God Still Had Plans for Us

By Ruth Large

Even after our 30 years of missionary ministry, God still had plans for us. While we served in Peru, Bill suffered two heart attacks. In order for him to survive and regain strength, he had to leave Peru for good, and we moved to Florida.

While still recovering from his heart attack, Bill was asked to disciple a Spanish-speaking Cuban convert. That started our Spanish Bible studies. Our numbers grew, so we asked permission to use our church facilities. From 1981-1988, one weekday evening Bill taught Theological Education by Extension (TEE) classes, and another evening held prayer meeting. Sunday school classes took place after the rooms were vacated on Sunday mornings, and we held our morning worship service in the chapel.

The day arrived to establish La Primera Iglesia Bautista (First Baptist Church). The congregation saved money to purchase property for the church building, and called Candido Garcia, who had been a deputy policeman, as pastor. He attended our Bible study classes, was baptized in our church, and has continued to study the Word. La Primera Iglesia Bautista reaches out to the unsaved Spanish community in Sebring, Florida.

Ruth Large recently attended the 40th anniversary celebrations of the church she and Bill started in Iquitos. When in the USA, Ruth teaches an Hispanic adult Sunday school class in one of ABWE's two Spanish-speaking churches in Sebring, FL.

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