Davey with ABWE missionaries Glenn and Dorthy Budd's children
So what does a 27-year-old national believer do in ministry? Plenty! This servant finds ways to serve with the coastal camps, workshops in the public school for abstinence and prenatal Christian counseling. David Joseph Paredes is an amazing young man!
When I was in Peru in 2005, I met Davey, who was working with Glenn and Dorothy Budd, ABWE career missionaries in the coastal city of Chiclayo, Peru. He was studying psychology, which he has since accomplished. Davey is always heavily involved in the ministry in his city and in the mountain towns of Ingenio and Pechuquiz. No one has a deeper burden than Davey to see the youth of these villages have the burden of Christ upon their lives.
There is a great openness to drama in the city of Chiclayo. That is one reason why Davey has served God for over two years as a volunteer consultant at the New Life Pregnancy Care Center.
“When I was in my mother’s womb, there were some doctors that advised her to abort me due to her health. This hurt her greatly. My mom never thought she would be going through the same difficult time after losing her first pregnancy some months previously,” Davey says. “She chose to hear God’s voice, cried out to Him and offered me to Him. My parents were growing new Christians when I was born. I loved to go to church and as a member of the children’s choir I was always excited to attend. It was when I was 8-years-old, after a Sunday service, when God spoke to my heart. That day I realized my strong need of His salvation. God used my pastor to show me how to be saved through the Word and I gave my life to Christ, asking His forgiveness. What an experience I can’t describe. My heart jumped with joy, I just wanted shared with everybody what God had done for me…”
“I praise God for His protection, first in my mother’s womb, and then other times I was surrounded by danger. Many times I was close to the death. I was sick with pneumonia, almost fell off the roof of my house (incredibly, God used my dog to rescue me), I was kidnapped in my dad’s car, and I was operated on for peritonitis. I almost died in a drowning accident. It happened when I was with my sister at the beach. Because I was so naughty I got in trouble when I was swimming. Missionary Glenn Budd risked his life to rescue me. He was upset with me and asked his daughter, Amy, “Who is this kid?” “He’s David, the son of Mom’s friend Juli,” responded Amy. As time went by the Budd family became closer friends with mine. Glenn now is my “uncle,” my mentor and my family.”
“It was at youth camp where God, one more time, whispered to me. It was awesome! He gave me the desire to dedicate my life to Him, although I didn’t know specifically what He would do with me. I took one semester at the ABWE Seminary in Lima, and then I studied Organizational Psychology at the University in Chiclayo. During that time my faith was tested because of my non-Christian psychology teachers. Thank God for “Uncle Glenn” and his family, discipled me, guiding me back to my Biblical convictions. “
“For over 10 years, I have had the privilege of accompanying Glenn on mission’s trips to two mountain regions to organize youth camps. My desire for ministry to youth began growing inside me. At my church, my pastor trained me with other leaders in youth ministries. In the past few years I met Dr. Cheryl Fawcett who encouraged me in an incredible way with her passion for reaching youth for Christ through equipping future young leaders…”
“Now at 27 years old, God has placed two new burdens on my heart. The first one is to start a youth ministry for college students and professionals. Churches here in Chiclayo are lacking in this area and the youth are not being reached with the Gospel. The second one is to develop a camp ministry like the ones that exist in larger cities in Peru, but not here. I believe this is an urgent need. God called me in a youth camp and I know many others have heard His call at camps as well. I’m praying for people with passion and love for youth here in Chiclayo. I am asking God for a team of national and international leaders to take this challenge, by grace, and see God’s hand move in the forgotten towns of Peru. May there soon be a widespread witness of youth living with convictions and passion for Christ.”
So what culture is Davey most comfortable with? It’s hard to tell when you look at his Facebook list of friends. Two cultures—American and Peruvian, with as many of one as there is of the other! He can’t speak English, but he has a multitude of American friends, who came to serve in his hometown. Maybe you will be one of the ones to help Davey start a camp program in Peru?
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