The need in the USA: A growing mission field

Hello brothers and sisters, I want to state the purpose of this blog before I go on to the subject. I have often heard American missionaries state the needs of other countries and even mine, and I want to clarify that many of these things were true. But this time I want to state the needs of the mission field in the states. I don't want to unnecessarily offend you, but if the Lord uses this post to convict you of something so that you may be molded into the image of Christ, then praise the Lord.

Most of the things that you are going to read come from my job as an interpreter, me living in the USA for 2 years, and my interactions with Americans. I want to start with my admiration for the Christian heritage that is in the states. There are so many good theological books, seminaries, good churches, and preachers. God has blessed you, being a wealthy country and known for its dedication to serving justice.

My concern is this, that even though the USA has all this rich theological heritage in books, teachers, preachers and churches, it is going downhill theologically, affecting the view of serious matters such as salvation, evangelism, and the preaching of the truth. I will explain more in detail but I want to say this: 1. IM NOT SAYING THIS IS THE REALITY OF ALL THE CHURCHES. IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE REALITY OF YOURS, BUT IM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS MAY BE AROUND YOU.

Salvation: we live in a time where you are applauded for assuming salvation in people but you are persecuted by questioning someone's salvation. And we have forgotten the scriptures' parameters for both: fruits of salvation (Matt 7:16-20). It seems that someone's profession is more important that the ongoing fruit in their lives, and you can't be proud enough to tell them that they may be wrong. To deceitfully assume salvation in someone who clearly doesn't bear fruit only proves coldness and no love for a person made in the image of God. The reality of salvation must be determined by the new life not by the profession of faith. We need to study, learn, pray, and go to the scriptures to identify the marks of conduct and the evidences of a converted soul. We need to stop making affirmations based on emotions and bad theology. If we are dealing with a soul, we must be careful enough to search the word of God and not rely our assumptions. The question is not have you made a profession of faith like the sinner's prayer or raised your hand ? The question is have you become a new person? Have you experienced the new birth? Because unless you are born again you won't see the kingdom of God. (John 3) May our view of salvation be based on the word of God and not just the profession of sinful man. May we love souls in such a way that we don't hurry to affirm someone's salvation but cautiously encourage them to pursue God.

Evangelism: a distorted view of salvation brings a wrong emphasis in evangelism. I know that culturally, Americans are task oriented and that's ok, but my concern is that you are taking this mentality to evangelism and in the with men's souls. If evangelism is a task you want to get done, then you will want to get the job (gospel presentation) done as fast as possible and professions of faith will be the fulfillment of your work. Is that not the logical conclusion of exalting professions over fruit? We need to read the book of Acts to see how our brothers and sisters had a passion to share the Gospel in a way that would be understood by their hearers. Most of our contemporary zeal for evangelism rejoices in numbers rather than love for God and people. If we have a certain number of professions then has our evangelism been successful? NO, evangelism isn't successful because people raise their hands or make commitments to God. Evangelism is successful when we are faithful to the scriptures in preaching the deadliness of sin, the attributes of God, and the nature of Christ in such way that people feel as Martin Luther described, "They end repenting of their sins and trusting Christ or they end hating your preaching because it is so offensive to their love for sin." A passion for evangelism and a clear exposition of this essential truth comes from a love for God and a diligent study of the

scriptures concerning this matter. We need to go back to biblical preaching, not just what fits people but what glorifies God. 1 Timothy 4:16 “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”Lets take with contentment the exhortation to preach with carefulness the word of God, and this will be done as we examine and discern what the scriptures say about God and man.

Preaching the truth: rightly a preacher said: “We hypocritically applaud men for seeking the truth but call for the public execution of anyone arrogant enough to believe he has found it.”I really believe that despite America's rich theological heritage, zeal for truth has become just zeal. To actually speak the truth would mean that I'm pridefully saying that something is right. To say that someone is wrong while expounding the truth is unacceptable, because to preach the truth in love in our contemporary minds means to not preach the truth at all. Intelligent exposition of a verse with an explanation of a word in Greek (I have nothing against explaining the Greek, but sometimes preachers are caught in a word in Greek to explain the context but there is nothing more) will be applauded because it's smart, even if doesn't confront our lives or help us to live more like Christ. As long it's intelligent, we like it because that's why we tithe. Don't forget the jokes because that's what most people remember from the sermon.

