Category: Blog

The churches and community of Abelines celebrated the completion of the expansion of their clinic facilities recently. Representatives from five different churches as well as the mayor’s office and local police force were present to give their blessings to a building which is almost five times as big as the original one room clinic. The church and community take much pride in these facilities as it is an initiative which they have all been behind over the past five years. The new facilities include an expanded space for seeing patients on a regular basis, two lodging rooms for visiting medical teams or others to stay, as well as a large common area for community meetings and health committee training seminars.

Pastor Miguel Duran from Las Delicias and Pastor Marco Melara from San Jose El Naranjo (other ENLACE partner churches) also made the long trek to Abelines for the first time in order to celebrate with Pastor Victorio. In addition, the three pastors took the opportunity to meet with ENLACE’s church and community advisors to iron out their strategic plans in their communities for the upcoming years.

Please take a minute to view the photos from the inauguration day by clicking on the image below.

pastors victorio, marco and miguel in abelines

The mission of the church is to be a restored body that transforms its community. The church is a group of people called and made new by the grace of God through Jesus Christ to love and serve one another and the world (Ephesians 2:8-10). This mission has two equally important and integrated elements: (1) the church should be a body of vibrant, authentic people relating to one anther in love, compassion and justice (Ephesians 4, Ephesians 3:4, 1 Cor. 12, Ro. 12:5). And (2) the church should serve its neighbors to create long-lasting change in the relationships, institutions and overall conditions of their communities, especially focusing upon those of greatest need (Mark 12:31-33, Luke 10:27, Matt 22:39;Ro 13:9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8).

Over the last thirteen years, I have partnered with churches in El Salvador who are committed to alleviate poverty in their communities. I have learned how important it is for a church to understand and define its mission to be a restored body of believers, or as Howard Synder in his book The Community of the King calls it, a “messianic community,” as well as an effective agent of transformation in its community. A church that has not clearly included both elements in its mission has either gone inward and become a “life boat” waiting for God to return or has become externally focused and become a social agent without transforming power. In my experience, the church will only accomplish both things when it becomes an authentic community of people actively waiting on God, listening and obeying, and being poured out to transform its community.

ron bueno sharing at the inauguration of the expanded abelines clinic

It is incredible to experience a church as it begins to focus upon the needs of others before its self. It becomes an unstoppable force within the community, impacting the lives of thousands of people in life-giving ways. When a church begins to see and care for one another as God does a new form of community is created that serves to draw people deeper into the heart of God and also back out to people. As Richard Foster describes, in his book Prayer, the deeper you go into the heart of God the less life becomes about you and the more God pours you out to others. The more the church becomes a people submitted to God and to each other, it becomes of one heart and mind (Acts 4:32, 1 Cor. 1:10, 2 Cor. 13:4, Philippians 2:2), committed to meet the needs of those in its community (Acts 4:34, James 1:27).

The loving, caring community of believers that is the church brings you deeper into a relationship with God but also testifies of God’s unchanging love for his world. As Jesus prayed for his disciples, and for all of us, asking God “that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me,” he asked that we would “be brought to complete unity” in order to express the depth of God’s love to the world (John 17:22-23). This new form of community testifies of God’s love and becomes a reservoir of hope to their neighbors. When a church, as a group of people who love and serve God, begin to lift up their eyes to see each other and their neighbors as God does, they become the salt and light to their community; they become the leaven with spiritual authority to become effective agents of change in their community. It is as a mysterious, amazing, dynamic process where the body is formed and strengthened as its serves effectively its community.

To walk alongside a church as they discover and develop this mission is the greatest part of my job.

Please continue to check back over the next few weeks as we continue with this five part series.

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.