Last week, the national diaconal ministry of IELCO held its
annual retreat to evaluate all of the programs, projects and activities that
took place during 2016. The ministry is divided into four programs:
Environment, Human Rights, Holistic Health and Sustainable Development. Out of
each of these programs there are various projects which: offer direct service
to local communities; develop networks of like-minded people and organizations,
nationally and internationally; involve members of IELCO in advocacy
opportunities; and train church members in relevant subjects. The overall
objective of the national diaconal ministry is: “To contribute to the diaconal development of IELCO in its different
contexts, for the improvement of the quality of life of the communities,
expressed through service, the lived experience of justice, and the
preservation of creation”.
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The
evaluation was held in the historic town of Villa de Leyva in the department of
Boyacá. From right to left: Curtis; Julie Pinzón, participating in the
evaluation as representative of the national youth ministry; Rocío Varela, coordinator of the senior citizens project, serving a very vulnerable
population just south of Bogota; Zandra Nino, coordinator of the project called
ECOVIDA (Ecology and Life), working with poor peasant farmers in the Boyacá
region, especially to regain an agricultural lifestyle lost with the coming of
coal mines, which are now leaving due to plummeting coal prices; and Jorge Díaz,
coordinator of the communications department of IELCO.
Photo by Pastor Jairo Suarez.
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| Sara Lara, coordinator of the human rights program, presenting on the activities of the program during the year. Photo by Pastor Rocío Morales |
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Right
to Left: Curtis; Fabián Bello, coordinator of a food security project as part
of the Environmental program;
Pastor Rocío Morales, Vice Bishop of
IELCO and coordinator of the ASIVIDA project which focuses on HIV/AIDS
prevention and awareness; Sara Lara, coordinator of the human rights program;
and, Julie Pinzón, representative of the national youth ministry. Photo by Pastor Jairo Suarez.
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