Saturday, October 16, 2010

Being Christian in Colombia

Encouragement in the Lord by John Otten

It is a privilege to be able to see how Christians confront the various pressures and joys of life in the developing world. In May 2010, I traveled to Colombia with Rick Postma, Colin Postma and Derek Naves, visiting projects supported by Word & Deed. While talking with our various project partners at CDA (Corporacion Dios es Amor, Corporation God is Love), we found that in discussing the operation and management of various projects we were also given a rare picture of life as a Christian in Colombia. It was good to encourage one another in the ways of the Lord.
CDA knows how important it is to provide youth with a Christian education. A grade 11 student, Carlos, has been attending CDA’s Altos de Cazuca School for three years, and says that it has radically changed him. He grew up going to a public school, and had become very rebellious. Carlos was thinking of joining a gang. Thanks to the grace of God working in him through his teachers at CDA, Carlos now looks at life through the lens of God’s Word. Other students at the school have similar stories to tell. They speak highly of how the school has shaped them, and they aren’t at all shy to emphasize how the biblical worldview impacts them. This is very encouraging.

A sponsor child at home with her parents and brother.

Elisa is a student of the School of Practical Ministries developed by CDA. This program is designed to strengthen the witness of believers in vulnerable communities by training various leaders in the work of evangelism. As a youth leader in her church, she sees the struggles that her peers have, and is concerned about the many numbers of youth that are lost to drugs, alcohol and prostitution in her community. Elisa challenges the youth in her church to “gird up their loins” and to reach out to those around them.
At one of the schools we asked the high school students whether attending church is important, and everyone raised their hands. When we asked how many attend church, only half responded. Why? Some say there aren’t any good churches around – they don’t follow God’s Word or just ask for money. At times children may believe but the parents do not, so they have no way of getting to church.
In another area of education, CDA was very excited about the Jonkmans’ training seminars this past year and the Old and New Testament teacher commentaries. In our discussion they expressed concern for the North American churches where they always see the same people year after year, and no new outsiders. Why do our North American churches keep such rich teachings to themselves?

Missy Christie with two girls from girls home.

According to Beatrix, the director of CDA Cartagena projects, there is no religious or political persecution in Colombia. There is, however, guerilla activity, which the army cannot control. Many people have no choice but to flee from the guerillas, including Ingrid, a grade 11 student at Altos de Cazuca. She and her seven sisters used to live on a prosperous farm and go to a private school. They were forced to flee their farm because of guerilla activity, and have settled in Altos de Cazuca, which is a town originally developed as an IDP (internally displaced people) Zone. Because the majority of its people are IDPs, this community is very poor and unstable. It is still a struggle for Ingrid’s family to be there, but they are glad to be alive. I didn’t sense any resentment in the telling of her story, and she expressed a wonderfully confident trust that God would provide for her and her family. Christian education has proven to be a very successful tool in encouraging Colombian youth and leading them towards Christ-centered lifestyles.
Many adults are living in poverty, unable to provide a sufficient income to care for their families. We often want quick fixes to the poverty in the developing world and think that the best solution is to hand out money. Usually, this type of aid does more harm than good. In response to the poverty in Colombia, CDA has developed a microcredit (also known as microloans) program to establish and/or strengthen business ideas among the unemployed or underemployed.
One town benefiting from the microcredit program is La Boquilla, a town with a very poor and transient population. It was a fishing community where the men would leave early in the morning, fish for a few hours, and then lay in their hammocks for the rest of the day. A decrease in fishing, however, has made it necessary for people to find other income sources. Because the people there do not trust each other, it is very difficult to set up cooperatives (a group pooling resources and working together). The first response to a microloans project was excitement at the prospect of getting free money; many entered the program with no intention of ever repaying the loan. CDA spent a lot of time in the initial phase of the project training participants in business principles and Christian values. Only after these sessions did CDA award very small loans. CDA knows and even expects that people will use their initial loan to purchase things they didn’t budget for. But people learn very quickly that if they don’t repay their initial loan, they won’t receive another. Is CDA being too tough? Cesar, the program’s organizer, says that if CDA becomes known for being lenient on loan repayment, they will get a reputation for providing “easy money” that will negatively affect all of their projects. Cesar notes that people are becoming more businesslike. Initially they thought everything was free, because they were used to this from other organizations. They are starting to realize that repaying loans leads to greater opportunity, and are learning to appreciate the system.

