“It is a great idea, but they don’t do that there.”

This was the answer to our question when we asked about camp ministry for young people in El Salvador back in 2012.  We had yet to visit the country, but had been stirred by the Lord that we needed to inquire and see what was being done to reach and disciple young people.  Camp ministry was something that had been vital to Kelly’s formative years, solidified her life choice to serve the Lord, gave her a place to serve on staff for long summers, and eventually led into relationships that first took her onto the mission field in Albania.

“But they don’t do that there”…changed during Jared’s first visit in 2013, when the young leaders were brought together by President Anamim Garcia for a planning session for the future which ended with a joint vision to raise up the emerging, the “Now Generation” here in El Salvador.

The first step was our Congreso in 2013 of 75 people, then our first camp “Muévete” in 2014 with 105 and we just finished our most recent camp, “Entrégate” last week with 150 people in attendance.  What the growth in numbers only poorly illustrates, is the increases we have seen in the level of leadership, the tangible unity and a corporate vision to make an impact in El Salvador through the unique DNA that God has blessed the Foursquare Church with.  The camp theme was “Entrégate” which means give it all.  You can see the video put together by Chad Okamoto who served as our intern HERE.

The current paradox of El Salvador is that a nation named after the Savior, and that has been thoroughly evangelized continues to suffer from widespread poverty and extreme class separation, one of the highest murder rates in the world and an organized gang problem that plagues the communities with “taxes” fear and violence…this is what the newspapers daily report, but above, you have the story of what God’s people are doing in response to the darkness.  (more to come on this in the next blog…)

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1-2