Faith Through Fire

Jul 16, 2025

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“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s largest tropical rainforest consisting of dense jungles and swamps. With little modern infrastructure, it presents a challenge to our Bolivian partners attempting to share the gospel with the indigenous tribes in the jungle and near the river. The only ways people can be reached are by motor vehicle or by boat.

Motorcycle Ministry

FIA first began engaging in the Amazon Basin through a riverboat ministry, journeying up and down the Amazon tributaries with medical and evangelism teams. When the aging riverboat started to experience too many problems and was ultimately sold, the people were still out there, waiting to hear the gospel. So, Pastor Iver Suarez began a motorcycle ministry. Iver is an OEN international worker with the local church in Guayaramerin who regularly leads outreach and evangelism teams along the roads and pathways of the Amazon.

Iver’s Recent Difficulties

Having a motorcycle allows Iver to visit village communities deep in the jungle that would be too far to reach by on foot. That is, until recently when Iver’s bike was stolen from his home. This theft and an ongoing nationwide fuel crisis have put the ministry’s travel on hold.

“We have to stand in line for more than 5 days to buy fuel here in Bolivia. Everything is difficult now, everything is complicated, everything has gone up in price. Now we are running short of resources to be able to buy the daily food” shared Iver.

Echoes of His Grace - FIA volunteers building the hangar structure

Pastor Iver and his family on their motorcycle.

God Provides

As a partner of FIA, Pastor Iver and the ministry team he serves with reached out to ask for prayer in navigating the challenge of the theft and the ongoing fuel crisis in Bolivia. Though FRIENDS often focuses on the physical infrastructure and development projects for our national partners, we support the work Iver is committed to, going into unclaimed territory and sharing the gospel using the tools FIA can help provide.

Assisting Iver To Continue

In support of Iver and Amazon outreach trips, FIA is providing financial assistance to help fund the outreach expeditions and to help cover the rising fuel costs. Through the extra support and the Lord’s provision, the Amazonian ministry has continued.

Echoes of His Grace - Rob Donley (FIA Team Leader) at NTM Aviation

A village near the river.

New Believers In Christ

What began with Pastor Iver sharing the gospel with a few has blossomed into a new church community in San Juan, with our Bolivian partners training and discipling new believers who can then go out and share the gospel with other surrounding villages.

In the community of Rosario del Yata, Iver testifies about another church plant that is flourishing: “After eight months of working with the village, more than fifteen children between the ages of eight and twelve have come to Christ…twenty-two new believers ranging from the ages of thirteen to seventeen who have also given their lives to the Lord. Even more incredible, sixteen of these new believers are now boldly preaching the Word of God.”

Echoes of His Grace - The Completed Hangar

Children from a village Iver works in.

Join us In Prayer!

Even in the midst of hardship and tribulation, God is at work in Bolivia! We ask for your prayers for Pastor Iver and for our Bolivian partners as they navigate the fuel crisis and the need of a new motorcycle for Iver. Pray for guidance, strength, boldness and provision during this season and that through the fire of tribulation, they will trust in the Lord’s provision.

In this life, the Lord said we would face trials. But may we each remember that He has overcome the world!