I made it!

Last week I passed my oral comprehensive exam and dissertation defense.

Comprehensive exam: On Thursday, March 19, Drs. M. Daniel Carroll R. (my advisor) and Richard Schultz grilled me on the field of OT studies and what it means to be an OT scholar who holds to evangelical convictions. They pushed to see what I knew, how well I could articulate it, and how I connect the dots across a variety of areas in OT scholarship. It was a pleasure to learn from these two amazing scholars who earned PhDs from the University of Sheffield and Yale respectively. For them to give me their stamp of approval as an OT scholar means so much.

Dissertation defense: On Friday, in front of the Wheaton PhD students and faculty, Drs. J. Andrew Dearman, Richard Schultz, and Amy Peeler interrogated me from m 9:30 to 11:15 am. It was intense, difficult, rigorous, and fun! What an honor for these scholars to take the time to read the 337 pages of content that I wrote. They pushed me to clarify different parts of my dissertation and gave me ideas for how to make this work better. I passed with minor revisions!

From this experience, it could not be clearer to me that Wheaton desires to produce scholars who engage the academic world with rigor, seriousness, and evangelical convictions and pursue their vocation as service to Christ and His church. It will be an honor to walk across the stage in May to receive my Wheaton PhD.

But this leads to an important question…

Why did we spend so much time (five years!!!) and effort on pursuing this degree?

Adriana and I have asked ourselves this question countless times. Often the cost seemed far too high. But we kept coming back to the same thing.

This degree sets us up to address one of the greatest needs in the Latin American church: providing high-quality and contexualized pastoral and ministerial training.

In Latin America, most ministry leaders have no formal ministry or Bible education; there are very few high-quality resources being produced in Spanish, and few institutions exist that are dedicated to equipping Christian leaders. People that want training often must leave the country.

Think about that for a second… can you imagine having to leave your country to pursue training?

My dream is to train pastors, professors, and writers who go on to teach other pastors, professors, and writers so that the next generation of evangelical Peruvian leaders do not have to leave the country, as I did, to gain the training they need.

Earning a Wheaton PhD helps meet these needs in three ways:

It provides me with the credentials that the government will want to see as institutions strengthen and formalize.
It opens doors for writing and producing materials from and for the Latin American church. I can’t wait to begin to reflect theologically on different areas of the Peruvian reality to support the church in pursuing faithfulness to Jesus.
Far more important than credentials, Wheaton pushed me to my limits, causing me to reflect deeply and grow in countless ways. In short, thanks to Wheaton I will be much more useful!

To conclude, I’m posting the “Acknowledgement” section of my dissertation to say a big THANK YOU to the many people that have supported our family on this journey.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have heard it said that finishing a dissertation is like giving birth. However, having witnessed the births of my four children, I can safely say that the similarities are minimal. I offered Adriana little more than moral support when my kids were born. We were thankful for the presence of doctors, but Adriana really did all the work. In contrast, I could not have produced this dissertation without a host of people.

Dr. M. Daniel Carroll Rodas, when we met, I was visiting Wheaton as the Director of Admissions for the seminary I attended and was recruiting students for our programs. One of my professors recommended that I meet with you and express my interest in the Wheaton PhD program. Honestly, it was a dream I had already decided not to pursue; I did not think I had a shot. But that first conversation turned this recruiter into the recruited. I found a kindred spirit, a person living betwixt and between cultures. From that day, you made me feel welcome and capable. Throughout this process, you have taught me so much about how to read the OT, how to bring my whole person to interpretation, and how to be a scholar. Your encouragement, wisdom, and feedback have sharpened my thinking and improved my writing. I am thankful to not only call you my advisor but also mentor, friend, and (of course always) Dr. Carroll. ¡Gracias! And Joan, thank you for your hospitality and care!

Dr. Richard Schultz, thank you for your prompt and precise feedback. Thanks to your green pen, I believe I finally (mostly) understand how to use commas and dashes. Your input made this project much better! To the entire PhD committee—Drs. Andrew Abernethy, Marc Cortez, Amy Peeler, Doug Moo, and Esau McCaulley—your investment in students makes the Wheaton program unique. Dr. Daniel Treier, we share a seminary alma mater and a love for the Lions. I was so looking forward to hearing your thoughts on my work. Soon after we met, you told me that you had been praying for my family for years. In your last email, after your diagnosis, you told me that you still hoped to chair my defense “or at least party from afar.” I never imagined that you would party from heaven. You made me a better scholar and theologian.

To my cohort—Andy Iversen, Bethany Grainger, Sean Long, Virginia Johnston, David Cho, and Luke Boone—from our first days in German as we commiserated, laughed, and texted (and studied some too) through the ups and downs of the past five years, you all have been a joy! I cherish your friendship and have missed you dearly the past year-and-a-half.

To the PhD student body, I am thankful for class interactions, lunch discussions, and so much more. Our conversations varied from serious theological matters to ridiculousness galore that often put our joint venture into the realm of biblical and theological scholarship into proper perspective. To the other Carroll students—Daniel, Auburn, David, Josh, and Rachel—thanks for your camaraderie and companionship.

