The 5^th Annual Quichua Pastors and Wives' Leadership Conference at Peniel Theological Seminary in Riobamba, Ecuador celebrated the fifth anniversary of the seminary's ministry.

The seminary began with 13 students and now has over 170 students in Riobamba and extensions in Guayaquil, Quito, Pallatanga and Guaranda. New centers are planned this year for Cuenca and another in Quito.  

Wil serves as International Coordinator and a Bible and theology professor at the extensions. At the pastors’ conference he gave six presentations on the church, missions and personal evangelism. Each participant received a copy of Wil's manual on personal witnessing, Evangelismo en Profundidad. This manual is used in the three-day and five-day evangelism conferences in Latin America.

Wil speaking at the Abide in Christ Pastor's Conference at Peniel Theological Seminary.

“If a church is not involved in world missions, it will die. The pastor is the key to world missions. If a pastor does not have a passion for world missions, his congregation won’t either.”

Lenin and Nellie de Janon joined Wil in giving presentations at the Pastor and Wives Conference. Lenin and Nellie served as missionaries for 33 years in the Spanish language broadcast at H.C.J.B., the Voice of the Andes, Quito, Ecuador. Lenin's radio programs were heard around the world. He pastored Tabernáculo de Fe Evangelical Church in Quito for many years. Lenin also served as the Spanish voice and producer of Adrian Roger's radio program El Amor que Vale for another 20 years. Nellie spoke to pastors' wives on the ministry of the a pastor's wife. Lenin preached on the call of God, the infiltration of false doctrines in the churches, and family foundations. Lenin's messages and teaching were well received by the pastors.

Lenin de Janon is the speaker on Adrian Roger’s program in Spanish,  El Amor que Vale. He is shown here speaking to pastors at our conference.

Alberto Copa, Rector of the Seminary teaching First Corinthians each morning.

Alberto Copa, the Rector of Peniel Theological Seminary, gave excellent expositions on Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. He addressed many of the problems facing the Quichua churches in Ecuador. One of the greatest joys of my life is team teaching and working together in mission projects with Alberto. Lenin said to me, "Wil, you can see the hand of God on Peniel Theological Seminary. It is definitely a work of God."

Alberto teaching First Corinthians at conference.

Lenin speaking to pastors and wives.

Lenin jotted off this summary of the Peniel trip.

"It was a privilege and a blessing for both of us to be invited by Wil Pounds as conference speakers during the 5^th Congreso Internacional del Seminario Teológico Peniel. Also, it was a tremendous challenge to bring before faculty and students a variety of topics that were thoroughly explained in the light of what the Bible and Jesus´ teachings.

"Nélida was very much at home talking about the women´s role as wife, mother, pastor´s wife and friend. Her conferences, personal testimony and  her experiences as missionary at HCJB, pastor´s wife, mother of 3 children and her passion for handicapped children that developed into the formation on “Campamento Esperanza”, was the forerunner (latter on) of Fundacion FUNNVAQ, the group of ladies of different evangelical churches that worked as “voluntarias” at the Hospital Vozandes in Quito.

"Overall, the participation of the ladies was outstanding, especially during the conference based on 1 Cor. 1:3:1-4.

Lenin, Nellie and Gloria Gusnay Greek professor at Peniel.

"Lenin tackled the following themes: Infiltration of false doctrines in the church; basis principles for a Christian family; the purpose of the church and missions; autopsy of dead church; women´s ministry in the church and the reality of today´s church.

"Although some of the themes were debatable from the human standpoint they were not from the Bible´s standpoint.

"The graduation ceremony was very moving, and I thank God for those who now are well trained and prepared for the sowing of the Word of God.

"Thanks so very much for allowing us to be part of your precious ministry.

"Pastor Lenin De Janon and Lcda. Nélida De Janon."

Wil also gave the challenge to the new seminary graduates on Wednesday night. This was his second year to give the commencement address at graduation.

Wil speaking at Peniel graduation.

Evening service at Pastor and Wives' Conference at Peniel Theological Seminary.

Over 400 pastors and wives came from all areas of Ecuador.

Nellie de Janon speaking at the women's conference at Peniel.

After the Leadership Conference, Alberto Copa, Alejandro Guacho and I drove to Puyo and held a two day evangelism and leadership training workshop in a large Quichua church. Puyo is the gateway to the eastern jungle of Ecuador.  

Always a joy to have a pastor’s child running around!

Abide in Christ Evangelism and Church Leadership workshop in Quichua Evangelical Church in Puyo, Ecuador

Alejandro, Damaso Francisco and I spent four days in Chivias, a Shuar community, teaching Bible classes, and preparing for a Vacation Bible School team coming from Alejandro's Quichua church to share Christ with children. Two hundred children are  expected to attend. Wil will return to Chivias in September with Dr. John Howell and Don Dumas to attend to dental needs in the community, and share Christ through personal witnessing and Bible teaching.

Alejandro giving refreshments to Shuar children at Bible study in Chivias, Ecuador.

One of the greatest joys was having Nancy Copa with us for the conference. Nancy was seriously injured in an automobile accident in November 2014. We continue to pray for her recovery. Her desire is to be back serving alongside her husband in the Quichua Churches.

Everyone wanted to hug Nancy and give warm prayers at the conference.

what you can do

Partnership missions give you an opportunity to become personally involved in what God is doing in world missions.

Pray daily for the work in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Give financially.  We are a faith mission and are dependent upon your financial gifts. Please pray about becoming involved in the support of our mission.  As long as the Lord provides I will give … $25 ___  $50___  $100 $___  or $ ____monthly or a one-time gift of $ _____.

Current Needs:

q     Pastor and Church Leadership Training Ministry in Ecuador.  Each trip costs approximately $4,000 and covers airplane tickets, room and board, rent for truck, gas, local workers, textbooks and food for students.

q     Pray for Alberto Copa as he coordinates our work in Ecuador.   

q     Pray for evangelism saturation teams to come for door-to-door evangelism and nightly rallies.

q     Pray for scholarships for Peniel Theological Seminary students in Riobamba, Ecuador.

q     Pray for Aristides Bustillo and his ministry in Nicaragua. Pray for Evangelism in Depth workshops with   Nicaragua Baptist pastors.

q     Pray for wisdom to know where the Lord is leading to conduct evangelism workshops, and where to focus teaching  ministry. We have been asked to return every three months and teach Ecuador pastors.

q     Pray for an open door to begin a church in the hometown of Pablo Servion  in Lepaterique, Honduras.

q     We are presenting one-day, three-day weekend, and one week Evangelism Workshops in churches in Latin America.  These are proven practical and effective personal evangelism workshops for pastors and church leaders. The vision for training rural pastors began with a course on personal evangelism while serving as a missionary in Honduras.

Alberto and Nancy Copa coordinate Abide in Christ in Ecuador. Alberto is a Quichua pastor with 20 years' experience and Rector of Peniel Theological Seminary.

Alberto is a pastor and leader in the Quechua Evangelical Churches in Chimborazo Province, Ecuador. He is Director of the Peniel Theological Seminary in Riobamba, Ecuador. He has over 20 years' experience pastoring bilingual churches in Ecuador. He and his wife are both graduates of an evangelical seminary in Bolivia.