Volume X Issue No. 4 5 May, 2011 When we read John 21:15-19 we see Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him. Peter says “Lord, you know ev- erything; you know that I love you.” Jesus asked Pe- ter the same question three times and Peter gets very distressed. I guess old Peter didn’t believe that Jesus believed what Peter was saying. Simon Peter had been with Jesus for three years but when the chips were down he denied Jesus three times. Jesus asks three times “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” and Pe- ter answers yes more vehemently three times. Finally Jesus tells Peter “Follow Me.” What does this have to do with ministry in South America? Stuart Burns, Darryl Evans and I returned from Bolivia just a few weeks ago. IMM has been in minis- try in South America for over 17 years. Nicholas Ajua- cho was the first missionary that we began supporting in Bolivia 16 year ago. Since then IMM has been in- volved in many different kinds of ministry in Bolivia. Stuart and Tom have been back to Bolivia almost every year and have met with the people in the ministry and in the churches and have encouraged the mission- aries. In the meantime faithful partners of IMM including board mem- bers, individuals, and churches have faithfully prayed and corresponded with IMM missionaries in the field. It occurred to me while I was in Bolivia that IMM’s ministry part- ners have been “feeding sheep” on a consistent basis for 16 years through IMM USA and for over 100 years around the world. This has resulted in a consistent witness that has established credibility for IMM in Bolivia and the other countries where we minister. When we visit now the people know us and are glad to see us again maintaining the effort of “feeding the sheep” resulting in credibility for the ministry. A couple of years ago amid acute political turmoil in Bolivia we were questioning whether to travel to Bolivia. One of our missionary advisors in the country asked “Are you committed or not?” Great question, so we went. God does not ask us to feed his sheep when it’s convenient or safe, he only commands us “Feed My sheep!” God has laid a new plan on our hearts. The board of IMM has recently endorsed a new plan of action. We are developing a strategy to involve the miners, and mine owners, and other workers in an Association of Miners for the Master. We will be working with them directly to train them in discipleship and evangelism. We will also work with the churches around the mines to get them involved as well. As we begin a new chapter and strategy of ministry in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile the faithful witness of Tom Gilliam and Stuart Burns and other partners visiting and encouraging every year, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, submitted to Jesus Christ, “feeding His sheep” has laid the foundation for ministry to miners in the altiplano mining area for the years to come. by: Ben Wilson, USA Chairman FEED MY SHEEP (llamas) Nicholas Ajhuacho, IMM Missionary
Transcript
Volume X Issue No. 4 5 May, 2011
When we read John 21:15-19 we see Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him. Peter says “Lord, you know ev-erything; you know that I love you.” Jesus asked Pe-ter the same question three times and Peter gets very distressed. I guess old Peter didn’t believe that Jesus believed what Peter was saying. Simon Peter had been with Jesus for three years but when the chips were down he denied Jesus three times. Jesus asks three times “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” and Pe-ter answers yes more vehemently three times. Finally Jesus tells Peter “Follow Me.”
What does this have to do with ministry in South America?
Stuart Burns, Darryl Evans and I returned from Bolivia just a few weeks ago. IMM has been in minis-try in South America for over 17 years. Nicholas Ajua-cho was the first missionary that we began supporting in Bolivia 16 year ago. Since then IMM has been in-volved in many different kinds of ministry in Bolivia. Stuart and Tom have been back to Bolivia almost every year and have met with the people in the ministry and
in the churches and have encouraged the mission-aries. In the meantime faithful partners of IMM including board mem-bers, individuals, and churches have faithfully prayed and corresponded with IMM missionaries in the field. It occurred to me while I was in Bolivia that IMM’s ministry part-ners have been “feeding
sheep” on a consistent basis for 16 years through IMM USA and for over 100 years around the world. This has resulted in a consistent witness that has established credibility for IMM in Bolivia and the other countries where we minister. When we visit now the people know us and are glad to see us again maintaining the effort of “feeding the sheep” resulting in credibility for the ministry. A couple of years ago amid acute political turmoil in Bolivia we were questioning whether to travel to Bolivia. One of our missionary advisors in the country asked “Are you committed or not?” Great question, so we went. God does not ask us to feed his sheep when it’s convenient or safe, he only commands us “Feed My sheep!”