Gerardo Corpeño, eres un gran amigo. Me alegra muchísimo saber que seremos colegas con Mesa Global por muchos años. David Zamora, gracias por tu amistad y compañerismo. Felipe y Berni, su puerta siempre está abierta para recibirnos. Me encanta cuando nuestros diez hijos juegan juntos… es una locura hermosa. Ustedes son más que amigos, son una bendición increíble para nosotros.

I am so thankful for the many people at Fellowship Church of Carol Stream/All People’s Fellowship that supported my family for the three years we lived and ministered there: Josh, Danny and Mary, Mike and Glenda, Deb and Ron, Elliot, Barb and Tim, Phil and Penne, Mike and Jennifer, and Jonathan and Chelsea.

Redemption City Church, for the past thirteen years, you have been the family Adriana, the kids, and I have needed, first as we adjusted to life in the US, and then as we became Michigangsters and Grand Rapidians. You made leaving Grand Rapids hard and leaving a second time nearly impossible. Words cannot express my gratitude. Josh and Emily, Mike and Jamie, Stephen and Kristin, Sebastian, Zak, Katy, Susie, Alex and Abby, Kevin and Christy, Jon and Sarah, Dan, Jesse and so many more, thank you! To our many supporters, thank you for your generosity, for believing in our vision, and for committing to the global church! To my profs and colleagues at GRTS, especially Jonathan Greer and Mike Wittmer, thank you for the excellent training you provided. Thank you, David Baer and Mesa Scholars for continually inspiring me to employ my scholarship for the benefit of the global church.

ADIEL, Victor, Lucho y Camincha, Ramiro y Carmen, la gente de Gente Joven, ustedes cultivaron mi amor por las Escrituras y por la iglesia. Ustedes me enseñaron que tan hermoso es ser parte de “una familia llena de amor…”

To my siblings—Mark, Stephen, Maria, and Joshua—and their families, the past year-and-a-half living in the same city for the first time since 2004 has been so much fun. You inspire me by your excellence in your fields and by your passion. Thank you for your encouragement and support. Christina, thanks for help with French! Annie, thanks for your generosity. Flavio, tu sabes cuanto te quiero, aunque me digas mil veces “estudiador.”

It is hard to put my gratitude into words for you, Mom and Dad. Mom, you are one of four people, including myself, that have read my entire dissertation. You, more than anyone else, have made me the writer I am today. Your persistent love, dedication, and willingness to give of yourself inspire me. Dad, I have often thought, without irony or joking, “If I could become just half the man, half the father, half the Christian, half the scholar that you are, then I will have lived well.” I will keep striving to reach that goal.

Aila, Ilana, Isaia, and Imara. Se me llenan los ojos de lágrimas al escribir estas palabras. Ustedes probablemente no son conscientes de lo que han sacrificado para que yo pueda escribir esta disertación. Gracias por soportar mis malos humores, mi frustración, y mis muchas horas de estudio y trabajo. Ustedes son una alegría. Los amo.

Adriana Vilca. ¿Que te puedo decir? Las lágrimas que llenaron mis ojos ahora se están cayendo. Tu, más que nadie, has entregado de ti misma por amor. Decir gracias no es suficiente. Has sabido cuando cubrir mis debilidades y ofensas y cuando retarme a ser un mejor padre y esposo. Has sido una compañera perfecta. Te amo y estoy tan agradecido por tu amor, tu constancia, y tu presencia.

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever” (Rev 5:13)!

Andrew J. Panaggio

January 19, 2026

Back from the D.R., defense this week!

I returned late last Sunday night from a four-day trip to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where I taught survey of the Old Testament at the Seminario Teológico de Santiago (STS). For reflections on my visit to STS last August, see here.

Around 60 students attended this course—40 connected via Zoom and 20 in person. I tried to make the class very interactive, so we had a lot of conversation, wrestling with texts and theological issues raised by the text of the OT. It was fun to hear both from those that were physically present and from many of those that connected virtually.

Here is a bit of info about a few of the in-person students:

During the week, Adam works as a biotechnologist in the capital city of Santo Domingo, ensuring that tap water meets the necessary standards. On the weekends, he returns home to Santiago, two hours away, where he attends Oasis Christian church. He helps lead the youth ministry and is working on his diploma in theology.
Al serves at a Pentecostal church in Puerto Plata, a city on the northern coast of the island 1.5 hours away.
Another couple came Jarabacoa, 1 hr away, staying in a hotel two night to attend class.
Two other friends drove two hours from Santo Domingo to attend.

The demand for theological education is high! The students were excited and engaged throughout the course, even when class ended at 9:30 pm! Often in classes like these, professors from the US travel and teach via a translator. One student told me:

When I saw the picture promoting the class, I almost didn’t sign up because I thought you’d teach in English and someone would translate into Spanish. It’s so much better when we can learn in Spanish!

