The Quechua Receive Their First Bibles (And What Happens Next)

Rosie presenting the basics of theology and Biblical themes in Peru.

“Because this community had never read the Bible before - we needed to start with the basics.”

The following story was written by Rocio (Rosie) Perez, a YWAM Orlando missionary. She is a co-worker and friend who leads part of YWAM Orlando's Bible education and distribution efforts.

10,000 feet above sea level in the remote and mountainous jungle of Peru, lives an indigenous people group called the Quechua.

Just 4 years ago, the Quechua received their first Bibles - newly translated into their mother language.

But like many people groups who just received the Word of God for the first time - they weren’t sure where to start or what to do with it.

My YWAM outreach team traveled to Peru to train and minister to this people group.

We travelled to churches throughout this Quechua community to provide basic training in handling the Bible. We saw God move in powerful ways as this people group began to understand the Bible and were transformed by the truths of scripture. 

Our first day of ministry we drove up 13,000 feet above sea level to a Quechua school of elementary and high school students. The trip was long and we had headaches and dizziness from being in high elevation. It was all worth it though, because we were bringing the Word of God.

Team member Celina teaching basic theological concepts to a new church community.

Because this community had never read the Bible before - we needed to start with the basics. One of the missionaries on our team taught on God’s laws. She explained that God’s laws can be summed up by loving God and loving others. Living by this law of love brings safety, happiness and freedom to individuals and their communities. She finished her teaching by preaching the Gospel. 

We asked the students to raise their hands if they wanted to give their lives to Jesus in response to this teaching. In the back row there were a couple of girls who raised their hands. We went to them and I began to explain to them what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and to follow him. They all agreed and said, “Yes, we want to follow Jesus." They prayed and invited Jesus into their hearts. As they were doing this they began to cry. They told us that the reason they were crying was because they felt God's love in a very powerful way.

The whole school just witnessed these girls give their lives to Jesus and hear them say that they were experiencing God’s love. Other students rushed to my team and asked if we could pray for them so that they, too, could experience God’s love. 

We prayed for many of the students: that they would know and follow God.

Times of ministry followed the times of training and equipping.

That day, these young girls gave their lives to Jesus, and many students received prayer and a Bible in their mother language.

When you and I became Christians, we had immediate access to the Bible. And for many of us we had several churches to choose from. But the reality is there are billions of people that still don’t have access to a Bible in their mother language.

And like the Quechua Indigenous People - when they do gain access to the bible, many of them don’t know what to do with it because they have no training. This is a big deal - without an understanding of the word of God, there are entire communities and people groups that will never be able to truly know Jesus or allow the Bible to disciple their communities.

At YWAM Orlando we believe that everyone should have access to a Bible in their heart language - so that the Bible can transform their lives and change their nations.

That’s why we’re supporting Bible translation efforts, providing training, and discipling new communities of believers that were once unreached - just like the Quechua.

Micah teaching prior to a ministry time.

Over my 7 week mission trip among the Quechua Churches, I saw new believers receive the Biblical training that they needed. I saw people become new followers of Jesus. And I saw people experience the power of the Holy Spirit for the first time.

I believe that when we have a generation that doesn't just have access to the Bible - but also understands it - we'll see revival all over the world.

Rocio Perez, a YWAM Orlando Missionary