Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [June 2012]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru for 28 years. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies' ministry and developing children's material.
June 23, 2012
Dear friends,
THE MONTH OF JUNE IS A MONTH OF REMEMBRANCE.
One year ago today my father, Ralph Stanton, went to his homecoming in heaven. I’m sure he is singing in the choir and probably has a quartet going by now! He loved to sing! We miss him, but would not want him to leave where he is now. I will see him again one day, and what a great day that will be. I can still hear my dad singing, “what a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace…” Your prayers for my Mom today would be appreciated. She is doing well, but today has been a little tough.
Ralph & Virginia Stanton
June is also Founder’s Month for Baptist Faith Missions. This year celebrates seventy years of BFM since it officially began. Many of our supporting churches have given some very generous special offerings during the month. If your church has not given this special offering in June you can still do so! I was with the Storms Creek Missionary Baptist Church of Ironton, Ohio on Sunday the 17th and they gave a substantial offering (over five figures). It has been suggested that every family of each church consider giving $70 dollars in honor of seventy years of missionary service of BFM. Baptist Faith Missions is blessed with a great legacy of faithful churches and Godly men and women dedicated to the cause of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and organizing New Testament Baptist Churches for the glory of our Lord.
SPEAKING OF GREAT LEGACIES – Marguerite Hallum, passed away in June; she was 94 years old. Marguerite was the daughter of Richard and Mary Hallum, the first missionaries to Peru for Baptist Faith Missions. Brother Hallum was fifty-two years of age when he went to Peru. He was cleared to go with the Amazon Valley Baptist Faith Mission (the original mission organization that became Baptist Faith Mission). However, in 1929 the Hallums lost all they had in the economic collapse of that year. After a few years Brother Hallum sold their small house and put the money in the bank in preparation once again for traveling to Peru. But in 1932, the banks collapsed again and once again they lost all they had. He was not daunted because he knew that God had called him to Peru to preach the gospel to the lost. Three years later in 1935 they finally arrived in Peru to live a life of service and left a legacy of what it means to live by faith in the promises of God. Today, there are over one hundred and sixty churches and mission works affiliated with Baptist Faith Missions in Peru.
He started the very first Baptist Church in all of Peru; the First Baptist Church of Iquitos, organized in 1937. Marguerite was sixteen years old when her father and mother arrived for the first time in Peru in 1935. She labored with them for twenty years on the mission field until 1955. They labored tirelessly as great soldiers of the Cross all during the difficult years of World War II. The United States was hard pressed with the war effort and churches did not have a lot to send to the missionaries in the foreign fields but the Hallums carried on by faith. Faith is the middle name of BFM and like Richard Hallum, all missionaries know that nothing is guaranteed except the promises of God.
Anita and I attended Marguerite Hallum’s funeral in Hammond, Louisiana on Monday the 11th of June. I was honored to speak on behalf of Baptist Faith Missions. Most of the folks that attended her funeral were not aware of the Hallum’s long years of service in Peru and we did not know much about her after they left Peru. We discovered that after Marguerite returned to Louisiana at age thirty-six; she joined the Woodland Park Baptist Church along with her parents. She never married but she loved children and gave her life to teaching Sunday School; she taught for fifty-two years. She never drove an automobile and she never owned a home. She had a keen mind, wonderful since of humor and was loved by all that knew her. Most of the crowd that attended her funeral was folks that had been in her Sunday School classes. I can imagine that thousands of Peruvians were lined up in heaven to meet her when she crossed the threshold of Glory to say, “Thank-you, Marguerite!” I hope she has had a chance to meet my Dad by now; how I would have enjoyed observing that encounter! June has been a month of remembrance. Until next month.
In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Furlough Address:
1012 Balsam Drive
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 277-3716 – mission house
(859) 490-5370 – cell in States
(614) 500-8823
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [May 2012]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru for 28 years. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies' ministry and developing children's material.
May 11, 2012
Dear friends,
The month of April I had the opportunity to travel to Ecuador thanks to my good friend, Jim Miller. While in Ecuador I was privileged to visit the very spot where Jim Elliot, Nate Saint and three other missionaries were killed by Waodani Indians on January 8, 1956; I was two years old at the time. From Shell, Ecuador we flew to the village and then took a canoe to a spot on the river called “Palm Beach” where the missionaries were attacked. Most of the villagers are now followers of Jesus Christ. The oldest woman in the village was the first believer and also worked as the first translator for the mission team. 
Back in the town of Shell, Ecuador I also enjoyed the blessing of leading the morning devotional for the Doctors, Nurses and staff of the Shell Missionary Hospital and visited an amazing missionary orphanage for mentally and physically handicapped children.
The country of Ecuador gets its name because the equator passes right through it. In the city of Quito, there is a place called the “middle of the world” where you can stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other foot in the Southern Hemisphere; a unique experience to say the least! 
On the 25th Anita and I began our trip back to the United States to begin our furlough. We arrived a week before my graduation from Louisiana Baptist University. After several long years of study and hard work I finally received my Doctorate in Christian Counseling. This past year I had several attempted suicide cases referred to me as well as some estranged couples seeking marital counseling. The Lord has given me the gift of a counselor’s heart. There is a great joy in giving hope to those that have reached their lowest point in their lives; that hope is Jesus Christ!
