How long have you been in Costa Rica?
We are celebrating and praising God that we will have been in Costa Rica for 6 years! We started language school in Costa Rica in September of 2002, and then began to work full time in the areas of Los Guido and Tejarcillos with Christian Light Foundation. We began working in the area of La Carpio in early 2008. Christian Light Foundation Costa Rica was officially incorporated in Costa Rica in January of 2007.
What are your primary responsibilities?
Discipleship The leading of in-home discipleship groups continues to be our primary responsibility. God has shown us a great need for discipleship and leadership development among the youth. There are teenagers now that have taken on leadership roles as part of their training and are either co-teaching or teaching on their own some of the discipleship groups. We continue to be amazed at the life transformation we see, some very dramatic, and praise God for the life changing power of Jesus Christ.
Evangelism Evangelism remains the other cornerstone of our ministry as we specifically target the
unchurched in the areas of Tejarcillos, Los Guido, La Carpio and other areas of Costa Rica.
Are you planting churches?
As a result of the discipleship groups in these very poor areas of Costa Rica, new churches are being planted. We do not believe that God has called us to take primary roles in these new churches. Nevertheless, assisting in these churches in the areas of visitation, teaching Sunday school, and helping with the many outreach activities has proven to be a very fruitful use of our time and gifts. The churches in these areas and the national families that have dedicated their lives in full time service depend on the offerings and gifts of God's people.
What other things are you involved in?
...Weekly English classes for adults which have proven to be a valuable tool in the sharing of the gospel.
...Regular women's Bible studies.
...Weekly youth group meetings in the new church plants.
...Hosting missions teams.
...Penpal ministry where some 200 letters are delivered here or sent back to the states each month.
...Work projects both in homes and also projects for the entire community.
...Tutoring
What are the youth like that you are working with?
They are considered "at risk" meaning that they may have very little education and may have already dropped out of school not being able to read or write. Many are living in single-parent homes or they are the primary care-giver in the home for younger siblings even though they themselves are only in their early teens. All of them are very aware of, if not actually involved in, drugs and sexual exploitation. Many are living in unsanitary conditions and seldom have enough food. The needs are great in the lives of these young people and their families. What is it that God wants us to do in the face of such great need? This is the question that we often struggle with.
What are you most excited about in your ministry?
What excites us most is to see God penetrate the areas of darkness where Satan has had a stronghold for ages as evidenced by the evil and abuse. We praise God for the changed lives and continue to pray for the thousands more that continue to live on the brink of eternal separation from God. We are excited to be working with leadership teams made up of teenagers from both Los Guido and Tejarcillos and we are excited to see God raising up national men of God to pastor the new churches. And we are very excited to see God growing our local team.
