The Ministry of the Word in Quechua

“I never had any use for the church or God,” said Antonio, a speaker of North Conchucos Quechua from Peru. “But a couple of years ago I was out on the mountainside cutting firewood. I looked down and saw two young girls walking along the path below. As I was trimming off some branches from a tree, a big rock at the base of the tree came loose and rolled down the mountainside, hitting one of the girls on the head, killing her instantly.

“An elderly lady who saw the whole thing told the town authorities and they put me in jail for killing the girl. I knew what could happen if I were convicted so I cried out to the Lord all night long saying, ’Lord, if you will get me out of this, I will serve you the rest of my life.’

“A few days later, the father of the girl came and told me that he forgave me, claiming it was an accident. I thanked the Lord profusely and when I was released from jail I went to the village priest, told him what had happened and asked if I could be a catechist (lay worker).”

Antonio, attending a training course to learn how to reach his people for Christ using the video of the Gospel of Luke, continues, & ldquo;Shortly after that, he sent me here for training as a Quechua Scripture promoter. For the past three years I’ve had the joy of serving the Lord, visiting all the villages in our parish and teaching my people His Word using the Luke video.

Another participant, Santos, said, “Two years ago I was touched by the Lord and wanted to serve him as a catechist. So I went to the priest and was taught hymns, prayers and readings from the Bible in Spanish to help my people. The next year I was sent to check the recently translated Pauline epistles in Quechua. I was so blessed that I knew that the Lord wanted me to teach His Word to others. But when I got home I had all kinds of opposition from my family and friends and I was greatly discouraged.

“Then one night I had a dream that I was walking down a long, straight road. Sensing something was behind me, I turned around and was surprised to see crowds of people following me. I was shocked. Then, off to my right I saw another man leading a small group of people down a winding trail over rocks and through thorns and cactus. They were all bruised and their clothes were ragged. Soon they disappeared over the edge of the cliff and I didn’t see them again.

“Wondering what to make of it, I looked around at all the people following me. Then the Lord said, ‘That’s the way I want you to lead my people—down the straight and level road—not like the other leader.’

“When I awoke I was sure the Lord had called me, so I went to the priest and told him. He sent me here again for this training course to learn how to teach God’s Word to our people using the video of the Gospel of Luke. Then, just before coming here, the Lord changed the attitude of my family and relatives so they are now happy that I’m serving the Lord.”

The men in the class heard from Luke chapter 10, how Jesus chose seventy disciples and sent them out, two by two, as sheep among wolves and how He gave His disciples authority over all the power of the enemy. One of the experienced men, Serapio, said, “You’re right! Whenever I’m tired and worn out, a big man comes to attack me in my dreams. I have to rise up and reprimand him in the name of Jesus. I say, ‘You can’t touch me, I’m covered by the blood of Jesus. I command you to leave me in the name of Jesus!’ At t hat the attacker falls and scrambles in the dust and finally disappears.”

Others also told how God had led them into ministry, how they were upheld from the attacks and discouragement of the enemy, and how their lives had been changed through reading the Word in their own language—in Quechua.