A successful micro-loan project

CDA itself has been affected by the recent economic downturn in North America and Europe. They are trying to raise more funds in Colombia, but have had some challenges. Large local companies have their own projects to support and don’t tend to give to other organizations. Also, the mostly Roman Catholic population feels uncomfortable giving to evangelical causes like CDA. Even among the Protestants, there is not a culture of giving in Central America. Jimmy, our guard, noted that it has been good for CDA to try to take care of some of their own financial needs. It creates unity among the staff and shows which employees are truly dedicated to CDA’s ministry. Staff members must give more of themselves. Finances have also challenged the organization to find local solutions and seek ways to be even more efficient. Seeing these internal challenges makes the staff pray more sincerely for their work and thank God for how He has blessed it so far.

John Otten is the Director of Administration for Word & Deed Ministries.

Friday, July 23, 2010

John Calvin Christian School

John Calvin Christian School phase 2 has now been fully funded at $276,000. The Lord is good!
Students have moved into phase 1 and construction for phase 2 is underway.

Please click here to view the most recent pictures and watch the building go up.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Bundles of Love Testimonies

José Fabián Maldonado Martínez
11th Grade
I feel very blessed for having received these beautiful presents from the Corporation; they are very beautiful and motivate us to continue with our studies. I want to thank CDA for caring about the poorest people and making me feel so special. CDA has really contributed to the increase in the quality of life of the families in Cazuca. I am very proud to study at CDA because they provide us with a quality education that is based on Christian principles and values.
Thank God and CDA for providing us a light of hope!

Leidy Lorena Velásquez Aroca
5th Grade
Thank you very much CDA for the present, you have a great heart! When I received my present, I felt very happy because I know that now I have a beautiful schoolbag to come to school next year. I am very happy to study at CDA because I have friends and teachers who love me and teach me with patience and love. I hope that you continue helping us until we graduate.

Sponsor Child Testimonies

Miguel, Lucero Alto
11th GradeI have attended the CDA School for 11 years, and throughout those years the institution has provided me with not only the best education but with the opportunity of a better future. I can say that the CDA School really changed my life.
You might wonder how CDA changed my life! When I first began to attend CDA I had some learning difficulties. Throughout the years at the school, I overcame those difficulties and now, I’m just a regular child. Besides, at CDA, I had the best experience of my life: I got to know the Lord Jesus Christ. I think that if it wasn’t for the Christian principles and values that I learned at CDA, I would have never truly met the Lord.
At CDA, I have experienced the best moments of my life because I have made really good friends and have had amazing teachers. At this point, when I know that I will be graduating in a couple of months, I can say that studying at CDA has been a great gift from God and that He has changed my life and the lives of many of my classmates and friends at the school.

Ismael, Cartagena
5th GradeMy name is Ismael. I am 12 years old and I have attended the CDA Cartagena School for four years. My mother’s name is Luz Mary and my father’s name is Alex. I am in 5th grade. Many years ago, I had behaviour problems and I was very sad because my parents separated and I had to move with my father. Then, my parents sent me to live with my grandmother and even though I used to see my mother very often, I was still very sad about the whole situation. I did not study hard enough and my academic performance was not good enough. After a while, I could move back with my mother and I am living with her now. I am very happy now because she takes good care of me. This year, my behaviour has improved and I really want to behave well so that my parents see that CDA has changed my life.
I like CDA School very much. My teachers treat me very well and teach me many values. Besides, I like the fact that they talk to me about God and they teach me to respect other people. They give me the opportunity to study every day. I want to be a good professional in the future and be able to help my parents and siblings.

Nora, Santa Fe
10th Grade
My name is Nora Martinez.
I have attended the CDA School since Daycare. I am 17 years old now and I am convinced that the Lord does wonderful things in people’s lives. I am very grateful to God because He saved me, and today I know His love and His message.
Throughout this year, I have experienced a great spiritual growth because I have been attending the Paraíso Church and because I have been able to attend the spiritual activities carried out at the school. Besides, I participated in a pedagogical field trip in which we encouraged the people in the neighborhoods to attend the Church, to have a closer relationship with God and to search for Him with all their hearts.
During that activity, I felt that the Lord was using me as an instrument and that He wanted me to accomplish a mission. I noticed that I felt very happy when I talked to people about the Gospel, the Lord’s message and about all the love that the Lord has for sinners. I was very happy when a lady told me, after we finished praying together, that that prayer was exactly what she was in need of because she had had a very difficult day. That was the best gift that the Lord could have given me during that evangelization activity.
Despite the fact that I come from a beautiful family that has problems like many other families in my neighborhood, I will continue serving the Lord and I will always remember His promise in Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." I pray that my family, some day, will accept the Lord in their hearts and they will become a great testimony and a great example of how Jesus Christ can transform lives.