Sound doctrinal preaching is appreciated by some but despised by many. You will hear people disagreeing with sermons not because they weren't true but because they didn't like it. Greek and cute jokes aside, how much do we care that the sermons be doctrinally sound because it's the word of God, even if it offends us.The person who loves you will tell you the truth. Why? Because Christ did. Let me ask you a question. Do you want your pastor to entertain you or be faithful to God? Why do I ask this? Because the issue with preaching mostly revolves around the pressure of what the audience wants. And if the majority wants entertainment over biblical teaching then the majority dictates what the church will be like, even if there is a minority that truly wants to know God. To diminish or undermine faithful exposition of the word of God is to not take into serious consideration what God has already said about eternity. Shall we take the word of God and do what we want and not consider all its content? Sound preaching will be reborn when we lay self preservation and peer pressure aside and we take seriously the high calling of being the voice of the Lord to His people.

STOP HERE: I bet you are disagreeing with me right now, and questioning me but ask yourself this... Is this truth or not? I don't share this because I think I'm better, I share this because I see people falling into error and I love them. I just can't think to myself and remain silent because of what you think about me after reading this... because what concerns me the most is what you may think about God. I think I have a call to do ministry because of the reasons explained in this post, which I expect God to confirm.

You may say:

But we have a lot of churches here: yes, but that should mean something? Fruit as I said before is the indicator of a saved soul. Your country is the greatest exporter of pornography to the world and your only argument is we have a lot of churches? If a local church hasn't impacted the people around, then it has become worldly.

But people have already heard this and have rejected it.

Isaiah was called to people who had ears but didn't hear. I can't give up a call because of people's responses. If I do then I wouldn't be faithful to what God has called me to do but people would determine my office and not God.

You say,

But your people in Peru need to hear the gospel: yes and there is a lot of need, and I'm working here right now. My people are influenced by a lot of Christianity that comes from your country....which most times looks like what I've mentioned above. Do you really want that kind of Christianity to grow?

I always heard people talking about going out and reaching people but when it comes to the matter of illegal immigrants I just hear Christians say lets kick them out and you are in your right. Don't take me wrong, they have broken your law, but rethink that and what if you reach them with the Gospel. The fact that they are illegal doesn't give you the right to denigrate their need for Christ. They are internationals in your country. I know you think they are taking your money and probably they are....but really? That's all you care about? May your law be fulfilled but let your priority be your call as a believer to love and share the Love of Christ with others.

PLEASE, church in the USA awake!!! Please brothers and sisters lets see before us the great privilege we have of being stewards of the Gospel. I love you, I really do and I know this will cost me some friendships and will bring critiques, but if this is the price I have to pay to be like my Savior then let it be done. Y’all are in my prayers as well your country.

Edher's update

-- hello brethren

i write to you, so i can give you all an update of what is going on with me personally. The Lord has been gracious in His dealing with me, i dont have a lot of experience in the field, but i dont think is about experience but abut loving God in such way that is evident by a love for people. 

The field is teaching me a lot of how to be humble, loving and patience, God is working i my character as He is using me to work in some of other people. He also is working in the life of my family. my mom, my sister and i went to church yesterday and that was really encouraging. i really loved. im on a break right now until tonight because of my sister's birthday, it was the first time that i was able to send a birthday with her. 

spiritual warfare is more real being in the field, but i think it is a great reminder that we dont fight in our strength but in Gods. The people i interact with, doesnt need my eloquence or my skill to share the Gospel, they need the Gospel, i must be clear, concise and biblical. the enemy can deviate us to look at us too much and compliment ourselves too much, but what the worth of your own compliment if you may fail yourself tomorrow. we must trust that God will not ourselves. Love for people will lead  to wait for  the fruit of the Spirit manifest itself instead of rushing for results.

pray requests:

Character: Pray that the Lord keeps molding me into a man who clearly loves him, and be encourage by His sufficiency. Pray that i can keep myself faithful to God in character and preaching. and that i can be bold and loving in my speech always.

Family: pray for my aunt myrian who is dying of cancer and this situation has move my mother to pray with me once in a while, pray that this situation leads the members of my family closer to Christ. My brother is moving more towards biblical matters in our conversations so pray that this be true in his life. pray for the salvation of all of them.

Wisdom: i need to make some decisions which will determine my future in some sense, and i need wisdom to do what the Lord pleases to be good in his sight

books: okay i have physical books and i need them but i cant carry them everywhere i go because of the weight and as well the extra weight cost on the trips. so i need to find them, on kindle or Ibooks in my ipad so i can take them everywhere. so if you interested you can donate so i can purshase them on itunes or kindle

preaching: im being as basic as possible in my preaching but pray that any kind of bible subject or matter always lead to the Gospel and specifically salvation by faith alone, they are really big into works here.

