PERU

Valerie Rivera and Chrissy Ferguson serve as missionaries to Lima, Peru

How could two single young ladies make a difference in South America? If you don't believe it, you just need to meet Valarie Rivera, a Puerto Rican from the Bronx in New York and Chrissy Ferguson from the tiny Central American country of Belize. Both of these young ladies are graduates of the Calvary Commission International College of Missions. They took their training very seriously and answered God's call to plant a church in Colonia Popotla to be a shining light in the heart of Mexico City.

During the final days of August, 1987, Valarie Rivera responded to the call of God and went to Reynosa, Mexico under the covering of her home church, Love Gospel Assembly of Bronx, New York, to begin training at the International College of Missions. She received missions training and missionary experience.

After much prayer, in June, 1993, with the backing of the leadership of Calvary Commission and her home church, Love Gospel Assembly and with much faith and trust in God, she left Reynosa and rented a house in Mexico City with the conviction that a church would be planted, take root, and come to growth in this massive city. While studying the Cell Church movement, leadership came to believe that a church could be started with one cell and with that strategy, the move began. A small team helped her that first summer and they began to see roots established in the Colonia of Popotla as they cultivated relationships in the area through English classes, open house fellowships, service to the community, children's work, and mercy ministry.

Later, Chrissy Ferguson left Reynosa and her home country of Belize and joined the group. Her help has been an essential element and an important instrument in the work. She has grown to become an assistant, a constant companion, and a co-laborer in the pioneering and planting of the church.

Through much prayer, worship and care "The Refuge" became a thiriving, Spirit filled assembly of believers. In 1994, the emphasis became the discipleship of these new believers and in 1995 a baptismal service celebrated these new lives in Christ. They began to share with their families, with their neighbors, and at their places of employment. The work concentrated on developing their lives, strengthening their relationship with Jesus Christ, and giving growth to their knowledge of the scriptures.

While leading the congregation Valerie and Chrissy saw Joel and Dalia Cruz rise up and become elders in the Church. Around that time Chrissy and Valerie felt the Lord pulling them to move on to the country of Peru. In 2003 the ladies left "The Refuge" in the care of Joel and Dalia Cruz and left to see what God had planned for them in Peru.

Chrissy and Valerie moved to Lima, Peru with a vision and a desire to see God move in the lives of the Peruvian people.

The Lord has been faithful to the vision imparted. By August 2005 the land for the new Church had been paid for and prayers were being lifted up for the financial mountain to be cast into the sea. The vision was originally for a two story building which would accommodate the sanctuary, and staff housing on the second floor. The Lord sure is faithful! In two years construction was finished. Not only did the Lord supply the needs for a two story-building, He supplied for a third-story as well. The building was dedicated January 2007.

The body of believers there are very precious indeed. Chrissy and Valarie are grateful to be active in the task of teaching and discipling these believers. They also are dedicated to seeing these believers not only mature but also seeing them go out into their community to show and tell everyone about the Love poured out on for them on the cross at Calvary.

The wise man builds on a solid foundation.

  

The rains came, the winds beat agains that house.

 

.. yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the Rock.