" . . . go and make disciples of all nations . . .”  Jesus (Matthew 28:19)

Vina del Rey Story

Vina del Rey (Vineyard of the King) is a church movement founded by Pastor Gerardo and his family. The movement began with a word from God more than two decades ago. The story of Vina del Rey's origin is one of obedience, faith and trust.

In late 80's, the man we know as Pastor Gerardo held a full-time position as a seminary professor in Peru. He was happy and believed he was doing just what he was supposed to be doing.

One day while Pastor Gerardo was on a trip in the Amazon jungle, at a moment when he was knee-deep in mud, he heard something. He heard a voice call to him. A voice that was more that a though or emotion. It was real. It was audible and demanded his attention. Here he was alone in the Amazon jungle, knee-deep in mud and God speaks to him. Pastor Gerardo remembers God telling him three times, "I want you to be a full-time pastor". He says that he questioned God and replied by telling God he would obey, but God has to tell his wife Persia.

When Pastor Gerardo arrived home, he told his wife that God told him to become a full-time pastor. Eventhough the change of profession meant the family would possibly suffer hardships, Persia said if that is what God told you He wants you to do then that is what we must do. There was no doubt. So Pastor Gerardo quit a good job in a country with rampant unemployment and poverty and entered the ministry to become a full-time pastor.

First you have to understand that many of the families in Chincha support their families by working from sun up to sun down in the fields. These parents are forced to leave their children alone at home to care for themselves during the day and many of the children end up wandering the streets in gangs. The plan God revealed was for Pastor Gerardo to establish a daycare for these children. Out of obedience, he started a ministry called Vaso de Leche (cup ofmilk ministry). He promised parents that he would look after their children, feed them two meals a day and help keep them out of trouble. Without resources, the meals consisted of poewerded milk. While the children were under his care, they were taught the alphabet, introduced to bible stories, the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. Through this daycare ministry, the church was started.

There came a point when some of the children who attended the daycare needed more than simple daycare. It was then that God told Pastor Gerardo to build a school and once again he obeyed. Since the first class was formed, the school would grow as needed and when it was cable of sustaining the growth. Today, George Washington Carver Academy has the equivelant of our pre-school trhough tweleth grade with an everage enrollment of two hundred children.

As the school grew and the children developed, there became a need to train new leaders. For this need, a three-year bible institute was created. . to train new teachers and pastors. Today there is an average of seven to ten individuals attending the institute at any given time. Part of the pastoral training requires new pastors to plant a new church. This is part of Vina del Reys evangelical strategy for Chincha and Peru. To date, there has been five new evangelical churches planted in areas that may not otherwise hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Gerardo and his family was and still is obedient to the call of God on their lives and are dedicated to serving Him. Through their ministries many families have been saved from an eternity without God, leaders have been developed and sent out to spread the good news, and countless others have been give the opportunity to hear the truth about our loving savior, Jesus Christ.

Vina del Rey stands as a testimony to the greatness of God. It is symbolic of His love for us and shows us that when we are committed to being obedient to God and operating in His will, anything can be accomlished. What started out as a humble daycare has been raised by God to a powerful movement of His spirit.

For complete information on this mission opportunity contact Wayne Williams
or Connie Fraley at 772-5630.

Our vision is to send every adult member of our church on a short term mission trip.