Peru or Bust

On October 25-27 we will be setting our attention on the world as we ask God to make His Name great in our hearts so that we can make His Name great in the world.  In preparation for our weekend our focus stories are highlighting Priority One topics.  Today the Hollingsworth’s share their top ten reasons to ‘Go’ to Arequipa, Peru.  Eat your heart out Mr. Letterman. 
“It has been a huge blessing to be ‘home’ here in Salem and to enjoy the incredible friendships the Lord has placed in our lives.  We began our journey with you, our SFB church family, seventeen years ago and continue to recognize God at work ‘across the street and around the world’!  We saw Him do some great things through our family as camp directors in Jujuy, Argentina and are excited to see the ministry move forward under the leadership of our national brothers. Now God is leading us to Arequipa, Peru.  Our passion is high because God has given us a vision that we want to share with you.  Here is our top ten list of “Why ‘Go’ to Arequipa?”

1. To make His Name great - Psalm 46:10 - Arequipa is fertile ground to cultivate Christ followers who worship God and make His name great.
2. To make disciples and mentor young adults - Matt. 28:19-20 - In the outskirts of Arequipa exists a community of people challenged by life but ready to learn to be Christ followers.
3. To share the Gospel and develop a community of believers - 1 Peter 2:9 - God desires that all men believe on His Son and become a people of His very own.
4. To care for the ‘whole person’ in partnership with ‘Serving Alto Cayma’ - 1 Thess. 5:23 -  The people in the outskirts of Arequipa have deep spiritual, physical, emotional and relational needs and we are dedicated to bring Christ’s healing and restoration to the whole person.
5. The ever expanding population of ‘marginalized peoples’ – Jer. 22:3 - As families continually arrive from the remote villages of the Andes Mountains they find themselves ‘pushed to the margins’ of society. We desire to show them the love of Christ and promote justice in their lives.
6. To provide pastoral care to the orphan and widow - James 1:27 - Among the marginalized people live a significant population of abandoned wives, widows, elderly, orphans and abused individuals.
7. The people are hungry for and open to the Word – Amos 8:11 - Previous interaction with the people of Alto Cayma confirm their desire to know more of God and His Word. (The people are culturally Roman Catholic and lack the tools to study Scripture on their own.)
8. To break the cycle of family dysfunction and abuse – Rom. 1:29-30 - There is deep brokenness in the lives of many that can only be overcome by Christ.
9. To impact culture through multiplication (sphere of influence) – Mark 5:19 - As young people are trained and equipped through our ministry our goal is that they engage new segments of society with the Truth.
10. To provide Biblical counsel for relational transformation – 2 Tim. 3:16-17 - God’s Word is powerful and capable of bringing life transformation.” 

In addition to the Hollingsworth’s involvement in Priority One You’re invited to the Sunday evening service, November 10 to hear about their work in Argentina and the opportunity God has ahead of them in Arequipa, Peru!

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

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