Category: Blog

Over the years, I have heard Ron Bueno, ENLACE’s Executive Director, explain to our staff, local church partners and donors why he believes that the church is the answer to poverty in El Salvador. I asked him recently to write down his answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding ENLACE’s commitment to equip local churches to transform their communities. I’ve asked Ron to address the following questions:

· Why the church?

· What is the church’s mission?

· What is community transformation?

· What impedes more churches from transforming their communities?

· How would you describe a church that is transforming their community?

Over the next few weeks we’ll post Ron’s responses to these core questions. Thank you for taking the time to read these posts and we appreciate your comments.

           -David McGee
Director of Communications

QUESTION 1: WHY THE CHURCH? by ron bueno

From the beginning of ENLACE in 1993, I believed that we had to encourage and equip local community leaders to develop
their own solutions to poverty. I realized that it was vital for local leaders to identify and build upon available resources and experiences in order to design and manage initiatives that would have a long-term impact in their communities. At first, we focused our training and coaching on community and church leaders, but we soon realized that the church was the best agent of change in their own community for three reasons:
church training in las delicias

1. Only an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ can change people’s hearts to create a viable community and therefore community development . In the first few years, we worked hard to include the community in the design and management of projects so that they would have ownership and participation; however, we realized that no matter how well we helped the community design their projects to be just and efficient we could not change people’s relationships to each other. For example, people would work together to build a water system they all needed, but as soon as there was a problem with someone’s spigot, they would not necessarily work together to help that person resolve their problem. The project could not restore relationships, which is the first and most important step in community transformation; only an ongoing, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ can truly change someone’s heart to think of others before themselves.
2. It is the church’s mission to restore people unto God and to each other. Community leaders and associations with whom we first worked, ultimately had their own interests in mind and so were influenced by quick solutions or political forces. Additionally, there was a high rate of turnover among community association leaders due to political, personal, and financial reasons (including migrating to the U.S. for work). In contrast, the church’s leadership, seen as body and not as individuals, was a continuous and steady presence in the community which did not act, at least when done well, upon political or personal interest. Rather, the church body committed to a long-term process because it believed in a biblical mandate that led them to commit to their communities.
3. The church is a continuous reservoir of resources. ENLACE has worked primarily with churches of less than 100 members located in impoverished, rural areas of El Salvador. Many of the church leaders believed they did not have the financial or human resources to become effective agents of change in their community. As soon as they looked at their church more closely and began to partner with their community, they discovered a wealth of skills and resources within their congregations. Churches already had, or could develop quickly, great fundraising skills and could pool resources together effectively. They also had a deep commitment to stewardship and compassion which made them an endless reservoir of resources to transform their communities.

Please continue to check back over the next few weeks as we continue with these questions.

Tina Anderson is director of communications for River West Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Tina is praying about returning to El Salvador to work with ENLACE ‘s communication’s department.

Having visited El Salvador a few times, I always prefer fall trips because water has blessed the ground and everything is lush, green and saturated with life. On the other hand, March in El Salvador is hot and dry. Really hot. Really dry. And this was the case on my recent visit, and I have to admit, after a few hundred shovel loads with dirt and sand glued to me, I was not exactly rejoicing unceasingly.

But after my work, I spent the weekend with folks from Enlace and was treated to tours of a few places being impacted by their devoted effort. And as I was shown village churches, a community library, water projects, stove projects and other fruits of God’s goodness to these communities, I was humbled into a state of awe. First I was touched that our God is actively caring for the poor through the sacrificial work of the churches in El Salvador and Enlace. The Bible says that God will look after the poor, but it was so touching to see that reality in so many different life-impacting projects. It seems that something right is happening here. It also seems more churches in El Salvador, as well as around the world, could learn a few things from this model.

But more than the details and logistics of the development work happening, I was quieted by the people I encountered and their thankful spirits. They seemed to be bubbling over. In El Tinteral, there was a simple satisfaction in what had been accomplished since the earthquakes of 2001 and a tangible sense of hope that pervaded the air. Or maybe that was just the giggles of the children all around us? In the Enlace office, time was dedicated to deep prayer for the work of God’s hand and Bible study, and there was a great sense of joy for God’s provision. Pastor Miguel from Las Delicias shared some words at his church and literally every statement was awash in praise to God. There was no pride, there was just amazement at how God was supplying their needs. (I enjoyed what he said so much that I went back again just to hear him praise God all over again!)

