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First Response: Costa Rica - God is Moving! |
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Written by Editor
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First Response
Costa Rica, January 2006
By Don Williams
I don’t normally comment on personal ministry trips. But I have good
news from the Vineyard Churches in Coast Rica where I led a pastors and
leaders conference the third week in January. God is on the move in
Central America.
Let me begin with the people who opened their home to me. They are a
lovely couple with two young teenage boys. Eduardo, their father, has
been a believer now for about four years. He owns a business that
employs over 200 people, running it with integrity, incorporating
Christian values in his operation. Living out his faith there costs him
some market share, but he refuses to compromise. Eduardo has had many
prophetic words directing him into ministry. How this will mesh with
his business is not clear, but he unites an excellent entrepreneurial
sense and maturity with a heart of gold (which he also shares with his
lovely wife).
Eduardo and his family are part of a church plant, located in a poor
section of San Jose (the capital). They minister basically to street
kids, the homeless and broken families. The choice to move into this
area has made church growth difficult. Most people from the middle and
upper middle classes want protection from the very people they are
called to serve. Their pastor “makes tents” in the financial field so
that they can use their resources to impact the community. To belong to
this fellowship is to be among the poor; discipleship is defined
clearly as serving them. There is no option.
Eduardo’s older son is a talented musician. Last summer, on a youth
retreat, he had a major encounter with the Holy Spirit which was
life-changing. He is a quiet leader, living “out of step” with his
peers because of his love for Jesus. Worship is central to his
devotion. As is common for so many in the Vineyard throughout the
world, it defines his life. As I prayed for him, I literally saw the
Holy Spirit on him. What an encouragement for the future of the church!
While Costa Rica is a stable democracy with a clear middle class, the
country struggles with undocumented workers crossing the border from
Nicaragua. Perhaps a fourth to a third of the population is “illegal.”
This means that the middle class is shrinking which could eventually
destabilize the country. While coffee is its first cash crop and
bananas its second, tourism and surfing are also major sources of
income.
On a larger front, Chris Dearnley is a remarkable Vineyard Pastor in a
wealthy suburb of San Jose. Coming from the U.S., he graduated from
Wheaton College and has an MBA from Harvard. He and a close friend
founded Pura Vida, a non-profit coffee company. It is headquartered in
Seattle and provides fair trade coffee to churches, universities and
other institutions in the western world. Pure Vida’s slogan is,
“Changing the World, One Cup at a Time.”
Here is some background on Pure Vida’s mission: “Coffee is one of the
most heavily traded commodities in the world. Yet most coffee growers –
small family farmers – have been left behind and can barely afford
their basic needs. As an alternative to ‘business as usual,’ Pure Vida
specializes in 100% Fair Trade, which: pays farmers a living wage for
their harvest, creates direct trade links to farmers and their
cooperatives, provides access to affordable credit, helping farmers
stay out of debt to local middlemen known as ‘coyotes,’ and promotes
sustainable practices, such as organic and shade grown farming, that
help protect the environment.” And all of this is done in the name of
Christ. In fact, Chris reports annually to the Harvard Business School
on his progress which opens the door to relevant witness in that heady
environment.
Last year Pura Vida did 4 million dollars in sales. The profits go to
raising the standard of living for coffee growers in the Third World
(including Africa and Asia), increasing sales, and pouring resources
into the poor. Chris’s church has opened four community centers in slum
areas of San Jose. There they teach street kids basic reading and
writing and offer hot nutritious meals to hundreds daily. They also
teach computer skills and have competitive sports programs to build
discipline, moral structure and self-respect. A kids club in each
center introduces these young people to Jesus. Again, ministering in a
country like Costa Rica demands this kind of engagement. While we may
still debate the issues of a “personal gospel” versus a “social gospel”
in the U.S., in the Third World, this is totally irrelevant. We cannot
share Jesus without touching personal pain and dealing with the
systemic causes of poverty. It is not enough to give a cup of cold
water in Jesus’ name when we can dig a well!
Several hundred people attended the Vineyard leaders’ conference which
was marked by enthusiastic worship and significant ministry times. The
Vineyard is growing in Central America under the leadership of Carlos
Chacon, a mature, insightful and visionary leader (and a great
preacher). Carlos has been involved in over 90 church plants. He
pastors a major Vineyard church in Costa Rica that keeps “dividing to
conquer.” I sensed a great respect for him among the pastors. He is
also a cutting edge evangelist.
For myself, I taught through Ephesians on the theme “Identity is
Destiny.” Once we know who we are in Christ, we know how to live and we
find ourselves participating in God’s purpose to unite all things in
Christ, things in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:10) Otto Klandensky
Jr. was my translator. I have worked with him before and it is great
fun. He is brilliant and a preacher in his own right. When I left the
platform to exhort the crowd, he went right with me. Otto has a
significant ministry in Central and South America mentoring pastors.
One final note. I met DeLynn Hoover, the leader of Pure Vida Missions.
He directs a summer mission trip for youth groups. In his publicity he
asks, “Are you tired of having to make all the arrangements for mission
trips by yourself? Do you want to do something that is actually
designed with a youth group in mind? Do you want a trip that will
change the lives of your youth?” DeLynn sets up all the arrangements in
Costa Rica. He is dedicated “to expose your youth group to missions,
service, and the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives, theirs and
others.” The program includes three days of training in a camp high in
the mountains above San Jose. There youth learn about their
relationship with their Heavenly Father and prepare dramas to work with
children. Then they go out for 6 days with a specific church in Costa
Rica. “They will be involved in construction, street evangelism,
working with children, servant evangelism and getting to know
Christians in Costa Rica.” kingdomrain does not advertise or promote
ministries. But this is an exception. To find out more, visit their
website at www.puravidamissions.org or call stateside 937
882-6597. Blessings upon you for this new season and take heart.
The church is exploding in the Third World.
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First Response 