In the class, we studied the Old Testament, seeking to understand what God is doing in the world. We constantly asked two questions:

Who is the God of the Bible?
What does God expect of his people?

It was my prayer that the students would know God more through the Old Testament and that this course would help them to love God and serve him with humility, gratitude and faithfulness. One student commented:

This class helped me understand better the thread that knits the Bible together.

Thank you so much for your support of our ministry to train ministry leaders for Latin America!

PhD Tracker

This week I have my comprehensive exam (March 19) and dissertation defense (March 20)!

Please Pray

That I will have strength, perseverance, and a calm spirit as I defend my dissertation (three years of my life poured into this thing!).
That God would open doors as we seek to finish raising our monthly budget goal by June.
That God would put the details of our move in place (e.g., a shipping company, housing, all of the other details).

A taste of the OT

Throughout Genesis 1, the word “good” keeps showing up.

Day 1. Light… Good!
Day 3. Dry land and Seas… Good!
Day 3. Vegetation… Good!
Day 4: Sun, moon, and stars… Good!
Day 5: Sea animals, the great sea monsters(!), birds… Good!
Day 6: Land animals… Good!
Day 6: All that God had made… VERY GOOD!

It’s the same formula each time: “God saw that it was good!” God perceives, evaluates, and declares: GOOD!

In Genesis 3, another’s perceptive abilities take center stage. At the serpent’s prodding, the woman looks at the only prohibited tree, and…

the woman saw that it was good for food. (Gen 3:6)

She’s not totally wrong. All the trees are good for food and beautiful to boot (Gen 2:9). However, while this particular tree is just as good, beautiful, and full of food as the next, God said this one is not good for food.

Two processes of perception. Two opposite conclusions.

We all know what happens next. After seeing that it is good, she took and ate and gave some to the man and he ate.

For the first time, rather than trusting God, humanity does what is right in its own eyes, kicking off a cycle that we cannot break even to this day!

Judges 21:25 puts it like this:

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

What is the problem here? No king? I don’t think so. Things don’t get much better once kings arrive.

I can’t help but hear Genesis 3:6…

She saw, took, and ate.

Judges describes it as anarchy. But the missing king isn’t David or Solomon. The missing king is the king Moses said rules in Israel: Yahweh (Deut 33:5). The problem is that even though there is a king, everyone sees and does whatever they deem best.

What’s the point?

At the root of the sin of the first humans (and the sin of every other human since) is, among other things, a lack of trust in God. Rather that accepting God’s declaration about the nature of reality—the appropriateness of certain trees for food, and the inappropriateness of others—we reject God’s declaration. We decide not to trust that God knows what he’s talking about.

Often that decision is accompanied by and may even stem from a distorted view of God. The serpent encouraged the woman to wonder if God really had provided everything they needed. Or was he holding back?

My desire, goal, and calling is to help people (including myself!) to know God more and trust God better through studying the Old Testament.

Teaching in the D.R.

When I read the book of Exodus, I often have a hard time understanding, much less relating to, the Israelites. Israel suffers, performing back-breaking labor under an Egyptian king who stops at nothing to keep them in slavery, including killing their children. God hears their cries, demonstrates his power over rival “deities” and “kings,” shows that nature itself obeys his command, and frees them.

Not two months later, as they wander through the desert, the Israelites complain about their lack of food (Exod 16:1). Wait, what?! God just defeated the Egyptian army, the most powerful fighting force this side of the Euphrates without a gun, a drone, or a single casualty. Now they’re worried about food. What’s wrong with these people?!

That’s what I used to think. But then I thought about wandering through the desert. It’s hot, dry, and, well, food is sparse. My kids need a snack about an hour after their last meal. If I’m honest, I’m thinking about lunch about as soon as I finish my morning coffee. Maybe the Israelites aren’t crazy; maybe they are normal people worrying about normal things liking keeping their kids alive.

Judean Wilderness
Desert outside of Lima

Then I thought about my own life. I’ve never missed a meal. I’ve never lacked anything that I truly needed. And I worry all the time about all sorts of things. Will we have enough in retirement? Will we be able to send the kids to college? Will we have everything we need to make it back to Peru in July? Oh. Wow. Maybe I’m a bit like the Israelites after all.

The Israelites worry about real problems. God hears them and provides so that “you will know that I am Yhwh your God” (Exod 16:12). He brings a daily provision of “manna.” Here’s the catch: although there is more out there, they can only get what they need for one day. They must trust every day that God will provide more the next day. Gulp. Easier said than done. My prayer these days is that God would help us to trust in him for our daily manna.

Ministry Updates

From March 4–8, I will be in Santiago, Dominican Republic teaching Survey of the Old Testament for the Seminario Teológico de Santiago. In this class, I want to help students see the missional trajectory of the Old Testament. God created this world full of potential for flourishing, vibrant life. Not even the scourge of human sin can stop God’s vision. After humans turn from God, he enacts a plan to bring his vision to reality. The end goal is for God to live with his creation: Immanuel, “God with us!”