And as I look back, I realize that the work of Christ via Enlace is lush, far more than any physical shower could bring. Yes, March is hot and dry, but nothing can quench the life-sustaining living water that is in Christ. And that is so obvious in the humble, self-sacrificing model at work that is transforming lives and entire communities! As if that weren’t enough, it also renewed me. It gave me a greater vision of the God I love and serve. It gave me more hope. And I can’t wait to head back and learn more about our great God through the faces of El Salvador’s people.

And in his beautiful concise way, David says it so much better than me in Psalm 34:1-8,

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the LORD;

The humble will hear it and rejoice. Magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

I truly feel blessed to taste and see indeed how rich God’s people are through His wonderful work in El Salvador.

A group from ACTHOW (A Call To Help Orphans and Widows) visited the community of Abelines this March. At the newly expanded medical clinic, the team saw over 350 patients with three general doctors and one eye doctor. The event was planned and organized in coordination with the local health committee.  ENLACE has been working with the health committee to develop health initiatives in the area over the last seven years. Other initiatives in the area include a potable water system, pedestrian bridges, sanitation facilities, improved stoves and road repair.

click on the photo to see a picture gallery of the week

In February, a group from The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, California made their 5th visit to the community of Las Delicias, continuing its partnership with The Good Samaritan Church that started over four years ago. The primary project has been to help fund and work alongside the community in building a new water system. This year, the group had the privilege of working on a third main water tank that will have the capacity to benefit over 15,000 people. During the going away service, more than 80 people attended. Less than half of this turnout were church members. Pastors of other local church partners also attended along with water board and community association members. And to the community’s great delight, a group of 7 lay leaders from the local catholic church came to share in the fun and help cook pupusas (a typical Salvadoran food).

Click here for more information on the Las Delicias Water project.

click on the image to see the photo gallery from the trip

A group from Faith Chapel Church in San Diego, California visited El Salvador in late February. The group partnered with the Jerusalem church and community leaders in the construction of two homes. Last year, the group’s visit marked the beginning of the housing project in the San Jose El Naranjo area.  The group was very happy to learn that the church and community collaborated with ENLACE to build a total of 10 houses in 2006. They were even more thrilled to learn that local mayor’s office has now stepped up and will be offering 22 homes for the neediest families in the area in addition to the church and community’s 10 homes planned for 2007. It is amazing to see how a little initiative can cause a ripple of collaboration and hard work.

In addition to building homes, two dentists were also a part of the group. With their help, the local health unit in San Jose El Naranjo coordinated visits to surrounding clinics and added the services of a local dentist. The Jerusalem church offered volunteers to help register patients everyday. It was truly a collaborative effort of the local church, community and visiting church to bring dental care to over 90 people in just four days.

Click here to find out more about how short-term trips with ENLACE can have a long-term impact.

click on the image to see a photo gallery from the trip

ENLACE’s church and community program walks alongside churches as they begin to understand who they are as body and begin to reach out to their communities. The training helps form a biblical basis for why the church should be one of God’s chief agents of transformation in the world and is one of the first and continuous aspects of ENLACE’s work within any given community. Pastor Miguel Duran of the Good Samaritan Church in Las Delicias is no stranger to the concept of sacrificially serving his community; He has built his entire minstry around it. ENLACE has supported pastor Miguel and his core leadership team for over ten years. Recently, however, the leadership of his church has asked for training for the entire church. We hope to serve them in this manner in the coming months.

click on the photo to see more photos from the training day.

The community of El Cambio in El Tinteral celebarated the completion of a new access road. This small settlement community has seen amazing progress since it was founded after the 2001 earthquakes. Families in the El Tinteral area took refuge in what would be called El Cambio (“The Change”) after a small plot of mountainous terrain was donated to put up temporary shelters. El Cambio’s Ebenezer Church was established with the vision of collaborating with its community in order to bring positive change to the area. ENLACE has partnered with this church, community leaders, the mayor’s office and other organizations over the last 6 years to bring sturdy homes, sanitation facilities, potable water, improved cooking methods, a local library and community center. All of these initiatives have truly brought “a change” to El Cambio.

click on the photo to see the photo gallery of the inauguration day

community members at inauguration

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INTERVIEW IN ABELINES– Blanca and Elena, original members of the Abelines health committee, tell what they have learned over the years and how it has affected the health of their community.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY INTERVIEW IN ABELINES– church leader Isabel Romero and pastor Victorio Paz of the Abelines Assembly of God church describe how five years of training and biblical reflection through ENLACE’s church and community program has impacted their church and community.

