13 Dec Notes From the Field: El Salvador
Dear Friends, I’m writing to you from El Salvador where we have been training ministry leaders and pastors all week. It’s been an eye opening experience for me as we are in one of the most violent cities on earth. The area I’m staying in is under the control of one of the local gangs, a ruthless group that has murder as one of the requirements for membership. This is a city where you can be killed for being in the wrong neighborhood. So, apart from the University and the church where we’ve held our Storyline mission training, I’ve not ventured to stroll beyond the mission house. In our training I met two women who lost their sons to violence, ages 9, and 18. Very heartbreaking story and a reminder that there is so much pain and loss out there beyond our western curtain of comfort.
But Jesus is their hope! They shared this with me at the conclusion of our training today with tears in their eyes. Sebastian was in prison 6 months ago. He was a gang leader for a long time. He told me he came to Christ under a weight of conviction after hearing the gospel so many times from the pastor visiting the prison. This is a man who did terrible things, yet there he sat in our Storyline Seminar learning how to multiply his ministry to those trapped in the cycle of violence. The gangs only allow you to leave if your faith in Christ is sincere. Jake is our host this week. He and his wife Becky have three kids and one on the way. They’ve been here for 6 years. Jake was an engineer who felt compelled to do something else with his life that was more meaningful-eternal. God is using him here.
Played soccer at the football school outreach that turned out 50 young men. They pray and share openly about Christ here which is so refreshing. Pray for the leaders here. On the podcast you’ll have a chance to hear Karen’s story and about her heart for missions. You’ll find it inspiring. Thank you for your prayers. Kristen is doing the heavy work back home with the craziest schedule of the fall it seems. Why does it always work out like that? We’re excited that Jake and his team have plans to expand the Storyline program into the churches and neighborhoods of San Salvador. They are doing great work here. It’s a privilege to serve them.
In Christ,