God has laid a new plan on our hearts. The board of IMM has recently endorsed a new plan of action. We are developing a strategy to involve the miners, and mine owners, and other workers in an Association of Miners for the Master. We will be working with them directly to train them in discipleship and evangelism. We will also work with the churches around the mines to get them involved as well. As we begin a new chapter and strategy of ministry in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile the faithful witness of Tom Gilliam and Stuart Burns and other partners visiting and encouraging every year, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, submitted to Jesus Christ, “feeding His sheep” has laid the foundation for ministry to miners in the altiplano mining area for the years to come.
by: Ben Wilson, USA Chairman
FEED MY SHEEP (llamas)
Nicholas Ajhuacho, IMM Missionary
By Tom Gilliam
I have been asking this question of the IMM mis-sionaries when I see them during each visit for the past several years. Before, they would give me great de-tail of what they were doing. I would tell them I did not want to hear what they were doing, but rather what God is doing!
This time in Peru I saw that the missionaries were excited and wanted to tell me what God was doing. A 100 year old man was saved, and another 93 year old man was saved. A miner and his family came to know the Lord and everywhere the miner goes, he carries his Bible and witnesses to others.
Another miner received Christ and later moved away from the mine where our missionaries are serving. There was no evangelical church near his new home so he started a church in his house. Praise God, this is “living water flowing out of their inmost being”.
In case you cannot tell, I am excited! God is answer-ing prayer and moving in the hearts of these miners to respond to Him! This is what you pray for. This is what you support missionaries for!
Matthew 28: 19 & 20 says: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I com-manded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
What do you see God doing?
Dis...s a t i s f i e d ? By Tom Gilliam
God uses dissatisfaction to move us to where He wants us!
Over the last three years I have been helping Tim Bowes of Youth for Christ and East Rock Communi-ty Church in Roxboro, NC. In Tim’s ministry to the young people of our community, God has shown me much about how to reach people not looking for Christ.
Then over time they will open up to you, trust you, and you can then minister to them. God will do His part, and lives will be changed!
With this in mind, I had become dissatisfied with how the Miners Mission had been focusing on church-es in the mining areas, instead of the miners. I did not know how to do what I was seeing with the young people, but I liked what was happening.
We went to Chile on this trip and met Cris-tobal, a Chilean miner. God called him to wit-ness to the miners and bring them to Christ. We also met other Christian miners at church and they came up with the idea of forming a committee of miners to encourage each other and witness to the other miners.
Thus God produced the answer to the dissatisfaction He had caused, in order to win a lot more miners to Christ. This is how: “you go where they are, hang out with them, and love on them”!
“You have to go where they are, hang out with them, and love on them” Tim says!
G l o r i a a D I O S !
Chilean mine driver, Cristobal Mangini
Tom Gilliam with Peruvian Bible student.
weekly “happy hour programs” operate every Sunday for 50 to 80 children of all ages, includ-ing youth and university students. The program includes worship and scripture memorization.
Ruth, Elisa’s 19 year old daugh-ter was saved four years ago and helps with the older students. The CCU University students meet once a week in Elisa’s home, and a regular church service takes place here too.
Thank God He is still changing lives, and please pray that many young people will come to know Christ through this vibrant “happy hour” ministry.
News In BriefPray for EliseoQuispe and Santos Valero who were
recently appointed IMM co-ordinators in Bolivia and Peru respectively. IMM is thankful for these godly leaders.
Pookkattu and Molly Paul, IMM South Af-rica missionaries, are still seeking suitable housing and have stayed in eight different dwellings since their ar-rival. Please pray for resolution to their housing, trans-portation, vehicle, and office needs. Future Trips Planned - A follow up trip to Bolivia is planned for the Fall of 2011 along with a mission trip to work with IMM South Africa. Could God be calling you to join us? Contact Stuart Burns for details.
