Welcome to Ciudad Refugio (City of Refuge) where our team has been doing ministry for the first month on the World Race. Ciudad Refugio is located in the third class structure based on a scale 0-6, which 0 representing the most poor located in the high parts of the mountains; to 6 being the wealthiest in the lower part of the mountains. For the first week our team lived in the recovery program with the addicts. Yes! We literally slept in the same room as them; the guys lived on the second floor and the ladies on the third. Were we nervous, anxious, and even sacred? You best believe it! For us young adults entering into the program without any knowledge who these addicts were or even knowing what crimes they had committed sent chills down our spine.
So what is the program about?
For more than 10 years Ciudad Refugio has been providing safety, shelter and holistic care to men and women with life-controlling problems.The program has served over more than 100 people annually. Some arrive at the foundation having suffered loss at the effects of drugs and alcohol. Others are displaced and destitute due to drug and gang violence in Medellin. Still others suffer from depression and mental illness.
Regardless of the journey that brings individuals to the doors of Ciudad Refugio, the answer provided is the same. City of Refuge offers a one-year Christ-centered restoration program for those looking to transform their lives. Through daily bible classes, counseling, and life discipline they teach truth, life skills and healthy living habits while providing the opportunity for individuals to allow Christ to enter and heal their lives.
City of Refuge believes addiction, prostitution, and violence are external fruits of internal problems. The goal is that through the time invested in the program; individuals will allow God to heal the roots in their lives that are producing the pain leading to addiction.Not to mention, but these recovery addicts learn a trade skill by working in the bakery and restaurant that the church owns that is attached to the building. Through learning trade skills, the addicts can enter the world better equipped of gaining a job.
So let me give you a quick run down what ministry looked like for the first week in the program:
6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. the men shower using 5 gallon buckets
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. the men spend time reflecting and reading the word
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. the men swept and mopped the floors
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. men ate breakfast (Colombia the people eat really fast)
9:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. the men worked on various projects
11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. the men had down time
12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m lunch
12:15 pm. – 1:00 p.m. the men worked
1:00 p.m. – 2: 00 p.m. the men had bible study
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. the men played soccer
4:00 pm. – 5:00 p.m. down time
5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. dinner
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. down time
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m reflection time on 5th floor (roof top)
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. shower and down time
9:00 p.m. bedtime
By the look of our schedule we were constantly on the go pouring ourselves out into the ministry. In regard to our busy week, we partook in Agua Panela (sugar water with bread) Outreach on Wednesday nights at 8:30 to the homeless, addicts, and displaced all over Medellin consisting over 200 people. The most disturbing encounter that our team had ever had was when entering the streets, addicts were lighting up their pipes in front of us. When you would turn your head, there would be another addict strung out on drugs or having seizures on the ground. I will share more in depth in another blog. Not only that, we would share the gospel with them and an invitation would be given to visit the foundation so that they could begin a process that would transform their lives.
Wait!!! There is more…
The City of Refuge Shelter Ministry provides housing and safety for up to 60 men daily. These men arrive by word of mouth and often through the Agua Panela outreach ministry of the foundation. Within the shelter they are able to shower and are provided a clean mattress to sleep on.
The men are allowed to continue staying in the shelter as long as they attend one church service weekly. They are also offered a bible study class one night a week.
The goal is to transition men out of the shelter and into the restoration program to begin restoring their lives and building their futures.
Also, there is a Homeschool Ministry working with children from the ages of 8-17 years old. Because of the class structure in Medellin, some kids are at high risk of dropping out of school without proper eduction. The main objective is to offer a Christ-centered education that will benefit families of the City of Refuge Church and other churches. It is meant to be a fun, value-based education tailored to the needs and interests of the children. It is also meant to be a safe atmosphere where children love to study. The teacher is there, not in a dictatorial role, but to facilitate the learning process.
These are the few ministries that we have been plugged into this past week. So stay tuned as I share stories of individuals and how God is using our team to further his kingdom here in Medellin, Colombia.
“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” -Acts 10:38
For now here is a video of City of Refuge and what a day is like in ministry. Also, my third deadline is approaching on September 30, so for me to continue on the race I need to be at $13,000. Which means I’m $2,723 away from that goal. I asked for help in 3 ways. 1. pray for me and my team to meet that deadline 2. if you feel lead to give then please do, no matter how much because every dollar matters. 3. share my blog with friends, family, church, etc.
way to donate is by clicking on the donate button on my blog or send a check (takes 2 weeks to process) to
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
name in memo (fabian cortez)
