If you have not read anything I’ve written this month, please read this.
Everything that I have posted so far has been from my own perspective, but that is far from the whole story. I am traveling with a team of forty people this year, and I want you to hear their voices too. The ministry we were working with in January had so much going on that not all of us could work in every area, and even in the areas I did work, I didn’t see or hear about everything that God was doing. I asked eight of my squadmates to share their hearts for difference facets of our work with the Refuge, so you could get a larger perspective of what my squad has been doing.
Fair warning – this is long. Like, it might take twenty minutes to read instead of ten. But please, take the time. It was an incredible first month on the Race, and I would love for you to see the ways that God has been moving.
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Men’s Ministry – Jake Ormonde
After we finished reading through Proverbs 17, this question was posed to the group of 25-30 men: “What verse stood out to you from today’s Proverb?” My expectations of our first Bible study with the men’s group (from the drug and alcohol rehabilitation program) were soon shattered. I imagined hands clasped in laps and awkward silence, presumably thinking they would be too uncomfortable to share with new faces in the circle. However, hands shot up like popcorn, as men all around the circle were eager to share pieces of their stories and how God had spoken to them that day.
After about 45 minutes, we were invited to join them for some true fútbol! It was like being accepted into a family without them knowing who I was. The only payment I had to give was a lot of sweat and a little blood! I’ve always believed that soccer is a lot like life. Every person on that field has a purpose. Every person has strengths and weaknesses and without the support of others you can’t succeed. Just like we read earlier that day in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
It is amazing to see the foundation they are laying for the men joining this program. Through Scripture, the men are learning that God is in control and that He loves them, while through community they find that they are not alone in their struggles and have each other for times of adversity. The love I was shown during my time in the men’s ministry was such a blessing, and even though I was supposed to be the one sharing, I believe they changed my life more than I impacted theirs.
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Women’s Ministry – Valerie Flores
Viviana, Sara, Nora, Elizabet and Astrid – these are the names of the women that will forever stay in our hearts as we did women’s ministry in Colombia. We thought we came here to serve them, but in a lot of ways it felt like they were serving us the whole time. As you travel the world, you will start to learn that ministry looks different everywhere. Sometimes it’s helping out in the kitchen, studying Scripture, or mopping floors. In our case, it was all of these things. During our ministry time with these women, we got to DO life with them! They shared their past, current struggles, and hopes for the future with us.
Most of the women we did ministry with are in the women’s discipleship program at Ciudad de Refugio (our ministry site) due to past struggles with alcohol and/or drugs, and are on their own journeys to living their best lives. The program they are in varies in length, but typically lasts one year. One year where they leave behind everything that is familiar to go live with women facing their same struggles and grow closer to Christ. Each day we spent with them they shared more of themselves with us and taught us when we empower the Holy Spirit within us he is capable of turning our lives around for the better. The way each one of these women died to self daily was inspiring.
As Romans 8:8-9 NLT says, “That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.” They knew God’s plan for their life was better than anything they could ever want for their own life.
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VBS Ministry – Sarah Zlibut
The past few weeks of being in Medellin, Colombia, I have had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the ministry pouring into the children, also known as Vacation Bible School (VBS), at the City of Refuge. The team and I put together songs, games, activities, skits (including a puppet show), Bible teachings, and a memory verse for each gathering. The VBS programs are on Thursdays and Saturdays from 3-5. Prior to the programs each day, we took a couple of hours and went knocking door-to-door in the neighborhoods around us to invite the parents and their children. Despite the mid-day heat and the language barrier (thankful for the great translators that always came with us), it was always such a joy and pleasure to be able to meet and talk with the local families who reside in the nearby communities. It was amazing to see how accepting and open the people we encountered were when taking some of their time to speak with them.
Week after week, witnessing to these children has been a blessing in my life. Seeing them come from a life where they don’t have much, yet they still carry so much joy and laughter, brings me so much gratitude in my own life. I had the pleasure of meeting so many sweet, little children who constantly giggled at how I didn’t understand them, but thankfully that didn’t keep them from getting to know me and spend time with me.
I am often reminded of how God has called us, His sons and daughters, to become like children: to become humble, simple, innocent, constantly seeking guidance, and to turn to the Father in time of need. Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.”
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Worship Minsitry – Jennifer Summy
This month has been some of the most powerful worship I have ever witnessed. Our team has such a gift of worship, and we got to share that gift countless time with the people at the Foundation, people in the church congregation, people on the streets and in the parks around Medellin, Colombia. We have lead worship in English and Spanish, but regardless of the language, everyone here is so on fire for the Lord that the Holy Spirit was always so palpable in the room during worship. Some of their favorite songs were “Cardenas Romper (Break Every Chain)” and “Gracia Sublime (This is Amazing Grace)”. Whenever we got to share those songs, everyone in the room got a chance to boast in the incredible freedom the Lord has given them through the amazing opportunity they have been given because of the work Ciudad de Refugio is doing.
