Kayleen Rosenquist

History of Pilgrim Holiness Church Missions/Wesleyan Missions in Peru

As I began the research for this paper, I was amazed at the trials and tribulations that have
taken place within the Pilgrim Holiness Church Missions and Wesleyan Missions in Peru.
It has been a long and arduous journey and as I look at the more mature churches on the
coast of Peru, it is difficult to imagine the birthing pangs that took place to create these
churches that are now so strong in the Lord. I stand in awe at the valiant pioneers of the
faith that in spite of the many obstacles, came to Peru to spread the Word of our Lord
Jesus Christ and did not surrender in the face of them, but persevered and left their mark
on Peru. It greatly encourages me as I work with Lucy Dahua Inuma, a Peruvian
missionary, in the jungle area of Peru to continue forward despite the many obstacles we
facethe heat, the rain, the mud, the mosquitoes, sleeping on the ground, long boat rides
and the problems within the churches to name a few. This is yet an unreached area of
Peru and we face trials every day as we encourage and plant Wesleyan Churches along
the Amazon River. Many times it feels like it is two steps forward and one step back; yet
reading the history of those who have gone before me, I am encouraged to press on
towards the goal. I feel that is such an honor to be able to be here and despite the trials, I
wouldnt miss this opportunity for the world. What I have gleaned from various sources
regarding the history of the Holiness Church/Pilgrim Holiness Church/Wesleyan Church
missions from the beginning to present is as follows:
In 1903 Rev. Willis Brand, accompanied by his wife Martha and Frank Hall, arrived in
Peru to serve as missionaries for the Holiness Church of California. Religious liberty
had not yet been granted so he began as a schoolteacher in Chiclayo.1 The only church
recognized in the country at that time was the Roman Catholic Church, so they held
services in their home and passed out tracts, flyers and Bibles to the people in Chiclayo.
Besides teaching English, Brand acquired a printing company which he used not only as
income but also to print evangelical materials and hymnals. The Brands and Frank Hall
worked together until Hall had to return to the states in 1906 due to illness.
Later , Brand rented a building to hold services. Since freedom of religion was still
prohibited, he had to make personal, private invitations to conferences in which he was
the speaker. For 8 years he and his wife won converts to the Lord in Chiclayo and the
surrounding areas until 1911, when Willis Brand became ill with malaria and he and his
family had to return to the states.2
In 1906, Bruce Greer arrived in Peru to work alongside the Brands. He saw the need to
spread the gospel to other areas of Peru such as Lambayeque and Cajamarca and started
to travel to these places; because of his work there several churches were born. When
Willis Brand became ill, Greer was placed in charge of the mission. By the time Greer
1 Paul Westphal Thomas and Paul Wm. Thomas, The Days of Our Pilgrimage: History of The Pilgrim
Holiness Church. (Wesley Press, Marion, Indiana, 1976) p. 43.
2 Eloy Gonzlez Alvarado, Precencia Misionera en el Norte del Peru, (Editorial Universo, Lima, Peru,
1986) pp. 24-28.

returned to the states in 1914, he left a congregation of 23 and left two young Peruvians
in charge of the services: Melchor Vasquez and Santos Urrutia.3
The next missionary to come to Peru for the Holiness Church was a single female
obstetric nurse who had emigrated to the U.S.A. from England. Her nursing abilities
opened many new doors in Peru. She married Melchor Vasquez who had been left as
leader of the services. In 1919 they formed the first official Holiness Church in Chiclayo,
complete with a local church board.4
In 1923, Melchor Vasquez went to the United States to share regarding the churches in
Peru and to ask for financial assistance to buy some land for the church. He returned
with enough financial aid to buy the land on 7th of January Street, Chiclayo and construct
a school as well as a church on it. The school opened successfully in 1925 later this land
became a point of contention when the church split in 1972.
During this time , many other Holiness Churches were being formed in other areas of
Peru. In 1928, Santiago (James) and Margaret Spencer arrived and found the church had
become spiritually cold. They also learned Melchor Vasquez was involved in adultery;
therefore, he was removed from the church in 1929. Isabel Baker Vasquez continued her
work in Peru until 1932 when she returned to the U.S.5
The Spencers served as missionaries in Peru for 2 decades. During that time many
missionaries joined them from the states, such as the Depewswho furthered the work in
the mountains and in Chiclayo (due to illness they had to return to Canada); the Bickers
who worked in the Bible institute and in evangelism; Rachel Snow, the Wymans and
Arturo Henley. Bickers, Snow, Wyman and Henley ended up leaving the Holiness
Church and going to work in the Nazarene Church. One author said it was due to the
radical thoughts of Santiago Spencer.6 Another author said it resulted from leadership
problems and financial issues.7
Although some missionaries went to the Nazarenes, other missionaries came and
remained with the Holiness church, such as Doane Avery, who worked in the Bible
institute for 10 years; Eunice Van Metre, professor for years at the Bible institute and an
evangelist in the mountains; and Naomi Greer, daughter of Bruce Greer, served 30 years
in Peru.8 All of these missionaries left their footprint in the formation and organization
of the early Holiness Church in Peru.
In the U.S.A. General Conference of 1946, the Holiness Church of California merged
with the Pilgrim Holiness church.9 The merger initiated several changes in the mission in
3 Jos Blas Narvez, Das de Nuestro PeregrinaconLa Marvillosa Historia de la Iglesia Wesleyana
Peregrina (Industrias Grafisol, E.I.R.L. Trujillo, Peru, 2004) pp. 30-32.
4 Jos Blas Narvez, p. 37
5 Blas Narvez , pp. 54-57.
6 Gonzlez Alvarado, p, 66.
7 Blas Narvez , p. 64.
8 Gonzlez Alvarado, pp. 65-73.
9 Thomas and Thomas, p.229.

