Peru Mission Project

In an article published in the January, 2008 issue of The Christian Index, FBCLS members Dale Pickens and Hugh Grimmer were spotlighted for their work with our Peru mission project.

The article begins by stating: It was less than a year after meeting international missionaries Mike and Kathy Weaver that Dale Pickens found himself ministering in Peru. Now, he and other members of First Baptist Lithia Springs regularly travel there to train others in spreading the gospel.

The article continues: First Baptist’s accelerated pace in establishing it’s relationship with the South American country is typical of REAP (Rapid Entry Advanced Plan), a church planting strategy of the International Mission Board. The objective of this strategy is to see indigenous, self-sufficient church planting churches established among a particular micro-people group or population segment.

In 2005, six members of First Baptist visited villages outside of Lampa. In Huayta Central village, Hugh Grimmer gathered some young children and a few adults and began telling Bible stories. After 10 or 15 minutes, Grimmer asked if they had any questions. One man asked, “How can we have a church built here?”

“The church is not a building, but a group of people in Bible study,” Grimmer explained. The man confirmed that was what he wanted. The group was ready to leave so Grimmer told the man he would return to share about the church later.

For Hugh Grimmer the highlight of his fifth trip was the baptism of Edgardo Mendez. (Refer to image above) “We have been praying for this for a couple of years,” says Grimmer.

“These people are receptive to the gospel. They need help in establishing Bible studies and churches. I believe the Journeymen can be a great help in establishing Bible studies in the villages and helping lead the Lampa Community Church. But we need more stateside churches to become involved.”

The entire Christian Index article can be found here.