Update late October, 2009

Updates

If you already read below, you see that I made a visit to El Salvador in March; over these intervening months I’ve been in frequent contact about the project with the leaders in El Salvador.  They sent me a final copy of the Evangelism/ Discipleship   – Diaconal/Development plan, with a proposed budget of $15,850; on the basis of that we came to an understanding of cooperation.  That involves along with some program costs, a half-time salary for the first year for Alba Lopez, longtime former national CRWRC worker in El Salvador.  She began in August, and initial reports from her are very positive.  Speaking by phone recently with her she was very encouraged.  That Sunday she had had a session on “values” with the Huizucar church; they want to make those biblical, and sound developmental ones.

I have received some good reports of growth in the rural Huizucar church as they already implemented some aspects of this on their own, in conjunction with other trainings and local visions that they have.  In Santa Tecla, Pastor Carlos wants to integrate this with a new (for them and the country) Bible League initiative for evangelism.  So this is a good time to continue alongside the El Salvador CRC in its ministry efforts.  

I wonder what the church will do for Reformation Day; they don’t want to be “just another evangelical church” although they struggle with seeing the growth in the pentecostal churches and wonder if they should imitate more their aproach.  I encourage them to persevere in trying to contextualize the reformed faith, to let it make the contribution that it can to the tremendous needs of a society in turmoil and an economy that leaves many behind.

Once again, I ask for your supportive encouragement if you are willing to make a contribution to this effort.  Pray for the members, the leaders, and these new initiatives. 

Que Dios le bendiga (may God bless you)

Update June 2, 2009

Updates

THE COUNTRY / GOVERNMENT

Yesterday Mauricio Funes was sworn in, along with his Cabinet, as President for the next five years.  His inaugural speech was wide sweeping, ambitious, and challenging to all sectors.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in the audience and immediately after hearing Funes say that all relations between El Salvador and Cuba would be renewed, was also assured that every effort will be made to build on the good relations with the United States.  The speech pointed to significant shifts in focus and efforts to turn the country in a different direction; from my standpoint, the mention of faith, hope, ethics, and values were important touchstones.  Much prayer and goodwill is needed for this country that has a significant part of its population living in the United States, and seemingly intractable problems at home.  This is an historic shift in El Salvador.

THE E.S CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCHES:

Just now at the end of May I formally received what is the final edition of the agreement that has been arrived at for a Word and Deed Project
which I for more than a year have been promoting and even raising funding for!  It consists of a double two-dimensional effort: Evangelism / Discipleship coupled with Diaconal / Development.  This is meant to be a holistic (integral) witness for the Christian Reformed Church, to produce growth and service presence in the two communities of Santa Tecla and Huizucar.  

The objection to having a salaried person (mentioned below) was withdrawn.  Former longtime CRWRC employee Alba Lopez will be employed on a half-time basis to help accompany this project, in everything from encouragement to training to monitoring. A third of the needed funds are for her salary; the rest will go into trainings, materials, and program expenses.  The churches are making a commitment to raise a part of the needed $15,850 for the first year.  

ANOTHER INTERESTING DIMENSION

Sparked by the approach of the Reformed Calvinist Church to me, for help in renewing relations with the CRCNA, I made something of a prior counter-proposal:  could the two  El Salvador reformed churches begin a conversation looking toward reconciliation and reuniting?!  That letter has not had any formal response as of yet; please make this a matter for prayer.

Part of the thinking behind this initiative, besides the smallness of each group, is the fact that next year two significant reformed bodies will be joining in one.  The Reformed Calvinist church (six small congregations) already is a member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches; my hope is that the two will retake the name of either the Christian Reformed or simply Reformed Church of El Salvador and become a charter member of the emerging World Reformed Communion.  That happens in Grand Rapids, Michigan  D.V. in June 2010.  (Update mid-2012: no formal movement on this but there is occasional informal contact between leaders.)

We see through a glass darkly

We see through a glass darkly

Reports

“We see through a glass darkly” – St. Paul 

YOU  HAVE ACCESSED the home page of the North America support effort for the Christian Reformed Church of El Salvador, and other related ministries; “bienvenido“!  This support is in both mentoring and monetary dimensions, please join in prayer and partnership.

 

INTRODUCING myself and this ministry effort:  Yes, welcome to this site, from former missionary to El Salvador, Rev. Lou Wagenveld (D.Min.) 1995-1999.   Other places of service with wife Mary Anne have been Argentina (13 years), California (15), and Mexico (2).  Please spend a little while with me on these pages.

 BACKGROUND:  Some will remember the 12 year civil war in the 1980s, and the major earthquake of January 2001 in El Salvador that killed over 1000 people, most just a mile away from the Christian Reformed Church of Santa Tecla. The old colonial era building was so badly damaged it had to be razed to the ground.  This was a building that a Michigan work team had helped restore and refurbish just two years earlier and where a new congregation was forming.  During my time of ministry in El Salvador, I was privileged to meet and mentor two young leaders who have since been ordained:  Rev. Joaquin Ordonez and  Rev. Carlos Mejia. 
 Joaquin was leading the rural town church in Huizucar. Carlos in his initial contact with our mission,  made it plain that he is convinced that the Christian faith from a Reformed world and life view perspective is what his country very much needs. 

 THE LEADERS: With his small but growing congregation and new leaders in training, Rev. Mejia sees a hopeful future and a real role for the Reformed faith in Salvadoran life.  While the lack of an adequate facility severely hampered congregational life and growth, the new building has given them renewed vision and expectation (see below). The current President of the ES CRC is the recently ordained Rev. Ordonez, pastor in the rural town of Huizucar. 

 THE OPPORTUNITIES: We – you who read this and I – can help. If you love the reformed and evangelical faith, and have a heart for this small country and church, you can be part of the picture.  Next are two pictures of the new building to replace the old one in Santa Tecla (the city church).

After the earthquake of 2001 – promised help never came… 

 

 

 In the picture are some of the leaders; Pastor Carlos Mejia on the left, next to him elder and longtime leader Samuel Montano and wife. In the middle, in gray; yours truly, Lou Wagenveld.

 

 Dedication of the new building April 2006

 

 

 

 On the right is Rev. Eduardo Aparicio from the Costa Rican Christian Reformed Church, who earlier had examined and ordained Pastor Carlos. Later Pastor Aparicio helped prepare Joaquin Ordonez for ordination.

 

This is the front (notice the CRC symbol) of the Huizucar CR Church which was started in 1979.  It is led by Pastor Joaquin Ordonez (white shirt and cap) and his equally hard working wife Gloria Rosario (seated).  With elder Alfredo Palacios (blue shirt) they are leaving in the back of a pick up truck after the morning service to attend to another recently started church in Maria Victoria. The town of 4000 is the municipality for another 10,000 people living in small villages and hamlets scattered around in the hilly coffee plantations up to 3 hour walks away.  The name of the town in Nahuat means “Thorny Path” and the church has experienced some of that as well, so see the Christian School tab for more.