Participants:
Series Code: MMS
Program Code: MMS080610A
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00:01 Hi, I'm Hilary Macias with the Maranatha Minute.
00:03 Twelve years after an effort in Peru 00:05 that saw nearly 100 churches and schools constructed, 00:08 Maranatha is going back. 00:10 For years, Seventh-day Adventist leadership in Peru 00:13 has been asking Maranatha to return. 00:15 The initial effort in Peru was a success 00:17 and helped to grow Adventist membership 00:19 country-wide. 00:20 With the influx of members, 00:22 there has been a new need for more places of worship. 00:25 This next effort, 00:26 Maranatha's initial plan includes 00:28 the construction of more churches. 00:30 The first project will be over Christmas 00:32 with a family project in the greater Lima area. 00:35 In 2020, a dozen volunteer groups 00:37 are already slated to work in the country. 00:39 Peru is located 00:41 on the western coast of South America 00:43 and has a fascinating cultural heritage 00:45 that makes it a great place to explore. 00:48 Check out the upcoming family project in Peru 00:50 this December, 00:52 and learn more about how you can volunteer in Peru 00:55 by going to our website at maranatha.org, 01:26 Ancient ruins, 01:30 floating villages, 01:34 rugged landscapes, and captivating cities, 01:40 Bolivia is a country of endless diversity. 01:45 Even the people reflect this. 01:47 There are nearly 12 million people 01:49 living in Bolivia representing about 01:51 three dozen indigenous groups. 01:56 You can see this 01:57 when traveling through the country, 01:59 there are variations in dress, food, language, 02:03 and even how women do their hair, 02:05 depending on the region. 02:08 When it comes to culture, 02:09 Bolivia is among the most diverse countries 02:11 in South America. 02:14 Yet this diversity ends when it comes to religion. 02:18 The majority of Bolivians are Christians. 02:22 Among the growing Christian groups 02:23 is the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 02:26 Bolivia was the last country in South America 02:28 to receive the Seventh-day Adventist message. 03:17 Today, Bolivia has more than 120,000 Adventists, 03:21 and this number is growing. 03:42 Pastor Mendizabal says the primary reason for growth 03:45 is not because of trained leadership, 03:47 but because of everyday people who share the love of Christ. 04:12 This spirit of outreach 04:13 is especially evident in Cochabamba. 04:17 Cochabamba is both a city and a region 04:19 located in the central part of the country. 04:22 It is the agricultural heartland of Bolivia, 04:25 thanks to the area's mild climate and fertile soil, 04:29 but Cochabamba isn't a acquaint farming town. 04:32 It is the fourth biggest city in Bolivia 04:34 with more than 800,000 residents. 04:38 Life in the city is an interesting 04:40 mix of modern advancements and enduring traditions. 04:45 Here in the region of Cochabamba, 04:47 there are more than 18,000 Seventh-day Adventists 04:50 at 152 congregations. 04:53 Unfortunately, 04:55 there is a shortage of churches. 04:56 At least 60 groups are in need of a building. 05:00 Some congregations have beautiful sanctuaries. 05:04 Many like this one on the outskirts of the city 05:06 are struggling to find a decent place to worship. 05:12 This is the Bente de Octubre congregation. 05:15 They were born from the outreach efforts 05:17 of Viennadicto Ventura. 05:20 Benedicto lived in a different town, 05:22 but he used to travel to this neighborhood 05:24 to share food as outreach. 05:28 Eventually Benedicto and his wife moved to the area 05:32 to plant a church. 05:34 Three people began meeting as a result. 05:36 Eventually 14 were baptized 05:38 following an evangelism campaign. 05:41 Today, there are 35 members of the Bente de Octubre Church. 05:45 They meet regularly in this borrowed shed. 05:48 It is hardly worthy to be called 05:50 a place of worship, but it is all they have. 05:56 One day the congregation hopes to build a real church. 06:00 Benedicto and his wife even purchased land, 06:02 but there is no money to build a structure. 06:05 In the meantime, the group continues to minister 06:08 to the local community. 06:12 On the other side of Cochabamba, 06:14 another family is busy growing a church. 06:17 This is Alto Mirador. 06:19 Six years ago, Maximo Tito, and his wife Alejandra 06:23 started this group with their family. 06:26 The congregation has attracted lots of young people 06:28 who are seeking community, friendship and faith. 06:32 Every Sabbath, 06:33 more than 80 people gather for worship. 06:36 They meet in this unfinished space 06:38 located on the Maximo's property, 06:40 not everyone can fit inside. 06:43 They would like to build a church on the property, 06:45 but the congregation has little to no money. 06:48 Unfortunately, the church's enthusiasm 06:50 is being stifled by the lack of space, 06:54 both Bente de Octubre and Alto Mirador 06:56 represent a challenge in Cochabamba 06:58 and throughout the country. 07:27 In 2018, 07:28 at the request of the Adventist leadership in Bolivia, 07:31 Maranatha kicked off a long-term effort 07:33 to build churches in Bolivia. 07:36 The work will start in Cochabamba, 07:37 then eventually move to other areas of the country. 