At the beginning or our last furlough a few years ago we discovered Anita had breast cancer and that of course changed all our plans. After three years since she finished her chemo and radiation treatments she continues to show NO signs of this dreaded disease! We rejoice in God’s manifest mercy shown to her.
We were not able to visit several of our supporting churches as a result of her treatment, so we are hoping that this time we can visit everyone. Pastors please contact me at the phone numbers listed below so we can set a date to come and share about the great work God had done in Peru and our vision for the next several years. Some exciting ministry opportunities have developed for us in Peru and we would love to share with you about them! Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.
In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Furlough Address:
1012 Balsam Drive
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 277-3716 – mission house
(859) 490-5370 – cell in States
(614) 500-8823
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [April 2012]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru for 28 years. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies' ministry and developing children's material.
April 6, 2012
Dear friends and family,
Matthew 28:5-8 [5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. [6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. [7] And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you. [8] And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.
Spanish speaking people of the world refer to “Easter” as “la Pascua.” There is much pomp and processions in the streets, all the banks, government offices and most of the stores are closed. Here in Peru, both the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday are official holidays. In the small village of Churubamba, just twelve miles from Huánuco, they have a good enactment of the Passion of Christ each year. People come from all over Peru to see it. It is truly a different kind of cultural experience.
It has been my observation, in my twenty-nine years of living in Peru, that there is much more emphasis placed on the suffering and death of Christ and little on the resurrection. This is not surprising, however, because the world in general has no problem with the death and burial of Christ; after all, everyone has to die someday. Nevertheless, what the world cannot “swallow or buy into” is the resurrection because that part of the Gospel message is a declaration of miraculous power! I have noticed in the past ten years or so, that Hollywood has cranked out numerous films either subtly or openly trying to debunk the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Besides the world’s denial of the resurrection, it seems every year “Easter Sunday” becomes more about Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies than the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. I enjoy watching the American custom of our children hunting for the eggs (and the daddies helping eat the chocolate bunnies!!), but I pray we might all be reminded on this special Sunday to make sure we openly declare to all the world that “HE is risen from the dead!” We believe it and we declare it to all. The Apostle Paul said, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:14. Without the resurrection there is no gospel message, no Christianity. This is why Anita and I are serving in Peru – to give the lost people of Peru the complete message of the Gospel, that includes – “He is risen from the dead.” I pray God will bless each of you this Easter Sunday with many souls turning from their sins and trusting in the risen Jesus as their Lord and Savior!
Last month I asked you to pray for a young man named Hilter about his upcoming foot operation. Well, the Lord answered your prayers, the operation was declared a success and young Hitler is recuperating while hobbling around on crutches we bought him. Thank you for your prayers. He is one of many that continues to fill the ranks here at the Calvary Baptist Mission Church.
I made a short trip to Lima in March to get our annual immigrant visas stamped. The middle of the month I traveled to a small jungle town called Naranjillo, on the outskirts of Tingo Maria. Carlos Gonzales, my friend and a Peruvian pastor, has started a new work there and asked me to come and preach. We had a good meeting with a few saved. It is always a joy to see these new mission churches get started and then to watch them grow and mature as the years go by.
Anita and I are looking forward to seeing you soon when we come to the States for furlough in May. She has a doctor’s appointment a few days after we arrive to see about operating on her knees. The meniscus in each of her knees is torn and must be repaired and she suffers with constant pain from this condition. It is hard for me to make a furlough schedule until we know the “when and how” of her surgeries. As soon as I can, I will be getting in touch with you pastors and setting up a date to come and visit. Please send me the dates of your conferences if you would like me to participate. I always try to work our schedule around the various conferences. We will be in the States from May through the end of December. God bless you all! Until next month.
In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Perú
South América
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
Phone: 614-500-8823
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
Phone: 615-562-0529
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [March 2012]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru for 28 years. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies' ministry and developing children's material.
March 10, 2012
Dear friends and family,
Mardonio and Liberata came for membership in the Calvary Baptist Mission-Church, the newest mission work that I am currently pastoring. This couple clearly represents a new socio-economic phenomenon that has developed in Peru during the past ten or more years. For centuries the Quechua speaking, Andean Mountain people have been dedicated to agriculture. Their custom is to live in small rustic villages with common wall, condominium style homes built out of adobe mud bricks with small windows and doors, covered over with a tin roof. During the day, they go out and attend to their “chacras” (small farms) that surround the village. In the region of Huánuco, the main agricultural crop is potatoes.
The mountains that surround Huánuco are being covered in adobe brick homes. Bro. Stanton guesses they will reach the top of the hills in about five or six years.