Monday, October 19, 2009

John Calvin Christian School Project in Colombia Begins!

Please join in thanking the Lord that He has provided the $346,000 required to begin phase 1 of the John Calvin Christian School project in Barranquilla, Colombia.

We are now raising funds for phase 2 ($287,500), which is scheduled to begin next summer (2010).

Click here to view a presentation on the John Calvin Christian School (including descriptions, funding goals etc.). This presentation will be updated with pictures as the project progresses. The below picture shows part of the existing structure being torn down to make way for the new structure.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Colombia Updates

Bogota – Santa Fe CDA School – Child Sponsorship.

Erika Pacanchiqueis is a grade 7 student of the God is Love School in Santafe, who joined the project in 2001, when the school was located in “El Cartucho”. One of her brothers graduated from the school.


She lives in a secluded neighborhood, so her family decided to enroll her in another school that was closer to their home. Due to some difficulties she faced, the family decided to enroll her in CDA once again, reason why she considers the school as her second home.
“I entered the school in first grade back in 2001, when the school was still located in Calle de Cartucho. My two brothers also studied here. Diego graduated in 2003. He has a problem with his right eye because of an accident he faced when only eights years old. A few days ago he received a new operation and is in recovery. After some time, I was transferred to another school, because when the CDA school moved, it was far for me to attend. At that school, my few school materials were stolen, I was threatened and it was basically horrible. For this reason I begged my parents to send me back to CDA. When I came back I was entering se­venth grade, but now I feel good, I am accepted, loved, teachers not only care about my academic performance, but they look at all my needs as a person. Even caring for my personal and spiritual life as well as for my family.
I consider this to be the best school and desire to continue here until I finish high school. One of my dreams is to become a professional in the area of communications. I know that this op­portunity of studying at CDA, brings me closer to fulfilling my dream.

Bogota - Altos de Cazuca CDA School
Name: Clara Inés Rueda
Occupation: High School Academic Coordinator
Throughout my teaching years, the Lord blessed me with working in different Christian schools. I have seen His blessing at each and every single one of them, but I feel specially happy at CDA. Everywhere I look, every day of my life I see the love of the Lord being shared and this is a motivation, because the vocation to which the Lord has called me is a gift, which I must respond to every day. The Lord Almighty has a special purpose for my life and that is to serve those who need me. Its gratifying to see the joy reflected in the students faces, when they arrive at school, regardless of the heap of problems they have. It is in those faces where I see God´s love and mercy. The experience as academic coordinator allows me to continually update my knowledge in order to offer the teachers, the necessary tools to transform the teaching-learning process into a space of knowledge interaction. The attitude the teachers assume during the development of certain activities, such as the Education application of efficiency tests is also motivating, taking into account the interpretative, argumentative, and proposal capabilities, which make the students competent human beings in their every day life, bearing in mind that they and only they are the makers of an integral education.
If we reflect God´s love with our attitudes and words, we will be aware of that love that we have sown in our students’ hearts, the love that God asks us to give in his example, for He showed us his never ending love when He died on the cross. Our dreams will emerge from this love, to see our students as missionaries, preachers, personalities from the public life, and professionals that contribute with their wisdom and experiences to an improved society.

Home Support
OLGA LUCIA VALENCIA COTINCHARA
Olga Lucía lives with her parents in a neighborhood called Barrio 8 de diciembre in the locality of Ciudad Bolívar. Her family is composed of her parents and a 6 year old sister. Olga is 10 years old and is studying in 4th grade. Her father has been suffering from epilepsy for 17 years, which has prevented him from working.
However, her mother has always worked and provided sustenance to the family. She learned how to knit woolen clothes but due to the lack of job opportunities she has worked in other activities. The situation is really difficult taking into account their monthly expenses: rent, public utilities, schools, uniforms, transportation, food, medications of her husband and others.
They have been Christians for about 10 years and have been hosting a cell group at their home for 7 years. Olga Lucia has been benefiting from the program for about 5 years with groceries, school supplies or shoes. She is really happy when she receives letters or gifts from her sponsor. Her family has received spiritual guidance through devotions, counseling, and workshops on child rearing which has generated great harmony and good family relationships, despite the fact that the parents’ roles are reversed in this case.
At present, María works at a female underwear factory (in different shifts) and earns minimum wage.
She would like to buy a knitting machine and work at home so she can spend more time with her family.
She is also interested in studying tailoring and dressmaking but due to her work schedule, she can’t enroll at any training center.