This course serves as a great example of the need and demand for theological education in Latin America:

I will have 60 students in this course—20 in person and 40 via Zoom. The students come from around the D.R. Most likely some will be in full-time ministry. The majority, however, will likely work outside of church, but desire to grow in their ability to know and serve the Lord. There is a high demand for theological education!

But there are serious challenges:

Lack of resources: I’ve searched for hours for an appropriate textbook. All the options I’ve found (all three that is) are translated from English. One is out of print. Two are 20+ years old. I settled on the best I could find. It is so frustrating to have an entire bookshelf of books in English and not even a handful in Spanish! Translations are great. But they are not the endgame. We need resources produced in Spanish from and for the Latin American church!
Lack of professors: I visited this seminary in August of last year. I LOVE what they are doing and am honored to support them by teaching. One of their biggest struggles is finding professors. Most of their teachers come from the US and do not speak Spanish, so a live interpreter makes the lesson understandable for the students. This is great. But it is not the endgame. We need highly trained profs from Latin America who teach in Latin America.

That is why my dream is:

To teach pastors, writers, and professors who go on to teach others so that the next generation does not have to leave their country (as I did back in 2013) to gain the training they need and desire!

Ministry Partner Tracker

Monthly support pledged

60 % of goal

We are planning on moving to Peru in July… our lease ends at the end of June, so we’re really trusting that God will provide by then. Our mission requires that we reach 100% before we can buy our tickets.

Family Update

Watching Goat with Isaia
Icebladding?
Fake-summer

For a variety of reasons, Adriana has decided to leave her job at Wedgewood. She has enjoyed working with children on the autism spectrum for the past few years. Going forward, she will be focusing on the countless things we need to do to prepare to move this summer.

Ph.D. Progress Tracker

March 19: Oral comprehensive exam
March 20: Dissertation defense

PhD Colleagues
Dr. Carroll
Turning in my dissertation

Please Pray

That we would find joy these last few months in the US while we also prepare to leave.
That God would give the kids peace during this transition. They are beginning to think about the practicalities of the move… can we bring this or that toy? We have to say goodbye to all our friends here and then find new friends in Peru?
That God would open doors as we seek to finish raising our monthly budget goal by June.
That God would give us energy and wisdom as we manage the details of an international move.

2026: THE Year

It generally takes me a while to remember that we are in a new year. That is not the case in 2026. My family and I have been looking forward to this year, in one way or another, for thirteen years! Adriana and I moved to the US in 2013 to pursue the training we needed for a life of vocational ministry, equipping ministry leaders and supporting church plants.

We planned on returning to Peru as quickly as possible—five years tops! We were anxious to be home and to get to the work to which God has called us. God had different plans!

Very quickly, God helped us realize that we needed to live and invest in the journey and not focus solely on the destination. We decided to do that, trusting that God would bring us back to Peru at the right time. Over the past thirteen years, we welcomed our four children as gracious gifts. We made friends that have become family. We found a new home in Grand Rapids. And, as they do, things also took some unexpected turns (e.g., we never imagined that I would pursue a PhD).

2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026

As we look back, we see more of what God was doing. He grew us in unexpected (and sometimes undesired) ways. He gave us not only educational training but invaluable life experience: parenting, dealing with conflict, managing finances, working with people very different from us, saying goodbye to friends and family, moving (twice!) without any idea how we would make ends meet or even where we would live, and much more. God made us (and continues to make us) into the people we needed to be for a life of vocational ministry.

In 2026, we finally return to Peru. We both leave home and return home. We both begin the labor—vocational ministry, training leaders and supporting church plants—and continue the labor—faithfully living as Christian people in every circumstance.

Nonetheless, in 2026, in an important sense, we arrive at the culmination of thirteen years of hard work.

We plan on moving to Peru in July. I’m so excited to begin serving with Centros Teológicos Bautistas (CTB) as the Director of Academics and OT Professor. This seminary meets a crucial need in Latin America, where most pastors have no formal training, by providing high-level theological education. Last year, CTB served 550 students and not just in Peru, but in 20 countries! I can’t wait to take part in what God is doing through this seminary.

For this to happen, we need to hit 100% of our monthly budget goal. We are off to a good start, having raised 57%! We aim to raise the final 43% by June.

Family Update

We greatly enjoyed our last Christmas and New Years with family in the US. We feasted on Peruvian food, played, laughed, and cried a bit together. Thank you, God, for family!

We are beginning to think through what we will bring to Peru, what we will sell, and what we will give away. The kids identified toys they can do without. Adriana has started contacting moving companies, as we will likely ship things we cannot easily acquire in Peru (mostly books and kitchen items).

Ph.D. Progress Tracker

Dissertation

January 5–20: Finished the final revisions of my defense draft
January 21: Printed my defense draft (400 pages…1600 total sheets of paper!)

