PERUVIAN PATRIARCH

In 1937, Pastor Rubio Beltazar challenged young men in his church to take missions seriously. The Holy Spirit used his words particularly to inspire Juan Cueva with the task of taking the gospel to the world.

Celestina Cueva gave birth to thirteen children. Ten of them survived and live today in the United States, Sweden, Peru, and Great Britain. Of the ten, three are pastors and all but one are serving God in some capacity. Each of them grew up listening to Senior Juan’s passion. His vision led to the formation of Iglesia Misionera Evangelica (I.M.E.), an organization with six churches in three nations. In the last five months, I have met Senior Cueva and seven of his children. I have spoken with Pastor Samuel by telephone in the U.K. It is absolutely inspiring to see the passion for God that radiates from this family. Watching 93 year-old Senior Cueva smile and sing worship songs to God, one cannot help but praise the Lord for His hand of power at work through this humble man of faith.

Meditation

Proverbs 27:19—As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

Hebrews 13:7—Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Juan Cueva ran a business making and selling hats. But his legacy will not be human head-coverings. His reward will be a crown of eternal jewels for the men and women around the world who found Jesus because he would not stop asking, “What can we do for preaching the gospel?” When I.M.E. asked for volunteers to go to Spain and no one stepped forward, Senior Cueva led by example at the young age of 83. At the airport in Barcelona, he shared with a security guard, “You conquered our land for your country, we are going to conquer your country for the Lord.”

Now the same Lord Who inspired this wonderful man, may be speaking to your heart. The globe that Juan Cueva yearns to see reached still rotates around its axis. God wants to use you to take the saving knowledge of Jesus to those who are lost in sin. Are you ready to go? Are you willing to walk by faith? Don’t surround your life with “can’ts”. Don’t fear the Holy Spirit’s promptings. You may be the one through whom nations may be touched to the glory of God and the advance of His kingdom!

Inspiration

A saint is one who, on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, has had the center of his life radically altered, and has deliberately given up his right to himself.—Oswald Chambers in The Shadow of an Agony