of her practical experience requirements. She will receive her degree this year. 

The goals of this project would be to;
a) enable Godo and Teresa to become financially self-sustaining,
b) provide funds to help the poor, perhaps offering scholarship to the Diego Thompson school,
c) support other missionaries in Peru, and
d) provide an income for their daughter, Katia, who would be the person working the project.

We expect to receive a project profile in due course.

Current Issues and Challenges

2014 was a very tough year for Godo and Teresa, they received many attacks against their family. Katia, their youngest daughter, is a solo mum and lives with them along with her son Matias. Godo and Teresa are Matias’ surrogate parents. Katia will shortly graduate as an orthodontist. Many Christians feel that Godo and Teresa shouldn’t be working as missionaries due to the previous lifestyle of Katia. Godo and Teresa see this as attacks from Satan and are undeterred although hurt by these criticisms.

Godo and Teresa are studying towards a Diploma of Theology. BHW has contributed towards this using some of the money paid back by the chicken farm project run by Jorge and Cecilia (PER05b). The studies consist of 10 sessions over 20 months. It seems that in the future the Peruvian government may require that missionaries and pastors have some official qualification. They are pre-empting any move the government may make.

Health is an ongoing challenge, Teresa has had a cancer scare a few years ago and Godo takes medication for a heart condition. They are issues but Godo and Teresa have them contained at present.

Prayer and Praise Points

Pray for their vision of planting churches, that they would have the physical strength to stay focused.

Pray for spiritual protection, that they would be kept safe from attacks against them or against their ministry.

Praise for the church plant in Curahuasi where they are helping their daughter and son-in law. There are 39 Christians in that church now.

Comments

Godofredo and Teresa have a burning passion to plant churches in Peru, particularly moving into the south of that country. We think that this is a good move because there are areas in the south that are the most under-evangelised in Peru.