A World Vision story of community development and evangelism in Colombia.
"In my last issue, I was telling you about my visit with a sick potter in Bogota. His intestinal problems often prevented him from finishing his pots. The middleman who bought his pots was taking advantage of his illness and paying less and less. The family's landlord was squeezing them by raising the rent.
"The potter's wife was worn out caring for five children. Teresa [World Vision staff], the young woman who cared so deeply for the children of San Mateo, was broken-hearted. Carlos and Flora, the courageous leaders of the recently reopened little church in San Mateo, did not know how to help."
A seemingly hopeless case. But Myers returned nine months later.
"Our visit began at the potter's house. It had been completely rebuilt. The roof was watertight, hundreds of pots rested on sturdy shelves. "What on earth happened?" I inquired with more than a little amazement. . . . Before the service began [lead by the potter], I was escorted to the back of the house to discover a roomful of women making candy. His church helps people to produce things to earn money. I was then shown the candle-making class in another room upstairs."
What were some of the keys to this turn around? Cesar Romero helped the potter wife take the pots directly to market, skipping the middle-man, making much more money. God healed the potter. Small businesses were started.
The rebellious potter's son was watching all of this; community development became a convincing form of evangelism. So he started going to church and before long became a Christian.
Three new churches have been started plus a dozen cell groups. Community development has become an effective form of evangelism.
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