When God Opens A Door

By David Southwell
Executive Administrator for South America

Four years ago, Rich and JoAnn Davis started New Life Baptist Church of Monterrico (a suburb of LIMA, PERU) in their home, partnering with two young Peruvian pastors. The congregation outgrew their house and backyard. After much prayer and research, the group decided to buy the property of a nearby bankrupt business. It was only an immediate solution to their space problem, but they believed it was within the realm of possibility to purchase. Although the Davises worked hard to raise the $300,000 purchase price, they were not able to do so. That was a disappointment, they would have to keep meeting in their over-crowded house.

Then God provided, through one special gift, over three times the original amount they asked Him for. That allowed the purchase of the Los Robles School, a facility repossessed by the bank. The school would not only offer a "permanent" solution for the church, but also house the Lima Baptist Seminary, equally in dire need of larger facilities. We prayed for showers of blessings, but God opened the windows of Heaven and sent a downpour.

Purchasing Los Robles had its difficulties. The biggest obstacle was that although the bank controlled the property, the former owner still had considerable power to determine the building's future. That woman belongs to a militant branch of the Roman Catholic Church and opposes anything non-Catholic, especially evangelicals. She did everything possible to block the sale to New Life Baptist Church, but on October 25, 2000 the title was transferred.

A special dedication was held on November 24, attended by believers from other local churches. December 2 and 3 marked the church's inaugural weekend in the community. Many invitations to the afternoon program had been distributed throughout the neighborhood.

My wife, Evelyn, and I arrived in Lima early on December 2. We could hardly wait to see the facilities we had prayed for and heard so much about. As we drove down a wide boulevard, I saw a banner-festooned building stairstepping up the hillside. It was one of the most attractive buildings I'd seen in all of Lima. "Is THAT the new building?" I exclaimed. It was beyond anything I could have imagined. It remained to be seen what would people think of a "protestant" church in the school where students once were obligated to attend in-house confession?

God rewarded New Life Baptist Church's efforts. On Saturday, over 40 people from the neighborhood investigated the church including the banker who helped close the deal. Bibles were given in exchange for follow-up information. On Sunday more first-time visitors attended the services.

The believers at New Life Baptist Church expressed their gratitude to God over and over. My words of challenge to them were simple: "To whom much is given, much is required." We can't help but believe God is on the verge of doing a great work for His glory in Lima, Peru.