Focus on Leo and Lourdes Calva

Leo and Lourdes (Lulu) Calva serve as church planters in southern Euador in a region called Loja.  Loja has less than 0.1 percent believers. During the last four years, the Calvas have planted a central church called Mustard Seed church which now has 200 people attending weekly.  From this church, they seek to establish other churches in rural areas. The Calvas are also working in partnership with Serving in Missions (SIM) to establish churches in three other places: Purunuma, Gonzaonama and Belen-Bolonia. Although the work in the province is difficult, people are close to responding to the gospel.

A large percentage of the Mustard Seed congregation are professional, middle class Ecuadorians. Many of the new believers are young people and young couples. As part of their ministry, the Calvas are serving the community through medical services, work projects and writing for the local newspaper. They also provide leadership for a group of pastors and their wives, and equip believers in Mustard Seed and other local churches such as the Quichua church. The Calvas’ envision establishing a church planting movement that also emphasizes serving more vulnerable people in Ecuador. They also hope Ecuadorians become a missionary force throughout the world.

Leo and Lourdes met while on a short term missions trip to Spain. After the trip, Leo returned to Rio Grande Institute in Texas to finish his studies, while Lourdes returned to serving in her church and in a mission agency with a ministry on the border of Mexico.  They later married and moved to the Northwest to minister in a pastoral role at a church in McMinnville, Oregon for seven years. During this time, they went on a short term missions trip to Ecuador, where God spoke to their hearts to begin a church planting movement in Loja, Ecuador.

MINISTRY AT A GLANCE  

Primary Focus: Church planting and developing leaders for the churches established.

 The People: Loja is a place with less than 0.1 percent believers. In the province they are working, at least 30 towns with 2,000 people in each community do not have any evangelical church or any kind. People are very tolerant of materialism, sensualism, migration and drug addictions.

 Major Challenges: Help believers grow in their love for God and commitment to serving their local church. Assist the Ecuadorian church in becoming a missionary force.

 Prayer Focus: For Leo and Lourdes to be able to make a difference through the churches they are planting and for protection over their lives. They have experienced persecution from the Catholic church.

            Located on the Pacific coast of South America and straddling the equator from which it draws it’s name

The nation of Ecuador is roughly the size of Nevada. The Andes Mountains form two parallel ridges extending the length of the country from north to south. One of the world’s highest active volcanoes, Cotopaxi, is located in the highland plateau region between these ridges.

             A mix of indigenous communities, groups of Spanish origin and descendants of African slaves, Ecuador is a melting pot of Latin American cultures. Quito, the capital, was once the center of activity of the ancient Incan empire. Today, a small percentage of the population descended from European colonists makes up the wealthiest and most powerful group. Ecuadorians of native and mixed ancestry rank far below this class. Many of those living in rural areas suffer from poverty, malnutrition and illnesses.

             More are employed by agriculture than any other economic activity. Ecuador produces a wide variety of goods from foodstuffs such as bananas, cocoa and shrimp to tropical woods such as mahogany. They are the world’s leading exporter of balsa wood. The nation also has substantial oil resources.

Pray For Our World

Partners

Rob & Martine Karch: Please pray that God would raise up leaders who would shepherd newly transformed lives in St. Jerome. Pray for the family for continued emotional resiliency. Praise that they have received funds to assist with some of the financial needs they have.

Agape House: Please pray that they can witness to the Treasures on Main staff that Jesus Christ is the only answer to the problems in life.

Wendell & Margie Geary: Please pray that the Lord will move some of the remaining doctors to remain as general practitioners to serve at Bethesda.  Pray also  for the ’next adventure’ in June. Wendell and Margie are taking a group of 8 to Bethesda. Four will consider missions work there; four will do eye surgery. Pray for wisdom, strength and health.  Continue to pray for the tax free import permit for the container that was shipped in December that still remains in storage in Borneo.