08:12 When we come back, 08:14 we'll hear the story of a congregation 08:16 and their answered prayer. 08:35 This is the country of Sao Tome and Principe. 08:39 This collection of tiny islands 08:41 is home to breathtaking coastlines, 08:45 miles of jungle, 08:48 a fascinating history and colorful life all around. 08:58 It is also a place 09:00 where the Seventh-day Adventist Church 09:01 has been growing, 09:03 but the resources for the church have not. 09:06 Make a donation to sponsor a church 09:08 in Sao Tome and Principe, 09:11 or volunteer for an upcoming Maranatha project 09:14 and help to build churches and schools and coordinate 09:17 outreach programs. 09:19 Help change a country, build a community, 09:24 transform a life. 09:32 The region of Cochabamba is located on a plain 09:35 in the Andes Mountains. 09:37 While the main city is on the valley floor, 09:39 little towns and neighborhoods crawl up the surrounding hills. 09:44 One of these neighborhoods is Colina Ecologica. 09:48 Just a few months ago, this was an area 09:50 with no Seventh-day Adventist presence. 10:40 Daria Chipana was among those 10:42 who were impacted by the evangelism meetings. 10:46 Daria was not Adventist, 10:47 but she grew up attending Adventist schools. 10:50 Her family was Christian 10:52 and Daria attended church regularly. 10:55 When Daria got married, 10:56 she and her husband moved to Cochabamba. 10:59 That's when faith and church took a back seat. 11:18 Daria was suddenly alone, she was a widow, 11:21 single mother and estranged from her family. 11:24 She survived by selling items in the marketplace, 11:27 but life was difficult and lonely. 11:30 Then Daria was walking in her neighborhood 11:33 when she heard the sound of singing 11:34 coming from the local community center. 11:36 It struck a chord in her heart 11:38 and Daria followed the music to church. 12:16 Today Daria and her children 12:18 are part of the 45 member congregation, 12:20 yet she says it's more than a congregation. 12:23 It's a family. 13:11 Daria sentiment is repeated by her fellow members. 13:13 They say this group is like a family, 13:17 but this is a family without a real home. 13:28 Members have to work around 13:30 the schedule of the community center 13:31 and the restrictions of the space. 13:34 It creates complications for the group 13:36 and the lack of permanent space 13:37 makes it difficult to draw visitors. 14:08 So like so many congregations in Bolivia, 14:11 the members saved money for land 14:24 But how would they be able to build a structure? 14:27 It was a challenge to find the funds for the land. 14:29 Raising more money for construction materials 14:32 seemed impossible. 14:34 Then the members heard about 14:36 Maranatha Volunteers International 14:38 and the upcoming effort in Bolivia. 14:40 Adventist leadership in the country was meeting 14:42 with Maranatha to discuss the needs. 14:45 Could Colina Ecologica be on the list 14:47 to receive a new church? 14:49 Joaquin Rios is a member of Colina Ecologica. 14:53 He remembers hearing about 14:54 the possibility of Maranatha helping his group. 15:11 They also decided to meet for prayer. 15:13 They met early in the morning and began to pray in earnest. 15:53 In less than a year, the people of Colina Ecologica 15:56 were able to organize worships and outreach in a new area, 16:00 form a congregation and purchase land for a church. 16:04 And in the next year, 16:05 thanks to their determination and God's assurance, 16:08 Daria and Joaquin will have a sanctuary, 16:11 a permanent place to worship and grow the family of God. 16:25 The Colina Ecologica project along with many other projects 16:28 in Bolivia is in need of sponsorship. 16:31 Please make a donation toward this church 16:33 or any other in Bolivia 16:35 to continue answering the prayers 16:37 for this faithful community. 16:41 When we come back, we'll meet another group 16:43 with unshakeable faith and without a place to worship. 16:59 This summer, go back to college, 17:02 Maranatha has two projects lined up at colleges 17:05 in the United States, and we could use your help. 17:08 First up is Union College Project 17:10 in Lincoln, Nebraska from June 23 to July 12, 17:13 you're invited to help renovate the women's dormitory, 17:16 willing to help with carpentry, painting, flooring, 17:19 plumbing, and lighting. 17:21 All skills are welcomed and we need lots of volunteers. 17:24 So please register as soon as you can. 17:27 Then from August 19 to September 6, 17:29 stay in the beautiful Napa Valley 17:31 by serving at Pacific Union College. 17:34 We'll be renovating the men's residence hall. 17:36 This includes painting, flooring, electrical, 17:39 cabinet building and plumbing. 17:41 Both projects need a lot of skilled workers 17:43 and helpers who can jump in to assist with any task. 17:47 As with all North America projects, 17:49 food and lodging is free with your service. 17:51 Just be sure to register first. 17:53 Learn more about these opportunities 17:55 and more on our website at maranatha.org. 18:01 Each year more than 2200 people travel 18:04 all over the world to serve with Maranatha. 18:07 The ways they serve and the locations they help 18:09 are as varied as the people 18:11 that participate on these projects. 