I personally believe that worship is the most powerful way to connect with the Father, but also with community, and I saw that here this whole month. No matter who the people were, what they believed, whether they were singing, dancing, playing an instrument or simply praying, the Holy Spirit was moving in incredible ways during worship this month. It was such an honor to connect with these people by worshipping with them in their native language and feeling God break chains and shed light and love in the dark places. It has been truly amazing.
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Intercessory Prayer – Andrew Galea
Romans 8:27 (ESV) – “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.“
One thing the Lord has really been teaching me is the power of intercessory prayer. I grew up hearing that prayer was powerful, but before the World Race, I did not really know for myself just how powerful it was.
At City of Refuge, we have seen the power of prayer first hand. Almost every day, we have been sent out in teams to interceded for the city. From the outside, this looks like we are just exploring the city, but we are intently praying and waging war in our spirits. As I learned from the ministry, this is based on the idea that quiet internal prayers against the powers of darkness can be just as powerful as an out-loud rebuke of that same darkness. Many times, as we were walking, we felt the Lord leading us to stop and pray for specific things and over particular buildings with no prior knowledge of what was going on spiritually in that area. We would usually later find out that these places were major strongholds for the enemy in the city (i.e. psychic booths, known pornographic film sets, etc.). Without a doubt, the Holy Spirit guided us in every prayer walk that we went on. I’ve learned that this is essentially “plowing the field” for the seeds the Lord will be planting later that day though other evangelistic methods.
One of the most powerful ways I have seen the Lord move has been in the intercession teams we form during evangelism outreach. On those days, half of our squad would team up with our ministry partners from the Refuge to spread the Gospel. The other half would stay behind at the Refuge and intercede for them and for the people they would encounter. We were encouraged to pray boldly about whatever the Holy Spirit placed on our hearts. We had no idea what was going on, but the Lord knew very well. After the outreach, we would see just how specifically our prayers applied to whatever the evangelism teams encountered. There were times where people prayed and said “the Lord is showing me a vision of a pregnant woman,” or “I feel led to sing a verse of this song.” Those same nights, people would come back, sharing about how they ministered to a pregnant woman or how they felt the Lord lead them to sing the same song that we had sung to one of the people they ministered to. Every outreach night has blown us away because of how specific the Lord led is in times of prayer.
Any doubt I had before on the effectiveness of prayer has been shattered. Not only is it effective, but the Holy Spirit will usually guide you to pray for whatever He wants you to pray for. After all, He knows better than we do what is going on in the world around us.
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Agua Panela – Emilie Blomberg
My favorite experiences at Cuidad de Refugio have taken place during street ministry. The Agua Panela outreach was the first ministry that Pastor Douglas started when he came to Colombia in 1994. It is still a vital program at the Foundation today, twenty-five years later. Volunteers, both Colombian and international, gather at the foundation on Wednesday and Thursday nights and prepare to serve people living in difficult circumstances. After praying, the volunteers head out to two areas of the city known for homelessness, drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution, and witchcraft. There, hundreds of people line up to receive a warm drink and bread roll. Sometimes the volunteers bring instruments and lead a worship session. They also pass out flyers with information about the Foundation, which explain the programs offered, including a homeless shelter, drug and alcohol recovery programs, church services, and more. Perhaps the most important role that the volunteers have is to simply listen to people’s stories and pray with them.
Serving in this ministry was a culture shock to me at first; I had never seen anything like it. All around me, people were selling and doing drugs. Many were begging for money or asking for my jacket, watch, or anything else they could sell. Stumbling drunks approached me, making suggestive comments and asking for a kiss. Several people appeared to need medical attention, including one man who had been stabbed in the face. The poverty was obvious as people walked around without shoes or carried all their earthly belongings in a garbage bag. The spiritual darkness can be felt as a physical weight, and it’s not uncommon for power encounters to occur; I was singled out on several occasions by men whom I believe, by their speech and actions, were possessed by demons.
During our time in Medellin, my squad has had incredible Kingdom-building experiences through this outreach. There have been miraculous healings, people have accepted God’s gift of salvation, others have entered the addiction program at the Foundation, and many people who are homeless have come to the Foundation for shelter. On the other hand, some men and women we speak to say that they have been told about the freedom Jesus offers many times. They acknowledge that their actions have robbed them of relationships, careers, and more, but they aren’t willing to give up their lifestyle of brokenness and addiction. At the end of each night, the volunteers gather as a team and pray for people we met by name.
Even when the results aren’t obvious, we know that this ministry is bringing light to dark areas. It’s been said that on average a person needs to hear the Gospel seven times before choosing to accept it. So, after a night of ministry, when our team feels discouraged by the darkness we’ve encountered, we ask each other if we are willing to be the first, second, or even sixth time that someone hears the Good News. Will we continue to labor and sow seeds even if we don’t get to be the one that harvests them? That is the nature of short-term mission trips. Sometimes you harvest, and sometimes you sow. And whatever job you have, you give God thanks for trusting you with it. World Race S Squad is so grateful for our time partnering with Cuidad de Refugio. Our lives are forever changed as a result of seeing the work God is doing through the local church in Colombia.
