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BCM News & Stories
Peru & Ecuador
It’s been an honor and an amazing opportunity to continue this year’s global tour, visiting BCM countries around the world, engaging in ministry, and meeting with key BCM team leaders. Traveling once again with Dr. Marty Windle, we were grateful to have our wives join us on this trip as we journeyed to South America and the countries of Peru and Ecuador. We witnessed firsthand what God is doing in these places, creating a profound personal connectedness to our BCM ministries in these countries while recognizing God’s hand going before us in each detail.
¡Bienvenido a Perú y Ecuador!
Peru & Ecuador
It’s been an honor and an amazing opportunity to continue this year’s global tour, visiting BCM countries around the world, engaging in ministry, and meeting with key BCM team leaders. Traveling once again with Dr. Marty Windle, we were grateful to have our wives join us on this trip as we journeyed to South America and the countries of Peru and Ecuador. We witnessed firsthand what God is doing in these places, creating a profound personal connectedness to our BCM ministries in these countries while recognizing God’s hand going before us in each detail.
¡Bienvenido a Perú y Ecuador!
Pennies for Peru...
Throughout our time in Peru, we had the opportunity to witness three different Pennies for Peru teams minister to children. These teams collaborate directly with churches to be their evangelistic outreach in the community. The local church provides the venue, date, and time… then our Pennies for Peru teams orchestrate the program, gospel presentation, and create connection to the local church for discipleship. We witnessed nearly 300 children participate in these three events, with at least half of these children choosing to follow Christ.
Iquitos...
During our time in Iquitos, an Island city of 500,000 people in the middle of the Amazon River, we observed God at work changing many lives. Unique to the Iquitos work, and like many of the works we saw in Sri Lanka, was a large portion of the work being accomplished by teenagers. It was humbling to see their passion, commitment, and profound impact on so many children in this great Amazon city.
Pastors Conference...
During our time in Peru and Ecuador we held three Pastoral Conferences, with the intent to invest in leaders, create partnership, and bless the kingdom in both countries. One conference was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador with the aim of simply creating awareness of BCM International and our resources in children’s ministry. The day before the conference we were able to present BCM International’s work live on HCJB 2 Radio, then give opportunity for our BCM Missionary, Jose Quezada, to invite local church and ministry leaders. We weren’t sure if any pastors or ministry leaders would come, but fully trusted God to start the ministry in Guayaquil according to His plan. How thrilling to have nearly 200 pastors and children’s ministry leaders come out to be a part of the evening, along with the Rector of the CMA Seminary who desires to have further conversation regarding partnership with BCM. Praise the Lord!
HCJB Radio...
During our time in both Guayaquil and Quito, Ecuador, we had the opportunity to be interviewed on HCJB 2 and HCJB radio stations. Originally there were two sessions scheduled, but in the end, we had engaged in seven interviews from various team members. The interviews varied in format with some being live and others being placed in podcast format, etc.
CMA Norte Allianz Church...
It’s difficult to capture with words the time spent with this church, their leaders and what God is doing through them in Quito, Ecuador. Our time began with a children’s ministry outreach by BCM International’s new Quito team. Nearly 300 children came out for the program! A parenting seminar panel discussion was offered which parents could attend while their children participated upstairs. Nearly 200 parents stayed for this discussion which included their senior pastor, Dr. Marty and Jeannette, Carlos Odicio, and my wife, Naomi, and me. The following morning, I was to speak at their three Sunday services one after the other. Long story short, nearly 2,000 people came to the three services, with 39 individuals being baptized and another nearly 200 adults making decisions to follow Christ. Our team was simply honored to be a part of what God is doing!
Meet Our New Ecuador Team...
Throughout this journey we had amazing times with our Peru and Ecuador BCM teams. We had the opportunity to bless our Ecuador team through meeting over lunch in Quito. Our Ecuador team is made up of Jose Quezada serving in Guayaquil, and Juan Fer and Rita Leon serving in Quito. As you think of our new team, please pray for support raising, strength and wisdom to know where to place time and energy in these early days of this upstart ministry.
Deeply grateful for each of you, your prayers, and partnership in this significant work,
Dr. Rick Rhoads
P.S. As we dedicate ourselves to the mission of Reaching Children and Strengthening the Church, we are seeing God move in mighty ways! BCM’s work toward completing the Great Commission task in places like Peru and Ecuador are possible because people like you give. Your prayer and financial support are crucial to our ongoing investment in the next generation of leaders in the church. As you reflect on what God is doing around the world through BCM International, please consider supporting our work in one or more of the following areas:
Global Ministry Fund
Support the BCM global fund, making disciples of all age groups for the Lord Jesus Christ.
BCM Ecuador Fund
Help this new work get a solid start as BCM International becomes an official ministry in Ecuador.
Pennies For Peru
Help this outreach have greater impact with portable sound systems for the ministries in Lima and Iquitos.