18:13 Maybe you're wondering how missions 18:15 can be part of your life. 18:17 Let's take a minute and look at one of the ways 18:19 you can get involved. 18:21 If you're a teenager, 18:22 you won't want to miss Maranatha's 18:24 Ultimate Workout Project. 18:26 This is a mission trip exclusively 18:28 for high school students. 18:30 Ultimate Workout welcomes more than 100 teams 18:33 from all over the world. 18:35 For two weeks, strangers joined together 18:37 for a special mission. 18:39 And by the end, 18:40 you may have found your new best friends. 18:43 Join the Ultimate Workout 18:44 for an unforgettable adventure in service. 18:47 You'll see the world, learn new skills, 18:50 make new friends and connect with God 18:52 in a powerful way. 18:54 Get more details on all of Maranatha's 18:56 volunteer opportunities at maranatha.org. 19:02 It is a Thursday morning in Fortaleza, 19:04 a suburb just outside the city of Cochabamba. 19:08 At this construction site, 19:09 these men have been hard at work, 19:11 raising the walls of this structure, 19:14 but the men are not getting paid. 19:15 This work is voluntary. 19:17 Together, they are building toward a dream. 19:20 One day, 19:22 this building will serve as Sabbath school classrooms. 19:25 As for the empty lot next door, 19:27 it is the site of the future Fortaleza Adventist Church. 19:55 Demetria and his wife Filomena live here 19:57 just down the street from the church side. 20:00 They are the founding members of the Fortaleza group. 20:03 In fact, they moved to the neighborhood 20:04 to plant the church. 20:07 For months, worship was held in their home, 20:10 sometimes in their living room, 20:12 sometimes outside under the carport, 20:15 but opening their home wasn't easy. 20:18 Demetrio and his family run a business from their house. 20:21 They produce and sell athletic clothing, 20:23 shirts and shorts. 20:26 Between equipment and inventory, 20:28 there isn't a lot of room to accommodate a congregation. 20:41 Now, they meet in the patio 20:43 of another church member's home. 20:45 An average of 25 people gather here each week. 20:50 Unfortunately, Fortaleza lost a few people 20:53 from the constant moving. 20:55 It was imperative that the congregation 20:57 find a permanent place of worship. 20:59 So everyone made a commitment to donate money to buy land. 22:08 The answer came in two parts. 22:11 First, they found a plot sold to them at an affordable price, 22:16 the second part of God's answer, Maranatha. 22:19 Maranatha will be constructing a church in Fortaleza. 22:23 Pastor Yana says the impact will be huge. 23:16 This story of sacrifice and dedication 23:18 is not uncommon in Bolivia. 23:20 All of the congregations that Maranatha met 23:23 were made up of working class people. 23:26 Many worked in Bolivia's marketplaces 23:28 where people gathered to sell an assortment of goods. 23:32 Most earn only enough to support their families, 23:35 but everyone was committed to giving 23:37 what they could to help their church, 23:41 people like Alberto Maida. 23:45 Alberto is a peach farmer. 23:47 He has an orchard in San Benito, 23:48 an area outside of the city of Cochabamba. 23:52 Not too long ago, Alberto moved to San Benito 23:55 and one of his first objectives 23:57 besides establishing a home and a business 23:59 was to find a Seventh-day Adventist Church. 24:04 Unfortunately, what he found wasn't much. 24:23 It was disappointing to see such a ragged space. 24:26 Alberto joined the group, 24:28 but he was determined to make some changes. 24:31 He knew they needed a real church. 24:43 But purchasing land would not be easy. 25:08 However, Alberto's situation was a bit different. 25:12 He wasn't wealthy, but as a peach farmer, 25:15 he was fortunate. 25:29 When it became apparent 25:30 that the meager wages of the membership 25:32 could not raise all the money needed for land, 25:35 Alberto decided to turn his personal blessings 25:37 into a blessing for his church. 25:42 Alberto and his wife traveled to the town of Albany, 25:45 where they owned land. 25:47 They sold all their property. 25:48 Then donated the money to San Benito. 26:25 Maranatha is hoping to build a new church 26:27 for the San Benito congregation, 26:29 as part of a larger effort in Cochabamba. 26:34 Alberto gave all he had to help his church. 26:38 Now, he and his fellow believers 26:40 are praying that you will be moved 26:41 to help them with the rest. 27:11 This work in central Bolivia is just the beginning 27:13 of Maranatha's first effort in the country. 27:19 In 2018, volunteers will begin constructing churches 27:22 in Cochabamba and its surrounding areas. 27:25 But as the church continues to grow, 27:27 Maranatha will expand into the eastern 27:29 and western parts of the country 27:31 to build churches and schools. 27:34 Help to strengthen the gospel in Bolivia, 27:37 volunteer with Maranatha 27:39 or make a donation toward church construction projects. 27:42 Each of the stories shared in this episode 27:45 are in need of financial help. 27:47 And any gift you make will make a difference. 27:50 Partner with the people of Bolivia 27:52 by joining their spirit of generosity. 27:55 Together, let's grow the Adventist Church 27:57 and expand our faith community in Bolivia. |
Revised 2021-01-22