When he came to serve as senior pastor of the Christian Missionary Church in Comas in 2007, Pastor Angel Barrientos was deeply burdened by the poverty and hopelessness of the moms and their children who lived in the hills around Comas. It was very personal to him, as he was raised in a similar circumstance and understood the impact it has on your future. The church had tried multiple ministries and forms of outreach to draw the unreached into relationship with the Lord and a body of believers. But their success was limited.
Pastor Angel was looking for something that would impact their lives in practical, relational, and spiritual ways – something that would serve as a tool to transform their lives in Jesus. In 2010, he met FBC member and lay leader Dick Gygi, the man who would help lead the process to make that a reality. By 2011 the partnership of FBC, Hope International, and the CMA church in Comas were working together by forming small savings and credit association groups to help break the cycle of physical and spiritual poverty.
While teaching the biblical habit of saving and financial stewardship, the savings groups continue today to operate as one of the church’s evangelistic outreach tools. Many people who began their walk with the Lord in savings groups are now active members of the church in Comas.
In 2024, Pastor Mario Perez returned to Comas to lead the CMA churches there. He is also very supportive of the savings group ministry. It ties in directly to his main priorities for leading the church into the future by cultivating leaders from within and personally mentoring the next generation. Working toward that, in 2025 there are 51 members who are students in the CMA Seminary. That is the greatest number of members of one church attending seminary at one time in any CMA church in Peru!
Please take the next 3 minutes to see how the savings groups have helped Lisset Rojas, Director of the program in Comas discover Jesus and follow Him in her calling and is enabling her in turn to help others do the same.
Lisset’s Story: “How many people like me?
If you are interested in learning more about the savings groups, sponsoring a student minister, or participating in a mission trip where you can experience this ministry (as well as other of the church’s ministries) in person, please contact Sandy ButtersMcKean at . Our next Peru Family Team Mission Trip is October 3-12, 2025, and now is the time to start planning and praying toward your involvement in it.
