Redeemer has supported Wes and Jami Baker and the work at Peru Mission for more than two decades! With Wes’s upcoming visit to Redeemer on March 26 and our preparations for a summer missions trip to work at Peru Mission in Trujillo, this is a great time to learn more about this multi-faceted ministry. Website: Peru Mission
Ministry Overview
Peru Mission works mostly in urban settings focused on church planting and community development. Their work consists primarily of the following:
- church planting
- pastoral training (~60 students in the seminary)
- Christian education (~270 students in Geneva school)
- Medical Ministry (Bethesda Clinic)
- University ministry (on four campuses in Trujillo)
- Microfinance (transitioning into a savings and loan co-op)
- Child sponsorship/development program (~100 children at two sites)
- Summer camp
Three new deacons at Cristo Restaurador Church in Arevalo
They are targeting the major cities of northern Peru and currently have works going in:
- Cajamarca (300K in the Andean highlands): six churches, seminary
- Trujillo (1.2M on the northern coast): four churches, school, clinic, seminary, university ministry, microfinance, child sponsorships, summer camp
- Piura (700K on northern coast; one church plant)
- Chimbote (650K on northern coast; one church plant)
Current Situation
The new academic year starts in March so they are looking forward to welcoming back students from the summer break, as well as new students in both Geneva School and the Areopago Cristiano (seminary). Wes reports: “This year we will add 8th grade in Geneva. Please pray for (1) students, parents, and staff to get off to a good start, (2) for smooth integration of our new Bible curriculum, (3) and for efforts to reach parents and families with the Gospel. The church in this parish is growing and we are seeing a strong surge of interest by parents in the church’s help in their marriages and families. Pray that we would take advantage of this receptiveness.”
They have set a goal to add twenty more children this year to Christ Kids program in each of the two sites. “This has been a great blessing in both churches,” says Wes. “Parents of the children are increasingly involved in church activities. Pray that our evangelistic and discipleship efforts would bear much fruit.”
Gonzalo Salazar and wife Sharol are moving next week to Chimbote (two hours south of Trujillo) to begin church planting efforts there, with a core group already in place. “The Salazars have found a great house to rent,” Wes says. “Please pray that they get settled in quickly and that the launch group will grow in number and in understanding of both the vision for the new church as well as the nuts and bolts of reaching their city.”
Wes reports that churches are growing again after the devastation of the pandemic. “This has been very encouraging to see. The most encouraging thing for me, however, has been the growth in Peruvian leadership at every level: every church has a Peruvian pastor, each ministry is Peruvian led, and we have a growing seminary and pastoral apprenticeship program. Leadership development is the most important part of our long-term growth. Please pray for the Lord to continue raising up new leaders and for our fundraising efforts for but the apprenticeship program and the new church plants.”
How Can We Help?
Here’s Wes Baker’s response to that question:
Keep praying for us! Redeemer has been one of our most important partners since 1999. Thank you! Two other ways that you can help:
- Encourage members to consider sponsoring a child in our Christ Kids program. This is not just a transformative ministry for these children, it is also a key part of our church planting strategy in the poor areas. We hope to add 40 new kids this year. Click here for sponsorship info.
- The new church plant in Chimbote is not yet fully funded. Our budget is $3,200/month for pastor’s salary, location rent, and general operations, along with $28K for one-time set up expenses. Would you consider contributing to each of these? We have raised thus far around 50% of the monthly needs and 10% of start up expenses.
- Contact Pastor Danny Morgan (dmorgan@redeemerpres.org) if you are interested in joining the work crew for Redeemer’s summer missions team. The group will be led by Brian and Julia Russell, and will serve the week of June 30-July 8.
Prayer Requests
- For more pastoral candidates
- For the impact of Geneva School on the children and also on their families
- For the impact of Christ Kids on the children and also on their families
- For fundraising efforts for construction projects and for new church plants
- On a personal level, please pray for Jami and me as we juggle responsibilities with Jami’s elderly and very sickly parents (and a 94-year-old grandmother), my travels for fundraising, and more time apart than we would care for.