October 19, 2004
Casilla # 1
Huanta, Peru

Dear Friends,

When Christ-centered preaching is more than a concept...and when living in grace is a reality, one must expect great things to happen.

Seven years ago we were challenged in Washington to return to Peru, equipped with nothing but the mind of Christ, and determined to know nothing but Christ...and Him crucified, committed to know Him in His length, height, width and depth.

We knew that focusing would take a lot of discipline and determination in an age when there are many experts in church growth, evangelism, discipleship, mentoring, youth work, Christian education, child evangelism, apologetics, etc. We found inspiration in the words of our Lord that we must be like a little child, who just trusts, believes and obeys...and acquires his freedom in submission and obedience. We also knew that the intellectual road would lead us to a quagmire - as the truth that we would teach would be placed on the upper shelf beyond the reach of the simple and the small.

So, after mentoring for four years our orphans and some of their friends, two years ago on Nov. 2002, we launched ourselves into an adventure with God to form our first congregation...from scratch. Together with our family, orphans and mentees, we were about 30. We asked the Lord to add one zero to our number, and our first anniversary was celebrated with 507 in attendance, including children. Encouraged by this "success", we decided to double our attendance for the second anniversary. Now we are 4 weeks away from that celebration and we are expecting over a thousand to attend. We have already built four small daughter "churches" (congregations).

Today we began to study "Evangelism Explosion" in order to reach our anniversary goal...running. We're asking the Lord to help us to add another zero to whatever number of attendees He should send for this anniversary. If there are 1000, we will then aim for 10,000 for the next time, and if there are 1200, we will aim for 12,000. And once we reach that goal we will ask the Lord to help us to add another zero...and so on...until He comes back.

Therefore, I'm asking your prayers, your encouragement and your support for the following national team leaders, whom we are mentoring. In the city of Huanta, which is our headquarters, we are working with Germán Santillana and wife, Elizabeth; with Ruben Solier and his wife, Gissela; with Omar Soto and his wife, Gladis; with Ruben Pino and his wife, Maruja; with Wilmar Condori, Danilo Soto, Judith Andia, Jessica Hurtado and Miriam Carbajal, as well as with our own sons, Ben and Caleb Gutierrez, who are a tremendous help.

In the surrounding communities where our daughter congregations are located above the timberline, we are working with Eliseo Torres, Felipe Rimachi and Zenobio Quispe, who are leading the work in the community of Cunya...while Felix Ramos, Antonio and Ricardo Huamán and their families are focusing on the community of Uchuraccay; and Alfredo Chocce, Esteban Huaman and Maximo Chocce are working in Ccarhuarán.

In these three communities, we already have been able to purchase land and are almost finished building the church buildings. A new group is appearing in the community of Choccehuichcca, where Samuel Diaz and his family are leading and have donated a piece of property. The foundation of a church building has already been laid.

There is also a group that is starting in Huaynacancha, where the leaders are Teofilo Chocce and Juan Morales. We have promising advances and contacts in Canran and Ccanccayllo, as well as in Llochegua, Santa Rosa and Marintari in the jungles. Some of these communities are a day's journey by foot and some are three days by foot.

Bear in mind that all these groups along with us in Huanta are part of our thousand plus, and none of us existed as this kind of body two years ago. The beauty of this is that we're just spectators, having a great time and just wanting to do our utmost for His highest as your representatives.

Please pray that every group and small group might enjoy the example and leadership of a core of brothers who lead them like Peter, James and John...through life and example.

Thankfully, and submissively in Christ our Lord,