The God of Israel and Hosea’s Yhwh: Knowing the Lord Through the Prophet’s Critique of Religion

January 23: I will turn in the defense draft in person accompanied by a host of PhD students
March 20: Dissertation defense (Two Old Testament scholars and one New Testament scholar will ask me questions about my dissertation for 2 hours. I will explain and defend my work. All current PhD students and faculty will be present in the room. I’m told it’s likely I’ll pass. I hope that is true! I’m both nervous and excited for this day!)

Comprehensive Exams

31 of 37 book reviews done
March 19: Oral comprehensive exam (1.5 hours of questioning by my advisor and another OT scholar).

Ministry Partner Tracker

Current monthly support

53 % of goal

Monthly support pledged

57 % of goal

Please Pray

That God would open doors as we seek to finish raising our monthly budget goal by June.
That God would give us energy and wisdom as we manage the details of an international move.
That we would find joy in our final 6-7 months in the US.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The date of our departure from the US nears! We aim to return to Peru in the summer of 2026. This has caused us to marvel all the more in the beauty of Michigan’s fall and to delight in little things like cutting down our own Christmas tree, the way sunlight sparkles on freshly fallen snow, and sweet time with family and friends.

Our family begins December with hearts full of gratitude. We are thankful for…

Time with extended family over the holiday break.
Turkey Bowl football with our church family.
The beginning of advent and the Christmas season.
Our real Christmas tree!
New supporters who have joined our team in the past few weeks.
Our many supporters who have faithfully supported us over the past year and a half.
We have met our outgoing budget goal!
And…believe it or not, Adriana and I both have realized that we are thankful for the snow (for possibly the first time ever)!

Over the past few months, we’ve had some ministry opportunities:

In October, Wheaton College held a reception in honor of Peruvian theologian Samuel Escobar. He passed away in April and bequeathed his personal writings to Wheaton’s archives. In 1974, Escobar gave a plenary talk at the First International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland organized by Billy Graham. His talk, along with René Padilla’s (an Ecuadorian theologian), played a significant role in shaping the global evangelical movement. By all accounts, he was an eminent scholar and a passionate follower of Jesus. At the reception, I had opportunity to translate the remarks of Wilfredo Canales, another Peruvian theologian. It was an incredible honor.

Also in October, I spoke to a group of Calvin University students interested in serving in missions. I shared how God moved Adriana and me to pursue missions. The students, all in their late teens or early twenties, asked great questions and manifested their desire to use their talents and skills to bring glory to God. Their passion energized me to push hard to finish my dissertation and get back to Peru!

Ph.D. Progress Tracker

Dissertation

Full draft done! I’m editing and revising each chapter and putting it all into one document. This will be the 3rd draft of some chapters and the 5th of others. By Dec 19, I need to submit a complete draft to my advisor.

Comprehensive Exams

31 of 37 book reviews done.
6 more to go.

Ministry Partner Tracker

Current monthly support

51 % of goal

Monthly support pledged

56 % of goal

Outgoing budget goal

100% of goal

Please Pray

The past 4-5 months I have put support raising on pause to focus on finishing my dissertation. This week, I am getting back to actively pursuing ministry partners to invest in our ministry. The Lord has and will continue to provide. Pray that God would open doors and bring the right people to our team.
The PhD process has been grueling for our entire family. There is now light at the end of the tunnel. Pray for continued energy and perseverance. Also, pray that we would treat each other with grace and patience.
Pray for wisdom as we plan and execute our move back to Peru.

Dominican Republic and the Gospel

59,000,000.

By 2050 there will be approximately 59 million more Christians in Latin America than there are now. 59,000,000!!!!!**

59 million = the ENTIRE POPULATION of Italy
59 million = the ENTIRE POPULATION of California plus Michigan
59 million = the ENTIRE POPULATION of Peru plus Bolivia

If there is only 1 pastor for every 100 Christians, then Latin America will need at least 590,000 new pastors in the next 24 years.

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity calculates that only 5% of Christian leaders around the world have formal training. If that trend continues, then only 29,500, at best, will receive the training they need, leaving 561,000 untrained.

These are the realities that spurred Pastor Álvaro Rodríguez and his team at the Seminario Teológico de Santiago in the Dominican Republic to organize a symposium attended by over 150 pastors from around the country to address “The Future of the Formation of Leaders in Latin America.” My father and I attended this symposium as guests.

The speakers impressed upon all attendees the urgent need for leaders to pursue holistic formation. Christians leaders must learn Bible/theology and must cultivate a Christlike, cross-shaped character. Pastors and leaders must be marked by love, humility, and sacrifice. They also must identify and develop others.

We all left the symposium encouraged because God is building the church. In the words of one of the speakers,

“This is the best time in all of history to be a Christian!!!! Never have there been more Christians in the world. Pessimism has no place!”

Yet, the attendees also left the symposium challenged by the task of forming a new generation of Christian leaders, the ones who will care for our own children and grandchildren. As the church shrinks in the U.S. and grows in Latin America, Latin American missionaries will likely lead the charge in evangelizing North American cities in the next generation.

