Missions / Grace Missionaries / Peru

Peru

History of Our Mission in Peru

In 1997, three Pastors from Grace Church were invited to travel to the Amazon Jungle in Northeastern Peru. Pastor Jim Malouff, Former Pastor Dan Smith and Lead Pastor Rick Long traveled 6500 miles covering three, somewhat hazardous legs of this trip. They lived in a remote village of the Chayahuita Indians for nearly a month. These pastors connected with the Indians as well as a tremendous ministry that began it’s work in 1983 among this tribe, Amazon Focus (founders Paul and Robin Johnson). After seeking God’s will through prayer and sharing the vision to make a difference in the Amazon, the entire Pastoral board, mission team and church body decided to pour 90% of our world mission support into reaching the 15, 000 or so unreached Chayahuita and surrounding tribes with the good news of the gospel.

Since 1997, 10 short term trips have taken place to Peru. Led by Ron Dalton and Pastors Rick Long and Jim Malouff. These trips have been ministry and work related. We have built churches, laid cement floors, taught biblical conferences, laid foundational steps for our future Bible college and care center. As a church, we purchased a 5 acre piece of property with a house and garage in Yurimaguas, which is a jungle city at the end of the Pananapora River. This is a central frequented place for the Indians to trade their crafts, sell their produce grown in their villages, and purchase supplies, if they are able to afford any.

In September of 2003 we were able to send our first full time missionaries to live on our property in Yurimaguas. Ken and Terri Van Brunt have made enormous inroads with the Indians as well as the nationals. Our mission to Peru has taken giant steps forward due to this major step of faith.

The work of Paul and Robin Johnson combined with their unparalleled passion for South America has sparked a work out of Grace Church that is making an eternal difference.

In the last seven years, thousands of lives have been impacted in the Amazon, as well as nearly 1000 people from Grace who have participated in a short term trip. It is our desire to continue God’s work and reach every Chayahuita with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Please pray with us as we embark on new adventures in advancing the Kingdom of God.

For more information on Peru or a short term trip click here.

Grace Church is currently involved with the Chayuita Tribe who live in the Amazon rainforest. Every January a team from Grace along with our resident missionaries in Peru help train the tribe in Bible teaching and pastoral education. Along the with Bible training, we are accompanied by a medical team that set up a short term clinic attending to the needs of the people. In the past, we have done building teams and hope to make at least three trips a year to visit and support the Lord’s work among the tribal people of Peru.

In December, 2004 a team of three members from Grace Church will be departing again to the jungle for several weeks to do Bible teaching, medical assistance and conduct soccer clinics for the children.

Grace Church has been developing a thriving global mission ministry for the past 10 years. Our most concentrated efforts have been pin pointed towards South America, particularly Peru.