The strategy meeting did take place February 24th.
The original vision was for TEAM and the Lima Miraflores church to work together to start a new church in the middle/upper class of Piura (where this is no evangelical church). When I visited Piura in 2008, there were two couples sent by Miraflores and we had a rented facility. The plan was for me to join them and lead the children’s ministry. There was also a church on Av. Grau that mainly reached the lower class. The Grau church was going through some serious difficulties, so last year Miraflores was asked to take the leadership. That was the event that precipitated a change in plans. The rented facility was returned, the two couples joined two other couples to give leadership to the Grau church, the small group they were working with was assimilated into the Grau church, and I was asked to lead the youth ministry. With the stability provided by the new leadership, the church is growing with attendance up to about 600.
We have not lost sight of the original vision. The plan now is to develop leadership in the Grau church and to begin cell groups in the target area of the new church. Within two years, a church planting team, including me, should be sent out from the Grau church along with a core group to begin a new church in the middle/upper class of Piura. So I will join them this Thursday, March 4th with the responsibility of developing a youth ministry and training its leaders.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my preparation in Lima. This past weekend the pastor invited me to share my testimony and promote the upcoming missions seminar in the five services. You can see the video presentation (Sp) at http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DYSQrPms6C54QPgJHjpXJQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCJmh7KWyocPwhwE&feat=directlink
Please pray for me as I move to Piura, look for housing, get settled, connect with phone and internet, explore the city, meet the people and begin ministry. Exciting times!
God bless!
Brenda
