Last week, pastors and leaders from 14 IBC (Iglesia Bíblica Cristiana) churches in Peru gathered with their spouses for a retreat. This meaningful time of fellowship, encouragement, and teaching included SAM missionaries Donna and Rick Martin, as well as TEAM missionaries Jason Sheets and Seth and Jessica Malec, all of whom have planted churches with the IBC.

Praise God for this opportunity to strengthen and equip these leaders and their spouses as they serve their communities. Pray for continued encouragement, unity, and renewal as they lead their churches and share the Gospel across Peru.

After several years of training and ministry in Guatemala, Nilton and Kaylee Solier have returned to Peru to join the SAM team in Lima! They are passionate about mobilizing the Peruvian Church to care for the vulnerable.

Please pray for God to provide them with a good place to live, meaningful connections in their new church and community, and clear guidance as they step into ministry. Pray that their work in discipleship, outreach, and leadership development will bear fruit and bless the most vulnerable in Peru.

It’s summertime in Pucallpa, Peru! Iglesia Evangélica of San José, a team from Valley Christian in Wisconsin, and SAM missionaries and kids came together for a 5-day VBS, Playa Roca Rompeolas. Each day, over 100 children learned life-changing truths from God’s Word, like “Truth comes from God” and “We all need Jesus.”

Praise God for the 150 kids who joined on the final day and for the servant-hearted team who made it all possible. Pray that the seeds planted in these young hearts will grow into a lifelong love for Jesus and His truth.

This season, we’re Celebrating Lives Changed and reflecting on answered prayers from 2024!

In February, we prayed for Mike Anderson and the Shipibo pastors in Peru as they worked on Bible curriculum translation. Throughout the year, Mike partnered with another missionary to support the Shipibo Bible Institute in Nuevo Paraíso (New Paradise). Together, they worked with Indigenous pastors to update the Bible curriculum and reopen the institute after a season of inactivity and transition.

Mike has also had the joy of helping repair and improve the campus facilities. He made several trips to Nuevo Paraíso in January, February, and August, and even hosted a session with the pastors in Pucallpa. On his most recent trip in August, a team from Minnesota joined the effort, building a much-needed bathroom block and adding steps to the cafeteria meeting room.

Pray that God will lead more students to the Bible Institute, equipping them to study His Word and share His truth in their communities!

Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing messages of gratitude from missionaries across Latin America.

From David and Lisa Speyers:

“We are David and Lisa Speyers, and we live in Pucallpa, Peru. We are thankful for our family, for the start of the rainy season, and for the church that we have been attending, Camino de Gracia. We want to wish you a ‘Happy Thanksgiving’!”

At SAM, we are grateful for the Speyers family and their ministry with SAMAIR in Peru.

Follow along on SAM’s Facebook and Instagram to see a video from the Speyers family!

Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing messages of gratitude from missionaries across Latin America.

From Mike and Marcy Brown, serving at SAM Academy in Peru:

“We are so thankful for the redeeming love of God and that in His great mercy He doesn’t leave us where we are but continues working in us. We are thankful God brought us to Peru and for almost 10 years we have watched His faithfulness in caring for our school and in spreading His love and Word throughout the jungle region. We are so deeply thankful for our two amazing kids and the great things God is doing through them and in them. And finally, though there are so, so many things to be thankful for, we praise God for the gift of community and the incredible people He has surrounded us with.”

We are thankful for Mike and Marcy and how they care for missionary kids at SAM Academy!

Follow along on SAM’s Facebook and Instagram to see a photo of the Brown family.

Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing messages of gratitude from missionaries across Latin America.

From Dave and Marilyn Simmons, serving in Peru:

We are thankful to the Lord, first of all, for saving us and giving us the privilege of serving with SAM for almost 50 years now in the countries of Peru and Bolivia. We are especially thankful to the churches and individuals who have faithfully partnered with us for all these years. And we are very thankful and blessed to have two of our three children, and six of our eight grandchildren, serving along with us in Peru.

We are thankful for Dave and Marilyn and their many years of witness to the Gospel!

SAM is thankful for our Interns from this summer and fall who worked alongside missionaries and local believers to gain a better understanding of God’s love for the world. We are grateful for how God is working in their hearts as they seek to follow Him. 

Follow along on SAM’s Facebook and Instagram to see a video from the Simmons and photos of our Interns!

Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing messages of gratitude from missionaries across Latin America.

From Rick and Donna Martin:

“We serve in Ayacucho, Peru. We are very thankful for many reasons. One reason is the fact that God saves sinners like us. Also, our church plant in Ayacucho has received a Peruvian pastor, and he is doing a wonderful job. We are thankful for the birth of our fourth grandchild. Last, we are thankful to be in the U.S. currently and enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves!”

We are thankful for Rick and Donna!

Follow along on SAM’s Facebook and Instagram to see a video from Rick and Donna.

Praise God for an incredible time of fellowship at the Peru SAM Family conference! Our team spent a refreshing week together on the beautiful coast of Peru. Jon Freeman joined us from the U.S. office to teach from 1 Peter, while the SAM Academy kids and staff led us in heartfelt worship. Jennie Hopper provided much-needed missionary care and counseling. It was a special time to share ministry updates, grow together, and be reminded that we are truly “on mission together.”

Praise God for the work happening at the Mazamari Center in Eastern Peru, a hub for strengthening the Ashaninka church. Mike Anderson joined a team from Pucallpa to give the center a “facelift.” What an improvement! (You can find photos on 

Over the years, this building has hosted the Ashaninka Bible Institute, pastors’ conferences, and health and carpentry courses. Today, the center supports ACCONASEP (Christian Association for Native Communities of the Peruvian Jungle) in partnership with SAM. Its purpose is to develop Ashaninka church leadership, promote community health, and serve as a hostel during travel. Please pray for continued growth, the Indigenous church leaders, and SAM continued involvement and support of this ministry.

Mazamari is located in a remote area of Peru, it can be a challenge to get there.  While the roads are major highways, about half are dirt/gravel through the mountains.  It is a beautiful trip, but is only safely possible in the peak of dry season because of landslides.

For photos of the facelift and roads, please check out SAM’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.