After celebrating Mary Anne’s birthday in Gilbert, AZ (east of Phoenix where our youngest daughter now lives), the next morning I left for Central America via a layover long enough in Houston to make a stop at the nearby conference of Christian Churches Together (Google this). Reason I stopped was to hear the very best lecture on Immigration that I have ever heard, given by Daniel Groody, S.J. (look him up also!)
But then on to an overnight in El Salvador, and some contacts at Casa Semillas the next morning before dropping 4 boxes of Tim Monsma’s Hope for the Southern World (Spanish) off at the Libreria Bautista. Please pray for the special promotion we are working up via media avenues to put this reformed world-view material in the hands of local Christians. Here a word about Casa Semillas, the CRCNA related NGO in San Salvador. Please pray for a leadership change they are undergoing, seeking a new director. They are now housed also in a different location. The Inter-Varsity program continues from there; if you have a heart for University student ministry, you can channel a gift via ARMA (for a tax receipt) or directly to me. Another program coordinated through Semillas is the Timothy Leadership Institute, with training of trainers taking place in many locations throughout the country. This modular biblical teaching strengthens leaders in several areas of ministry. ….But on with my trip….9 hours by bus to Honduras.
I spent a long weekend in Tegucigalpa at the invitation of son John, whose Multiplication Network was holding its continental conference there. I translated for the few English speakers attending this large gathering from 18 countries and 13 denominations. The range of speakers and topics covered was impressive; a special feature was the visit of a trio of representatives from the Lausanne Movement doing a survey in Central America on church planting initiatives. I also took the opportunity to visit with CRCNA mission personnel Casper and Leanne Geisterfer, local World Renew staff, and the Central Church pastor. Who also was there but Moises Colop of Guatemala, long time CRWRC worker, now in training with MNM! I bused back to San Salvador a day early for a follow up meeting there with the Lausanne folk who did a “consulta” with 30 leaders gathered at the Evangelical University. With a very positive endorsement of John’s Network, I was given the floor to explain that church planter training.
El Salvador: a country with continuing multiple challenges. I was there in the week prior to elections for the national assembly and mayors, so there was a lot of talk of that (and afterward of fraud.) There is a fracture line right down the middle of the society in that many elections are decided by very narrow percentages. E.S. traded places again with Honduras to be the world leader in violence and homicides. My interests were to see a host of people – with only a few days to be there, I maxed that Friday starting with an early breakfast meeting and had eight face to face conversations until 8:30 PM; great! The Saturday meeting with the various leaders interested in reformed perspective didn’t go as well; low attendance with some people new to the group, others were missing… so more another time.
A very good meeting was held Sunday afternoon with the eight leaders – including now one woman – of the Directiva Nacional of the ES/CRC’s two congregations. Mostly we went over the progress of the agreed upon objectives of the Word and Deed Project; all in all quite satisfactory. I heard some stories of progress and growth. While they asked for a commitment for this present year, due to their owing a couple of financial reports, I made my answer subject to receiving those yet this month of March. For you who are wondering, my intention is very much to continue, so feel free to continue to send your donations to ARMA (see link). Last year you helped raise $11,000 of the $12,000 projected. Thanks!
Some years I have made two trips, and now my sights are on October; pray with me about that, please
Central American children and the U.S. border.
See my translation of a poignant article from El Diario de Hoy that gives perspective; see El Salvador children and youth migration …
the article begins: “Salvadoran youth are leaving because they have no hope….”