Last night, December 3, 2010 the Seminario Bautista Macedonia (Peru Bible College) had its annual graduation. It is a major event in the ministry calendar in Peru and a very exciting time to be here. It is great to see the pastoral team and catch up with them on things happening in their churches. It is also exciting to see the passing of the sword and the medallion. Each year the top man and lady student receive special honors not just for grades, but for character and for their demonstration of a Christ like life and a love for the Savior. The man receives the sword, and the lady receives the medallion. It is an honor and a very exciting part of the ceremony. The bible college is central and critical to the ministry in South America and around the world. Bible college graduates are working in other Spanish speaking countries as well as Muslim countries. This work is worthy of your prayers and support, but also very deserving of a visit. You can contact Mark Coffey for information on how you can visit.
Sandy and I always enjoy staying with Jeremy and Rebecca Hall. They are missionaries here in Peru and are carrying a big load, as well as raising three very young children. Jeremy is pastoring Omega Baptist Church while Chris is in the States, as well as managing the complexities of the bible college and the other ministries here in Peru. Chris and Andria Gardner and their family are in the states for their birth of their son, Joshua, as well as to raise some much needed additional support. They would appreciate your prayers for their family and for Joshua who will have some real challenges in his first couple years of life. Chris and Andria have been a testimony of the faithfulness of God in good times and in tough times. Chris gave me the privilege of speaking at the graduation last night. It was an honor for me that I certainly did not deserve. Please be in prayer for the ministries in Peru and the Peru Bible College. We also got the chance to check in on Micah Rastelli who is finishing up his Our Generation Training Center studies in Peru until May of 2011. He is living with the men at the Bible College and is in language school. He is blogging regularly about his time here in Peru. You can see his blog at www.perumicah.wordpress.com.