Should we not, then, invest in preparing these leaders for the task? What could be more important?

Speaking of Latin American missionaries, Pastor Álvaro provides an excellent example. He was born and raised in Peru. In 1989, he was sent as a missionary to the Dominican Republic to help revitalize a local church.

In 1999, Pastor Álvaro’s wife Rosanna founded a Christian bilingual school, Oasis Christian School, as a ministry of their church. They opened the doors with 15 students. Today the school has 450 students and has been rated a top ten school in the D.R.

In 2014, the church started the Seminario Teológico de Santiago. This seminary teaches programs in theology and counseling, serving over 120 students each year. Pastor Álvaro serves as the executive director.

One of the best parts of this short trip to the D.R. was getting to know Pastor Álvaro and his family. They have given their lives to training Christian people for living Christianly in the world. Even more than their sacrifice and passion, they exhibit Christ’s work in their lives. They opened their house to my father and me, hosting us for our 4-night stay. Their hospitality and generosity humbled us! They’re the kind of people that I want to be around as much as I can to glean wisdom and to see Jesus at work.

My father and I talked for hours on the trip back to Grand Rapids about the labors of Seminario Teológico de Santiago. Paster Álvaro and his team produce excellent work with limited resources. They strive to meet the needs of the Dominican church by launching new programs to train preachers, youth ministers, and other servants of Christ.

The biggest limiting factor is… well, two interconnected difficulties assault their efforts.

They must find highly trained teachers. While some come from the island, the majority fly in from the US. This limits their pool of professors significantly, often requires teaching through translation, and can result in teaching that does not address well the realities of the context.
The cost of maintaining a program, although miniscule by US standards, prohibits growth.

As we spoke about these difficulties and challenges, one truth came to the surface. While we see little more than scarcity, God sees things differently. God lacks nothing. God’s kingdom overflows with abundance. More concretely, Christians around the world have training, expertise, resources, passion, and more! As the family of God, we must answer the following question:

How can we connect the needs of God’s family with the resources that God abundantly provides?

** By comparison, the organization estimates that the Christian population in North America will shrink by 16 million, https://www.gordonconwell.edu/center-for-global-christianity/resources/status-of-global-christianity/.

We’ve Signed!

I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?

I recently encountered Jesus’ astounding statement in a new way while working through John 11:17–27.

Jesus speaks these words to Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus, while she suffers a tragedy. She grieves the loss of her beloved brother and worries over the financial uncertainty his death could bring to the family. To make matters worse, Martha had asked Jesus to help because she knew he had the power to heal. But Jesus arrives too late! Lazarus’ death has killed Martha’s hope.

“Those that believe in me,” Jesus says “have life even if they die. And those that live in and believe in me will never die.” Jesus does not minimize the pain of Lazarus’ death. In fact, Jesus himself mourns (11:33, 35, 38). At the same time, he speaks into Martha’s pain to bring her along the path of discipleship. Jesus promises both victory over death and a life that death cannot diminish. This is not only a spiritual reality. It is also a physical, bodily reality. Physical death cannot ultimately defeat our physical bodies because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We will be physically raised even if we die.

For the Christian, life is not a slow and steady journey to the grave; life is a slow and steady journey toward more abundant life!

If this is true, if death cannot diminish the life Jesus gives, then with confidence and freedom, I can give my life to and for him! Yet, I must answer John’s question to Martha: Do you believe this, Andrew?

We’ve signed!

Just a few weeks ago, I officially signed a three-way agreement between our mission organization (Mesa Global), the seminary where I will teach (Centros Teológicos Bautistas, CTB), and myself.

Once we arrive in Peru, I will work full-time with CTB. I will be the Academic Director and Professor of Old Testament. I’ll teach several classes each year and oversee the seminary’s academics.

In the next few months, I will share more details about the seminary and my role. For the time being, let me say that I am very excited! CTB has been doing an important work. CTB’s mission is:

To provide quality, accessible, and contextualized theological education for leaders and pastors in and outside of Peru so that they do not have to leave their communities.

Last year, CTB served 514 students with a staff of only 6 people (3 full-time and 3 part-time)! Students come from a variety of denominations, cities, and countries. Please pray for God to continue to use CTB to equip pastors and ministry leaders to further Christ’s kingdom.

Upcoming Ministry Opportunity

At the end of the month, I will be travelling to the Dominican Republic for a symposium titled: “The Future of Leader Formation in Latin America.” In this two-day conference, the participants will wrestle with how the church can form and train the next generation of Christian leaders for the challenges facing the Latin American church. My father was invited to attend and lead a group discussion. He extended the invitation (to attend) to me. Please pray that this time of reflection would be formative and that we would make good contacts with others invested in theological education in Latin America.

