Colombian Christian Mission

COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
In the jungle and prairie of Southeastern Colombia.
Volume 7, Issue 3, March, 1979

A COLOMBIAN INITIATIVE

As missionaries and foreigners in Colombia we always try to take a back seat. One of our major goals has always been to develop a national leadership for the churches here. The goal of self-governing, self-propagating, and self-supporting congregations has been a major focus of our work since the very beginning. A good way to do this is to avoid a prominent and leading role in church affairs. The leadership then develops by doing. We, as missionaries, are around to help when called on.
A recent example of national initiative has rapidly developed over the past few months. The brethren in the Way of Life Christian Church here in Villavicencio have started a Christian Day School. That may sound like a simple, almost normal everyday occurrence for someone in the States. But down here that involves a tremendous amount of paperwork. It also entails a great deal of time and money. It all began about three months ago when one of the local private schools was selling out. Some of the men in the church saw the real need for a Christian education in a country where schooling is still controlled by the Catholic Church. They moved quickly to buy materials and operating license from the previous owner. The price was only a fraction of the value of the materials alone. They then began an extensive remodeling program on the church building so as to be able to use it for a school building. Everyone chipped in and began working. Bakers painted, truck drivers installed plumbing, and preachers laid cement blocks. The people really buckled down and got the job done in record time. Giving increased radically in a church that was already a good example of sacrificial giving. Time flew by as everyone raced the clock. Opening day was rapidly approaching and both time and money were running out. Yet no one would even consider giving in. The church leaders directed the whole operation in a marvelous way and school opened right on time. Needless to say, there were some loose ends to tie up. Opening day was more hectic than normal. But the School opened on time. At present there are only 30 students in the six primary grades. But it is a reality. There is now a Christian oriented school where people can send their children.
What did all of this cost the American churches that sent us down here to evangelize? About $80 dollars, no more. One day they ran out of paint. There was no money and no one could give any more at that particular moment. I chipped in on a smaller scale than what most of them had done. Together we were able to buy the paint we needed to finish, with Colombians taking the lead. Yet everyone will benefit. The church now has a much more serviceable building just in time for our upcoming evangelistic campaign. The Sunday school has usable classrooms. Parents have a Christian school which will respect and nurture the faith developing in young hearts. Finally the leaders of the church have proved that they have the maturity and wisdom to plan and carry out a major undertaking with virtually no outside help. For me, I sat back and watched the beehive of activity with a certain degree of contentment. I no longer felt so alone in the work. I knew that there were other leaders perhaps in many ways more capable than me at directing a growing church in Colombia. The people of the church have great hopes for the future. Yet perhaps the real accomplishment of the school has already been achieved. It was a Colombian initiative from start to finish. It was a major step forward that proved the capability of the elders of the church. I too have great hopes for the future. But my hopes are based not only on the effects of a Christian day school; but on the ability and vision of the men who planned and carried out the project.