Day: September 21, 2010

Community and church members provide skilled labor to the project.ENLACE aims to encourage, equip and accompany churches through the process of becoming effective agents of change in their communities. The Principe de Paz church in San Martin is one of many churches paving the way to transformed communities in El Salvador.

María Gladis Valladares has lived on 24th Street in the neighborhood of San María for more than 14 years. Over the years Maria and her neighbors have experienced countless difficulties due to the horrific condition of their street. The youngest and oldest community members are most effected and rarely attempt to walk during or after a rain storm because of the great torrents of water that cut through the dirt street. Many areas of the street do not have proper drainage and the storms leave behind stagnant water that breeds insects and causes foul odors. The street has been detoriating in its condition for many years and community members have been actively looking for ways to fix the road for more than a decade.

Santiago Alfaro, pastor of Principe de Paz in Santa Maria, has become well-known to his neighbors. When Don Santiago, as the community respectfully calls him, announced that his church would collaborate with the Community Association, the mayor’s office and ENLACE donors to finally fix 24th street, the community was thrilled. As Maria explains,Pastor Santiago (right) and a community leader work together to on 24th street.

“It is Don Santiago who has been working hard in all of this. We all want to see the street repaired and our community improved. That is why I decided to volunteer with the Community Association. This is a great opportunity to bring improvement to our community.”

Gerson Ramirez, ENLACE’s church coach in the region, explains the importance of the church making positive connections with its community. “For years the community and the church said this initiative was impossible because they didn’t have any help from the mayor’s office. But when they decided to work together to manage the initiative and went back to the mayor’s office as an entire community, they found open doors and a quick answer. They consider it a miracle from God.”

Maria Valladares and other community members are excited now that the first stage of the process is nearly complete. This stage consists of more than 500 meters of cement drainage as well as the construction of septic tank. Nearly 60 percent of this first stage was financed by the local government entities. The remainder was supplied by the local church and ENLACE. Maria, Pastor Santiago and the entire community are eagerly awaiting the completion of such an important initiative that will significantly improve the quality of life on 24th Street. 

Click here for photos of this wonderful story!

Help the Principe de Paz Church continue to pave the way towards community transformation by becoming a friend of ENLACE and donate $25, $50 or $100 per month!

Then sings my soul, my savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.

Rosa Lilian Arana and her family are all smiles after moving into their new home.On a hot and humid September afternoon the lyrics from this familiar hymn filled the walls of God’s Ark Church in Planes del Ranchador, El Salvador. More than a hundred people packed themselves into the small church to celebrate the completion of 25 new homes. Every recipient family was present and expressed thankfulness to God and to their their neighbors. This theme of grateful acknowledgement flowed throughout the service and especially in Pastor Rafael Gonzalez’s moving sermon.

Two leaders from God’s Ark spearheaded the housing initiative. They worked hand-in-hand with community leaders to identify the families in need of a secure home.

“We wanted to do something for our community and this initiative was an opportunity to help some of the neediest people in our area, but also build relationships with people. We’re not meeting their needs just so they’ll come to church, but the impact has been so great that many of the housing recipients and their families are now coming to our home-groups. They are also becoming involved in other initiatives in the community like home gardens and the Health Committee. A seed has been planted.”  –Mario Ernesto Mejía, Small Group Leader in El Ranchador

Many of the previous homes were made of used plastic and metal with mud and bamboo. The local church leaders and community members helped to coordinate the construction of houses and provided transportation, storage, materials, and more than $9,000 of volunteer labor. From May to August of 2010, the church and community successfully completed 25 secure homes benefitting 91 people.

Francisco Mendoza, pastor of God’s Ark Church.According to Pastor Francisco Mendoza, the housing initiative has helped his church fulfill its continuing vision of service.

“My vision of ministry has always been to help people in need with whatever resources are available to us. The gospel is integral. It is about meeting people’s spiritual needs, but also their physical needs and this housing initiative has helped us take this approach with our community… We must remove the gospel from four walls of the church in order to take it to those in need.”

“God listened to our prayers!” said Noemí Morán with tears running down her face. “We didn’t have the money to build a house, and many times we didn’t have money to pay our rent. But now everyday I wake up and say ‘Thank you Lord for this roof over my head that you have provided.’ I have confidence that no one will take me from my new home until that long awaited day when God calls me to go, but to go be with Him!¨

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Click here to see more photos of the homes built in El Ranchador.