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By Narayan Mitra
TILL 1997, Les and Rita Peters were comfortably sequestered in their home
church, Full Gospel Tabernacle in Kamloops – when the call to impact the poor for God came.
As an educator, and the former principal of Kamloops Christian School, Les was
naturally interested in bringing the benefits of Christian education to the
underprivileged – along with the blessings that the gospel imparts.
That led to the formation of the inter-denominational Impact Ministries (IM).
Its mandate was to open up the word of God to the very poor people of Tactic,
Guatemala through Christian schools and other means.
In a short 12 years, the work has expanded so rapidly that every year some 16
short-term mission teams visit Tactic.
They vary in size, composition and origin, but are focussed on helping the five
existing schools – as well as meeting attendant needs that poor children and their parents
everywhere have.
Impact Ministries facilitates teams with opportunities to work in construction
projects, medical clinics, clothing giveaways and visitations to the school
children’s homes.
On a recent visit to Kamloops, Rita Peters brought up-to- date reports of God’s abundant blessing in Tactic – a place of eternal spring, full of colours, but reeking with poverty and
suffering.
“The people of Tactic are very poor,” she stressed. “The average man earns a daily wage of 25 quetzales – $3.50 in Canadian money – doing field labour. Most families have more than five children; and
approximately 40 percent of the children live in single-parent homes.
“Half of Tactic’s population is under 17 years, with children being raised by single mothers – and dads either missing, or given to alcoholism. Spiritual darkness in the form
of idolatry – and fear of unknown gods – control the population.”
However, Rita emphasized: “The Life Christian schools Impact has established have started to change the
lives of the children and their families – [away] from demonism and bondage. Children are taught, and fed a hot lunch. Over
1,000 meals a day are served. And the word of God finds root in the young lives.”
Out of this investment in people, the Rio de Vida (River of Life) church has
come into existence. And the natural extension of church life is ‘sprouting’ – into pastoral training, local Bible teaching, and interdenominational
cooperation in evangelism.
All these activities are also generating employment for Guatemalans, supporting
an agricultural program and even enabling the operation of an internet café.
The Peters’ compulsion to restore families to biblical foundations has resulted in many
common-law couples getting married in the church.
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“We tell them that there is a wonderful God who wants to bless their family life.
Those who had put off getting married for lack of money have been helped by the
church to tie the knot. We are now witnessing the desire of their children
fulfilled, and harmony restored in families.”
Impact Ministries’ focus is on the Poqomchi and the Q’eqchi tribal groups. More than 80 percent of the population are illiterate – and this debilitates them, isolating them from the outside world.
Guatemala has seen recent revivals, that have brought 40 percent of the people
into evangelical Christianity. Tactic, on the other hand, has been dominated by
a religious fervour that combines Roman Catholicism, ancient Mayan traditions
and witchcraft rituals.
In order to better serve the children and their families, IM has developed a
policy regarding gifts directed toward sponsored children.
Individual children will be given gifts costing up to $25 per year, by their
sponsors. Gifts up to $100 can be directed to a child’s family, to meet a specific need. IM serves nearly 1,000 children in five
schools, and one afternoon program. Two hundred new students started attending
schools in 2009.
Impact Ministries, Rita said, “exists to train Guatemalans for leadership, by teaching biblical principles in
such a way that they become integrated in their lives – and effect spiritual change in their society.
“We also exist to impact North American Christians for Third World missions.”
Contact: impactministries.ca or 250.434.4350.
January 2010
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