Venezuela

Put on your thinking cap for just a moment as I tell you a little story:

On the northern tip of South America is a country called Venezuela. You may be familiar with Venezuela due to the rhetoric of their President, Hugo Chavez. You may also know Venezuela for their oil industry. The gasoline at your local Citgo gas station comes from Venezuelan oil.

Beyond these little known facts are some more important facts about Venezuela. It is a beautiful country filled with some of the kindest and most generous people on the face of the earth. In November 2006, a small team from our church went to minister to some of the people in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. While we were there our hearts were touched by the joy and love and grace of the wonderful people of Venezuela.

But that isn't all you need to know. The people of this country constitute the most secular country in South America with over 40 percent of the people having no church affiliation. Furthermore, before 1996, there was no United Methodist presence in Venezuela.

But things are changing! Through the prayers and ministry of United Methodists in North Georgia and beyond, there is now a growing United Methodist presence in Venezuela. As of last August (2007), there are over 26 United Methodist congregations in Venezuela. In that same month, they also held their first Annual Conference and elected their first Bishop (Perez). The church is rapidly growing among the faithful Christians of Venezuela.

The things we have and take for granted as Christians in the United States are things the Christians of Venezuela desperately need. Take for instance a seminary where pastors can be trained. Here in Georgia, I can drive to a number of seminaries in less than an hour. In Venezuela, United Methodist pastors ride a bus for 24 hours to attend the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela. A seminary that started with only a vision from United Methodist leaders in North Georgia now has over 100 students enrolled. These Venezuelan pastors who work a "secular" job along with shepherding their congregations give up five weeks each year to come to Barquisimeto to the seminary where they hungrily receive training for ministry.

So where is all of this going? Well, I'm glad you asked. Allow me to ask you to do a few things that will help this seminary and the growing United Methodist Church in Venezuela.

1. Read more about this ministry by logging on to www.venezuelaforchrist.blogspot.com.
2. Pray for the young church in Venezuela.
3. Consider helping the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela purchase a permanent site.

Presently, 60 students cramp themselves inside a small room to take classes...many of them sharing seats. The seminary has found a perfect site to house and feed students with more than adequate classrooms. This site will also be used to house missionaries and mission teams from the United States. They can purchase this site for $150,000. I know that sounds like a great deal of money, and it is! But maybe you know someone who can provide it. If so, send them to the website I listed for you above. There are instructions there on how they can give. Thanks for reading, praying, and giving!