Continuing Education
MARGARET LICET BELTRÁN CASTILLO
18 years old
Public Accountant
“My family and I became Christians many years ago, when we came to CDA. At our school I remember we were always taught about the Bible and at home those teachings were reinforced through the way in which we lived.
My brother currently studies at the Lucero Alto School. He is in ninth grade and that is the school where I graduated from, having started my studies at the early age of 4.
I am happy because thanks to the help received through CDA and now through the scholarship fund, I have been able to follow a professional career. I am entering the fourth semester of public accounting and although during my school years my dream was to become licensed in math or physics, I can now say I made the right choice and feel satisfied with the career I am following. Right now I am dedicated to my studies and to the group of children I have at my care at the church I attend, where my father is now a pastor. I am a Sunday school teacher there and we carry out evangelization activities and much more, sharing always those Christian principles and values, which I learnt at CDA. I can say today that CDA is an organization that lives out what it speaks. It truly cares about preparing us for life and as I am now away from the CDA environment I miss the way in which they cared fro each individual, teaching us always to honor God. At university everything is different. People only care about themselves and this reflects in our society. I think that if I had the opportunity of becoming the president of this country, I would focus on providing equal opportunities so people can have a chance of improving their lives. But for now, my plans are to finish my career, find a job and help my parents cover their needs. In whatever I do, I want to serve the Lord.

Cartegena
Mother of Student
Shirley Castillo, student’s mother. God Is Love School in Cartagena.
First of all, I want to thank God for the great blessings He has provided me with; my two daughters, 7 year-old Miriam and 4 months-old Luisa Fernanda.
The God Is Love School has provided me and my daughter Miriam with a lot of support. This institution is excellent and my family and I are very pleased with the way they have treated us and worked with us. Academically, my daughter has experienced noticeable improvements and she has been provided with health services, food, and everything a student needs in order to study.
Also, I have received advisory, which has helped me to be able to handle myself in difficult times and have helped me make wise decisions.
I want to thank the CDA team very much. May God bless you all!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Colombia Profiles

Child sponsorship impacts not only the child, but the whole family. One aspect of the program includes schooling for parents.

Bogotá – My name is Marcela Jaimes and my son, Daniel Guzman, attends the CDA School. He is in preschool. Before attending the School for Parents, I did not know how to be patient and handle difficult situations at home. Nowadays, I am able to look for strategies that allow me to solve any conflict that I may face with my family. I have learned that problems can be solved if I have a truthful desire to solve them and if I pray to God. I have been attending the School for Parents for a year and I can say that I liked it very much from the moment I attended the first workshop. The information they provide us with is very useful and the directors teach us strategies that can be applied to our daily life and how to apply those strategies by showing us examples of actual situations. I am very surprised because I did not think we could have an opportunity like this to learn and be able to express our ideas and our daily experiences. Today, I thank God for CDA and for the positive changes we witness in our families every day.


Sadly, child abuse is all too common in Colombia. When abused children are discovered, they are placed in special home for a total of 60 girls, 30 of whom are funded by Word & Deed North America. Needed in 2009: $123,500 CDN / $103,000 US The Girls’ Home, Johanna Catherine Patiño, 14 years old.
My life was very normal until my father and my mother died from an incurable disease called HIV AIDS. After my parents died, one of my sisters continued supporting me financially even though in order to do so, she had to face many economic difficulties. We were living in the neighborhood Cazuca in Soacha. At the beginning, I was happy to live with her, but after a while, she started insulting and abusing me and my brother physically and psychologically. For that reason, my little brother decided to escape from home and he started living with my other sister. Even though I miss my little brother very much, I am very happy about him escaping from home. One day, I went to visit my other sister and I told her what happened; she immediately contacted CDA to get help. Since I arrived at the Home, I feel happy and peaceful. I believe that God is always present in our lives, even when we have problems and difficulties. Thanks to Him, four years ago I was offered the opportunity to live in the Girl’s Home. Since then, I have been able to experience how my life has improved in all aspects. Thanks to my Heavenly Father, I have everything I need and I do not lack anything.
Not very long ago, my Home mates and I attended an activity carried out at the church. Through this activity, I was able to forgive many people that hurt me and that I even hated in the past. Now that I have forgiven these people, I feel like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Now, I feel the love of God in me and I feel that the problems in life are not as big as I always thought. I pray everyday for my family’s wellbeing and for them to come closer to God. I thank Him for CDA because I can really witness His love in everything they do in order to help vulnerable people and especially in order to help me in many ways, from providing me with food, to providing me with health and psychological assistance, among other ways.
Now, I want to be able to help my family and friends in everything I can. After I graduate from secondary school, I want to study psychology in order to help people in need. I want me and my brother to have a successful life.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my gratitude this way!


