The Legacy of Early SLM Missionaries in Peru: Frontline Testimonies
By Ron Barnes
Rubén Quispe Vásquez – Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Cusco
It was February 1983. I was a teenager, already born-again, discipled with Source of Light lessons. I was very active in the church and ready to do everything I could. I was working during my summer vacations between the fourth and fifth year of secondary school when the missionary Robert Whatley invited me to go to a town called Paucartambo, in the Department of Cusco. The goal was to evangelize the town for two weeks and then return. The material we would use would be Source of Light. I accepted the invitation and went with him. We rented a venue and went out to invite people to come to our special meetings every night. At those meetings, we would introduce them to Fuente de Luz lessons and encourage them to study the seven lessons, and told them that at the end of the seven lessons, they would receive a certificate.
Great was our surprise to see the welcome we had. In one week, we had hundreds of people studying Source of Light lessons, and with what great joy they received their diplomas. Most of these people continued the next nine lessons, and then the following 23 lessons. They not only came for the lessons, but also attended the evening services.
Three days after the two-week date to return had passed, people were still studying, and others were starting. That night Mr. Whatley called me and said, “Rubén, God has opened doors for us in this town and we must continue with the services and the Fuente de Luz lessons.”
I told him, “Of course, a pastor would be good.”
“We should leave someone in charge,” he told me.
I again said clearly, “Yes.”
He told me, “I’m thinking about you.”
Me? A missionary? I was a high school student. How was I going to be a missionary? Mr. Whatley told me to take three days and pray asking God to guide me. I told him that I would. Three days later, Mr. Whatley asked me what my decision was and I replied, “I’m staying.”
There began what would be the wonderful and blessed career of serving our beloved Savior Jesus Christ, and by His grace and mercy He still considers me worthy even though I am unworthy of even tying the strap of His shoes.
In Paucartambo, and other neighboring towns, at least six churches have been established as a result of this effort. Thank God for the Fuente de Luz lessons, which are a very useful tool for this work. God continues to bless this ministry to the honor and glory of His Name.
Carlos Panaifo. (Cuzco, Peru)
My family and I live in Yurimaguas, a city in the jungle. I was still a child when I saw my mother studying some Biblical lessons with great dedication.
She taught my eight brothers and me what she learned in those studies. I accepted the Lord Jesus as my Savior. Years passed and the Lord called me to serve Him full time; now I am a pastor of a congregation in Cuzco.
It gave me great joy to attend the Source of Light meeting, and to realize that the lessons my mother studied and taught us about God are the Source of Light lessons. My wife and I work with college youth and plan to incorporate these materials in our discipleship task.
I want to give thanks to God for the wonderful work of Source of Light. He used this ministry to work in two generations in my family, and I am one result of that. Lord bless you!
Patty Vilchez. (Lima, Peru)
I received Christ as my Savior when I was very little. I watched my father, a pastor, using Source of Light lessons to disciple new converts in the congregation. He told me, “There is nothing like the Source of Light lessons to evangelize with the steps of salvation and to disciple.”
It made a great impact on me when I saw the picture of the Stairs of Salvation in the lesson. As I grew older, I always accompanied my father to collect material from the Source of Light Peru office and was excited to hear the testimonies they shared with us.
Now I always carry with me, wherever I go, several lessons from “A Country Called Heaven,” to evangelize, and I also have a page on social networks where I share the steps of salvation, so that those who still do not know Christ as their Savior can make a decision.
I thank God for these simple lessons with the pure teaching of the Word of God. May God continue to use Source of Light Ministries greatly to bless all the Peruvian people and people around the world. I had already received Christ as my Savior and did my discipleship with the Source of Light lessons.
Passing the Baton in Peru
God has used the team in Peru for many decades. Testimony after testimony, like the ones you have read in this edition of the Reaper, are just a few examples of God’s faithfulness. The Peru ministry has been under the capable leadership of Pablo and Dalila Correa for nearly the entire time SLM has had a Branch in Peru. But recent health setbacks brought both Pablo and Dalila back to the states to deal with some serious health issues.
Thankfully, in the United States near their family, they both received excellent health care and continued the ministry with the help of Enrique Machado. Together they shared the load of continuing the ministry of SLM Peru, even through a pandemic.
Enrique and his wife, Katia, demonstrated a joyful love for the ministry of SLM, receiving nothing in return. Enrique dutifully carried out the responsibilities of the Branch in the Correas absence and the Lord once again made it extremely clear who our next Director should be.
On a recent trip to Peru, the SLM President, Dr. Ron Barnes, and the Correas, challenged Enrique and Katia with accepting the leadership of the SLM Branch in Peru as the next DTB Director. After much prayer, discussion, and meetings, they committed to take on this new responsibility, with the plan to fully transition in early 2022 after a period of training.
Figuratively and literally, we are in the period of “passing the baton” in Peru. We ask you to pray that God would make a full and smooth transition between the Correas and the Machados, and that individuals and churches here in the United States would support the Machados financially. They are planning on traveling to the United States in 2022. If you would like to have them visit your church, feel free to contact samerica@sourcelight.org, where we can further assist the process.
As for the Correas, they will continue in the role of Spanish-Speaking Regional Director for SLM, traveling back and forth as needed. Continue to pray for them as they carry out these responsibilities.
