Economic turndowns have a way of throwing monkey wrenches into missionary works but Verbo continues to increase its outreaches to students, the needy and the spiritually hungry in these trying times.
As the year ends we praise God for his extraordinary provision that has enabled us to build new educational and ministry centers and start churches in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Brazil.
Economic turndowns have a way of throwing monkey wrenches into missionary works but Verbo continues to increase its outreaches to students, the needy and the spiritually hungry in these trying times.
As the year ends we praise God for his extraordinary provision that has enabled us to build new educational and ministry centers and start churches in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Brazil.
University Expands Services
In Quetzaltenango, a city in the mountainous western Guatemalan highlands, our Panamerican University is about to open new facilities that will provide opportunities to literally thousands of students who have few other choices to study in faculties of Economic Sciences, Education, Communications and Law.
Education, of course, has been a strategic imperative for us since God first showed us to start a school in Guatemala City in the late 1970’s. We seriously took to heart the Lord’s words through the Prophet Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Schools Open Doors of Change
We determined that our Verbo churches would be known as centers for equipping God’s people—adults and children—to serve their communities by applying God’s wisdom to every sphere of human endeavor.
The Message Bible puts it this way in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
Medical Program Opens Soon
That mandate has grown to include grade and high schools in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Ecuador, plus the government-accredited Panamerican University that is continually expanding into new areas of community service—for example a basic medical program that will start in January, 2010. The faculties include Business Administration, Communication Sciences, Law, Education and Theology.
We’re also preparing youth through the Destiny Internship that began in Guatemala City this year. Young people who want to be disciples and develop basic leadership and spiritual skills from Bible interpretation to community service can join the one- or two-year residence program. Our emphasis is youthful leaders, not youth leaders.
Poor Children Find Help
For those children who are unable to attend our schools in several communities where we have churches but no educational facilities we have either started tutoring and lunch programs or entered into working agreements.
with Compassion International and other organizations that provide assistance for poor children’s health and education in the Third World.
Also, because Christians need to reenter the political and economic spheres in a Biblical way, Verbo established in Guatemala City our first “Business Leadership School.” Strategic Christian Services of Santa Rosa, California, designed the course and prepared the first director and teachers.
The school teaches businessmen, professionals and university students how to apply the realities of the Kingdom of God to their areas of activity, and thus become positive agents of change for good in the society.
One result of these multi-leveled investments in education is that after 30 years of applying Bible principles in our educational systems we are seeing our graduates in the professional and governmental areas applying a godly understanding to the marketplace and politics. Because of the pervasive corruption, criminal impunity and exploitive economic systems in many countries where we serve, the inroads have not been great, but the thousand-mile journey begins with one step!
GOLDEN RULE DAYS—Students at the Verbo Monterrey, Mexico, school receive a high quality education reinforced with Christian principles.
A CHANCE TO LEARN—Poor children receive excellent tutorial help through a teaching program at the Quito, Ecuador, Verbo Norte church.
ADULT EDUCATION—An annual teaching conference at Verbo Coban, Guatemala, equips the saints for their work of service to God and man.
SUNDAY LEARNING—In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as in the rest of the Verbo Church world, the kids learn practical Bible principles, not just Bible stories.
Orphanage Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The Casa Bernabé Orphanage outside of Guatemala City celebrated its 25th anniversary in late November with a gala event that included skits, ballet, music by the children, and the recognition of those who have served the outreach in one way or another.
Since its inception the orphange has helped hundreds of children find Christian adoptive parents. Many other youngsters, either unadoptable or mandated to the home by the juvenile court system because of abusive home siutations, abandonment, or worse, have found a home where they are tenderly cared for.
Over 1,400 babies and juveniles have benefitted from the facilities. Now almost 170 are in residence. The home provides spiritual and academic education though its on-site Verbo church and grade and high schools.
Local law requires that the children leave at age 18, but thanks to donors and scholarships some who want to pursue advanced studies can make arrangements to continue at the orphanage as part-time workers while attending classes.
The Guatemalan government has cited Casa Bernabé as one of the best-run children’s homes in the nation and a model facility for at-risk youngsters.
In the future the orphanage plans expansion to other communities. For more information contact its website at: http://www.foce.org/
REALLY SAVE THE CHILDREN!—Pedro and Donnie Hernandez (right) have guided Casa Bernabé since the mid-90’s when they took a floundering institution and turned it into a model of godly care for orphans and at-risk children. The children live in family units with house parents overseeing their wellbeing instead of in an impersonal dormitory system as in most orphanages. A Christian school is on the grounds.