A video of IMM USA’s work in Bolivia is on Youtube. Search “IMM Out of the Darkness” while on Youtube or enter the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snVl3Kw_nKk
Elisa received Christ in 1982 at age 35 when she was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before that Elisa had been living an immoral life. One day her uncle had Christian visitors and they talked about the Lord. Initially she didn’t want to hear any of this, but they returned the next day and God clearly spoke to her.She was compelled to find out what she had to do to take God into her life, and in her desperate need of Him, she asked the question, “What paperwork must I fill out ?”
A man prayed the sinner’s prayer with her. It was like God’s voice speaking, telling her to return to Bolivia. She came back to Bolivia a changed woman. Now she serves God with all her heart and gives of
herself completely to a young people’s ministry.
Elisa’s husband had also been living an immoral life. His life was changed too when he came to know the Lord. He died five years ago but there is assurance that he now lives with God in heaven.
Elisa is now the right hand person of Arminda in Barrio Lindo, Catavi, near Llallagua, Bolivia where
Elisa Lopez working with youth
Eliseo Quispe (r) working with Bolivians
Santos Valero, Peru
IMM Mission StatementIMM’s purpose is to evangelize and minister to miners,
their families, and others in mining areas under God’s leading and in cooperation with
other evangelical ministries.
IMM - Board of Directors
Ben Wilson, Chairman / Howard Whitfield, Vice Chairman / Tom Gilliam, Treasurer / Stan Morton,
Secretary / Gary Bittner / Ed Johnson / Paul Liggitt
Stuart Burns General Secretary: 195 Summer Acres, Boone, NC 28607
For many months the IMM USA committee has been praying for the next step for reaching miners in the countries and areas it serves. Wait on The Lord for guidance was the word the committee had. With the return of our key committee members from their recent trip to Chile, Bolivia, and Peru....THE WAIT IS OVER. God laid out the next phase for the USA commit-tee by directing Ben Wilson, Tom Gilliam, and Stuart Burns to mine leaders, miners, and lay leaders on their latest trip. Strategic partners have been recognized in each region and they along with IMM USA are anx-ious to do more to advance the gospel. How wonder-
ful it was to see Evangelical Christian mine leadership forming associations of miners that are simply ask-ing for discipleship materi-als so that they can continue the more important work of saving miners’ souls. In these difficult econom-
ic times, missionary service has not ceased. In fact, it is probably more important than ever to strategically equip willing workers to minister to miners and their families. For those of us who can remember what it was like to live without hope, this call for support should stir our hearts. We are thankful for the contin-ued and faithful support of those who are regular giv-ers. However if IMM is to walk in obedience to His call of supporting existing leadership and to participate in the momentum that has already begun, we are com-pelled to be bold and ask for funds.
IMM USA NEEDS MONEY for: • Discipleship materials for the support of newly formed associations of miners. • Transportation costs for national area supervisors to be able to visit leaders for accountability and ministry. • Logistics and support for our stateside mission- ary, Stuart Burns, to enable him to continue spreading the word to new and existing partners about the new vision.
The world was riveted to the news as we watched the miraculous rescue of the Chilean miners. IMM had associates who were close to the site and participated in the effort to point the miners to the great Redeem-er in the process. Their lives were saved and perhaps some souls as well. It was not too long after the rescue though, that the news was filled with reports of miners being killed in other accidents. Lives are lost, and fam-ilies are broken. It happens in 3rd, 2nd, and 1st world countries on a regular ba-sis. I say this to increase your sense of urgency for support of the mission for IMM. As God grants IMM and its national mission-ary partners opportunity to invest in the lives of their fellow miners and their families, we are simply appealing for you to invest in God’s work to support them. They are digging deep in the earth to provide the metals we use every day to support our lifestyles. Can we dig deeper to provide for the things needed to save them from sure death? Paul and Barnabas in Acts:14 returned to Antioch from a missionary journey and stayed a long time with the brothers to recount how God had opened doors for the gospel. In the same way IMM USA has returned
from their missionary jour-ney and informed us of the open doors. Along with encouraging our hearts, I pray it will move us to give.