Peru. New missionaries arrived from the now merged Pilgrim Holiness Church and all
previous missionaries except Naomi Greer from the Holiness Church returned to the
states. The first Pilgrim Holiness Church missionaries, Flora Slater and Daisy Busby,
met with some resistance to the changes that came from the merger. The next
missionaries that came, Gordon Coleman Avery (District Superintendent 1948-1967) and
Merton Rundell (director of the Bible Institute 1953-1962) helped bring about positive
changes. During this time, the Denomination grew immenselyplanting new churches
(145 churches in 1966), gaining members, forming new auxiliary groups (youth, women
etc.) and seeing an increasing number of Peruvian Pastors ordained.10 Also Francisco
Soltero (a Pilgrim Holiness Church missionary to Mexico) came to Peru 10 times to
help reorganize the district and teach the organization of the Pilgrim Holiness Church.
1968 was a year of Peruvian unrest and animosity toward the U.S.A. , mostly due to U.S.
petroleum companies exploiting Peruvian resources. There was a rise in Nationalism: a
call for the poor to rise up and take what was theirs. In this same year, the Pilgrim
Holiness Church and The Wesleyan Church in the U.S. merged. Gordon Coleman Avery,
who had been a source of stability to the Peruvians, had to return to the states due to a
heart condition. Also, Francisco Soltero (who always came to Peru to clarify the changes
in the church) became gravely ill, so there was no one in country to explain the changes
taking place. Then a historical error took place. When La Mar Brown ( Gordon C.
Avery successor) postponed his trip by several months, he was not seen as a Pilgrim
Holiness missionary, but as a Wesleyan missionary upon his arrival. Thus when he
proposed the needed name change to the churches, he met with great opposition.11
In the Peru conference of 1972, a division took place that changed the history of the
mission in Peru. The majority of the churches went against a name change, separated
from the mission and kept the name Pilgrim Holiness Church of Peru. Only a few
churches decided to join the Wesleyan Church and in the 1972 conference, Gordon Avery
Coleman returned to serve as Superintendent until he had to return to the states in 1976.
In 1976, Rick and Clara West came to Peru. The churches began to have a new vision
and began to grow and multiply. Norman Wilson came in 1981. He, along with Rick
West, helped change the Bible Institute into and accredited college which now offered a
Bachelors degree. These were the last of the foreign missionaries formally in charge of
the Bible Institute. Rick West became Area Director of Latin America and Norman
Wilson became Director of International Projects of the Department of World Missions.12
In 1988, the Wileys arrived and began developing a church plant in Surco, Peru. Two
years later, Jarvis and Sue Ferguson arrived and began training pastors to be well
equipped and great leaders. Sue facilitated the growth of the womens group and women
as leaders.13

10 Blas Narvez, pp. 82-98.

11 Blas Narvez, pp. 113-130.
12 Blas Narvez, pp. 132-142.
13 Blas Narvez, p. 150.

In 2009, Jarvis and Sue, along with General Superintendent Jerry Pence announced that
there would be no more missionaries sent by Global Partners to Peru. The Pilgrim
Wesleyan Church of Peru had grown and matured to the point missionary presence was
no longer needed, ending a more than a 100 year era of foreign supervision.
There is so much more I could write regarding The Wesleyan Church in Peru. I
interviewed Isabel Angelica Gonzlez Suyon (daughter of the author of Presencia
Misionera en el Norte Del Peru); Anita Carrin former superintendent of Peru; and Sue
Ferguson, missionary in Peru for 20 years and have gained so much knowledge of the
Wesleyan work here in Peru. Instead of including all of this I tried to keep focused on an
overview of the missionary presence here from beginning to present. I am grateful for
everything that I have learned and it has given me a greater understanding of the larger
picture of the Peruvian Pilgrim Wesleyan Church.

Bibliography
Alvarado, Eloy Gonzlez. Presencia Misionera en el Norte Del Peru. Lima, Peru:
Editorial Universo, 1986.
Narvez, Jos Blas. Los Das de Nuestra Peregrinacon: La Marvillosa Historia de la
Iglesia Wesleyana Peregrina. Trujillo, Peru: Industrias Grafisol, E.I.R.L., 2004.
Thomas, Paul Westphal and Paul Wm. Thomas. The Days of Our Pilgrimage: History of
The Pilgrim Holiness Church. Marion, IN: Wesley Press, 1976.