About the time Anita and I came to Peru in 1983, the government began trying to build elementary schools in these rural areas, all over the country. The government mandate was that the teaching given in these schools must be in the Spanish language and not in Quechua (the ancient Inca language). Soon the idea of speaking Quechua was considered “lower class” to these dear folks and they do not want to be heard speaking Quechua when in the cities. All parents want the best for their children and soon the mountain folks began leaving the “chacras” and moving to the bigger towns and cities for better education opportunities for their children. The socio-economic phenomenon is that Huánuco and many other cities like it are growing rapidly during this transition period. For those of you that have been to Huánuco in the past the mountains that surround our town are being covered in adobe brick homes. I would guess another five or six years and they will reach to the top of the hills.
Traffic in Huánuco has become congested, but because of the growth is that there are more people with which to share the gospel!
Along with the population growth comes the hunt for jobs. It seems that most of them find the quickest way to make a living is investing in the small, three-wheeled taxi vehicles imported from India. The streets of Huánuco are now seemingly impossible to cross because of the constant traffic and lack of traffic enforcement. The noise level is at an all-time high.
The good news because of the growth is that there are more people with which to share the gospel! I now see the feasibility of several more churches strategically located in the mountains surrounding Huánuco. Remember us in your prayers as the Lord brings us to mind. The field is still white unto harvest and the laborers are still few.
Hitler, a young man who recently trusted Christ, had a motorcycle accident about a month ago and the operation to fix his foot was not done correctly, so now poor Hitler is waiting for a second operation to fix the first operation.
Two have trusted Christ this past month at the Calvary Mission. One young man named, Hitler, trusted Christ and has been very faithful in his attendance. He had a motorcycle accident about a month ago and the operation to fix his foot was not done correctly, so now poor Hitler is waiting for a second operation to fix the first operation. It sounds strange to ask people to “pray for Hitler”, but that is what I´m doing!
My counseling load has increased a lot lately and one young fifteen-year-old girl trusted Christ as her Savior last week. She made a serious attempt to take her own life recently and ended up in the hospital for three days. I had not seen a smile on her face in a long time but when she gave her life to Christ the biggest smile appeared! It was beautiful to see. I am seeing more cases like hers all the time. Christ is the only real hope for inner peace and joy this world has. He continues to change lives here in Peru just as he does all over the world. Serving the Master is a very rewarding life!
Thank you all for your constant prayers and support for this part of the Lord´s work here in Peru, South America. We are seeing much fruit as a result of the labor and you folks make the labor possible. Anita and I are looking forward to seeing you soon when we come to the States for furlough in May. God bless you all! Until next month.
In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Perú
South América
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
Phone: 614-500-8823
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
Phone: 615-562-0529
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [February 2012]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru for 28 years. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies' ministry and developing children's material.
Dear friends and family,
December was a fairly quiet month for us; Christmas was just the two of us, but we were able to get a lot of work done. We did have two more professions of faith in the Calvary mission work. We are excited about the new year and all that the Lord will be doing.
January was spent trying to get everything ready for construction to begin at the new property for the Calvary work. Paper work moves slow here but this time of the year is the rainy season in the mountains so construction would probably have been delayed anyway. I had the joy of baptizing eight young believers for the Faith Baptist mission work, also here in Huánuco. Brother Hugo Cotrina is the young worker at this mission.
I have baptized in a lot of mountain streams before, but never with water rushing as fast as this time. One brother had to brace the feet of each one baptized in order to keep them from washing down stream! Hundreds baptized in almost forty years of ministry and I haven’t lost one yet! (Or drowned anyone either!), so I guess I’m still doing pretty well. Pray for brother Hugo, his home church wanted to ordain him five years ago but he just did not respond well to his interrogation and the council recommended against his ordination. He continues to be a very faithful servant of the Lord, and the Lord continues to use him, but he still “grimaces” when ordination is mentioned to him.
Bro. Sheridan's second name-sake (who is a remarkable singer).
In my last letter I showed a picture of my first name-sake in Lima. To the left is number two! Yeah, this poor little guy got stuck with my name also. He is a remarkably good singer; he wins most of the church singing competitions. There are three more Sheridans, I think, in other parts of Peru.
Gil and Ronda Gilpin of Lexington, Kentucky, recently spent a couple of weeks with the Stantons.
Anita and I recently had the great joy of having our dear friends from Lexington, Kentucky, Gil and Ronda Gilpin, spend two weeks with us. We had a great time showing them the work in Huánuco and some of the major attractions of Peru – Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lima, man-made Uro Islands, and the Ballesta Islands. We hope they will return someday for a trip to the jungle! 
For the past several months, the directors of Baptist Faith Missions have had to make substantial cuts in our monthly deposits (BFM missionaries); about 25%. For years BFM has had to rely on the Thanksgiving Offering to make it through to the end of each year. But for a long time now, that yearly offering has been less and less. We know times are rough in the States right now and the “trickle-down” effect has arrived at your missionaries also. But maybe some of you that have not been affected much would consider an increase in your monthly giving to the General Fund of Baptist Faith Mission. Anita and I will be coming to the States this year for our scheduled furlough visits to the supporting churches. We hope to be with each of you. Contact me at the e-mail address below if you would like to have us visit your church.
In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Perú
South América
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
Phone: 614-500-8823
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
Phone: 615-562-0529
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