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You are here: Home / Missions / Crisis in Peru

Crisis in Peru

June 2, 2009 By Austin Gardner 20 Comments

It is hard to know where to begin but there are great challenges in Arequipa, Peru right now!

A member of the Faith Baptist Church that we all loved and trusted ran a money changing business (money exchanger), a karate school, and other things as well. He was loved and respected.

Sadly I report to you today that this man has pulled the Bernie Madoff scheme. It was a ponzi scheme. According to Peruvian national newspapers he has swindled many people out of over $3,000,000.

This man swindled the church out of its building fund. He took advantage of a lot of innocent people.

But what is causing the biggest crisis right now is that he tried to involve the church and Chris Gardner as though they were part of the scheme. It was part of his front. He used them to appear trustworthy.

Of course neither the church nor Chris had anything to do with the stealing or the scheme. This “brother” has disappeared taking whatever money he had left over. The church, Chris, and many others were the victims of this elaborate and wicked scheme.

Now many people are trying to accuse the church and especially Chris since he is the pastor of the church out of which the schemer operated.

Chris needs your prayers right now. There have been threats made on his life. He is having to spend a lot of money with lawyers to prove his case and to make it clear that neither he nor the church were involved.

Pray that God will provide the funds to cover the legal needs. Pray that God will protect Chris and his family. Pray for all those whose feeling have been hurt.

Several of the pastors in Arequipa met with Chris yesterday and told him that they remembered when we had the last big attack against the team and ministry in Arequipa. They remember the attack on the Bible college when they stole our land.

After that attack God came forward and moved the ministry forward by great leaps and bounds. They know that they are under attack from Satan. They are standing with Chris and looking forward to seeing God do again what He did before and take the ministry forward like never before.

Will you please pray? By the way, Chris is extremely busy with all of this, therefore he will be unable to talk with you for a while. Feel free to post your questions or comments here and I will try to answer you.

Thank you for all you do!

Filed Under: Missions

Comments

  1. Mark Tolson says

    June 2, 2009 at 11:07 am

    We are praying for Chris and the whole team in Peru!

    Reply
  2. Jason Holt says

    June 2, 2009 at 11:07 am

    We’re praying for Chris and the others in Arequipa! Let us know if there is anything we can do…

    Jason

    Reply
  3. Trent Cornwell says

    June 2, 2009 at 11:10 am

    We will be praying for Chris and his family as he has many hard decision to make. We want him to know we love him and will stand beside him through all of this. This is a horrible situation to be in.. but I do not know of a person in the world I would have more confidence in to handle it. I am confident he will turn to the Lord take him through this valley onto the next mountain top.

    Reply
  4. Chris Waye says

    June 2, 2009 at 11:18 am

    We will be praying and trusting God with you through all of this. Let us be reminded of Joseph and the false accusations he endured, but God meant it unto good and brought him through it! What a God we serve!

    Reply
  5. Steve says

    June 2, 2009 at 11:39 am

    praying for you and protection for family.

    Reply
  6. Chris says

    June 2, 2009 at 11:52 am

    Unfortunately, this is not the first I have heard of a church member using missionaries in such a dishonest manner. Friends that operate a ministry in Peru experienced something similar several years ago.

    My family will be praying for Chris and all involved with this situation. We will also be praying for the man who committed these crimes, asking God to turn him from his sin to Christ.

    Chris
    Fairbanks, AK

    Reply
  7. Jeff Bush says

    June 2, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    We are praying brother and have thought of you frequently in the last couple of days.

    here to serve,
    Jeff

    Reply
  8. Jeff Bush says

    June 2, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    Sorry to add… but I forgot to mention that we will be praying for your family too. Many times it can be harder on the wife and family, so we will remember them.

    Here to Serve,
    Jeff

    Reply
  9. Tim Henderson says

    June 2, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    We are sadden deeply by this news. Our fervent prayers for Chris, his family and those affected will be offered regularly.God is ABLE and FAITHFUL! HE will show Himself mighty on their behalf!!!
    If you read this post, do as I am and send this info to as many prayer warriors as possible!
    God bless you Chris Gardner family. We love you guys!

    Reply
  10. Edson says

    June 2, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    We, people who know the truth are praying for Bro. Chris and his family in these hard times. We just know God will overcome this battle as He did in the past. All my support goes for Bro. Chris and his family. There is nothing to be afraid of. God is in control. 2 Chronicles 20 gives a great story to learn from. Amen!!!

    Reply
  11. David Gates says

    June 2, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    I know in the midst of adversity, God is still on the throne. He says He supplies our needs. He is our high tower and fortress. He is our wisdom and strength. I pray He will be all this and more to you and your family Chris. We will be praying for you, your family, and the whole situation. Please pass on any way we can be a help if there is any. God Bless 2 Cor 1:3-6

    Reply
  12. Bro. Wayne says

    June 2, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    I will be praying with all our church. I know Chris and Andria are devastated and my prayer is that God will give them His Grace and that this will fall out rather for the ‘furtherance of the Gospel’. If I can help in any way just let me know, We love y’all!
    We will be praying for their protection.

    Bro. Wayne
    Acts 20:24

    Reply
  13. Bernella says

    June 2, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    Please know I am praying for the entire team in Peru. How sad!!!! I am so very sorry!!!! Satan always attacks where God is moving the most! But we have to remember that God is in control!!!

    Reply
  14. Andrew Pearson says

    June 2, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    Praying for sure, we all know how it feels to be betrayed and how it feels to be swindled in some way and this is that x1000. Stick with it bro, you got more going for you than against you.

    Reply
  15. David Fenley says

    June 2, 2009 at 5:17 pm

    Anita and I are praying for the ministry in Peru, Chris and his family, for Faith Baptist Church family, and for all involved to see how satan will use anyone he can to cause trouble for God’s children. Praise the Lord none of this came as a surprise to God who knows all things.

    Reply
  16. Ray Warren says

    June 2, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    My friend I will be praying for you. God is still great and God is still good.

    Reply
  17. Dwayne says

    June 2, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    I live in a very corrupt country and similar things have happend here with the steeling of land and other things. One man stole the building fund of a church my Father-in Law started and it took awhile for the church and my Father-in-law to get over it. God has a way of using Pharoah for his glory. I am sorry to hear that it happend. I will pray for Chris’ family, and the church. Wives see things in the ministry that is hard to take. I am glad to know that God doesn’t depend on us to solve our problems!

    Dwayne

    Reply
  18. [email protected] says

    June 3, 2009 at 6:03 am

    Thank all of you for being so kind to comment here. I pray that your comments will be a blessing to Chris and Andria, the pastors, and church people.

    Reply
  19. Stephen & April says

    June 3, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    We are praying for you and all who are involved. We will do anything we can to help. Please know that we are beside him and will back him up in any way possible.

    Stephen & April

    Andria…. I am praying for you my friend. Love you, April

    Reply
  20. Gonzalo says

    June 3, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    Saludos Hno.Guillermo es muy triste lo que esta pasando pero tengan por por seguro que estaremos orando con mi familia por Chris y el ministerio en Arequipa.

    Reply

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