A letter from Jacob Goad in Peru
October 14, 2008
Partners maintain unity and diversity in Peru
Dear Friends,
I recently went to one of our partner church's monthly conventions that featured dances, theatrical productions, creative power points, Christian rock bands, and elderly pastors giving out very good advice for free. After I interviewed several people, there's no doubt that the theme of today's message is Church unity.
At the convention in Comas of the Peruvian Evangelical Church (“Evangelical” means Protestant in Peruvian culture), I conducted several interviews with church leaders, young and old, that proved to be enlightening. Comas is the district of Lima that borders the district where Paul Farmer and Jaime Bayona of Partners in Health did their groundbreaking research on drug-resistant tuberculosis.
"What I like most about our presbytery," said Pastor Arnaldo Murga, "is the fellowship." "There is no competition between our churches and our church leaders. There's no politics, etc. We work together in a united fashion, like you saw at the convention today, where every church pitches in. The Lord keeps us united like this."
Eduardo Arboccó, president of the presbytery, says that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can learn a lot from the unity and diversity of the IEP Church in Comas. He talked about the different churches in his presbytery, ranging from churches that were more spiritually focused, to churches whose foundational roots were in acting out the gospel in the community through social advocacy.
Diana Bela, who is in charge of the women's ministry in their Presbytery said, "We have groups of women that always meet to share in fellowship. We are patient with one another. We put up with one another in love. All of this is for the Lord. I hope that this is the way things are back where you come from."
The monthly convention has become the bread and butter of Christian unity in the Comas Presbytery. Pastor Juan Ambrosio said, "I am very thankful to belong to my Presbytery because there is a great fellowship among all of us. During the conventions we are especially happy because we know we were going to see each other again. We can share work experiences, and even family news. This presbytery promotes that. Our churches aren't just thinking about what we can do within our walls, but we are also thinking about what we can do in our community. This is very motivating and challenging at the same time."
A youth leader in Comas, Sherly Echevarria, told me how some churches in Comas were founded on their outreach to communities who had come from the highlands of Peru during the era of internal violence between the Shining Path and the Peruvian military forces. Churches in Comas opened up soup kitchens during this time to squatters who fled from the hinterlands.
"You can change a lot of things in the presbytery, but the one thing that no one messes with is the convention," said Pastor Arboccó.
Abdias Echevarria, president of the Joining Hands network and member of the IEP church in Comas, will be visiting Saint Louis in November to participate in the Peru Mission Network Conference. The Presbyterian Church cordially welcomes him.
Peace,
Jacob
The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 275