On Thursday, January 18 at 2:45pm I received a telephone call that I will never forget. Peter DeSoto a long-time friend and ENLACE co-worker had been shot in the neck. Peter and four ENLACE staff members were assaulted while coming home from a field visit with a long-time church partner in Abelines.

I burst out in tears as I waited to hear more news regarding Peter’s condition. My wife and close friends rushed to be with Dara, Peter’s wife, as we prayed and waited together for more news.

News slowly came in that Peter and the other four passengers in the car had arrived safely to the regional Hospital. He was stable, moving his arms and legs and talking. We continued to pray and wait for Peter to be moved by helicopter from the regional hospital to one located in San Salvador. He arrived and then was rushed to surgery.

At 1AM the doctors came out of surgery and told us that they had successfully removed the bullet and reconstructed his esophagus. They were amazed that the bullet had not damaged any major vein, spinal chord or the trachea. A group of his friends and co-workers thanked God for Peter’s life and prayed for his quick recovery.

Over the following week, we saw the body of Christ care for Peter, Dara, their children, and the ENLACE staff in the most amazing way. Peter’s parents and good friends have rallied around him and his family. Friends of ENLACE have called, emailed, prayed and sent flowers. Church and community leaders from various different communities have visited and prayed for Peter and Dara and for the ENLACE staff. I have all felt God’s presence every moment as have Peter and Dara and to the rest of the staff.

Even so the ENLACE staff has been stunned, afraid and overwhelmed. We have been traveling to Abelines for close to 8 years and nothing has ever happened to anyone. We listened to each other and gave each other the grace to speculate and fear, but knew we had to respond immediately to the church and community leaders in Abelines. We knew we had to return to assure our commitment to the church and community leaders and affirm their amazing work over the last 8 years.

One week after the shooting, several of us from the ENLACE staff returned to Abelines. A church leader met us at the bottom of the mountain, and we went up together. We met with leaders from two churches, a community association, health committee and representatives from the public school. We were all very happy to see each other. We prayed for Peter and thanked God for his powerful intervention and protection. We then began to talk about the event. They were extremely concerned for our team. They began to suggest a series of strategies to prevent future attacks. As a result, in the future they will escort us on different routes up and down the mountain. They also suggested police escort for teams.

The discussion then went from protecting our team to a general awareness that the violence in Abelines was a risk to their entire community. They began to discuss that there is no way that a small group of violent burglars could destroy or set-back all the positive changes they had worked for over the years. They stated that the majority of the community still has an incredibly positive vision of what the community could be and were willing to continue to invest time, effort and money to make it happen. As they talked, you could see the excitement they had about creating a community security plan that could help the entire community and help fulfill their shared vision for their neighbors.

We were all energized by the conversation and vowed to take concrete steps to build together a safer Abelines. We agreed to invite the leaders from all the four churches, community associations, health committee and three public schools to the next meetings to discuss the risks and possible solutions. It was truly incredible to watch the community leaders go from a sense of hopelessness and sadness to one of encouragement and excitement. It confirmed in us God’s call to equip the local church to transform their communities. It is such an honor to work alongside the church and community leaders of Abelines and El Salvador.

Please continue to pray for the DeSoto family as Peter recovers and rejoins his normal family life routine. Also pray for peace, rest and strength for Dara and the children. As well, we ask that you pray for the ENLACE family and church and community leaders as we listen to God and to each other each day. Thank you so much for all your care and support.

Ron Bueno

Co-founder and executive director of ENLACE

Peter (center) with his parents (far left) and church and community leaders from Las Delicias

LINKS:

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF PETE, THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, DESCRIBING THE CLINIC EXPANSION IN ABELINES

CLICK HERE TO SEE A HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INTERVIEW IN ABELINES– Blanca and Elena, original members of the Abelines health committee, tell what they have learned over the years and how it has affected the health of their community.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A CHURCH AND COMMUNITY INTERVIEW IN ABELINES– church leader Isabel Romero and pastor Victorio Paz of the Abelines Assembly of God church describe how five years of training and biblical reflection through ENLACE’s church and community program has impacted their church and community.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A PHOTO GALLERY OF ABELINES

CLICK HERE TO SEE AN ABELINES COMMUNITY PROFILE

check out our latest additions to the website.

SAN JOSE EL NARANJO VOCATIONAL WORKSHOP INTERVIEW

CREDIT RECIPIENT INTERVIEWS