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1974 – 1977 When we celebrate such a special anniversary, we reminisce. We try to answer the question that many who know the work of AMEN ask: And how did it all start?
We go back to the Peru of 1977, year of military government and a gray period in the society. Nevertheless, within the evangelical community arose the figure of a youth, Obed Alvarez, regional and national director of the Methodist Youth in Peru, six hundred believers, mostly university students. In addition, he directed a leadership team of 25 youth from different churches. All of them came from Christian homes and Christian schools.
The unity of the group began to develop in 1974, the date when they decided to meet every Monday to pray. The place they chose was a store where electrical appliances were sold between Alfonso Ugarte and Bolivia, two main boulevards en Central Lima.
In this intense search for the Lord, which lasted three years, day-long fasts, prayer vigils, and evangelistic campaigns in parks and plazas were held, especially in Plaza San Martin and University Park. Having established these basic disciplines, there was a great possibility that their projects would continue and that the Almighty would guide them.
Next to the spiritual aspect and the leadership of Brother Obed, it is worth noting that they all had in common an intense desire to save lost souls. That is how the new mission structure, AMEN (Evangelical Missionary Association to the Nations), originated and was designed. Their first activities took place in Lima. As they, themselves say: “We had to preach in season and out of season.” They recognized the value of music and theater in spreading the Gospel in streets and on public transportation. This ministry was called Kerygma Theater.
The activities were in response to the Great Commission and they settled upon five goals that they proposed to achieve BY FAITH, which for the skeptics of their time sounded unbelievable:
That was not to say that they were not committed to the people of Peru. The vision was that the leaders would be the ones who would open bases in the great urban sectors of the world. The group initiated its first missionary trip to Uripa, a beautiful, peaceful town in the Peruvian Andes. During the trip they also passed through Chincheros and Andahuaylas. Afterwards they went farther north to Trujillo, Amazonas, San Martin, Huancayo, and south to Arequipa.
The First Efforts
In the beginning, all had to pay the cost: sometimes the loss of a boyfriend or girlfriend who did not share the call. One of the saddest things that happened occurred in February of 1977, when Milciades Montenegro drowned in a river in Chulucanas, while guiding a team on a mission trip. A great uncertainty arose in many hearts, but reassurance came from the words of Jesus, “If a grain of wheat does not fall to the ground and die, it will not produce much fruit.” Meche Alvarado believes that their sadness was converted into a powerful force to carry the Gospel even farther beyond.
Enthusiasm was revived, new ideas were brought forth, and God began to bless. They had to organize. “From the beginning we had the mentality of a business. We had to have an office from which to function in the Center of Lima,” summarizes Bro. Obed. The Association adopted the system of auto-financing; every missionary would be responsible for his own economic support. This would permit spontaneity in projects without having to pay salaries to the missionaries, except to the administrators. The money that came in was destined to plant churches. This new structure created an acceptable place where brothers and sisters of different denominations and cultures could integrate into the organization and stay with it over the years.
They reflected over the necessity for all the volunteers to prepare themselves theologically in the area of missions. But where could they prepare? The Evangelical Seminary of Lima admitted it was inadequate, so they created EMLA, the Missiological School of Latin America. The first graduating class, “Oswald Smith,” finished their studies in 1982. The graduation took place in the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Lince. They reached this landmark by the Grace of God. The School was sometimes held in the rooms of different churches, because it had outgrown the Mission House in Magdalena del Mar, where the school was formerly held.
The difficulties didn't reduce their efforts. They needed a larger, more modern place. One night in prayer it was suggested to raise funds for this purpose. “We gave thanks to God for the first 25 soles that we collected.” The girls, with Gina's guidance, did fund-raising activities; all of them were committed to the project.... and a miracle took place. They made the Mission House grow into a 5-story building with classrooms and dormitories. The building is called the Center for World Missions and houses administrative offices, the Missiological School of Latin America (EMLA), and the Latin American office of the TWMA, the Third World Mission Association. At the same time the Restaurant Kerygma functions as an alternative for trying national or international food and is located across from Kennedy Park in Miraflores.
From Talent to Ministry
Youth is always valued as a source of strength and power. For this reason the Association shelters and develops the diverse talents of those associated with it to convert them into missionary ministries. Kerygma Canta, a musical group that uses typical instruments has been faithful to the missionary vision and will soon celebrate 25 years of ministry. What Christian family in Peru can say that it has never heard, “El Arbolito” or “Psalm 8”, two of their best-known compositions?
The inspiration God gave these musicians came from the experience of living in towns in the Andes Mountains and the jungles of Peru. Today other groups, affiliated with Kerygma Canta, function simultaneously in other cities outside of Peru under the covering of the Association.
The ministry directed at children provides evangelistic campaigns, puppets and clowns for children's parties, and spots for radio and television. In Trujillo a graduate of the EMLA has initiated a School of Missions for children. Others have developed social work with children both here in Peru and beyond.
Gradually, an office has been equipped with the most sophisticated computers of our generation to create and produce graphic material and edit missiology books.
Sowing and Reaping
These missionaries are ready to go wherever the Lord sends them, believing that the Gospel should arrive where there is still no Christian Church. And Peru has 30,000 such villages, villages with NO WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST. So they keep going out, multiplying their efforts through the young people whom they train. And they keep preaching, in order to reach all they can for the glory of God and His Kingdom.
The celebration of 25 years is joyous, because we know there is rejoicing in Heaven when one lost soul is reached for the Kingdom. The Lord takes the believer out of the comfort of his home so that he can see that the fields are ripe unto harvest. Blessed be the Lord of the Vineyard for making them HIS LABORERS! ... TO BE CONTINUE
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