Playing "Catch up"

I (Becca) have dropped the ball in keeping our blog updated well. It been a busy few months as ministry has picked up for Marshall, and Simon and the house are keeping me quite occupied! Please forgive the lack of posting!

Simon is doing well. He's had another check-up with the doctor in Lima and all still looks well. He's not had any further seizures either. He's quickly growing and discovering new things everyday! He is now a quick crawler, and is pulling himself up to standing positions on anything that he can! He is such a joy! Here's his 8 month picture:

Catch-up: October 21-24 Marshall in Iquitos, Peru

The pastor (Hugo) who I told you about in the previous post about the ETBIL material, desired to begin the first principles series in his church, but he didn’t have any materials. One goal of our church (Mil Palmeras) is to be a resource center for many local churches in the Amazon region of Peru. So I flew to Iquitos with the materials he needed to start. I was there for four days and three nights. During the days I was with Pastor Hugo and his cousin Silar, and then each night I shared for about three house with his church leaders – needless to say…I was on the verge of losing my voice! 

It was a sweet time with them as I explained the philosophy  behind the ETBIL First Principles and teaching in the manner of Christ and the Apostles (an intimate and intentional walk together in discipleship). Since I have returned to Pucallpa, Pastor Hugo has called me and said that he has spoken to several pastors in Iquitos who have expressed interest, so it looks like I am going back this spring (Feb/March) to do a small pastor’s conference over the ETBIL material. Please pray for divine appointments as I look to meet key pastors/church leaders in the major cities of the Amazon region of Peru.

Marshall and Pastor Hugo

Leaders at Hugo's church

Catch-up: August – October 2013 Taking the Reigns

In late August of this year, our head pastor and one of the founding members of Mil Palmeras departed for the US. (Julio Chiang and his family received their green card visas and they now have to live in the US for a year). 

Some background information: Several years ago as Mil Palmeras began studying the first principle series of discipleship (with the ETBIL Curriculum) word passed in Pucallpa that our church was doing “weird things.” (I, Marshall, was in the US at this time – having just married Becca). Several pastors came to Julio at the time and expressed desire to study God’s word in the same manner as our church was doing- thus formed the pastor’s network. This network was strong for a while, but fizzled with lots of travel from Julio who was leading the group. I, having arrived back in Peru, along with Becca, was walking into all of this (and all this material is in Spanish mind you) and it can be a little overwhelming, but….I got it! I caught the vision…I saw where this was going and I was on board! I approached Julio as he was getting ready to leave for the US and told him I would lead the pastor’s group. So, since early October this year I have been meeting with pastors and leaders from other churches and we have been going over the First Principles series together. Great, great, GREAT discussions and growth! We are growing slowly – I started with 4, and as of last two nights ago (Nov 10th) we had 16! If you are still reading – would you pray for this ministry? Pray that the Lord would bring other local pastors and church leaders to our pastor’s network. Our goal is that all be discipled in the way of Christ and the Apostles – and intimate and intentional walk together in discipleship.

Catch-up: August ETBIL Conference

In August, I (Marshall) attend my 2^nd ETBIL conference in Lima, Peru. (ETBIL stands for “theological education in the local church” in Spanish). There were roughly 40 people that represented six countries with the majority being from Peru.  It was time of getting to know new pastors and leaders who are interested in theological education in the local church. Our church, Mil Palmeras in Pucallpa, Peru has been doing the ETBIL curriculum now for over two years. Our goal and desire is to see our future leaders trained to be leaders in the local church – this curriculum is a means in by which this can happen. AND – not just our church, but many churches throughout the world are using this curriculum. We were able to network with several pastors who attended the conference. Pastor Arturo from Santa Cruz, Bolivia came to Pucallpa after the conference to look at our church and see the process of discipleship. Pastor Wilfredo from Ica, Peru came to Pucallpa a month ago and spent a week here. I was able to show him all that we are doing in the area of discipleship – preaching class, pastor’s network, studying the first principles, and small groups in our homes. Both pastors are now begging to establish what was modeled here in Pucallpa back in their home churches. We also had pastor Hugo from Iquitos who came and visited our church back in May who also attended the ETBIL conference. I will tell you more about my time with him in another blog post. God is doing some cool things in the lives of believers and the local church in Pucallpa! 

Some of the pastors at the conference.