Family Updates

In just one week our children will be back in school and the rhythms of fall will be under way. We have enjoyed a busy summer full of kids sports, beach time at Lake Michigan, and more. As a special treat, Adriana’s parents arrived for a visit two weeks ago. We love having them with us. We are looking forward to the day that they do not have to fly across the world to see their grandchildren!

On another note, Adriana has been struggling with back issues for a few years. This summer has been particularly challenging for her. The doctors have begun to identify the cause, but solutions have not been easy to come by. Please pray for healing and endurance through the pain!

Progress Updates

Ph.D. Progress Tracker

Dissertation

I continue to plug away… my advisor and I have agreed on a spring defense (i.e. sometime between January and April). I will need to submit a full draft between October and December. To make this happen, I must write my conclusion and make revisions to earlier chapters. Please pray for energy and endurance for me and the whole family as my work inevitably impacts everyone in many ways.

Throughout the writing process, my advisor and second reader have given me very helpful feedback which has pushed me to think more deeply and to better articulate my thoughts. They have been a blessing!

Comprehensive Exams

28 of 37 book reviews done.
9 more to go.

Ministry Partner Tracker

Even though I have prioritized working on my dissertation over raising support the past several months, new partners have joined out team. We are now at 50% of our goal for monthly support!

Current monthly support

41% of goal

Monthly support pledged

50% of goal

Outgoing budget goal

99% of goal

Please Pray

Please praise God for continued provision and care.
Please praise God for the visit of Adriana’s parents!
Please praise God for the time and energy my advisor and second reader have invested in my dissertation.

Please pray for the symposium in the Dominican Republic.
Please pray for healing for Adriana’s back and for endurance through the pain!
Please pray for energy and God’s sustaining power for me and the whole family as I finalize the dissertation over the next 2–4 months.

Big progress as the summer begins

“How long, oh Lord?”

“How long will you hide your face from me?”

“How long…”

Four times, David cried out to God in Psalm 13 for an answer from the depths of despair and doubt. He needed an answer not to why this was happening but to when it would be over.

David knew that if God didn’t help he had no hope at all.

“Look on me and answer, Lord my God!”

Even though he wasn’t sure that God cared, that God heard, that God was still around, he called God “MY GOD.” That is big, and it proved a turning point for David. By the end of this short 6-verse psalm, David’s despair and doubt turned to confidence in the Lord’s goodness. His problems and pains had not be erased or defeated. He still had his doubts, but after expressing his doubts within a framework of trust, he was able to rest in God.

Last night I had the opportunity to share an online chapel message on Psalm 13 for a seminary in Peru called Centros Teológicos Bautistas (CTB). A little earlier this week a graduate and member of the administrative team had passed away. As it was online and broadcast live, I didn’t receive much feedback, but the coordinator said that it was a timely message for the CTB team, given the loss of their co-worker and friend.

Family Updates

Our four kids (Aila-9, Ilana-8, Isaia-6, and Imara-4) are finishing their first year at Potter’s House Elementary school next week. This was their first year learning in English, and it was a real struggle initially. Several of them were behind their grade-level in reading ability and fluency. This was not a surprise because previously they attended a dual-language program where the majority of the instruction was in Spanish. Potter’s House provided some extra support, and the kids showed tremendous growth. We are so proud of all of them! We are also thankful that God opened doors for the kids to attend Potter’s House. It provides a loving, Christian environment in English. We really want our kids to solidify their English skills before we head to Peru, where most of their world will be in Spanish.

On Easter, Aila was baptized! She had been asking for a couple of years to be baptized, and we wanted to wait until she understood what it meant. This year we felt she was ready. An added benefit is that, now that we live in MI (we were in Illinois the previous 3 years), we attend the same church as the majority of my side of the family. So, Aila was baptized in the presence of family and alongside her cousin.

Aila’s baptism #1
Aila’s baptism #2
Easter Sunday #1
Easter Sunday #2
Imara’s 3rd birthday

Progress Updates

Since our last update late in 2024, we have made significant progress in several areas.

Ph.D. Progress Tracker

Dissertation

Yesterday I turned in my second to last dissertation chapter. It was 25,000 words or 76 pages (not including bibliography). No one will call it a scintillating read, but I feel pretty good about (most of) it! With a draft of this chapter done, the finish line has never seemed closer.

I’ve submitted 5 chapters totaling just over 100k words, which is the maximum length for my dissertation. I still have one more body chapter and the intro and conclusion. Once I have a draft of everything, I’ll need to cut and edit down to under 100k.

Comprehensive Exams

In addition, I’ve completed 26 of 37 book reviews for my comprehensive exams and will have the 27th done by the end of the week.

Ministry Partner Tracker

Since the end of 2024, we have had about 15 new partners join our team of financial supporters! We are honored and humbled by your support and investment in the ministry the Lord has for us. Thank you!

Current monthly support

38% of goal

Monthly support pledged

48% of goal

Outgoing budget goal

87% of goal

One of my favorite songs is called “Andar sobre el agua” by Santiago Benavides.

