Note: IBEG refers to the church plant, Iglesia Bautista Evangelica de la Gracia

Why does the church need to buy property?

With a growing church body, our major need right now is to purchase property and build a building or remodel an existing one for the following reasons:

Need for Space – We are outgrowing our current facility.  Acquiring an adequate building will give plenty of room for future growth.  We need an auditorium that is between 1,500 and 2,000 sq. ft and has at least 3 children’s classrooms.

Need for Permanence – In Peru, many “evangelical” (the name given to any non-Catholic church) groups rent a facility and then disappear quickly. However, owning property gives a sense of permanence in the community and security to its members.

Need for Stability – Rent can be increased yearly, or the meeting place can be sold (which will probably be the case in our current location) and the contract is renegotiated yearly.  This makes it unaffordable and often unfeasible to stay in a rented facility for many years.

Need for a National Pastor – Once the church is alleviated of the burden of a rental contract, it will then free up funds to help pay a national pastor’s salary.  We want the church to be prepared for this as soon as possible.

What are IBEG’s objectives in purchasing property?

Give room for growth – The church needs an average attendance of about 200 people in order to afford to pay a national pastor.  This mean the auditorium should be approximately 2,000 sq. ft. with at least three separate children’s classrooms.

Establish a permanent presence in the community – The fact that a church owns its own facility lends credence to its mission within the local community. The building and sign serve as a constant witness in town, and will serve as a place to point the many tribes and visitors to when they visit our town, which is the state capital. 

Exercise wise stewardship of our resources – Large loans are not only next to impossible to obtain in Peru, but their rates are exorbitant and can run 30% annually or more.  Renting offers no long-term solution to the churches financial challenges.  Peru’s economy is stable currently, but there is no guarantee of it staying that way, which in the past has caused runaway inflation, affecting rental costs.

Prepare the groundwork to hand over the work to a national pastor – Within the framework of a stable, growing church that owns its own building, the leadership can focus on identifying and possibly training a national pastor who would take over, or calling one from another part of Peru.  At that point, our family will be free to begin the full time river ministry, plant additional churches, and Lord-willing reach one of the unreached peoples.

As an American, why should I give toward this need?

We believe that God’s financial blessing on one group of His people is a test of the heart, and should be considered a reason to advance the cause of Christ in other places around the world.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:33-34).

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality (2 Corinthians 8:14).

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Is buying land or building a building with US dollars a violation of the indigenous policy?

We strongly believe in establishing indigenous Baptist churches through Baptist church planters. However, an “indigenous Peruvian church” describes the goal, not the process. You may have heard good arguments for indigenous churches, but you must realize that a foreigner moving into a community to begin speaking about an unknown God is in itself, not indigenous. The very fact that we, as North Americans are here, receiving support, buying, selling, helping, passing out tracts, street preaching, witnessing, discipling, and baptizing means that the process is not entirely indigenous. Jesus Christ commanded us to go to all nations, and the idea of missions is traced throughout nearly every book of the Bible.

We believe that providing a permanent facility for a young church plant, in order to protect them from unfair usury related to financing through national banks or ever-increasing rental agreements, is a wise stewardship of the resources that God provides for His children. This short-term giving project will result in a measure of stability for the work that God has established in this country that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.

Many church plants in urban centers are either unable to afford a property, purchase something very limiting over the long term, or move out of their target area for lack of financial ability. Were the Peruvians to wait and save the needed money they would be limiting themselves and their growth for many years. If they were somehow able to take out a loan they would be paying astronomical interest rates on top of a nearly unachievable property price.

Are the Peruvian nationals giving toward this project?

The church folks here are actively involved in raising the necessary funds for this project. They have donated roughly 30% of the amount currently raised. This is especially exciting, because many of our folks earn 7-10 dollars per day: some have truly sacrificed.

We are well aware of the dangers of breeding dependence on foreign funds and I want to assure you personally that has not happened in this church plant. The Peruvian offering currently pays for the rented facility as well as all additional expenses for the same.

Is IBEG looking to purchase land or a building?

We wish to purchase an empty lot costing about $88,000 dollars, and subsequently build a simple but attractive place to gather.

Does IBEG have a national in mind to take the pastorate?

We are praying that one of the church leaders would be the future pastor or that the Lord would provide a family from another part of the country. We are in touch with several seminaries, churches, and pastors who will be able to help us find God’s man. This is something we have been praying for since the time this church plant began.  The church needs to be in the best position possible to take on that man when it is God’s timing.

What about the building?

As soon as we purchase the property, we will be ready to host work teams to work on the building!  If you or your ministry would like to help with the construction phase, please contact us! We plan to have joint labor among our church members and U.S. teams who may come. Lord-willing we will be paying very little in labor, keeping our costs down.

You can give quite easily using a paypal page set up by our mission here

Or if you would like to give a larger amount through BWM with no fees for you or us, you can do so here

On Sunday morning we presented a sign sharing two verses, and some facts about the piece of property we would like to buy. Our desire is to see all of the adults and some of the youth ¨adopt¨ a meter or more, and many of them have said that they will do so this year! The children have already started giving, knowing that a ¨sol¨ (roughly 30 cents) buys them 32.7cm. We are really excited to see how the church is responding to the challenge! May the Lord´s will be done.

