Jack Voelkel
Narciso and Udalia Zamora, Peruvian missionaries (part 1 of 2)
The evangelical churches are expanding rapidly in Latin America today. In the life of Narciso and Udalia Zamora we find clues as to how these grass roots communities of faithful, often humble believers, are finding Jesus and growing into enthusiastic congregations in spite of great adversity. We see all over again the basic principles of the Book of Acts in action.
Narciso Zamora, scruffy and undernourished, walked aimlessly through the Peruvian jungle “without identification or any formal registration with any government or community – like an animal without an owner” (p. 12). His childhood had become only backbreaking labor during the week and dodging a drunken father on the week-ends. So hardly a teenager, he had run away to Lima, the “big city.” He became a juvenile delinquent, living by his wits. More recently he had been exploring the jungle, living by stealing from rural workers. In the process he had nearly been shot.
God’s Agents; a Loving FamilyNow he looked for a change, but little did he know how radical that change would be. He chanced upon the home of Jose and Emelina Tiburcio, hard working farmers. “We don’t know you, but you look like you need help, so we’ll offer you a bed, food, and work,” they offered. But being Christians, they provided even more. He found it strange to hear them pray before eating. “I had never heard the gospel nor known any born-again Christians. I thought they were worshipping Satan” he later wrote (p. 13). At first he wouldn’t accompany them to church, and tried to detract other young people from attending the meetings.
Now he looked for a change, but little did he know how radical that change would be. He chanced upon the home of Jose and Emelina Tiburcio, hard working farmers. “We don’t know you, but you look like you need help, so we’ll offer you a bed, food, and work,” they offered. But being Christians, they provided even more. He found it strange to hear them pray before eating. “I had never heard the gospel nor known any born-again Christians. I thought they were worshipping Satan” he later wrote (p. 13). At first he wouldn’t accompany them to church, and tried to detract other young people from attending the meetings.But the Tiburcios were persistent. They loved him, allotted him land to work for himself, and helped him financially so he could purchase clothes, tools, and medicine. They encouraged him to study a First Aid course being offered in the village.
One day, worn down by their continued kindness, he attended church with them and heard biblical preaching. The congregation formed a prayer chain to pray for his conversion. They held fasts and prayer vigils specifically for him. Then one day, “God touched my heart and opened my eyes. The Word of God began to work…I would wait anxiously all afternoon for the evening message and I wanted the hour for church service to come quickly” (p. 16). During an evangelistic series Narciso responded to the invitation. “[I] got on my knees on the humid dirt floor. After praying together, all the brothers hugged me and that day there was a big party for everyone….It was the happiest day of my life and I will never forget it” (p. 16).
From then on, Narciso’s spiritual life grew quickly. Before his baptism, he and other youth studied Bible lessons for a month. He attended a one week seminar dealing with Principals of Biblical Doctrine, Ecclesiastical Rules, and How to Interpret the Bible. Following his baptism, he began traveling with other members of the community to other villages to share the Gospel. They met with prisoners in the local jail. As they traveled on the rivers they shared “the Word of God with people on the boat giving them tracts while testifying to the love of Jesus” (p. 17).
One day, falsely accused of a sexual indiscretion, he was shocked to see his patron grimly load his gun to deal with the man who had started the rumor. Fearing the worst, Narciso went into the field of sugar cane, fell to his knees and asked God to send peace.
That morning in the field, the glory of God descended on me and God touched me with his Holy Spirit. The fire of the Lord ran through me and a passion for lost souls came upon me. I knew I must leave and show the Word of God to others and preach it – even though I didn’t know what that would entail. The voice of God was calling me to spread the good news of the gospel. I stayed a while longer in prayer in the field before getting up (p. 18).
Fortunately, the gossiper confessed his lies, and no one was hurt. From that time on, the young Christian participated more and more in the prayer meeting, vigils, and days of fasting and prayer, common fare for his church, and continued to nourish his spiritual growth. Finally the day came when he felt it was time to go to Lima to study in a Bible School and prepare formally for ministry.
Theological Study in the Big CityWithout funds or even proper clothing, Narciso struggled to study. He found a job, but it imperiled his health. Finally a scholarship eased his financial burden. By God’s grace he was able to finish his studies. He also fell in love and married Udelia, a single mother with two children.
Without funds or even proper clothing, Narciso struggled to study. He found a job, but it imperiled his health. Finally a scholarship eased his financial burden. By God’s grace he was able to finish his studies. He also fell in love and married Udelia, a single mother with two children.Leaving her children in a boarding school, the young couple traveled five days and nights in a truck to Tarapoto in the Amazon jungle, to give leadership to their first church, a congregation of 11 members, and no young people. “They offered us a stipend of 16,000 soles monthly, a wage much lower than the minimum for that time. God would have to sustain us, or so we believed. We accepted the job and began the work with fasting and prayer” (p. 35). After seven months of hard work the church grew to 68 and celebrated 17 baptisms. However, a misunderstanding with the denomination resulted in Narciso being put under discipline, which meant he could no longer minister in the congregation yet was ordered to attend the weekly services. The church, considering the discipline to be unjust, willingly offered to continue his salary.
But Narciso felt that morally he could not accept a salary for doing nothing. Therefore, to survive, he became a traveling salesman.
Church Planter and BuilderThe school teachers in the various small towns I visited on sales calls usually gave me lodging and allowed me to conduct Bible studies in the school house. As I walked from home to home selling, families would offer me breakfast, lunch, and dinner – I never had to worry about food. I carried the clothes to sell in a big suitcase and my tracts and Bible in a small pack that I kept under my arm…I took the opportunity to evangelize at each home I entered…I then invited them to come to the rural school house in the afternoon where I would be conducting a bible study. I preached the gospel and many people accepted Jesus in those small communities (p. 43, 44).
Narciso incorporated the new believers into churches in town after town. The Zamoras resettled in a larger community where he became the pastor of growing congregation. But he continued his itineration to augment his inadequate salary, while Udalia covered for him when he had to be away on a week-end. When they finally decided to affiliate with the Church of God, he brought eleven churches into the denomination, some with more than a 100 members (p. 90).
Narciso incorporated the new believers into churches in town after town. The Zamoras resettled in a larger community where he became the pastor of growing congregation. But he continued his itineration to augment his inadequate salary, while Udalia covered for him when he had to be away on a week-end. When they finally decided to affiliate with the , he brought eleven churches into the denomination, some with more than a 100 members (p. 90).Conversions were often dramatic. One new Christian shared with him his testimony.
Mr. Preacher, I was a perverse man and almost a murderer. I fought even with my family. Every Sunday when I came to town I would fight anyone I met and every Sunday I would get thrown in jail for public disturbance. Now I belong to Christ. Tonight my mother, father, and I all accepted Jesus as our Savior. I would like you to come visit my house because I have a very large family and they have to hear the Word of God (p. 80).
The next day Narciso visited the man’s home in the country and found 15 people waiting to have a Bible study. “They listened to the Word of God as they sprawled out on the grass and others sat on rocks or tree trunks. After 30 minutes of presenting the gospel, I invited them to accept Jesus as their savior; 10 of them confessed their sins and accepted the Lord Jesus” (p. 80.
Concerned about the need for leaders for each of these congregations, the Zamoras prepared a training course, duplicating materials on an old, make-shift wooden mimeograph machine. They taught Christian discipleship, doctrine, basic theology, and homiletics. Narciso took the leaders of each congregation with him to a new location to show them how to raise up a new work, putting into practice what they had learned. He continued to visit the churches on a regular schedule, encouraging and teaching them.
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