In the chorus he sings:

Toda la vida es andar sobre el agua
Andar sobre el agua
El secreto es no desviar la mirada
¡Ay! De Dios la mirada

All of life is walking on water
Walking on water
The secret is to not turn your gaze
Oh, from God, your gaze

Benavides alludes to Peter’s short stroll on the water in Matthew 14:22–33. It can be so easy for us to think that faith and trust are needed in the hard times. But Peter and Benavides remind me that all of life is walking on the water. May our gaze always be on Jesus!

Please Pray

Please praise God for the ways he has provided for us financially, spiritually, through the kids school, etc.
Please praise God for Aila’s baptism and passion for knowing God.
The last several weeks have been quite intense for me as I work hard to finish my dissertation. Please pray for energy and creativity to finish strong and for God’s sustaining presence for the whole family
Please pray that God would continue to provide new connections and supporters.
Please pray that this summer would be refreshing and encouraging, particularly for Adriana and the kids.

Gracias Dios por…

As we drove from Michigan to Pennsylvania for a Thanksgiving reunion with Adriana’s older brother (my best friend since high school), our sister-in-law, and their two kids, I asked Adriana:

“When we move back to Peru, what U.S. traditions would you like our family to continue?”

We agreed on two:

Cutting down our Christmas tree (sadly, that won’t be possible in Peru)
Thanksgiving

We love Thanksgiving because we spend time with family and because it causes us to reflect on the many ways that God has blessed us. There are too many blessings to count, but I asked each family member to pick one reason they are grateful this year. Here is what they said:

Imara (3 y/o): I’m thankful for chicken and mashed potatoes. (We ate turkey, not chicken, obviously.)
Isaia (6 y/o): I am thankful for being at my cousins’ house for Thanksgiving.
Ilana (7 y/o): I’m thankful for my family.
Aila (9 y/o): I’m grateful for being at my cousins’ house in Pennsylvania for thanksgiving and my family
Adriana: I am thankful for having the chance to share time with family, enjoy each other’s company, taking the time to cook together and enjoy delicious food.
Andrew: I am thankful that we get to see our family in Pennsylvania. It’s a joy to see our kids play with their cousins and to sit down to talk for hours after each meal.

On top of that, we are thankful for you! Over the past year and half as we have geared up our preparations to return to Peru as missionaries, Adriana and I have felt like never before how important it is to have a team on our side. We are constantly aware of how much we need you! Your prayers, questions, financial support, and presence in our lives have been tangible signs of God’s grace. You remind us that we are not alone in this endeavor; we are part of a family and a team.

Thank you!

Slow but steady…

Since we returned from our vision-trip to Peru in July, our kids often ask, “when we live in Peru, will we…?” They are excited and thinking about our move. Their enthusiasm encourages us as we slowly but surely make progress toward the goal of returning to Peru in January or February of 2026.

We have been back in Michigan for a little over 3 months and have settled into new routines. I thought it might be helpful to give a window into what things look like for us week-to-week as we prepare to return to Peru. Before then, we need to accomplish two big goals: (1) I must complete my PhD, and (2) we need to raise support for our long-term ministry (see where we stand on these goals below).

Adriana has been caring for our kids and home full-time. This year, Imara, our 3-year-old, is doing pre-school part-time. For the first time in over 9 years, there are no kids at home for part of the day. The quiet takes some getting used to! Adriana began working part-time this week at Wedgewood Christian Services as a Behavioral Technician.

Much of my day-to-day energy goes toward our long-term goals. I am working full-time writing my dissertation and sprinkling in reading for my comprehensive exams. In addition, I serve as a Teaching Assistant to an OT professor at Wheaton. In other words, for 40+ hours each week I read, research, edit, write, and meet with people and churches to share about our ministry.

Thankfully, just two weeks ago, I submitted a third chapter (20,999 words—64 pages). Much will likely need to be cut, but this represents significant progress! I have three body chapters left which should add up to around 40,000 words.

I hope to finish writing next summer so that I can defend the dissertation in the fall. While that seems like a long time, I am feeling the pressure. This past weekend, I met with my advisor and reiterated my goal to him. His response was,

“Alright! We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us! It is good to have a goal.”

Ph.D. Progress Tracker

Dissertation

Chapters 1, 2, and 3 submitted (approx. 60k words).

Three more body chapters to go (approx. 40k words) plus intro and conclusion.

Comprehensive Exam

22 of 37 book reviews for comprehensive exams

Ministry Partner Tracker

6.6% of goal

Current monthly support

9% of goal

Monthly support pledged

11.5% of goal

Launch budget (special gifts toward our move)

Please Pray

Kids school: All four are in a local Christian school and are learning in English for the first time. Previously they have been in a dual language (Spanish-English) program. This has been a tough transition for them, but they are adjusting.
Adriana’s work: She is excited to be working with children with autism spectrum disorder, helping them learn and grow.
Andrew’s work: Progress is slow, and it can be hard to feel that there is movement day-to-day. Pray for energy and perseverance!