Peru Partnership
I recently was blessed through my conversation with Pastor Jose De Ita as he shared with me some of the good things that God is doing through the ministry in Cusco, Peru. It thrills my heart to inform you that on Sunday, December 14 they will be baptizing 14 new Christians! One of the new things God is doing is they have been able to reach out to a number of the local groups of young people who normally hang around in the streets outside of the church location. They are older teens, so now they are opening up classes for them. The work is growing!
He also expressed his appreciation for us providing funds for him, his wife and a leader in their church to go to a leadership conference sponsored by the National Wesleyan Church of Peru. Rev. Roberto Berrantes, a good friend of mine from Costa Rica, was the speaker so I knew that it would a good time of spiritual renewal for him and his wife.
Thank you to all who have given sacrificially to support this ongoing project. We continue to build a strong partnership and friendship with the Peruvian people. Please remember that this is a partnership that involves the entire District, so if you are looking for a place to make a contribution, financially or personally, that will quickly result in changed lives, this is the place. Contact me any time for updates or additional information.

Christmas In Cusco
Our church plant in Cusco, Peru has done a wonderful job of reaching out to the children in a very poor village just outside of the city of Cusco. On any given Sunday there will be 80-90 children in attendance for Sunday School. Most of them get up on their own, get brothers and sisters ready, and walk to church all on their own. It is so impressive to see their enthusiasm when they sing and worship. At Christmas time Pastor Jose De Ita loves to give gifts to them, because he knows that it will probably be the only gift they will receive at Christmas. Usually he prepares a gift bag that includes a gift for the child, and then other necessities like school supplies, or other household items. They ultimately are trying to reach the parents, as they reach the children. I realize that there are many other worthy causes to which to give funds this Christmas, but I would like to ask if you could help us reach the $500 mark, so that all of the children and families can blessed with a gift at Christmas. If you feel that your church could make a contribution to this, please call me as soon as possible.

District Missions Rallies
As many of you are well aware, the District Missions Rallies are normally held in February. This causes us to schedule around two Super Bowls: the NFL Super Bowl and the Super Bowl of racing, the Daytona 500. Plus, weather concerns always add an extra bit of uncertainty to the planning. At this time I am talking to John and Marge Connor, directors of The Jesus Film Project for The Wesleyan Church. They have been very instrumental in training national teams in many countries of Africa, South America and India to present The Jesus Film. They would not be able to come in February, so we are targeting the dates of April 26 – May 10 for them to be in the NC East District. We will conduct the Eden and Asheboro Rallies, and then focus on getting them out to the Eastern part of the state. I will be attending the Growing Pastors Leadership Training in the Down East Area on January 26, 2009, where I can meet with those who would like to develop a strategy to reach as many of the churches in that area as possible.