Building a Church in one of the Poorest Villages in El Salvador
Written by Joel
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Earlier this week our YWAM outreach team worked two days on the construction site of a new church building up in the mountains... far from the bustling streets of San Salvador.
Wielding picks, shovels and machetes until our blistered hands bled (and then some), we hacked away at the earth and plants to form a literal "pathway to the house of God" and cleared and leveled a hillside that will become the Pastor Jose Luis' humble home.
He and the few church goers who are still motivated to help with the construction (apparently some people like singing songs and listening to a good sermon more than getting their hands dirty... sound familiar?) have been working hard in the hot Central American sun for months to get the land cleared and the tin roof and two of the four walls in place.
They lost their previous church building after an evangelistic event where the pastor and church members (gasp!!) PLAYED SOCCER with the youth of the village.
Their former denomination kicked them out...
apparently they cared more about the supposedly "unspiritual" act of playing a game of soccer than the dozens of youth who gave their lives to Jesus that day.
We held two evangelistic events on Wednesday in support of their church:
One was a VBS type event for the children of the community of Comasagua which was also the FIRST EVENT IN THE NEW CHURCH BUILDING. Our team had a whole program of games, Bible stories, dance and testimonies that they shared with the 80 or so kids that came. The kids had a great time and went home with invitations for their parents to come for the Sunday morning service.
That evening, we held a concert with our band and two local bands on the soccer field in the middle of the village's square. Many people from the village came out to hear the music and gospel message, but the most important thing I did that day wasn't to preach or sing in front of a big crowd...
You see, all those months that our friend Pastor Jose Luis has been cutting down trees and clearing land to build this church, he's had to sleep in a lean-to at the construction site (a 15 minute walk from where his wife and kids sleep at the apartment they rent in the village center), so as to prevent their tools and equipment from being stolen.To my knowledge, he is still staying there until they get the final two walls up and the building is secure.
Due to their infrequent offerings (for lack of meetings and a place to hold them), the pastor had nothing to give his wife for their 14th wedding anniversary and asked me to serenade her.
As I started to sing one of the few Spanish songs I know, "El Senor es mi rey…" he held her tight and tenderly caressed her tear stained cheeks. Four of his seven children and our YWAM team looked on – awestruck at this moment where love surpassed the hardships and sacrifice of life and ministry in one of the 35 poorest communities of El Salvador.
I was reminded how fortunate I and my wife and kids are… and how little true suffering we have had to experience living in East Texas.
We left behind an offering for the pastor's family and took with us a memory that will last a lifetime. May God bless this family, their church and may this ministry flourish as it shows God's love to the village of Comasagua, El Salvador.
We need more Evangelists, Musicians, Videographers, IT personnel, Accounting, Fundraising, Logistical, and School Staff ready to work and see God's kingdom come here on Earth... your experience and willingness to serve can make a difference in the lives and eternal future of many.
Earlier this week our YWAM outreach team worked two days on the construction site of a new church building up in the mountains... far from the bustling streets of San Salvador.
You see, all those months that our friend Pastor Jose Luis has been cutting down trees and clearing land to build this church, he's had to sleep in a lean-to at the construction site (a 15 minute walk from where his wife and kids sleep at the apartment they rent in the village center), so as to prevent their tools and equipment from being stolen.