The objective of the scholarship program is to provide post-secondary education to the best students who graduate from CDA schools. Given that many of the sponsor children from Word & Deed North America are just now beginning to graduate, we expect the needs for this fund to grow dramatically. There are currently 5 young people being funded. Needed: $4,000 CDN / $3,300 US

Ingrid Yeraldin Borda Aponte, 19 years old, Business Administration
The current situation of my family is a bit difficult. My father has suffered heart problems for the last three years and has not been able to work. My mother is also facing health issues and undergoing several exams, but together, myself and her, are working to cover our needs. To top this off, my oldest brother disappeared three months ago and we have no news from him or have any idea of what could have happened. All this has us feeling sad.
My first contact with CDA was back in 1995, when I entered first grade. I remember I always dreamt of becoming a doctor or a nurse, but then in high school I realized I got very nervous when I saw a wound or blood and that made me change my mind. This is why upon graduating I decided to study Business Administration. I am now entering fifth semester and I study in the mornings and in the afternoon work in marketing.
I am deeply grateful to CDA for selecting me for the scholarship program. If it had not been for the help received I would have never achieved my dreams. CDA is an organization that lives and demonstrates the love of God, caring for the development of each of us students and our families. As a student at University I see the difference between the way CDA relates to the students and how things are outside of that environment. I miss the daily devotions at the school, but have learnt to have my own devotions. At University no one even mentions God and they don’t really care about the people as such. All they care about is that you pay and what grades you get. At CDA things are different, because they take into account each person's situation and need. I believe that this country has faced and faces so much hardship, because of the lack of opportunities and care. I wish there were more programs geared toward truly caring for the people and providing them opportunities to develop and do well. I hope to become a good business administrator, maybe establish my own business and generate employment for others, helping also my family.


Helping Hands is a project running in both Bogotá and Cartagena which assists 40 families, who have hit “rock bottom”, for a period of three months by providing them with food and other staples together with regular Bible based seminars. Needed: $40,500 CDN / $34,000 US for Cartagena and Bogotá.
Teodosia Solano de Álvarez, Cartagena
Knowing and being linked to the CDA projects has brought me many blessings and benefits. The sewing and dressmaking training at the VTC enabled me to earn income as a result of what I learned and in so doing, sustain my family now that I have the responsibility to economically provide for my family. There are occasions in which I fail, but here I receive encouraging words from my teachers and the CDA staff in general. Belonging to the Helping Hands program was very beneficial for me, not only for the groceries, but for the training they gave us, impressing on our minds that the material things pass away, but the spiritual ones remain with us forever.
The support they have brought me has been marvelous and has helped in my spiritual and personal growth. Everything learned during this time has enriched me as I have put it into practice, it has all been a gain for my life and I will never tire of giving thanks to God for the person that developed this great project and for the people who work here.




Word & Deed has supported John Calvin School in Barranquilla, Colombia for three years. There are over 200 students. The school is supported through sponsorships with an additional $104,000 CDN / $86,500 for operational costs. A new school and a medical clinic are being planned to replace the current run-down facilities.

John Calvin Christian School: Student’s mother
My name is Viviana Palacio Herrera, I am 26 years old, and I have two children; Dayana and John Eduardo Hernández. John Eduardo has recently started attending the John Calvin School.
Before my children started attending the institution, I did not value the blessings that God provided me with, because I did not understand that when something good happens to you, it is because God made it possible. In this area of Barranquilla, it is always difficult to find a job and being able to support your family and bring food to the table every day requires a great effort. Now, thanks to CDA, my son John receives nutritional meals and most of all, receives a quality education. At the same time, the Parents School has helped me a lot; I had never known about a school where they also trained the children’s parents. I am very grateful to CDA for training me as well.
So far, I find the John Calvin School to be very organized and the students learn to be disciplined. What I like the most about the education that the school provides is that the children are taught about God’s Word. I am very grateful to CDA for all the benefits they provide us with; my children can enjoy a very nutritional meal every day and they receive a great education.
On behalf of my family, I want to thank CDA for helping the families from the neighborhood Las Américas and especially, for providing our children with a great education at such low costs for the parents.
I hope to continue being linked to this program until my children finish their secondary education. I wish, in the future, that you can offer technical education so that the children can continue their education and suceed in life.
God bless you, keep up the good work and I hope you continue blessing us in the future.