Safe Passage

Panamericana Highway that crosses in front of the Christian and Public schools and the New Jerusalem ChurchThe traffic accidents that occur on the highways in El Salvador cause an alarming number of injuries and deaths. In the past 10 years, five children near the New Jerusalem Church in Comecayo lost their lives while walking along the highway or trying to cross the road. The tragedy of these losses moved the church and the community to consider it a high priority to construct a pedestrian bridge across the busy road to protect the lives of more than 10,000 people that must walk through this area daily.

The New Jerusalem Church in Comecayo, the Manual Monedero Public School, and the Reverend John Bueno Christian School from the area are located near the Panamerican Highway on a section of the road without speed bumps or other speed control methods, allowing both light and heavy vehicles to drive recklessly. With the construction of the pedestrian bridge, the imminent risk required to cross this highway, which has already taken the lives of five children, is coming to an end.

“The cars come and go without any precaution. They don’t have respect, and so it has become a great danger... but God has blessed us by giving us this foot bridge.” Maria de Barrientos - Assitant Director of the Christian School in Comecayo

The construction of the pedestrian bridge began in September 2010. Since then, students and parents from the public and Christian schools, the church, the local mayor’s office, and other community members have participated in the construction of the structure and its foundations in order to create a safe path across the highway.

ENLACE has participated with technical assistance and church training to form the Pedestrian Committee that is responsible for overseeing the project. The New Jerusalem Church has provided construction materials, water, storage and tools, as well as skilled and unskilled labor. By December, the whole structure was complete, and the community was just waiting for the mayor’s office to lift the cables of the bridge so that it could be put to use. 

Felix Orellana, church coach in the region, believes the project has already had many benefits. “The church and the community have definitely created new bonds of friendship which have brought greater motivation, strength, and unity to serve everyone equally.” Even the Assistant Director of the Christian school in Comecayo admits that "there wasn't much friendship" between the church and the school before the pedestrian bridge was built. Now, she says, "Even parents are getting involved and there is more motivation." According to her, the bridge is going to be "a renowned event." 

An Unquenchable Fire: Following God's Call to Integral Mission

"God challenges our interests with His desires. It's so amazing to see how He moves our hearts to His interests. He could let us go down the road that we want to take, but God knows that His plan is better. Living out His plan will bring the fullest potential to our lives."

-Marvin Adelfo Sanchez Masis

Marvin Sanchez became a Christian when he was 18 years old. In the process of searching for direction in his life, he began to study law. However, his heart and mind continued to pull him toward the mission of the Church. This persistent calling led him to seek full-time ministry. He is now in his fourth year of studying Theology at the Assemblies of God Christian University in San Salvador and will soon graduate with a specialization in missions. He has recently joined the group of ENLACE church coaches who work day after day with the pastors and leaders of partnering churches to share the biblical truths that are the foundations of the mission and vision of the Church.

“When the call of God comes to a person’s life, it is very difficult or even impossible to ignore because it is a fire that consumes your heart. As Jeremiah said, I tried to suffer it, but I could not.”

Marvin (far left) with ENLACE staff Alfredo Vargas, Ron Bueno, Felix Orellana and Mark Haugen of Willow Creek Community ChurchBefore coming to ENLACE, Marvin worked as a social-emotional counselor for adolescents with Compassion International in El Salvador. As a counselor, he enjoyed helping young people to discover and develop their true potential. 

Marvin is excited to bring his experiences as a counselor to his church coaching, but is also excited about taking on a broader role with ENLACE. This role, one that reflects God's call for all of His Church, is to encourage one another towards an integral mission demonstrated by Christ himself. This is a mission that Marvin is so excited to share, one that includes preaching the good news, healing, feeding, and caring for our neighbors. 

Beyond Four Walls: 25 New Homes Transform a Church and Community

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.

"God's Blessings are Greater than any Difficulty:" Alex's Story

ENLACE "equips churches to transform communities." The concept of community transformation is often vague and difficult to grasp. However, the story of one life transformed is much more tangible. With this in mind we want to share with you Alex's story. 

Through the restoration of relationships and effective service in its community, the New Jerusalem Church in Comecayo will impact the lives of tens of thousands of people over the next few years. Alex is just one of the thousands of lives being transformed by the work of the local church. 