We now have a 4 minute video that we ask you to joyfully and prayerfully watch by clicking here.

Thank you for your partnership in prayer, communication, and giving.

In Christ alone

This 4 minute clip is a joyful celebration of what God is doing here, and an invitation to participate!

You can visit the investing page here: 

Dear Prayer Supporters,

     I pray that this letter finds you well and growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. I write with a full heart and much gratitude to our great God, who has done many great things for us and continues to show his power in Peru. We have now been in Peru for nearly nine years and have been laboring to plant Grace Baptist Church for almost six years. During the past six years, we have distributed many thousands of tracts, spoken personally with several thousand people, and have seen literally hundreds of visitors come through the doors to know more about Jesus. We thank God for the more than 300 souls who have made a profession of faith during the last nine years during many mission trips, medical teams, church outreach events and personal evangelism.

  As I’m sure you remember, our long-term goal is to not only preach Christ to those who have never heard, but to take the Gospel to those who have never had a chance to hear the good news. Only God knows how many unreached people groups there are spread throughout the massive jungles of Peru. We still firmly believe that God has called us to reach the unreached tribes, and we are excited to see how He is putting things in place for that to happen, including a strong Peruvian church in town that will serve to send more laborers into the harvest and be a base of ministry for us.

  In order for the church to be a strong, independent body, we believe that it must become a self-governing, self-supporting and self-multiplying church. For years, we as a church have been praying for mature leadership, a Peruvian pastor and a church property. As we see God moving us forward in each area, we are now focusing specifically on a purchasing a large, strategic lot that will serve the church for generations.

  The property we are now looking at is in an excellent location, very visible, and well-priced for the area. It is 950-square meters and located in town right on the highway which crosses east to west all the way through the country. It is easily accessible and not too far for any of our people. It also has all the necessary documents and all the utilities already connected. The asking price right now is 290,000 soles, which works out to about $88,000. This may seem like a lot of money, but we see similar properties for three times this price! Although we, as a church, have been saving for years, we currently have a combined USD and Peruvian amount of about $26,000. I am writing specifically to ask for your help in this endeavor. We would like this to be a matter of real partnership. We need your prayers, of course, but I would also like to ask if you would pray about investing in a percentage of this price. The price per meter is about $92. Would you be willing to give for a meter or two? You can now give here through a paypal account set up just for by the mission

Maybe your children or Sunday school class would like to participate (the cost is about $8.60 per foot). How many square feet could they raise over the next few months?

You can send offerings to the Fitzgerald (Peru) Land Fund at BaptistWorldMission.org

We have some tentative goals, which will only be possible with true partnership:
2016 – purchase a church property
2017 – construct a church building and classrooms (this stage will require a similar amount)
2018 – install a Peruvian pastor, allowing us to launch into a full-time river ministry.

 The owner has given us six weeks to get the funds together, but I don´t believe he will actually hold it for us if another buyer comes along sooner.

Grace and peace, Buddy and Loren Fitzgerald
Missionary of Faith Baptist Church: (864) 322-0700
Sent through Baptist World Mission: (256) 353-2221

In Christ Alone, Buddy and Loren

Most of us looking at this blog were born in nice hospitals, or at least with a trained professional on hand and access to much better facilities if needed. However around the world, this is often not the case. Segundo Sebastian, our missionary in training was born in a thatched hut, or perhaps just outside of the hut on the ground, or perhaps on the edge of the garden, where his mother was working that day. Being one of the younger ones in the family meant that life was not especially valued, and births were not a big concern. Below you see his father and mother, along with one of his sisters and a nephew and niece in a much improved and more modern hut made of chainsaw cut boards.

Segundo was saved a few years ago, and has been slowly training for the ministry. He is currently working at our friends, the Blackburn´s farm. He has been going up to the nearby Yine village of Santa Teresita to teach some of his fellow tribal members. This is the tribal meeting house with a nice thatched roof that provides cool shade.

Segundo was accompanied by his wife, Emily, and two of his children: David and Nazaret, this weekend. They all love going on these short weekend trips.

Although the community had a workday, and they all pitched in, there was time for cooling off in the river as well. The children don´t wear much when they go swimming, but we are glad they wear something! 

They were able to use his brother´s boat which was at a nearby port. Those who have visited us on the river will probably never forget the loud sounds of the ¨peke-peke¨  mud motor. It is like a large lawn-mower engine, with a  long shaft pushing a propellor on the back. They are harder to steer than they look, because of the length of the fulcrum, but are fairly reliable and are cheaper than outboards.

Please pray for the family as God continues to raise them up for the ministry He has for them. They are praying and preparing, and we know that God will use them in even greater ways to share the gospel, further His kingdom, and preach Christ where He is not named. What a great joy to have a part in what God is doing in them and through them.

Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.

