Our partnership in Comas, Peru began with Pastor Mario Perez in the Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA) Church of Comas in 2003.
We recently captured some of Mario’s reflections about his life, church, and relationship with Fellowship.
Fellowship: What excites you about the future?
Mario: I am excited to be a part of “new beginnings” and the great opportunities God has in and through the church in Comas. I am excited that our church can send and support missionaries who spread the Gospel of salvation to different parts of Lima and the world.
Personally, I am really looking forward to this last stage of my life: I am 62 years old, and I want to complete God’s assignment as an approved servant. It is my prayer and my desire to continue loving my wife as much or more than I have during almost 40 years of marriage. I want to continue being the father that my children require and a grandfather who inspires my current and future grandchildren. I also wish to share the pastoral experience God has given me with my son-in-law (also a pastor) and my daughter (Debbie), so that they continue to spread the Kingdom of God perhaps much better than we have done.
Fellowship: What is God doing in your life right now, and where do you see God working?
Mario: God continues to give me a huge burden and concern for the people who do not know Christ, both in the Comas district and throughout the northern area of Lima. I am convinced that God has called me back to Comas to experience the manifestation of his power and his glory once again in the midst of a united work between Fellowship and us. The new generations (children, teens, young adults, young professionals, and young people called to pastoral ministry) are my priority. I believe that God wants us to disciple, pastor, train, and work with them.
On a personal level, Rosa and I are empty-nesters. It is a new and beautiful stage of our lives. A few years ago I thought of resting in this stage of my life, after more than 40 years serving God. But God has surprised us by giving us new strength and challenging dreams for this stage, almost telling us like Joshua and Caleb: “there remains yet very much land to possess” (Joshua 13:1, ESV)
Fellowship: Can you say something about when you were our partner in Comas in the beginning? What were your initial perceptions about Fellowship and how have they changed/been confirmed during that time?
Mario: I remember that 20 years ago both your presence and the additional financial and material help was like a balm—medicine for our church in Comas. God blessed us abundantly during that time. I believe that times have changed. The pandemic has changed the essence of people. The political and social crisis has substantially changed and worsened the mood in many countries, especially ours. But our God has not changed. And, in the desire to serve and glorify him alone, our hearts (the people of Fellowship and CMA Comas) have not changed either.
Rosa and I are sure that God has brought us back to Comas, to continue what he has started just as he called Jacob back to Canaan with a promise: “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15, ESV).
Fellowship: Why is the partnership between Fellowship and the church in Comas so important?
Mario: First of all, I firmly believe that this relationship between churches actually began in the heart of God. Because it is from the heart of God, this united work of the Spirit has continued and grown for more than 20 years. Secondly, this work in unity continues to be a great example and model in the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Peru, in its
duration and in its diversity of work inside and outside the church.
For this reason, I have the hope that, if we remain very close to God, listening to his instructions and striving to strengthen this united work that he started, we will witness the greatest spiritual harvest of children, young people, adults, and the elderly for the Kingdom of God.
Fellowship: Why are the funds we send so important?
Mario: To build something important and transcendent for God, we need both arms (Fellowship/Comas) and divine help. Throughout all these years, Fellowship has been the arm of strength and hope to continue advancing the Kingdom of God. I believe that your material help in the next years will be vitally important to achieving the vision God is setting before us.
Mario left Comas in 2007 to serve in Christian Missionary Alliance’s (CMA) national and corporate leadership. At that time, pastor Angel Barrientos became our partner and the senior pastor of the CMA churches in Comas. Earlier this year, Angel was elected President of the CMA Church in Peru (overseeing 300+ of the denomination’s churches throughout the country) after Mario had served in that position for multiple terms. Mario has returned to Comas to lead the church as its senior pastor. Mario and Rosa have been married for almost 40 years and have three children, two grandchildren and a dog named Miel (which translates to “Honey” in English).
