Ilo is a city in the southern Peru. It is a resort town with a population of about 100,000 people. Its industry is mining and fishing. Ilo has a beautiful pacific water front. The city itself is nestled between the sea and the plateau. It has a nice collection of hotels, restaurants, public parks and seaside walking trail. The culinary specialties of the region are “Pollo a la Brasa” (rotisserie chicken) and “Cebiche” (lemon fish).The newer part of the city is being built on the plateau called “La Pampa”.

The church of Christ began in this city with one member only in 2005. The Wilkesboro church in cooperation with other North Carolina churches began supporting a local minister for Ilo in 2008.The Ilo church now consist of about ten members and weekly meetings include many new faces. Eduardo Beltran a Chilean native is currently serving as an evangelist. The Ilo church meets in a rented facility on the plateau, which it also serves as the minister’s residence.

Ilo is a traditional Catholic area but the church is making concentrated efforts to break through this barrier and the prospect for growth is very good. The church has these ongoing ministries:

• Personal Bible Studies throughout the week
• Group Bible Studies on Tuesday and Thursday evenings
• Saturday Children Bible School
• Weekly Ministry to the elderly at the Municipal building
• Market Place evangelism
• Semi annual evangelistic campaigns