Click here to donate now!

A New Awakening and A New Home: Douglas' Story

ENLACE "equips churches to transform communities." The concept of community transformation is often vague and difficult to grasp. However, the story of one life transformed is much more tangible. With this in mind we want to share with you Douglas' story. 

Through the restoration of relationships and effective service in its community, the New Jerusalem Church in Comecayo will impact the lives of tens of thousands of people over the next few years. Douglas is just one example of a life transformed.

ENLACE needs your help in order to work with 250 churches that are transforming the spiritual and material lives of 500,000 people in El Salvador by 2020. 

Click here to donate now!

"I Have Seen The Church In Action!:" Willow Creek's Partnership with ENLACE

Pastor Rafael with the Willow Creek team outside the christian school in Comecayo.

Over the past year, several leaders from Willow Creek Community Church have visited El Salvador to see how they can partner with ENLACE in the work of equipping churches to transform communities. As it turns out, ENLACE's model is a perfect fit for Willow Creek. Last year, they decided to partner with ENLACE and invest in the region of Santa Ana over the next five years, a commitment that will likely impact a large number of the region's 700,000 people in the coming years.

In July they sent their first short-term mission team in order to encourage and assist the New Jerusalem Church in Comecayo in their community transformation efforts. The team worked on one of the church's most significant initiatives to date: a 300-meter sidewalk that will serve to protect thousands of people in the area. In addition, the team visited Students getting out of school while Willow Creak team is working to build a side walk.15 needy families identified by the church and community and brought them basic food supplies and prayed with them. Pastor Wally Marshall also led a small seminar with the church helping them refine their cell-group efforts that have helped to grow the congregation to more than 1,000 members with dozens of sister churches in the region.

Team member Earl Casas wrote a blog during his trip and had this to say about the week,

I’ve seen poverty and violence while here. I’ve seen situations where it seems there should be no hope but I’ve also seen faith in action here. I’ve seen a force, stronger than the crippling grip the gangs can maintain, penetrating the darkness and pushing back the fear, loneliness, and hopelessness of the poor and destitute. I have seen the Church in action. As we left our new friends we were comforted to know that the work here continues through these compassionate brothers and sisters in Christ who are simply trying to live out their faith as God directs and in so doing they are changing their world.

By partnering with the region of Santa Ana, the Willow Creek Community Church will most certainly be part of the burgeoning transformation in the lives of tens of thousands of Salvadorans in the coming years. However, Earl Casas and the Willow Creek team learned a concept familiar to missionaries and donors; It is often through the act of giving that one receives the greatest blessing.

We came to be a blessing but instead were blessed. We came to bring hope but instead received it. We came to bring resources but left with much more than we gave. We came to teach and encourage but instead we learned and were inspired.

Contact us to find out how your church or organization can partner with ENLACE to make a direct and lasting impact in the lives of thousands of people in El Salvador.

Click here to donate or become a Friend of ENLACE and to help ENLACE work with 100 churches by 2015.

Click here to see the riveting story of Pastor Rafael Gonzalez, pastor of the New Jerusalem church in Comecayo.

Transforming Adversity: An Opportunity for Partnership

As an uneducated, 16 year old orphan, Pastor Rafael Gonzalez started his first church on the beaches of El Salvador. A widower at the age of 23, he overcame countless adversities that have brought him to where he is today; He pastors the New Jerusalem Church in Comecayo, a rural church of more than 1,000 members which now partners with ENLACE to impact an entire region of the country.

Become a Friend of ENLACE at $50/month and help ENLACE accompany Pastor Rafael and the New Jerusalem church! 

DONATE NOW!

Glimpses of Collaboration: New Photo Galleries

In the past two months, multiple U.S. churches have come to partner with the work of local churches and communities in rural El Salvador. Please take a moment to view photos of this wonderful collaboration.

Orange County First Assembly Partners with Jerusalem Church in San Jose El Naranjo

 

SeaCoast Grace Church Continues Partnership with San Antonio Church

 

Briargate Church Empowers and Equips One of ENLACE's Newest Local-Partner Churches in Comecayo 

 

Click here to find out more information about how your church can partner with ENLACE in El Salvador.