Peru (MNN) ― Missions and evangelism was always a passion for the Ivey family, but Arthur Ivey with The Mission Society says their family's call came while he was reading a newspaper article about grave robbing at archeological digs in Peru.
"The Lord just said, 'That's what I want you do: go to Peru.' I kind of responded, 'You want me to go rob graves in Peru?' And the Lord said, 'Yes. Remember, I've been teaching you about the divine grave robbery in the story of Lazarus. Now, I want you and your family to go to Peru and roll away the stones from the tombs of sin and death there.'"
The Iveys began to work. They did then much of what they still do today. Arthur ministered in church planting, evangelism and discipleship, and assisted short-term mission teams. His wife, Mary Alice, a former teacher, worked in children's and youth ministry.
At first, they saw great success in evangelism. Arthur recounts, "Then we began to realize there was no place, really, for those new Christians to be discipled or to be raised up."
Eight years later, there are 2600 people in the discipleship program. They are working to translate the curriculum they use into two Quechua dialects, Panao and Huancavalica.
The Ivey's goal is to bring people to know Jesus as Lord and train them to be able to witness to others. They have seen a dramatic change in the lives of many people who come to Christ and seek to live a godly life.
Opportunities abound through the short-term mission teams the Ivey's host. For example, just last month, 16 members of Dalton First United Methodist Church arrived to help with a medical campaign in Iscosazin, a small town deep in the jungle.
The medical campaign lasted for three days: there were 1008 people who received attention, 182 who professed faith in Jesus Christ, and 25 persons who reconciled their lives to Christ.
The Iveys also run a "Kids' Club" ministry. More than 850 children come to the Clubs each week. There are currently 48 leaders leading 12 groups of clubs in parks and open fields all over Peru. There is a need for more group leaders so the program can expand and reach more children.
With all the things involved in ministry, one need consistently re-emerges. Ivey says, "Pray for God to call workers to come in and be part of the harvest that He has given us there in Peru and to be willing to be trained and lifted up to points of leadership where they, themselves, have a heart to reach and bring others into a close relationship with Jesus Christ." If you'd like more information, click here.
