Thursday, September 20, 2012

From Chazuta, in the jungles of north central Peru; to Cuzco, capital of the Incan Empire, high in the Andes Mountains; to the Amazon jungles in northwestern Brazil: an exhausting, but incredible 3-week training tour which allowed us to touch more than 130 colleagues!

One of the goals for HCJB Global Voice’s radio training ministry in the Latin America Region is to raise up like-minded Christian colleagues in this area in order to be able to more quickly and economically respond to future needs.

Please meet Kenny Lazo, a young communicator from Arequipa in southwestern Peru who trained with me in Chazuta and Cuzco. In 2009, Kenny received training by our team at a conference in southern Peru and in 2010 came to Quito for more training. [Kenny (r) presenting a certificate to one of the participants in Cuzco.]

However, this time the tables were turned and the trainee became the trainer. Kenny did a fabulous job, was well received by all the participants and was anxious to learn about the different cultures of his country which they represented. For instance, the 29 colleagues in Chazuta came from seven different ethnic groups!

In Brazil, I was once again teaching alongside Jasiel Martins. This is the third time that we have taught together over the past several years. Jasiel is a quiet young man from the Terena indigenous group, which primarily inhabits western central Brazil.

We were in Filadelfia, Amazonas State, with 15 participants representing five different tribal groups. As in Chazuta, what a special opportunity to see how God works to make sure His Word can be heard by all nations and all tongues! We were teaching these indigenous brothers and sisters how to produce programs to reach out to those in their tribal communities that don’t yet know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

In February of 2008, Jasiel received training in the first production workshop we conducted in Brazil. And like Kenny, he is now the trainer! In fact, Jasiel will go to Quito in mid-October for more specific technical training. Please pray for his trip and that it would be a fruitful time of learning and cross-cultural exposure.

What a blessing and privilege to serve alongside fellow communicators like Jasiel and Kenny who have a passion to use media to reach those that don’t yet know Christ or who have fallen away from an intimate walk with Jesus. A few years ago they were the students. Now we stand together as fellow trainers: generation to generation!

Please pray Kenny and Jasiel, and others like them in the Latin America Region, as God continues to form them, teach them and prepare them for His service. To God be all the glory and honor!