February 2025 Newsletter

Joshua Vanrenterghem

That power is prayer, which soars on high, through Jesus, to the throne, and moves the hand which moves the world, to bring salvation down.”James Wallace

Dear Friends, Family, and Loved Ones,

God has brought me down to Peru at quite a season of ministry! God is moving greatly here in Trujillo, and though I have only been here about two months, God has been bringing many new people to the church to the point that we had to add a third Sunday service! For some of you that doesn’t sound too bad, as the church where I grew up had 6 services between Saturday and Sunday at one point. But it is a great encouragement and sign of revival.

Disaster Strikes

Unfortunately, in the middle of February something terrible happened in the city! The roof of the food court in one of the only two malls in Trujillo fell and killed many people. It was a little shocking personally because I was in that very spot eating lunch the day before. As a church we went out and made basic needs available, but mostly to pray and comfort the families who lost loved ones and waited outside the mall. To make things worse, the authorities lied to the public and press by severely underreporting the deaths, sneaking bodies out during the night. 

Even in disaster, God uses it all for His glory. Being the only church there to help, many heard about Calvary Trujillo. That Sunday, and since, we have been packed to the doors until we had to begin the third service.

Continuing In Prayer

During my time set aside to pray at the beginning of the year, the phrase God gave me was “continue in prayer”. So far, this has been coming up over and over again. Prayer is truly what moves the hands which move the world. Another man, E.M. Bounds put it this way, “prayer effects men by effecting God, prayer moves men because it moves God to move man. Prayer influences man because it influences God to influence them. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.”

With that being said, we pray that God moves in providing a property for the children’s home and the church. Because we believe it is vitally important as a ministry to be overseen and run through the local church, the ministry of the church and home go hand in hand. Right now we are focusing on finding a new property that will be big enough to fit the new growth of the church and the Calvary Bible Institute as we are also looking for property for the children’s home at the same time. It has been pretty difficult. Prices are ridiculous near the city, sometimes costing even more than some places in the States. Regardless, I know the Lord will provide in His perfect time as we continue in prayer. Personally, this has given me a sweet season of preparation and reconnecting with the church. 

More Language Learning?!

One awesome thing I have gotten into is the deaf community at church. An amazing missionary from Columbia named Sara began the deaf ministry at Calvary Trujillo just after I left in 2023. Now there are many deaf people who have been baptized and come every Sunday. Something stunning about the deaf community in South America is that many are never taught sign language, so they never get to communicate with anyone. Not just that, but even if they do learn it, most family members or people around them never bother to learn it so they still barely communicate. This also means many never hear about the gospel. One Wednesday night, I decided to talk with the first deaf couple to come to the church and during the conversation they asked me (through a translator) “Why don’t you talk to us? People who hear don’t talk to us much, why?” The question kind of shocked me, but it also convicted me because even as I gave my excuse that I didn’t know sign language, I felt it was inadequate. 

After that conversation I decided to sit with them for Sunday service, and while watching the lady translate the preaching in signs, I got a message on my phone from an app that gives me quotes every once in a while for fun. It said “Life isn’t a spectator sport”. When I read that, I felt like the Lord was calling me to invest time and learn sign language so I could talk with the deaf. Since then Arabela, one of the deaf ladies, has been teaching me Peruvian Sign Language every Sunday and Wednesday after service. Although it is not super complicated, it does make Spanish feel very easy. But the Lord has been ministering to me each time, I am have fun learning every time.

Calling All Partners!

It is my honor to connect you, my sisters and brothers in America, to all God is doing on the mission field, and show you the fruit of your work through me! If you would like get more involved in this work, there are different ways you can partner with with me as I seek to fulfill my call to rescue and care for children in trafficking.

One way you can support is through joining my Signal group. This is where I send prayer requests and more frequent updates on my life in the mission field of Peru! You can join this group by responding to this email.

Another important way to partner is financially. If you feel lead to become a financial partner, you can give through the link found at the bottom of this news letter! It is by your generosity that I am provided for on the field and available to give my all in this new work.

Praise Reports

• The great blessings of growth at the church
• Watching the growth of all the students at the Bible school
• Creating new relationships in the deaf community

Prayer Requests

• Blessing over our search for a new church property
• Provision for a place for the children’s home
• Wisdom for the leadership of the church regarding all the new growth
• Comfort for the families and the light of the gospel to shine after the tragedy at the mall.