Central America Visit

Visits to Nicarauga, Panama and Costa Rica

The visit to Nicarauga provided me a great deal of information about Christ and the City, Int. First of all four of us, Bob and Sally and Nan and I, met the leaders of the Base in Managua. A many of 45 who is a lay person from Costa Rica has raised his own support, moved his family to Managua, and taken the leadership in the Base for CFCI. This man, Alcedes and his US assistant, Vern, met us at the airport and drove us to the office, which was across town. On the way we ran into a bus strike and the drivers had turned the buses across the road and blocked our progress. Eventually, we found a way around it and made our way to the office.

For three hours we listened to a report from the 9 member staff. I commend them for laying out a whle year of ministry. The team does a great deal of training and equipping leadership in the various congregations; they work with all denominations and provide guidance that might be difficult for any one denomination to provide. Here are examples of what the do: The gather 35 to 40 ministers and train them in evangelism and counseling; they gather 40 or 50 youth and their leaders and host a camp for them which focues on training them to be effective witnesses and leaders for Christ; they work with individual "core" churches that are capable of gathering leaders and influencing them. The term for this in Central America is "convocate." One pastor can convocate a dozen or thirty or forty other pastors and leaders.

In addition to these evangelical goals, CFCI also hosts Medical Clinics. Working with doctors from the states they arrange a place, train the people how to assist the doctors, train others in sharing the gospel with those who come for medical attention, and train pastors in hosting these events. These medical clinics are open for 3 to 5 days and on average they see 750 to 1,000 persons per day. Of course, the treatment is good for the people, but it is also a witness and ministry from the church. One of the ministers who had hosted such an event uses it to make a new thrust forward in growth for the congregation.

In summary: the Base in Nicarauga has 20 core churches, an additiona 50 churches in which they have influcence, a total of 200+ pastors at some training event during the year, the distribution of 200 backpacks (books, uniforms, and school materials) for kids who otherwise could not attend school. The people on staff all raise their salaries and in less than 3 years they have achieved the level of influence that I have described.

Panama

CFCI has one staff person. He has previously worked with several evangelical organizations, including the Billy Graham Crusade in Central and South America. Roy is an excellent leader and one who is given to service of others. One of his greatest joys is spending time with natives who do not know Christ; he teaches them, challenges them, and leads them forward in their faith.

We made two visits with Roy, the base leader. First, we went to visit a pastor who is hosting a soccer league. He began this league for young men who were living on the street and they had very little interst in school. He has formed 8 or 10 teams of players that are composed of Christian and non-Christian. Before practice, during practice and after practice these Christian boys share their faith with their teammates. Changes are coming in their lives. The pastor who had been a policeman before his conversion now pastors a church of 800 persons. It is built on the edge of a new development. The building may lack aesthetic appeal but it is vibrant with the life of the Spirit. All of us were greatly impressed by this man's dedication and his willingness to give himself so fully to Christ. I wondered if we should not think about helping a man like this take his family on vacation for 5 or 6 days. Probably for $1000 this could be achieved and I believe that he needs a time to get away.

Our second visit was a street ministry going on in a poorer villiage. Eight persons from Ohio had come to Panama to work with churches and communities for 10 days. They had developed a mime act which meant they did not have to speak Spanish in order to get a message across. We spent an hour observing their work. Unfortunately, we had an appointment and had to leave just as they were ending their presentation.

Our final stop was the mayor's office. We waited about 45 minutes but were then graciously recieved by the mayor. The purpose of our visit was to find out how CFCI might work with the city in a "feeding" program. Land has been donated, a Foundation has given money for a building, and others have donated furniture and kitchen equipment to prepare the food. They aim to feed 500 children 2 meals each day. The mayor stated that children who were hungry could not concerntrate on studies. I believe this program has enough momentum to succeed.

After leaving the Mayor's office, I said to Roy that I would be concerned about turning money over to the politicians. He responded that CFCI would be in a place to take funds and purchase the food and even monitor its use.

Over lunch Chip had quite a shock. Roy had been working for him about 8 months. When Chip inquired about his income and the pledges that were supporting him, Roy responded that he had had very little help. When Chip asked how he was living, he said, "I sold my house in San Jose so I have been living off my own resources."

In San Jose Bob and Sally went to see the farm for addicted and abused girls, the office staff, and Carpio where CFCI ministers to 30,000 squatters from Nicaragua. I have written about this previously when Phil took me to see this place and when I took Chris out to see the training, the clinic, the sports organizations, and the job training that is underway.

I think that if you saw these various ministries, you would feel quite rewarded that you have a major part in the things that are taking place.