Photo via latinamericanstudies.org

A ministry fashions growth out of Bolivia's flood devastation

The annual flooding in Bolivia is expected to continue through April. So far, four months of high waters have killed over 70 people and affected 94,000 families. It's the worst flooding the country has experienced in a quarter century, reports MNN.

According to the United Nations, an appeal for more than $18 million to provide relief has not yet been met. Thousands of families remain in makeshift shelters in 51 camps in either Beni or Santa Cruz department.

By their count, 400,000 Bolivians are in need of urgent assistance in the wake of deadly floods, mudslides and landslides.

Because relief efforts have been seriously underfunded, people have been left to their own devices in getting aid to the survivors. Grace Ministries International's Sam Vinton says their Santa Cruz church plant responded. "The church got together and took food and supplies, clothing, blankets and so on to one of these settlements that had been flooded out and 70 families had to evacuate."

From this, Vinton says God shaped a new ministry. "One of the times that they went out there, they had an evangelistic service, and 20 adults and quite a number of children made professions of faith. Now, the congregation that has been doing this outreach bought land, and they're starting to plant a church in that village using the nucleus of those 20 people that have come to the Lord."

GMI missionaries are working with the national church organization in the areas of evangelism, church planting, youth, and leadership training. Ministries to the youth are being provided through three schools (K-12) where 1,800 students are receiving Christian-based education. A year-round camp and AWANA programs in the churches enhance the ministry with the youth.

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[03/24/2008]

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