My testimony of my ministerial trip to the USA

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Since September 17 to October 18 I was in Florida and Michigan with my friend Tim Chapman. The purpose of my trip was to share how the ministry of camps is useful in the new mission time happening in Peru. We visited 8 churches.

My friend Tim Chapman wrote some lines about our experience together:
“I had the privilege of having my good friend, Segundo Rodriguez, with me for 3 weeks this past month. We visited 8 churches together while he was with us. All of our meetings with Segundo were great. He preached several times and also shared his testimony of salvation. Segundo was led to the Lord by an American missionary, and in sharing this, he would encourage the believers to continue to give to missions knowing that God gives fruit from the labor of missionaries. Segundo connected very well with the churches we were in. His English has improved, and even though he doesn’t preach yet in English, he is able to communicate in casual conversations in English fairly well. I think the churches were encouraged and challenged by the time spent getting to know Segundo, and I believe Segundo’s ministry here in the States last month will bear much eternal fruit.”

On my side, I wrote this conclusion about my short ministry in the USA:

1. Christians I met in my trips to the USA are people with same spiritual needs than Christians in Peru. Of course, the economical and technological status is highly different than ours; however, the emotional and spiritual struggles, and the battles to be faithful servants of God, are the same here and there.

2. Hospitality and kindness from American Christians are amazing. I could see their love to God and to people. I can say, with no fear to be wrong, that I met the best people from the USA.

3. Churches in the USA need encouragement and growth in their vision, passion and missionary action. All churches we visited see missions as foundational; and they support missionaries in several areas of the world by prayers and offerings. Churches we visited are not large churches in large cities, there were not wealthy people in them; they were small churches in small towns, with average economy. Even so, their love to God and His mission was amazing to me. I think the missionary work those churches are doing is their highest contribution to the world and to the work of God in this world. Their missionary efforts could decrease by growing secularism and materialism. This is why I think missionary vision, passion, and action, must be stimulated. Pastors and churches must be encouraged to keep going ahead in the Great Commission. Good missionaries are critical for that encouragement. When I say “good missionaries” I am talking about missionaries who are looking people, not people’s belongings. Missionaries who are involving churches to glorify God by extending His Church, and not focused on personal projects. I mean, missionaries with zeal for God, His glory, His Church, and for salvation of lost people, more than zeal for themselves and their agenda.

4. Christians from American churches need that fruits of their missionary efforts be near them, visiting and ministering them. I think it because a Missionary family was very excited with my visit. Excitement was so great when they knew that I had met a missionary who caused spiritual impact in their lives; even they said: “let me touch you”. Many Christians in the USA know their Missionary work overseas only by hearing, reading, watching photos & videos, or seeing Missionaries that their church supports; but they never have seen with their eyes the fruit of their prayers and offerings. Of course, those fruits will be seen in Heaven; but it will be a great encouragement to see the fruit of their missionary efforts while they are on earth. Many Christians we visited this time have never been overseas, and maybe most of them will not be in mission fields ever. This is why I think that direct relationship with believers from other countries will be a potent stimulus. That contact will increase their love for the missions, Christ and His Church. It will be wonderful that Christians from mission fields, where American churches invested prayers and offerings, visit them to teach the Word and show the joy of being Children of God.

5. Christians from countries blessed by missionary efforts of American churches must spiritually help Christians in the USA. American Christians have sent missionaries, prayed and sent offerings with no knowledge of us. Thank to those actions we in Peru (and other countries) have Jesus, which is the most valuable treasure to have. It is happening in the USA a terrible spiritual battle for the Christian faith. I heard some people say that the USA was formed on Biblical teachings. I did not study the history of the USA and I can’t say if it is true; but I can say that Christians in America need our spiritual help. They need we pray on their behalf because secularism and materialism are growing in colossal levels in Christians up there. It is happening in the USA some kind of spiritual coldness similar to countries which used to be strong in Christian faith. Now, we have to “help” with our prayers, offerings, sending missionaries, and all what we can do. We should be imitators of Antioch Church. When they heard from Agabus about a “great dearth throughout all the world”, they sent help to brethren in Judaea. (Acts 11:28-30).

6. I heard God used other Peruvian preachers to encourage and challenge Christians in the USA. I have seen how God used me in the same way in churches which Tim and I visited. I recognize God used Tim to make me useful in His hands; Tim interpreted my messages into English. Tim and I have many similarities in spiritual and ministerial areas. We can communicate well each other, and God used us to encourage and stimulate Christians while preaching or casually talking. I am happy of being used by God to help my brethren in the USA. I shared my testimony of salvation, how God led me into His service; God used me as I preached, gave advices, taught the Bible; even when I just talked. I would enjoy going back to the USA to visit my brethren, serve them and share with them the great blessing to be Christians serving Jesus Christ. I will see what God does in regard to that desire. On next year, I must go the US Consulate to re-new my visa; if God wants it, and I get my new visa, I will go again to the USA. If not, I will help to my American brethren from my place, the place God designed for me and my family.

These are the Churches Tim and I visited: Central Florida Bible Church, Orlando, Florida; Gospel Baptist Church, Bonita Springs, Florida; Calvary Baptist Church, Midland, Michigan; Skidway Lake Baptist Church, Skidway Lake, Michigan; Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church, Burt Lake, Michigan; Hope Baptist Church, Hope, Michigan; McBain Baptist Church, McBain, Michigan; Heritage Baptist Church, Titusville, Florida.

This is my testimony to the glory of God. I wrote it in thankfulness to God and pastors and churches that opened their hearts during my trip. They are a great encouragement for my spiritual life. I wrote it also to encourage every reader.

With love,
Segundo