THE LOVE OF CHRIST
“…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)
Thank you for taking a few moments to read this newsletter and lift us up in prayer. We’re excited to share some recent updates from the ministry here in Perú, as well as prayer requests for our family and the ministry. God bless you!
Jorge and Antony finding their new memory verse for the week in their own Bibles.
God is Building His Church
We’re blown away by the opportunities God is giving us to serve Him here in Perú. The fields truly are “already white for the harvest!” as Jesus said (John 4:35). The church in Trujillo is overflowing on Sundays. Sunday is in some ways the hardest, but definitely our favorite day of the week as a family.
God is blessing the simple teaching of His word. People are hungry for the word of God and it is a blessing to be part of reaping the harvest. Some Sundays we get to teach the Sunday school, some Wednesday nights I (Shilo) share at youth group, and serving on the back end for the church and CBI Perú in various ways is how we fill up much of our other time.
Baptism here at Calvary Trujillo a few weeks ago. I got baptized about 8 years ago, but knew it was time to be baptized again. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.
This month we got to be part of something really amazing. A few years ago, our church started a ministry called “Dar es Amar” or “To give is to love” with the idea to bless kids in Trujillo and beyond with a Christmas gift and the gospel message of Jesus.
Our church really got behind it this year, in donating presents for boys and girls of different ages, and in coming to the church to cook food, and help wrap and organize presents to be sent out or handed out here locally. Last Saturday we split up in to a handful of different locations in Trujillo, with over 20 cars and a bunch of volunteers from church. Handing presents to kids who may not otherwise receive them was a blast, and seeing folks who we met come the next day to church here was so rewarding. The love of Jesus was really evident.
Luis (Jorge’s dad) driving boxes of presents to be shipped to 6 different churches in other cities here in Peru.
Wrapping presents to be sent all over. Remember the police officer from our last newsletter? Her daughter is in this picture wrapping gifts.
CBI students sharing at a Dar es Amar outreach in a nearby dump.
Assisting in youth group has also been so rewarding. The youth have been much more consistent since we changed the day we meet, and we’re trying to do events more often, that make it easier for youth to invite their friends and classmates.
Fun with the youth group. Pray for these young guys and our leaders!
Please keep my friend Samuel in your prayers. He and his family are refugees from Venezuela. His dad used to be a pastor, and is almost finished with his studies here at CBI Peru. I don’t know many people who have such a high work ethic, and also such a heart for service and preaching the Bible, like Samuel’s dad.
Samuel just finished high school, and has many struggles and issues from the past — please pray that he would be touched by the truth of God’s word. I’m praying Ephesians 3:16-19 for him.
My friend Samuel and I reading Ephesians.
As God has been giving an increase in people at church, we’ve been able to make new friendships, also. Please pray for our friends Isa, Sebastian, and their son. They want to get married next year, and are learning so much about how to raise up their son and honor God with their lives.
Sebastian, his fiancé, and her son with our family.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
God is able! May He continue to strengthen us inwardly and help us comprehend the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
Please join us in praying for:
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Jorge and the children of Calvary Trujillo.
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We have a summer program starting in January to reach many kids and families by providing quality workshops for 6 weeks here at the church.
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All those who were baptized, that we would know the love of Christ.
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“Dar es amar” and the children who received gifts and heard about Jesus.
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Samuel and the youth group here.
FAMILY THINGS:
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Shepherding our daughters with great grace and discipline.
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Provision.
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Humility.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM PERÚ!
By the grace of Jesus and for His glory,
The Stratton Family
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers! Don’t hesitate to reach out by responding to this email, or finding us on social media. We’d love to pray for you in more specific ways also.
¡Ciao!
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