Long-Range Planning that Almost Wasn’t

A letter from Rusty Edmondson and Sara Armstrong, serving in Peru

November 2017

Pastor Erón asked his partner church in Texas for help with a long-range plan for their congregation in Ayaviri in southern Peru. The Ayaviri congregation has about 100 members and continues to grow. A new sanctuary is planned, but there was no process to begin the actual building. These two churches in the US and Peru have been partnering in local mission together for five years, and the Webster, Texas church was glad to help. One of the Webster team members, Jim, is a specialist in corporate change with lots of global experience, and Jim was well-prepared and excited to assist.

Jim and Gabi enjoying a little warmth in Ayaviri (12,000 feet above sea level)

Pastor Erón and I suggested that Germán head up the process. He is a Peruvian and a member of the Ayaviri church with training in strategic planning. Because he was recovering from a motorcycle accident, he had time to plan what would happen. Germán’s proposals were translated and sent ahead of time to Jim for feedback.

I was thrilled! Isn’t this what partnership looks like? Response to a partner request by someone qualified, experienced and committed, and both sides planning together before the team arrives!

Then the difficulties began.

Germán had to travel to petition to get his job back after his months of recovery. Floods closed the roads home, and he could not conduct the preliminary meetings with members. He got discouraged, but we persevered.

The week the team arrived in Ayaviri from the US, Jim was scheduled to meet for four consecutive mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 with members of the congregation to review the scarce data from the pre-meetings, and to form a plan focusing on five categories that were established by the national church, the Iglesia Evangelica Peruana. I was present as the interpreter and was also a very interested party! The president of the church, Claudio, only showed up the first day. There were young people who wanted to come back to the church where they grew up but also wanted the church to change. There were also representatives from some disgruntled church member families. And still we soldiered on.

The agreements we reached which were later signed and pursued.

Ayaviri’s pastor had previously witnessed positive results when a PC(USA) team assisted a Cuzco church in developing a long-range plan, and he wanted a long-range plan for Ayaviri’s church. However, other church leaders did not share this dream. They focused all their energy on travel to other churches to find building supplies and start constructing a new church (even though there was no budget or building plan).

Jim—a long-term planning strategist enjoying a short-term painting project

Jim was great. Jim is 6´4¨—when he stood up to make an occasional contribution, everybody listened. He helped Germán change his plan from “long-range” and begin to set some short-range goals, a strategy for small successes that Germán and the congregation could build on next year. On the last day, the participants assembled to vote on priorities, and we witnessed the signing of a commitment by all those present taking part in this new process.

Significant learning points for me:

• The process needs buy-in by all the church leaders before we begin (not just the pastor).

• The people in that part of Peru are used to the government demanding long-range planning processes that have no results or impact. The church members needed to see how a planning process can be an effective tool for God´s work.

• The process needs to have some initial successes to draw in the doubters.

• The commitments need to be in writing and signed in this culture.

• There was significantly more progress when someone suggested a sheep roast for the whole church to celebrate the end of the process a few months down the line. Jim was so impressed with the changed attitudes that he offered to pay for a second sheep.

Instead of moving away to take up his old job, Germán was recently elected the new president of the congregation. Under Germán’s leadership, the Ayaviri church community continues the planning meetings, but the sheep roast is still to come.

I am always awed by the way a US team becomes a catalyst for change. Without this painful process, there would have been no way for members to try new things at the Ayaviri church. I was ready to throw in the towel at several points, but God had a plan for healing, upbuilding and growth that still amazes me.

I also always underestimate the power of your prayers in forming these fragile partnerships that have such stunning results. Thank you! We are grateful to all of you who support us and make it possible for us to be witnesses to God’s grace. Thank you all.

Bendiciones de Sara y Rusty