Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [December 2014]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. 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.
December 20, 2014
Dear friends,
Since my last letter so much has happened. First, the Calvary Baptist Mission of Huánuco was organized into an independent New Testament Baptist Church the 18th of October. We had 43 charter members taking part. Pastor Dr. George R. Sledd from our home church, the Jordan Missionary Baptist Church, came down to assist in the organization ceremony. All of our sister Baptist churches attended. The church voted to call Brother Franz Coba as their pastor. Franz is a fine young preacher, married with two small children. Please pray for him and the church as they embark upon this new ministry together.
Once the church was organized and all the legal details of turning over the property were taken care of, Anita and I gave full time to selling off or giving away all of our “stuff” we had collected over the past thirty-two years in preparation of our journey back to the States. In my last two letters I have informed you all that the Berea Baptist Church of Hiddenite, North Carolina has called me to be its new pastor. Leaving Peru was an emotional roller coaster for us as we went through numerous farewell services where a lot of tears and emotion were expressed by our Peruvian friends.
After leaving Huánuco we went through the hassle of shipping seventeen plastic storage bins back to the States. We were in Lima for several days taking care of paper work for our departure and the shipping. Upon arrival in the States on the 12 of November we immediately drove to Hiddenite to find the church had remodeled the parsonage for us. All new hardwood flooring throughout the house and a lot of new furniture and kitchen appliances. After about a week of waiting our plastic shipping tubs arrived with only a few things broken in route. Praise the Lord for the little things too!
The saints of Berea Baptist have been very gracious and generous in their care for their new pastor. Anita and I have purchased a car and some new “stuff” to replace the old “stuff” we sold or gave away in Peru. We are still getting things put away and organized to our liking. The Lord has been blessing in our services here in the past few weeks. We have seen two professions of faith, three for baptism and one coming by letter. I have also begun my counseling ministry.
Our daughter, Leah, and her family came down to celebrate Thanksgiving with us, and what a blessing that was! It was the first Thanksgiving we had ever spent together since our kids went off to college fifteen years ago. We pray we will have many more holidays to spend with family in the future.
We would again like to thank all of you, our supporters, for your faithful monthly support and prayers during the past thirty-two years of our ministry in Peru. There have been hundreds of souls saved and baptized, numerous churches begun and organized, over twenty-five men ordained to the gospel ministry. So many of you, our supporting churches, contacted me to let me know you were going to continue our support until the end of the year; thank you so much for your love and generosity. I would encourage you to pray and consider channeling the support you have been giving to Anita and me to help support the General Fund of Baptist Faith Missions. It has been an honor and gratifying experience for us to have been aided all these years by the many churches, friends and directors of BFM. The stated goal of Baptist Faith Missions is to help the local churches send and maintain their missionaries on the fields where the Lord has called them to serve. BFM does not send missionaries anywhere, which is the job of the Lord’s churches. BFM will continue to receive and distribute any designated funds for us until it is no longer needful. Again I hope many of you will be lead to redirect your support for us to the General Fund of Baptist Faith Missions; it is sorely needed.
If you are ever in North Carolina, come see us. The saints here at Berea Baptist will treat you with great love and kindness as all God’s children deserve.
Being “in Christ” by God’s grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
New Stateside Address
Berea Baptist Church
350 Berea Church Quincy Road
Hiddenite, NC 28636-8221
Home: 828-471-5105
Cell: 828-962-0149
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [October 2014]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. 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.
October 5, 2014
Dear friends,
Well, the dedication of our new meeting house for the Calvary Baptist Church here in Huánuco, Peru was a great success. We invited our sister Baptist churches to come and celebrate with us in the dedication on Thursday 18th of September. The picture you see was taken a few minutes before we started and many more came in shortly after; packed out with many standing.
In just a few weeks we will organize the mission into an autonomous Baptist church on Saturday the 18th of October. Pastor George Sledd of our authorizing church will come down to oversee the proceedings. We are excited about this latest milestone in our ministry. I mentioned in last month’s letter that the church needs to call a pastor before we can proceed with organization. Last Sunday, 28th of September, the mission voted NOT to call my assistant pastor, so we have allowed two weeks for prayer before we vote on another, younger, candidate. The church needs a pastor so, once organized, we can get their legal non-profit organization status they need to own the new property. We would very much appreciate your prayers in this matter.
