Strategic Expansion into the Hard Places
It is with great excitement that we watch our work spread to new places! This month we are focusing on Latin America, where we are equipping leaders and transforming lives in seven countries. Our team includes 1 regional director, 7 country directors, 29 coordinators, and 60 teachers; all of whom are working diligently to prepare an estimated 400 students to serve their churches and communities in 2023.
As you’ll see below, we are expanding into several new areas this year. El Salvador, Ecuador—even a class in the Amazon rainforest of Peru! These students tell us Global Action is the answer to their prayers. Our classes and programmes provide theological education and instruction that isn't available through any other means.
We always talk about equipping leaders in hard places. Today, we want to show you one example of what we mean by “hard places.” Pastor Vladimir (featured in the video below) ministers to youth in the most dangerous area of Guatemala City—Zone 18. In fact, our crew had to get permission from local gang leaders just to show up with a camera and film this story. Despite the hardships and the threats to his safety, Vladimir chooses to risk his own life to minister to one of the most vulnerable populations.
That is how we see our work at Global Action. We persevere through the hard, difficult, and even impossible to carry the Word to people and places most in need—and equip them to do the same!
Working in the hard places can mean many things. Sometimes the work is spiritually or emotionally challenging, other times it's physically taxing or even dangerous. Occasionally, it's all of these.
Guatemala's Zone 18 is notorious for crime, drugs, and violence, much of it at the direction of gangs that have long relied on recruiting children, who receive lesser penalties if caught, to carry out their crimes. Imagine when that workforce starts to disappear because they are attending a church group instead!
Below, Pastor Vladimir shows us his work with youth in Zone 18 and how this is helping break a generational cycle of poverty and crime. More importantly, his leadership is creating future leaders to serve in one of the hardest areas.
Global Action graduate Pastor Vladimir in Guatemala is reaching youth through football -- even in one of the most infamously dangerous areas of the country.