The Center Vision and Objectives

As we work in partnership ministries here in Ecuador one of our greatest joys is to be an active part of the The Center's launch team. Read on to learn more about the vision and objectives of this empowerment center. 
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The Center
Shell Ecuador

Vision

The Center serves to bring culturally relevant instruction and interchange through multi-national partnerships to the indigenous people of Ecuador.

Objectives
Partnering with multi-national Christ-followers in order to transform lives; To know Jesus, to love Jesus, to share Jesus. To equip indigenous people and their families to live abundant lives in Christ, wherever the Lord places them while incorporating a holistic life and livelihood approach. Considering this empowerment model, The Center initiatives will incorporate elements of both spiritual and physical wellbeing while enabling sustainable growth as individuals, families, tribes and nations.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

The Center serves as a tool for culturally relevant instruction and interchange resulting in sustainable empowerment amongst the indigenous, their families, and their tribes. The aim of this tool is to empower and equip others, leveraging and connecting resources, both globally and locally, to provide hope in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The multi-cultural interplay of ideas and skills within a Christian context empowers the indigenous with practical life skills and spiritual formation, while encouraging and sharpening the lives of both instructors and students. Topics and areas of ministry may include but are not limited to:

Spiritual Formation: Leadership & ethics training Biblical overview Worldview Church leadership Topical studies Mission training Women’s studies Marriage Family & parenting Character Development Studies of relevant topics (addictions, suicide, etc.)

Practical Life Skills: Studies of relevant topics (addictions, suicide, etc.) Business & Micro Enterprise Finance & budget Legal rights & responsibilities Carpentry Mechanics Agriculture Dentistry Medical & hygiene Computers & technology Economics Aquaculture Forestry

Partnership & Teams
The Center’s success depends upon cooperation and unity within the body of Christ. Like-minded organizations, businesses, churches & short-term teams, individuals, and those in the surrounding community are actively invited to join in the this ministry.

To know Jesus~To love Jesus~To share Jesus 

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Provision in Parentheses

So here we are living in a small jungle town in 
Ecuador. Each of our basic needs are met.

Roof over our head 

(albeit made of metal and an oven in heat and impossibly loud during frequent rain) 

Running water 

(albeit always cold, often arriving to the faucet the color of iced tea or turned off, without warning, by authorities for repairs or to regulate usage)

Food in our bellies 

(albeit the change of diet and introduction of parasites and new bugs keeps us running to the bathroom and googling all kinds of weird symptoms)

A loving family

(albeit life has become much closer as we work together, learn together in homeschool, and our walls are very thin and completely worthless for sound privacy)

Maybe you already see where we are going with this. God has blessed us greatly but somehow our environment and it's challenges make perfect way towards parentheses explaining away God's provision and giving way to grumbling. 

We've been studying Paul's life and how he said, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13

So, we've been asking the Lord to reveal to us his many gifts. Each morning we pray together thanking the Lord for rain, for brown water, for vegetables to treat for parasites and amoebas. Setting our minds on things above is a legitimate challenge but it is the only way to walk in joy and hope in a broken and hurting world. 

Will you pray with us? For strength. For self-discipline to live thankful lives. For our home to be a home of voices rejoicing? (even if our rejoicing cannot be heard over the sound of the heavy rain pounding on our metal roof!)