May 2025 Newsletter
Joshua Vanrenterghem
… do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
Dear Friends, Family, and Loved Ones,
This last season has been one of transformation. I am not sure what your month has been like, but mine has been a constant, sometimes rough, sometimes smooth (depending on my willingness), rushing wind of change. Before I share some of the great things the Lord has been doing in Peru, I want to share a little bit of what God has shown me in this time about the transforming of the mind.
A Call to Transformation
1 Corinthians 10:3-5 describes one kind of warfare that we make as Christians. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Did you ever realize that the ‘strongholds’ mentioned here are not trials, testing, or tragic events that we need to overcome, but are actually arguments… every high thing against the knowledge of God… every thought. The kind of warfare mentioned here is different from Ephesians 6. This kind of warfare that God is calling us to in Corinthians is against ways of thinking that we subconsciously live by which are actually in opposition to the truth of God and His declared Word, the Bible. The tactics of the enemy are very deep and complex. The devil uses our culture, the way we were raised, commonly accepted truths, relationships, etc. to change the way we think from what God has spoken as truth to what the world, our flesh, and the enemy say is truth.
There are tragic consequences to keeping the presence of these ‘strongholds’ in our minds. Wrong ways of thinking cause us to feel guilty about things that God is not condemning us for (Romans 14:22). It causes us to feel depressed when we are told to “rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16). It causes us to move away from God when we need to “draw near” (James 4:8), and much more. In the end, how can we overcome these fortresses in our minds? “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. God has given us spiritual weapons to take these down, which are the Word of God and prayer. By these things we can ‘renew’ our minds and become aligned with God’s heart and will for our lives. With not a little growth pains, I have been learning this as I continue to adjust to living and ministering in Peru.
Graduation!
One of those big changes is my graduation from Calvary Bible Institute, Peru! After moving and beginning ministry in Peru, I also was a student-intern at the CBI here, which is a ministry run from the church, Calvary Trujillo. It is an excellent program that I now finished and graduated from. Having learned so much about God’s Word and my relationship with Jesus, I have now been enjoying a new season spending more time serving in the different church ministries, such as construction projects for the new church property we bought, discipling young men, children’s ministry, and more.
Starting a School?!
Waiting, as always, is one of the most difficult things we need to practice as believers, and I am by no means immune to the pains of patiently waiting. Although we are making progress, children’s home ministry has been and is still a long process of planning, preparing, and learning how to start a home for children rescued from trafficking. But, one thing I want to share is a special new ministry we are just beginning to plan at Calvary Trujillo, which will also be an important piece to the future children’s home as well. We have just begun planning to start a private Christian preschool! The goal with this new ministry is not only to have a preschool, but progressively add more grade levels each year until it is a full-fledged ‘colegio’ or Christian school. As well as being a great need for families in Trujillo, having a controllable, safe, Christian learning environment for the future kids of the children’s home is going to be must. Please keep this new work in your prayers!
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, and bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.
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 way is to partner 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.
Thank you all so much for your wonderful partnership and love, I am eternally grateful for your support!
Praise Reports
- Graduation from CBI Peru and my successful semester as a student-intern.
- We are starting actual construction on the new property very soon!
- I am going to be helping as a leader with Calvary Trujillo’s Summer On A Mission (SOM) program, and going with them for 2 weeks to Moyobamba in July.
- The boys I have been discipling on Sunday evenings are growing a lot in the Word! We have been studying through the book of John, just finished chapter 4.
Prayer Requests
- God’s wisdom for all the needs and preparations of the children home
- Provision and speedy building for the new church and CBI building at the Calvary Trujillo property
- God’s provision, guidance, and peace for all the graduates of this last semester, the biggest group of graduates in the school’s history!
- All the special events, trips, and missions teams coming this summer (winter in Peru)
- Provision for a teacher and all the needs for the new preschool
- Blessing over the immigration paperwork that is very difficult