John 4:35b-38 ESV
“Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
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Pa’Mi Barrio – Ashley Smith
Every Thursday, ten racers from our squad were assigned to work with a ministry within the city of Medellin. Pa’Mi Barrio is a private school program for children who live in a high-risk neighborhood known for drug wars. Many of the students who attend here are sponsored by people all over the world. Because we are in Colombia for one month, there are only four days we work with this ministry.
The first week was spent getting to know the program director and activities leader. We also learned about the different facets of the program. Children who attend are taught English, science, computer skills, music, art in addition to respect, good manners and biblical principles. This supplements their public-school programs.
The second week we spent our time cleaning the school building in preparation for the return of students after their Christmas break. Before the cleaning began, we spent time praying with the staff and volunteers over the building and students. I mentioned before this area is known for drugs and violence, which also includes vandalism and spiritual warfare. The first thing that was said to us as we arrived at the school was “don’t step in the blood.” Finding blood splattered on the front door and steps is a common occurrence.
After prayer and a short devotional from one of the program workers, we began cleaning. We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned some more. Think spring cleaning on steroids. Every pot, pan, dish, table, chair, toy and book was washed or wiped down. Even the floors and walls got scrubbed inside and outside of the building. That place was spotless. Over lunch, we heard testimonies from some of the workers. One woman even shared how she quit her job to work for the program because she saw the magnificent influence it was having on her own children and wanted to be a part of helping others in her community.
The third week was more about getting to know some of the children. It was their registration day. Some of us helped prepare lunch in the kitchen while others decorated the lunch room then helped with serving food and clean up. The kids spent their lunch time learning our names. After lunch we spent the afternoon with a second group of kids getting to know them and playing games.
For the final week, we prepared a program for both the morning and afternoon groups. We have planned a variety of activities to fill the day including games, a skit, a song & memory verse, bible lessons, and crafts.
It has been a journey to go from learning about the ministry, to cleaning the building, then meeting the kids, and now preparing to spend the day sharing our own program with them. The barriers of language, time, and location have been overcome by love in Pa’Mi Barrio.
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Manantiales – Caleb Dawson
For the past eleven or so years, I have had the opportunity to teach children ages three to ten about Jesus on Sundays. I would memorize a small group lesson or a script every week and would present it to the kids Sunday mornings. While I have loved my years teaching back at my home church, and loved seeing God change the lives of these young children and their families, I have always wanted more. I joined The World Race hoping I’d be able to move past a script and reach the unreached. I got to do exactly that through a ministry called Manantiales.
A group of twenty of us arrived at a pretty rough displacement village in Medellin, Colombia. We came armed with bags full of coloring books, colored pencils, and other little fun things kids like. Our goal was to go and deliver these packages to the families already in the program through City of Refuge. We got much more than that. At first, I was a little discouraged because it felt like we weren’t doing anything. We were all moving as a large group to these houses and passing people the entire way. Something in me didn’t feel right. We all stopped as our translators spoke to a family further down the path. As we waited, five of us in the group noticed a little girl and boy playing right outside their house. We walked up to them, handed them some coloring utensils, and watched as their faces lit up. Their mother noticed us from inside their home, and we all started talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly. We were there for so long that the rest of the group left without us! We prayed over them and invited them to check out the program.
We continued on our way and walked through a pretty tight alleyway, at the end of which we were greeted by a hoard of kids wanting to play with us. A lot of them were not part of the Foundation’s program, and never heard the name of Jesus before! Naturally (me being the child I am on the inside), I jumped right in to play with them, hold people’s babies, pray over them, and give them a chance to just be kids. I watched as the boys walked a little bit taller after I told them that they and their name were strong. I saw little girls blush after we told them they were beautiful. I was invited into people’s homes and given the chance to pray over them and tell them about God. I walked for what felt like miles with kids hanging all around me. It. Was. Glorious.
We invited the kids and their families to come to a children’s program happening the next Saturday. The next week, our group saw 280 kids at that event, and they all got to hear more about Jesus. If we didn’t go that day, how many kids would have continued their lives never hearing the Gospel? How many people are living their lives separated from God, simply because no one will go out and tell them that He made a way for them to have a relationship with Him?
As I was playing with the kids in the streets of the slums of this village, sharing the Gospel with them, I thought to myself, “This is why I left everything I’ve ever known to follow Jesus. This is the life I want.”
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Please keep this team in your prayers as we have moved on to Ecuador over the last couple days. Month one was incredible, but please pray that we do not lose momentum. I want to see the same energy our team showed in Colombia to be present through this entire year, and I believe that it will be. Thank you, as always, for following this journey.
