Before 1993 Colombia was a scary place to visit or live. The Drug Cartel had strongholds on the town of Medellin, with over 100 murders per week in the town, even police feared to leave their homes. It’s estimated that over 1,000 of the known 4,000 murders carried out by the cartel were hits on policemen and journalists.
Yet in the middle of the turmoil, God was preparing someone to come and create a foundation to help bring light to Medellin.
“Pastor Douglas Calvano arrived on the streets of Medellin with a one-way ticket from Times Square Church. Together with a small group of volunteers he begins ministering to Medellin’s population of homeless and displaced.”
Even though the dangers of high murders were heavy, he was called to the streets, to pray and feed the hungry and homeless.
Now more than 30 years later Pastor Douglas using his skills as a businessman created a program that serves to the needs of Medellin.
Serving the homeless with food, Aquarena, and a spot to lay their heads each night. They also store their items to give them a chance to go out and find work and find sturdy ground to stand.
Serving the addicted by running a rehab program for those looking to get clean, teaching them skills to stay out of addiction and learn about Christ.
Serving the Children, feeding children and families in 4 communities in Colombia including Manantiales, the second largest camp of internally displaced persons in Colombia. They serve 500 meals weekly to the families.
After being blessed to see all these programs and more up and running and the hope for future programs in the foundation I am speechless. Each brick laid at the building we are housed at had a purpose and a plan. The building itself is a church, a home to homeless, a parking lot, a bakery, and a school.
They are also 100% self-sufficient, growing their own food, collecting their own energy from solar panels, and working hard to keep bringing the light of Jesus to the town of Medellin.
Through its darkness light is found, it’s spreading. Light is in the beauty of the graffiti on the walls. Light is found in the meals that children scarf down each week. Light is found in the weekly church services for the homeless. Light is found in the volunteers who give up months and years away from their own countries to come to live here, especially for the ones that fell in love with the program and never left.
Pray for this amazing foundation, for their bakery that feeds thousands, for their sugar water that warms the hearts of homeless each Wednesday and Thursday, and bread that sobers up the addicts.
I cannot even describe the way that God is working this month. I have fallen in love with the culture and climate of Colombia. With its resilience, no matter how strong the punch Colombia stands firm and strong.
