A HEART FOR PEOPLE OF PERU
Gabriel and Lina Acuña (front row, center) in November 2012 with District Pastor Juan Carlos Livague (left); Treasurer José Meza (now retired) of Northeast Peru Mission (right); and members of the new Amiñio Church which the Acuñas built.
by Martin Butler
Convicted by the Holy Spirit to reach the people of Peru, Gabriel and Lina Acuña sold their Orlando-area home in the year 2000 and, with the proceeds, built and bought two Christian radio stations.
When the stations played a role in a nationwide evangelistic endeavor that brought thousands into the Adventist Church, the Acuñas sensed God’s call to build houses of worship for the new members. Returning to Orlando, they held garage sales, spoke with friends, and told their story in churches to raise funds for construction materials.
Fast forward to 2016 where, today, the Peruvian landscape includes 10 beautiful churches built by the Acuñas. Making a trip back nearly every year, this couple has volunteered tirelessly to build sanctuaries, children’s Sabbath School classrooms, and modern restroom facilities.
In 2010, they inspired an evangelistic team from Florida to accompany them to Peru and hold meetings in 10 locations. As a result, nearly 200 people were baptized. José LeGrand, at the time Director of Planned Giving and Trust Services at Florida Conference, organized the group.
“It was amazing to see how people related to this couple who totally live by faith,” he testifies. “I saw how every dollar donated for their ministry is spent wisely.”
In 2015, the Acuñas experienced a providential meeting when Gabriel and Lina visited a dentist in Peru to get some work done on their teeth. During their conversation, Lina learned the dentist had often wished to bring his dentist wife and children on a vacation to Florida.
Spontaneously, Lina invited them to stay in their Altamonte Springs apartment. The dentist was so touched by the offer, he said, “Any charges for today’s visit are on me.” The family came to Florida in March 2016 and, while on vacation, they experienced Christian hospitality, delicious meals, evening worships, and the joy of giving.
Wanting to give back, the dentist offered money to the Acuñas for opening their home to them. Lina counter-offered with a proposal to help a small congregation that meets near his office under a corrugated aluminum roof with no walls. He jumped at the suggestion and said he would gladly pay for the construction of four new walls.
Gabriel and Lina will take their annual trip to Peru this June. “Making plans and raising money for that next trip is what motivates Lina and Gabriel every day they are back in the States,” observes their friend, José LeGrand. “It doesn’t matter how much money they’ve raised or set aside from their retirement pension between trips: they’ll go, they’ll fix, they’ll build, and they’ll find every way possible to stretch what they bring because of their love for the people of Peru.”
Convicted by the Holy Spirit to reach the people of Peru, Gabriel and Lina Acuña sold their Orlando-area home in the year 2000 and, with the proceeds, built and bought two Christian radio stations.
When the stations played a role in a nationwide evangelistic endeavor that brought thousands into the Adventist Church, the Acuñas sensed God’s call to build houses of worship for the new members. Returning to Orlando, they held garage sales, spoke with friends, and told their story in churches to raise funds for construction materials.
Fast forward to 2016 where, today, the Peruvian landscape includes 10 beautiful churches built by the Acuñas. Making a trip back nearly every year, this couple has volunteered tirelessly to build sanctuaries, children’s Sabbath School classrooms, and modern restroom facilities.
In 2010, they inspired an evangelistic team from Florida to accompany them to Peru and hold meetings in 10 locations. As a result, nearly 200 people were baptized. José LeGrand, at the time Director of Planned Giving and Trust Services at Florida Conference, organized the group.
“It was amazing to see how people related to this couple who totally live by faith,” he testifies. “I saw how every dollar donated for their ministry is spent wisely.”
In 2015, the Acuñas experienced a providential meeting when Gabriel and Lina visited a dentist in Peru to get some work done on their teeth. During their conversation, Lina learned the dentist had often wished to bring his dentist wife and children on a vacation to Florida.
Spontaneously, Lina invited them to stay in their Altamonte Springs apartment. The dentist was so touched by the offer, he said, “Any charges for today’s visit are on me.” The family came to Florida in March 2016 and, while on vacation, they experienced Christian hospitality, delicious meals, evening worships, and the joy of giving.
Wanting to give back, the dentist offered money to the Acuñas for opening their home to them. Lina counter-offered with a proposal to help a small congregation that meets near his office under a corrugated aluminum roof with no walls. He jumped at the suggestion and said he would gladly pay for the construction of four new walls.
Gabriel and Lina will take their annual trip to Peru this June. “Making plans and raising money for that next trip is what motivates Lina and Gabriel every day they are back in the States,” observes their friend, José LeGrand. “It doesn’t matter how much money they’ve raised or set aside from their retirement pension between trips: they’ll go, they’ll fix, they’ll build, and they’ll find every way possible to stretch what they bring because of their love for the people of Peru.”
David Acuña Gonzales was 14 when he studied the Bible with his uncle, Gabriel Acuña. After his baptism, David expressed a desire to become a pastor. Later, he would help the Acuñas build churches and, from those pulpits, gain preaching experience. This past December 4, because of the financial sacrifices of his aunt and uncle, David graduated from Peruvian Union University in Lima with his fiancé, Anamaria Cabrera Mendoza. This spring, they began employment at a high school in Peru where David is campus chaplain and Anamaria is the executive secretary.