Finances: pray that the Lord provide to continue working as a minister, my budget covers me until oct 6 which is the end of my first term in chacapampa. whether i go back to chacapampa or somewhere else pray that the Lord provides so i can keep doing missions.

Puerto/ Cuzco project: i plan to travel next year to puerto and be there for a while, possibly covering a pastor in the jungle while he goes to vacations and helping him while he is back until april and in between go to cuzco. this is a bigger project because of its more expensive but pray that the Lord provides for this. God has already provided for a ticket to go i just need the rest, keep praying with me for this

if you interested to help me financially whether is a one time gift or a monthly support first pray and then you can help me through

TD Bank , western union or The great Comission

feel free to answer this email and ask any kind of question you may have. 

Love you all

Edher

Update about Chacapampa

Chacapampa update 

Hey brethren

This is the update about the work I'm doing in the mountains. There is a lot going on so I will list it and detail it as pray request. Please feel free to ask any question about it. Just letting you know this is no my personal update that will be posted tomorrow. Is just what is going on in the field.

Here we go:

Rita and Espiritu: this is the couple that we've been trying to disciple, they seem to still having problems, as I said before there is things that we can't deal with, there must be a married couple coming to treat these with them. The other day we made them talk so they can pray for each other, but they end talking and arguing the whole time. Later on we talk we both of them and confront them about their issue to understanding each other, Espiritu works outside and he doesn't have a settled schedule, he sleeps from 4 to 7 hours daily (he said mostly 6). The thing is Rita asks him to do stuffs while he is at home and most times what he wants is to rest, but she is so demanding about it and he gets mad because she says but you only been driving, sitting all time, as if no stress, concentration and pressure were involved. And Rita as well works hard raising and making sure 4 kids go to school, eat, do homework, is as well other kind of stress. We talked the, about starting by understanding each other and then pray for each other and in that way try to seek restoration in the Lord. The thing Espiritu prayed for her and Rita prayed for herself, she seems to be resentful about what he did to her, I know I can't understand her but I'm trying to emphasize forgiveness in my conversations. I know she has been mistreated by him a lot before, but please pray that she stops victimizing herself bringing things of the past to justify her lack of forgiveness it as well restoration for her wounds. Also for Espiritu, he seems to be changing but he feels frustration to not be able to deal with things in a different way only because he hasn't be taught. Please for humbleness of heart on him and for wisdom about how to deal with him and he can be patient in how brings forgiveness to his family. We go to his house Tuesday and Fridays.

2. Saturday bible studies: I'm having a bible study with 2 young man on Saturday called Jonathan and Franz, they professed salvation not long ago. So cool on the 2nd bible study we had, I asked Franz what was the most cool or important teaching we have been through so far and he mention the study we had in Matthew 7 have made him think a lot, about going through the narrow gate and as well walking through the narrow path and the fact that every good tree bears good fruit and the impossibility that a good tree bears bad fruit, it seemed that has thought a lot about it which was really cool. Now we are going through the book of 1 John, we normally have a bible study, then cook and have dinner while watching a movie. For this coming Saturday a guy name aldrin will possibly join us, his grandfather is a believer and I look up to this kid because of his maturity and determination.

3. John: he is a kid from a town 90 minutes away by walking named Antacocha. He is starting to talk to us a lot and he may also come on Saturdays and spend the day with us for the bible study, he hasn't confirm yet. Pray that he can confirm us about it.

4. Mission House and Mr. Gilda: the owner of the house wants us to leave and we need to move soon. She is being really problematic but I always try talk to her and be nice and polite to her and her daughter. Is hard because she is really conflictive. We may moving to the house of a lady named Nicolas, she is moving out of the town towards the end of the year because her daughter is going to college. They are a really dear family.

5. Gospel impact: I just came in a time where catholic authorities were demanding to the people go through their rituals to "get to heaven". The thing is they have been exposed to bible teaching because Liz (another Peruvian missionary) and different mission teams that have come from the states and people are wondering sometimes if what they do is right or not. I'm been able to share directly the Gospel with others and has been amazing, some of them asked many questions about religions, others about the evidence that the bible is true, but all of them have been fruitful. There is openness to the Gospel but pray that they be willing to leave their tradition because of Christ. 

6. Helping them on the field has helped me to see that they value hard work and as well has helped to gain the respect of many. Adult men are often talking to me about different matters but I always try to lead the conversation to the Gospel somehow. Also pray that we get the chance to share the gospel with the catholic authorities, they need Christ as well.

7. Pray for Liz and Henry as they are in Chacapampa, pray for their lives and health. They are so encouraging to me and so useful for the ministry, I learn a lot from them.

Thanks for your prayers