Brother, Can You Spare A Sol?

Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, has said that it takes super-sized cash to do ministry. He's right, of course, and I'd add that it's also important to know if that super-sized cash is going to be in dollars, euros, pounds sterling, pesos, shekels, drachmas, or denarii.

Here in Peru, the national currency is called the sol. Right now, one US dollar equals about 2.80 soles (I know because I checked the exchange rates this morning). In recent years one US dollar was worth up to 3.50 Peruvian soles, but the value of the US dollar has weakened significantly around the globe. This impacts our ministry here in Peru. For example, we used to pay the rent at the cinema where we have Flamingo Road Church in Lima in US dollars, but now the cinema management requests payment in Peruvian soles. Since the value of Peruvian soles has risen as the value of US dollars has dropped, this means that we are now paying more to rent the cinema. Other local businesses in Lima with whom we have a relationship, such as printers, parking garages, and cafes, also now request payment in Peruvian soles instead of weakened US dollars.

The ebb and flow of currency and exchange rates is something that you simply have to get used to if you're going to succeed in international ministry. A rising US dollar would certainly be of benefit to us, but we have learned to bob and weave when it falls.