This past month I had the unique experience of counseling with a 50 year old man from London, England. To make a long story short, he came to me in a severe state of depression and left with the joy of Christ in his life. Andrew Lord, has been traveling around the world on a BMW motorcycle for the past seven years. He has been in India, Pakistan, all over the Middle East, Africa, and the past three years has traveled from Alaska, through Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and now is in South America. Some missionary friends (with a motorcycle ministry) met Andrew and recommended he come see me about his depression. Hope is the best therapy for depression and since the 2nd coming of Jesus is our “hope of glory” I always present the gospel to non-believers that come for counseling. He has several more months to go traveling to Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, but now he knows Christ and has peace. Remember Andrew in your prayers please. He has some very weighty decisions to make in the near future, and if you see him on the road somewhere, encourage him in his walk with Christ and tell him Sheridan says hello!
Last month I told you all about the Saints of Berea Baptist Church in Hiddenite, North Carolina calling me as their pastor. Anita and I are busy selling everything we have accumulated in thirty-two years on the mission field and making preparations for returning to the United States sometime in November. We are very excited about this new opportunity to serve our Lord with such a dedicated group of God’s choicest Saints. I ask you to pray especially for us that our Lord will continue to give His peace and encouragement as we go through the difficulties of what personal things we must leave and what we can take. It is hard because so many little things have so many memories attached.
Being “in Christ” by God’s grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [September 2014]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. 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.
September 9, 2014
Dear friends,
A lot has happened since my last report. First of all I want to report the construction project for the Calvary Baptist Mission is completed with just a few minor touchups to get done. We plan to dedicate the building on Thursday the 18th of September. Our sister Baptist churches in the area have been invited to come and celebrate with us. This means Sunday the 21st will be our first official Sunday service in the new building. Wish you all could come and participate.
Also we plan to organize the mission into an autonomous Baptist church on Saturday the 18th of October. Pastor George Sledd of our authorizing church will come down to oversee the proceedings. We are excited about this latest milestone in our ministry. There is a lot to do for a church organization in Peru. Our custom is that the church should have a pastor, be financially independent as well as being mature in the “faith once delivered to the saints.” After the organization the church must obtain its “personaria juridica” which is similar to churches in the States having your “articles of incorporation.” This allows the church to be able to legally own property. When this happens I will sign the property over to the church. Then Anita and I will be heading back to the States. Why you may ask? Because………..
On Sunday, August 31, the Berea Baptist Church of Hiddenite, North Carolina voted to call me as its new pastor. Anita and I have accepted! Yes, after thirty-two years on the mission field here in Peru, we are moving back to the States. We have felt the Lord leading us in this direction for about two years and we know it is God’s will for us to embark on this exciting new chapter in our lives. The Saints of the Berea Baptist Church are some of the most gracious and loving folks we have ever known, and Anita and I are thrilled about having the opportunity to serve the Lord with them as their pastor. This is not only exciting for us but also a very daunting step forward in our lives. We must sell all of our belongings here in Peru and start over again in North Carolina. We ask for your prayers because at our age this will be no easy task. However, God has never let us down and we know HE will continue to give His grace, strength and mercy towards these two heavenly pilgrims. For those of you that help support us we hope you will be so kind as to continue your support at least through the month of November (we should have everything finalized and in order here in Peru by that time). Thank you and may God continue to shower His richest blessings on each of you. I will be writing a few more monthly letters before we actually head to the States.
The work in Peru is the Lord’s work and HE has given Anita and I the opportunity to serve HIM here for the past thirty-two years. However HE will continue to use you all to help keep it going. God continues to bless here and Anita and I thank HIM every day for the calling HE has given us to work in this beautiful country, among these beautiful people. Even without our physical presence in Peru the ministry of Baptist Faith Missions will endure until Jesus comes again. Thanks again for all of your prayers and support. I will keep you posted as to our progress in next month’s letter.
Being “in Christ” by God’s grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [July 2014]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. 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.
July 7, 2014
Dear friends,
Two accepting Christ this past month, four added by moving their membership, and two weddings, means we have been busy here at the Calvary Baptist Mission-Church! Anita works long hours every day getting Sunday School material ready for the teachers and soon they will be able to decorate their new rooms at the new building. Everyone is getting excited about getting the building finished. However, it seems that the “small stuff”, finishing touches take longer and longer. Laying tile and painting on Saturdays has become the church’s custom!
Anita and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on the 7th of June and celebrated the event by visiting the Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil. This was a trip Anita has always wanted to make and by the generosity of some dear friends it became a reality for us. We hope to be able to do something very special again in another forty years!
