Partnerships in Guatemala
Friday, January 6, 2012
In1986, a group of Central American Christians from a variety of churches asked how to be faithful to Jesus Christ in a context of widespread poverty and violence. They dreamed that their churches might become agents of transformation. More than 25 years later, the Central America Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies (CEDEPCA) continues to offer theological training and pastoral accompaniment to women and men aimed at changing lives, churches, and communities. From its beginning, CEDEPCA has invited sisters and brothers from other parts of the world to walk beside Christians in the region as they struggle to serve Christ and neighbor. As disasters have increased, CEDEPCA has added another focus: increasing the capacity of communities to respond to disasters in organized and healthy ways out of a vision of God's love for all.
With CEDEPCA's help, residents of Xolpic learned to support one another in the face of drought.
Every day it fills us with joy to hear testimonies of how those involved in CEDEPCA's programs have grown in their knowledge of God and their commitment to serve others. "I found hope and a reason to live.'' "I have felt valued in this place.'' "My way of thinking has changed; now I see the needs of others.'' "I have learned how to help women who are suffering from violence.'' "I am a new person, ready to serve in many places.'' ``CEDEPCA has opened up a new world of knowledge for me.'' With God's help, CEDEPCA will continue to be a source of hope and new vision for followers of Christ in the years to come.
— The staff of the Central America Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) People in Mission
National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala
(IENPG): Bacilia
Beisswenger, team ministry, Rev.
Philip Beisswenger, facilitator, mission delegations and
partnerships, Amanda
Craft, women's leadership development, Gloria
and Roger Marriott, educational consultants, Walton
Program * Central America Evangelical Center for Pastoral
Studies (CEDEPCA): Rev.
Dr. Karla Koll, professor of history, mission, and
religions, CEDEPCA/Latin American Biblical University, Marcia
Towers, YAV site coordinator and partnership facilitator,
CEDEPCA Young Adult Volunteers, community development interns,
CEDEPCA: Julianne Blaha, Kristi Click, Carolyn Langley, and
Jacquelyn Wonsey
Monty Anderson, PPC
Maria Arroyo, GAMC
The Rev. SanDawna Ashley, GAMC
CEDEPCA’s Mission:
1. Facilitate theological reflection and pastoral practice that is evangelical, rooted in our time and place, liberating, and interconfessional.
2. Accompany and serve those sectors of our churches that are anxious to articulate their own theological reflection and pastoral practice.
3. Promote the dignity and self-esteem of women; work to eliminate violence against women; transform and consolidate women’s leadership in the church and community.
4. Promote opportunities for reflection and encounter for people from different cultures and with widely-differing personal stories, to help each participant understand his or her personal reality in terms of other realities, thus helping to build a more tolerant, just and equitable world.
5. Study the role played by religion and spirituality in the socio-political, economic and cultural life of Latin America. Offers churches elements of social-religious analysis that assist them to orient their pastoral duties.
6. Support service ministries; offer solidarity and consolation in times of crisis.
