January 2006
"Church-planting movements among all peoples ; the
gospel to every person; every believer a full participant in
the Great Commission." This is the vision statement of
the South America region. Not only do we believe in this
vision wholeheartedly, our missionaries are living it
daily. There is much going on in South America in these
days. God is moving among His people, but there are still
many to reach. Of the 350 million people in this region,
315 million do not have a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. For every 100 people who die in South America,
90 to 94 will spend eternity separated from God. One of
the many ministries being implemented in South America
is the R.E.A.P. ministry. R.E.A.P. stands for Rapid Entry
Advance Plan. R.E.A.P is the strategy that sends volun¬
teers and trained leaders to penetrate and engage lost
regions and people groups. They gather information,
pray erwalk/ hike the streets and trails, minister through
medical/dental clinics, evangelize, disciple and train
leadership, all with the goal of seeing churches planted
that begin to multiply themselves. God is working mightily
in this way to spread His Word to small villages that have
never even heard His name. Pray that more U.S. churches
would become aware of R.E.A.P. and that God would
lead them to the people group that He has fitted them
perfectly to work with. Pray for the people who are hear¬
ing the Word of God for the first time. Pray that their eyes
will be opened and their hearts softened to understand
their need for Jesus to be Lord of their Uves. Pray for the
missionaries in South America, for continued faith and
endurance as they work with U.S. churches and South
American believers to further God's kingdom.
PERU (Western South America). Missionaries Rick and
Kelly Martinez, who live in the Andes Mountains of Peru
and work with the Aymara People group, write, "Recently
we held our first meeting in a community called Isancuyo.
We were invited to return a second time and talk to the
community. About 12 adults showed up who seemed gen¬
uinely interested in continuing to study and worship. We
sang Aymara songs and taught the story of Noah. We were
then invited to return the following week. Please pray that
he community of Isancuyo will continue to be open to the
gospel story and that a new church will be started there."
SRI LANKA (island off Southeastern coast of India). Some
of the poorest and least-educated Sri Lankans live on the
many beautiful tea plantations scattered through the up-
country of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon. With each
cup (or glass) of tea you drink, please pray that those work¬
ing on Sri Lanka's tea plantations would receive salvation
and see God's glory.
3 CHILE (Western South America). Pray for the university
student groups in Vina del Mar that Karen Wright leads.
She quotes Daisy, one of the students: "After Bible study
last week I kept thinking about the love of God. I had never
thought about the extent of His love before. Finally as I
prayed, my doubts were resolved and I accepted Christ. It's
like starting all over again. I know that my parents believe
in God, but I want to be able to share with them what I'm
learning." Like Daisy, many of the people we meet have
just NEVER thought about the extent of God's love! Pray
for her vibrant witness to her family and friends and for
many like her to come to sincere faith in Christ.
MUSLIMS IN RUSSIA (MIR). Give thanks with a worker
who writes: "After meeting with my Muslim language
instructor, J, three times a week for a month, she asked me
if I would teach her about the Bible. Now, before every les¬
son, we discuss a Bible story. She has so many questions
about Jesus. I know that it is out of your obedience to give
generously to international work that God has allowed us
to be obedient to Him in living here. As we walk the streets
of our city, look into the faces of those who have never
heard, and pray for them, it is encouraging to remember
that we are not alone in this task of reaching the lost, but
we are a part of a body of believers that has sent us out.
Thank you for allowing God to use you to touch the lives
of J and many like her."
CUSHITIC NOMADS OF EASTERN AFRICA (KUU-shi-
tic). A worker writes: "Recently, as he was out walking
and talking to our Father in the neighborhood, my hus¬
band met and began talking with several men from our
people group. How thrilled they were to hear him speak¬
ing in their heart language! Many questions were being
thrown at him, and their voices got louder with excitement
as my husband began answering them. He was even invit¬
ed to one of the men's home and introduced to his family.
After visiting with this family for some time, my husband
departed and headed back home with an invitation to
come and visit as often as he likes. Please pray that these
individuals would be as excited about hearing the good
news as they were when my husband spoke to them in