More than Medical
Recognizing the danger of his mother’s Jehovah’s Witness religion, Cesar doubted whether faith in Christ offered him anything different. A medical student in Cusco, Peru, Cesar visited a Bible study mostly to be with his girlfriend, and for the free food.
But even after the two broke up, Cesar continued to attend, and started studying the book of John with Nathan Wilson, a member of the MTW team composed of health care professionals. During a break from school, Cesar served in the La Fuente clinic alongside Wilson. Wilson remembers the first time Cesar saw how the gospel could make a difference in the life of a patient. A young girl came into the clinic with headaches, but Wilson thought her primary problems were emotional and spiritual. Wilson and Cesar prayed with the girl and talked with her at length. Afterwards Cesar said, ‘That felt so good! I feel like we cared for that girl all the way. We offered that girl something she really needed.’”
Coming to Christ through the back door
As Cesar and other health care students see that Christ has something to offer their patients, the hope is they will be more open to His work in their own lives. That’s the vision of the MTW medical team in Cusco, said David Daniel, the team’s leader. The team arrived in 2011 to work alongside the church-planting team already in Cusco. Daniel and his team are planting seeds now that they believe will affect the future of Peru. “Future health care professionals can be the future leaders of Cusco … we see real potential to change culture,” said Daniel.
Health care students are eager to join mentoring groups. Once relationships develop, many non-believing students join Bible studies. “This ‘back door’ is helping them become better people and better doctors,” explains Daniel. “But if they stick around, they hear that the fullness of what that means is following Christ.”
Transplanting a unique ministry model
The unique nature of the Cusco team enables the missionaries to stay unified in this difficult context. Five families who already knew each other well and served together with Medical Campus Outreach (MCO) in Augusta, Ga., agreed to take their relationships and ministry into another culture. Partnership with MTW enabled these medical professionals to replicate the MCO model in a foreign context.
“We’re not perfect, but we’ve committed together in gospel movement,” Daniel said. Through these imperfect vessels, God shows Peruvian health care students and professionals His care for people’s physical and spiritual needs. Cesar and his fellow students recognize that the doctors at La Fuente operate differently. The interest of students gives the team great hope: “Many students will come to know Christ and they will plug into the local church. We hope to fill up the church with new converts,” Daniel said.
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Discovering a Hidden Quechua Church
A 1960s radio ministry became the catalyst for a 200-church denomination.
SEE MOREMy Prayer Journey to Cusco
Last year MTW's Hispanic RADD team took a vision trip to Peru and emerged with a renewed focus on the importance of prayer in missions.
SEE MOREContextual Generosity: An MTW Missionary Team Navigates Giving in Peru
Wherever possible we invite nationals to serve nationals through the structures and ministries of the local church.
SEE MOREPray for the the Medical Campus Outreach team in Cusco, Peru, and for the medical and students at the clinic who are learning to practice medicine and hearing the gospel.
Pray for the children and staff of The Josephine House in Cusco, Peru. The orphanage is currently home to 18 children, many with special needs.
Pray for church planting efforts in Cusco, Peru, where many know about Christ, but few know Him personally.
Pray for our ministry in Cusco, Peru, as they put MTW values into action among the Quechua through the church, a medical clinic, discipling medical students, an orphanage, and community outreach.
Pray for the church plant and medical clinic in Cusco, Peru. Pray that believers would grow in Christ and catch a vision for reaching their city.
Pray for the medical and dental students who participate in medical mission trips with the MTW Medical Campus Outreach team. Many of the students are not yet believers.
Pray for the culture of adoption among the Quechua to shift as the people witness believers adopting children. Pray for the children at the Josephine Home to know the love of a family.
Pray for Radio Amauta and its efforts to help train leaders in the Quechua Church in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
Give thanks for the work God is doing in South Asia in the wake of COVID lockdown relief. Ask God to grow the new believers who came to faith in Christ as a result.
Last year, a group of MTW RADD-Hispanic leaders went to Peru on a prayer journey vision trip. Pray for continued unity and mobilization efforts of our RADD Hispanic team!
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