The Calvary Baptist Mission Church surprised us with a beautiful commemorative plate recognizing our forty years of marriage; it was a touching moment for Anita and me to feel the genuine love these dear saints of God have for us.
We were also blessed to have a visit from some dear friends, Jim and Lou Griffin from South Carolina come and spend some time with us. They helped paint at the new building and also played tennis with me. They were a delight to have and we hope they come back again sometime.
Our gracious God continues to bless the work here in Huánuco, Peru. I invest a lot of my time every day in counseling. Seeing hurting wounded souls find victory in Christ is a very rewarding experience. I enjoy counseling very much and I am always looking for better ways to share the message of “abundant, kingdom living.”
My Monday night Bible class with the local Baptist pastors, continues. At this present time I am teaching a course in “Administration of a Baptist Church.” Many times this course has led to lively discussion based on personal experiences. This has been a very effective method for training the younger preachers. Anita and I pray you all of you frequently and hope you are basking in the blessings of God’s love and grace.
Being “in Christ” by God’s grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [April 2014]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. 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 9, 2014
Dear friends,
Three dear brothers in Christ from Tri-Cities Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN came help us with our drywall project at the Calvary Baptist Mission here in Huánuco, Peru. Jim Miller, John Maxwell and Jose Mejia worked hard, got a lot done, and helped to train our folks in drywall construction.
Not only did they work here in Huánuco, but we also had time to help a Baptist church in the mountain town of Curahuasi, North East of Cusco, with their building. While in Cusco we had the opportunity to visit the work of Missionaries Jason and Rebecca Reinhardt and the twins, Natalie and Neomi.
A trip to Machu Picchu was possible while they visited in Cusco. These brothers where a tremendous blessing to the Lord’s work here in Peru and we hope they will have the opportunity to come back soon and participate in the blessings once again.
As always, Anita was busy taking care of everyone and cooking the meals. No one ever leaves hungry from the “Sheridan Inn” of Huánuco, Peru! She continues to be a blessing to the ladies here in her weekly Bible Study. Ministry is always easier with a wife that has a servant’s heart. We will be celebrating 40 years of marriage in June of this year. We hope to go somewhere special and celebrate this milestone in our lives.
We saw two saved this past month, construction on the Calvary Baptist property continues on schedule, my Monday Night Pastors Class is steady, and my counseling schedule is full. So many of you give sacrificially each month to make the Lord’s work possible here in Peru and we thank the Lord for you daily. Thank you and may God continue to richly bless you all. Until next month.
Being “in Christ” by God’s grace,
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: The Stantons in Peru [February 2014]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. 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.
February 9, 2014
Dear friends,
It was a sad time for us when we heard the news of the passing of our dear brother in Christ, Glenn Archer. This dear pastor has been a personal friend of ours and a faithful soldier of the cross with over 50 years of ministry. Brother Archer loves missions and missionaries and served for over 35 years as a director of Baptist Faith Mission. Though he will be greatly missed here we know he is rejoicing at this time in the presence of Jesus. Please pray for his dear wife, Judy, and his children and grandchildren as they make life adjustments without him.
Also ask your prayers for three families from one of our mountain churches. They are in mourning at this time because a car their loved ones were traveling in went over a cliff yesterday (Saturday 8th) and killed them all. The three from Paucar that died were members of the Paucar Baptist church but they were not family to any of our folks here at the Calvary Mission/Church here in Huánuco. We do ask that you pray for the families of these three saints of God now in His presence.
Anita and I are grateful to God because He has answered our pray for someone to come and teach the men of our church here how to hang drywall. Brother Jim Miller is bringing a friend with him that knows how to do this. So now we are in a push to have everything ready by the time they get here. I could not be more proud of our church members. They have come out faithfully each day the past week and the work has advanced at an amazing pace. Many of the ladies showed up every day and carried bricks and sand up to the second floor where the work is going on. Several of the men and I have done most of the masonry work. I have even become pretty good at “tying rebar” for the columns. It has been such a blessing to work with others brothers and sisters in Christ with such harmony and good attitudes. At the pace we are going it looks as though we will be ready for your “drywall lesson” on the 18th of March. Please pray that we have no accidents while we work in the weeks ahead. Also, please pray about helping us out with an offering for this building project. The folks here have sacrificed a lot and are giving their time for the construction. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Anita’s Thursday Bible class is doing great. The ladies finished the book they were studying and when asked if they wanted to continue they unanimously said yes. They love the Lord, His Word and they love Anita! She really enjoys teaching them. My Monday night Theology class for our area pastors continues to do well also. It is a joy to be able to “dive into the depths” of many theological teachings with these dedicated men of God. After the construction of the Calvary Mission building is finished I hope to have more time to dedicate to preparing other classes for our Bible Institute. The older we get the time seems to fly by much faster!
