Birthplace: My name is Christian Andia Otazu; my parents were Ricardo Ignacio Andia Velasquez and Rosa Naty Otazu Llerena. I have two siblings: Sandra (18) and Ricardo (12). I was born on November 10th, 1981 in the district of Islay, province of Mollendo , department of Arequipa Peru . 

How I came to know Christ: I come from a Catholic family; I went to masses, offering things for saints' parties, etc. By obligation I went every week to mass, and the church was next to my house, because my family had donated the land to build statues of different saints and every year there was a party for all the neighborhood, using fireworks, musicians, and a night program. We were always in these activities. In my home there was no communication Al though my father was so devout, he was enslaved to alcohol, and made us kids witness violence. This problem made me look for a possible solution, telling my mother that we were going to loose the family union, she didn't drink, though she did not have control over her anger, and hit my father because she did not accept explications. Even if I was catholic, I doubted because of watching people kneel down in front of mute, fragile and cast statues without hair or clothes. My mom punished me because of it; But I knew everything they did was absurd. I would argue with priests about my doubts, and they did not give me any real answers. When I was 18 on a Sunday afternoon out getting some groceries, I walked by a building and heard guitar music being played. Because I wanted to be a musician, I asked if they could teach me to play rock music; they laughed and told me they only could teach me to play the guitar to worship God. I asked them about their saints, and they explained about it using the Bible, though I did not believe them. I later asked a priest who told me “those religions are only interested in making money”. I decided to go and keep asking questions. They dared me to trust in the Bible instead of what men could say. Step by step I was waking up from the darkness of an empty and shallow religion to the true life in Christ. 

How Christ has changed my Life: Once I got saved I felt like an alien trying to do what I used to do, like going to parties, or hang with worldly friends. So I had to break my relationships with them. My family thought it was an insult for them that I would go to another church that was not catholic. Some of my cousins wanted to reject me for good, seeing my change. So far my family is not saved, in spite of I that I witness to them often. They just don't want to hear me. I don't live with them, but I visit 2 times a year, telling them about salvation and God's grace, so far without any result, but I'm still praying for them. 

My Calling into the Ministry: After one year after being saved I was called to the city of Mollendo , after thinking about God's justice, and how that He will ask me for my family and friends, and the big need of my home city. At that time I gave my first step of faith with the help of my pastor, Hector del Carpio, who told me about the Seminary. I learned more after I won a trip to a Camp. I heard about the need for missionaries, pastors and workers for God's work, it was very similar to the great need for World Evangelism. I decided to study in the Seminary, so I could plant churches everywhere for the people blinded by false beliefs. My family did not agree with me, they wanted me to go back to my former dreams, to study a career and have an economic stability. I struggled, thinking how I was going to pay for the seminary and if I was making the wrong decision. However on 2001, I joined God's men, I've been here for three years and so far the Seminary has being a place for training, a delightful place to learn and get ready. The phrase I learned here and love to say is “I do not know how to do anything but God's work “; it is my life, my world and my passion. The Seminary has made me grow up in a way nothing else would ever do. I am telling youth and adults about God's will for them. It is great, and I feel very lucky, but also with such a burden in my heart for the world that does not know Him, Jesus, who made me free.