5 December 2007

David Perez and Brad Shaw trust their mules to carry them safely on an eight-hour trail ride deep in Cotahuasi Canyon in Peru. David, a Quechua, and Brad, an SIM worker from North America, have made countless treks like this. In 2001, when the Shaws began their work in the canyon, Brad did the preaching; and he used the time on the trail to mentor and disciple David and other local believers. Now, 17 Quechua serve alongside the Shaws in evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and youth ministries. The Shaw family, Brad and Gina and their daughters Janelle and Cassandra, live in the main town of Cotahuasi (kot-a-wa-see).

The Canyon

At 3,354 meters, almost 11,000 feet deep, Cotahuasi is the deepest canyon in the world—twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. It cuts through the Andes mountains of Peru and is home to about 17,000 people in 40 villages perched on its slopes and nestled at its base. Adventurers visit the canyon to hike its rugged trails, bathe in thermal springs, and watch the soaring condors. But the canyon’s residents describe it as “forgotten by the rest of Peru.” They eke out a subsistence by growing a few vegetables, and most homes have no conveniences. There’s little money in the canyon; swapped labor, food, and chicha (a home-brewed maize beer) are the primary means of exchange.

The Challenge

The Shaws came to Peru in 2001 to do medical work. Brad soon realized that most medical problems were caused by sinful living practices, primarily alcoholism, which afflicts 90% of adults in the canyon. Alcoholism, in turn, leads to violence, rape, domestic abuse, and abandonment of children. “I wanted to get to the root causes,” says Brad. “To cover a cancer with a bandage really does not help in the end. Through faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, these people can truly experience freedom from sin and its results.”

During their first year in the canyon, they took the Gospel to Huillac (wee-yak), a village considered hopeless, with 100% of adults addicted to alcohol. Several couples became followers of Jesus, and their lives changed before the astonished eyes of their neighbors. Where reform had eluded the community’s best efforts, the power of God succeeded in transforming lives.

The Church

Small groups of new believers now meet weekly in 13 of Cotahuasi’s remote villages, and three churches have pastors. The Shaws began at once to mobilize and train Quechua believers for outreach throughout the canyon and beyond. Their dining table is the center for weekly Bible study, prayer, and planning.

Team members take their studies seriously, knowing that biblical truth is essential in order to plant healthy churches. “I always learn something new,” says Santiago, one of the Quechua missionaries. They often pray over a map of the canyon, colored pins showing where they have preached the Gospel, where there are new believers, where young churches exist, and where they want to go next. Mealtimes are also ministry times at the Shaw table. Typically, about eight people join them for the midday meal, during which Bible and ministry topics dominate the conversation.

Church history is littered with tragic cases of churches that were planted but failed to mature, remaining trapped in bondage to traditional religions and bad habits. Hope for Cotahuasi Canyon lies in an integrated plan involving projects and people to bring the churches to maturity and freedom in Christ.

Give

• The team members can’t visit all of the villages. So the Shaws want to establish an FM radio station to enable regular Christian music and teaching to reach throughout the canyon, for the spiritual growth of believers and for evangelizing those who haven’t yet heard of Christ. (Project # PE 91885)
• Recognizing that Christ can break the grip of alcoholism, several churches are partnering with SIM to develop a biblical counseling and rehabilitation program for the region. (Project # PE 91887)

Go

The Shaws say, “People are open to the Gospel here, and we need help." Here is a sample of opportunities:

• Church planting
• Children’s and youth ministry
• Radio ministry
• English teaching
• Administration
• Construction and maintenance
• Women’s discipleship
• Medical care and health teaching

Find out how God can use you

Pray

• for good health and energy for the Shaws.
• for the Peruvian missionaries as they evangelize and plant churches in surrounding towns.
• for the development of planned projects in Cotahuasi.
• for more workers to join the Cotahuasi team.

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Information provided by Brad and Gina Shaw, Carolynn Chen, and Chris Conti. Photos by Brad Shaw and Chris Conti.