June Ministry Update

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HIGHLIGHTS: God is good (all the time)! I’m engaged, and we’re progressing step by step toward raising the support we will need on the mission field. It’s wonderful to minister, see souls saved, and challenge people to serve the Lord.

Dear Friends,

First of all, I have some wonderful news! On Monday evening, the beautiful Zulema Ramirez promised me her hand in marriage! We are excited and looking forward to serving the Lord together in Peru. Our wedding will take place this coming January.

So far I’ve raised around 20-25% of the monthly support we will need when I return to Peru this December. Many thanks to Emmanuel Baptist Church and New Testament Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL for accepting us into their missionary families last month. Please pray with me that over the next six months we will reach our goal. Lord willing, some of the churches I have already visited will choose to take us on for monthly support. I will continue to visit new churches through the end of the year.

It’s been great to watch God provide. Each time I have had a specific need, God has anticipated and blessed. This applies to needs both great and small. I like to think about the time I found a shoelace just before one of mine broke. Recently my car insurance came due, and that week I received an unexpected love offering which more than covered the bill. God is good!

Last week was Vacation Bible School at Emmanuel Baptist in Florida, and I enjoyed teaching the fifth and sixth grade students. It was a joy to lead several middle schoolers to the Lord. Emmanuel did a great job planning and executing the VBS. It’s great to see church members pitching in and serving together.

I so enjoyed being in Peru on Father’s Day and preaching the afternoon service at our church. My dad is a wonderful father and pastor, and it’s a privilege to be working with him.

This week is our missions conference here at Efata, and we’ve enjoyed some great teaching and preaching thus far. I am speaking at our international banquet on Saturday. Just like churches in the US, Peruvian churches are responsible to reach our world for Christ. This year’s conference theme is, appropriately enough, “Engaged.”  That’s right! Engaged to pray, engaged to prepare, engaged to give and engaged to go. On that note, I hope each and every one of you is also fully and truly engaged.

Sincerely,
Joseph S. Kotvas, your missionary to Peru, South America

Was this update a blessing to you? Want an invitation to the wedding? Respond below! I appreciate your comments.