Missions is like the cloud

Many people would admit that reading the books of Leviticus and Numbers is not exactly the highlight of their devotional year. There are obviously some chapters that are very repetitive and some would say they feel monotonous. I am thankful to the Lord for making many passages more understandable and aplicable to me this year.

When you read “the cloud” you may automatically think of cloud computing or data, but look at what Numbers 9:17 has to say: whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. Although we are not wandering in the Sinai desert, a missionary certainly must feel certain similarities.

1. Whenever the Lord leads, we follow, and where he shows us to settle down, we settle.
2. The Lord leads remembering our needs: a cloud for shade by day and a fire for light by night.
3. We joyfully follow, because we earnestly want to be in fellowship with Him in His presence.

Numbers 9:22 is such a blessing to read as a wandering pilgrim. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.

4.   We never know how long He will have us in one place. I have noticed that my wife, like most women, likes stability. Although we have great stability in God, we don’t always know how He will lead.

5.   His ways are not necessarily the fastest, but they are far better than ours. The Israelites could have hurried along, but God’s timing is perfect. 40 years in the desert may seem ridiculous to us, but God’s thoughts are much higher than ours (Is. 55:9).

6.   Wherever He leads us, He keeps us. He continues to provide for us, despite the barren environment.

7.    The Lord’s direction did not allow for many long term plans, but His plan is still best. There is much to be said for having a daily routine, using your time wisely, and planning for the future. But in the wilderness, God never told the people when they would be leaving, or how long they would be staying. He simply began moving.

8.    In order to follow the  Lord, His people must be attentive. I can picture the people coming out of their tents early in the morning with an eye towards the cloud-covered tabernacle and keeping close watch on it so that they could faithfully and quickly follow. May we do the same.

It may seem like 2015 finished ages ago, but you probably still write it occasionally, so please read our yearly report!

Activities – We returned to Peru at the end of January, 2015, with thankful hearts for God´s preservation of the life of Cory Wyatt, Loren´s brother in law, through the holidays. We immediately got busy with our normal activities: preaching 2-3 services per week, other short devotionals, men´s and women’s discipleship groups, personal discipleship, and outreach and evangelism. We once again started visiting the nearby tribal villages of Boca Inambari (an Amarakaere village) and Santa Teresita (a Yine village). We hosted a number of teams and interns during the summer months, and the fruit of the largest team (Operation Renewed Hope) was a neighborhood Bible study in a poor area on the east side of town. We have continued there every Thursday afternoon for the past 6 months, and have seen a few professions of faith, although the work is slow. I also preached a missions conference in Lima, and taught two block courses at the Bible college in Cusco. Loren continues schooling the children, and showing godliness as a wife and mother apart from the additional tasks she takes on.

Goals – One of our main goals is to have a team here, for the harvest truly is plenteous. Also, one of the needs we have noticed here is that of training for lay leaders and pastors. With the help and encouragement of Dan Nagao, we started a series of training block courses. We hope and pray that this will strengthen leaders and enable them to disciple others better. We also desire to see church members leading Bible studies in their homes and neighborhoods, which we believe is an essential part of the great commission. An additional goal is to have many trained SS teachers so that the teaching can be done by turn, and not be burdensome to any one person. Finally, we truly want the kingdom to advance and the gospel to go forth, so more Bible study locations are crucial.

Progress – We have been so thankful to meet and work with the Nagao family this year. They have been a true blessing as they have become more and more involved. The Blackburn family has also been a blessing. They were very connected at the beginning of the year, but feel that God has directed their main emphases to other areas. In God’s timing, and for His glory, we were able to hold three training blocks this year: Methods of Bible study, OT survey, and NT survey. We had an average of 15 or 20 students per class. One of the church families began home Bible studies on their own initiative this year, which was a tremendous blessing to watch. Segundo, our Missionary in training, has been increasing in responsibilities and initiative as well. Loren has worked quite hard with the SS teachers, and now has quite a few who are doing a great job. We are thankful to say that although the work has been slow in “La Joyita” the poor neighborhood on the east side of town, the gospel is going forth!

Needs – 1. We continue to pray for a national pastor, a church property, and mature leadership. The first two are easily measured, however the last can be a little harder to quantify. Perhaps one way would be to see how many church folks are discipling others? That is a great need for us. 2. The sink hole near our house continues to enlarge, and is now less than 100 feet from our house, so that is on our minds at times. 3. We are praying that our truck would sell, if it be God’s will, so that we can get something a little newer and more reliable. 4. We need God’s direction in “La Joyita”. We could get a property and build a basic building for about $10,000 but we want to make sure it is His will. 5. Our heart still yearns to evangelize the unreached tribes, and although they are appearing more frequently, God has still made it clear that it is not the time for us to move into the interior jungle, although we are participating in training and building ties with the tribes. 6. Although Cory’s cancer scans are still coming back clear (AMEN!) we know that God could allow it to return if He wills.

See PDF here or Angel´s blog

You can see our most recent vide here. Don’t get too excited because we are not planning on doing monthly videos. 😉

Alternatively, you can get the pdf (fitzgerald 2015-11)

Thank you for your prayers.