Not Your Typical Carey Student
Hattiesburg, MS, January 20, 2010 - Pavel Urruchi isn’t a typical Carey student. A junior religion major and Spanish minor, this native of Lima, Peru, found Carey by the grace of God. “Five years ago I met Tim Glaze, director of the William Carey University Baptist Student Union, while he was on a mission trip in Peru. I happened to be one of the interpreters of his team. I joked to him that if I ever came to the states, I’d study at Carey.”
Pavel later visited Arkansas on a mission trip where he served as a church planter and on that trip met Leah, who would become his wife. Following their wedding, Pavel felt God’s call for him to further his education in Biblical studies. “We did not know how we could afford my schooling, but we knew that God would provide a way. An International Mission Board missionary from Peru reminded me about Tim Glaze and that he worked at a Baptist university. I gave Tim a call and after catching up on our lives, I told him of my desire to further my education.” After much prayer, the Urruchis decided that Carey was where God wanted them to be.
Peru is divided into three regions: the coast, the highlands, and the jungle. Lima, the capitol, is located on the coast and has more than 9 million people. The WCU Baptist Student Union has made multiple mission trips to the highlands over the years and now Pavel participates as well. “It is amazing to be able to go back to my country and do mission work. Through my studies here, I feel better qualified to serve God there.”
An easy going personality and a servant’s heart are Pavel’s trademarks. He plans to go to seminary and with God’s help work toward a Ph.D. Future plans include planting and pastoring a Hispanic church. “I am also very interested in training Hispanic pastors and leaders wherever God leads me and my wife.”
“When I read the Scriptures, I see a God who loves all nations. I see a drama in the Scriptures where God created mankind to have a relationship with Him and live forever with Him but we failed to do so when Adam and Eve sinned. From then on, the story of redemption is needed and it is accomplished through the death of Jesus Christ who died for all people. God found me and saved me when I was spiritually dead. He changed my heart and showed me a different path to live. That is also why I want to tell everybody about this god who made a miracle happen in my life.”
Pavel and wife Leah live in Hattiesburg where she serves as interim assistant Baptist Student Union director at WCU.
Pavel is one of 78 international students from 24 countries enrolled at WCU.
WCU students Thomas Lambert and Pavel Urruchi laugh together coming down a mountain in Peru following baptism of new converts.