Thank you and may God continue to bless you all. Until next month.
Being “In Christ” by God’s grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Can you hang drywall? You’re invited to Peru!
DRYWALLERS NEEDED FOR PERU BUILDING PROJECT
Can you hang drywall?
Would you be willing to take an opportunity to use your gifts and skills to serve the Lord on a building project in Peru?
Sheridan Stanton is helping the newly-planted Calvary Baptist Mission in Huanuco, Peru, to construct a church building. They are in need of both financial funds and construction laborers to finish the project.
We are looking for a ‘Bezalel’ or ‘Aholiab’ [see Exodus 31.1-6] who will give your Spirit-given abilities to the Lord for this building.
Specifically, their most pressing need right now is drywallers to help the Peruvians finish the inside construction. The Peruvians are very hard-working and skilled craftsmen in the building methods they are used to – but they are not used to hanging drywall.
So, Sheridan is asking for volunteer drywall-hangers to come down from the States and work with them on this project for a week and train the Peruvians as they work with you.
Jim Miller is organizing a team to go to Huanuco the week of March 16-24. The estimated costs for the travel expenses are less than $1,500.00 – but once you are there, Sheridan and Anita will host and treat you better than royalty.
Are you willing to pay your own way to Peru and give your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12.1) in this mission service? “…If any man minister (serve), let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4.11)
You will need to call Jim Miller at (423)384-1776 [or email him: jharold1941@gmail.com] for all the details, but the broad plan is this: you will arrive in Lima, Peru, on Sunday evening, 16 March. Jim and other craftsmen will meet up with you there in Lima, and you will make your way to Huanuco to work on the construction project. Then, you will be returning to Lima to fly back home on Monday, 24 March.
“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3.23-24)
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Missionary Update: The Stantons in Peru [January 2014]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. 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.
January 6, 2014
Dear friends,
Well we finally got the roof poured with concrete on the first floor of the new building for the Calvary Baptist Mission. It is in the curing process now for a few weeks. We rejoice in the Lord that He has provided up to this important point. Ebenezer (you Bible scholars will understand that one!). The biggest part of a building project is the first floor because you have to dig the footers and foundation, all of which takes a lot of hand-mixed cement. I sure missed my concrete crews from the States. You all know who you are! Building permits, architectural plans, electric and water connections – all done.
Any of you men in the States know how to hang drywall? It is a new building concept here in Peru and none of our people know how to do it. I’m hoping a small crew might get together in March and come down for a week to help and teach us how to hang drywall. It would also give you an opportunity to leave all that cold weather in the States right now! Temperatures average here in Huánuco between 70 – 85 degrees all year long. Any takers?
We are trusting the Lord that continued funds will come in to help us finish this building. At present we have spent all we had for this project. Every bit helps! The building is designed for four floors because the lot is relatively small. Each roof poured on each floor cost about $6000.00 and we are sure that the Lord will continue to bless with additional funds. Thanks.
We had one young lady accept Christ as her Savior two weeks ago and it looks like she will be the first baptism of 2014. We rejoice in all of God’s blessings upon His work here in Peru.
The mission works around the country are experiencing growth, both numerically and spiritually. Anita and I have the joy of supporting eleven national Peruvian missionaries. This is possible with the funds that we receive from you dear saints of God. We know times are rough in the States right now and we are very much aware of the many sacrifices folks from our supporting churches are giving. So many of the dear saints of God here in Peru also, give and sacrifice in the work of the Lord. Please know we love you all and thank God for you. Let us rejoice knowing that we all have our part in the spreading of the Gospel message and God’s love, throughout the country of Peru, and around the world.
With the blessings come the trials and Anita and I ask you to pray for us as we are experiencing an attack of slander aimed at destroying our ministry and therefore the work here in Huánuco. Our Heavenly Father protects us and strengthens us. However, Anita and I both have our moments of anger, depression and sadness. It has, however, been very encouraging to see, hear and feel the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ all around us here in Huánuco. Please lift us up in your prayers that the trials might soon be over. Thank you and may God continue to bless you all. Until next month.
Being “In Christ” by God’s grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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