These are some of the ministries and projects that we have pioneered and worked with in Costa Rica during the past 20 years. We are still working in these areas as part of our ministry, even though at the moment we are not full time in Central America. For more detailed information about our ministry and opportunities, contact us or visit the YWAM Guanacaste website: www.ywamguanacaste.com.
BIBLE DISTRIBUTION
Goal: To give a Bible to each home in Guanacaste
There are 114 000 homes in Guanacaste. People don’t know the Bible at all and even Christians don’t always have a Bible of their own. We distribute soft cover full NIV Bibles house to house through a personal visit, discussing, sharing and praying with the people. The funds for buying and shipping the Bibles come from individual donors. You, too, can participate by donating Bibles or putting together a team and coming to distribute! The distribution of the Bibles happens together with the local churches.The price for each Bible is $ 3.00 including shipping. At this point in Guanacaste we have distributed around 40 000 Bibles.
SEEDS OF LIFE – Young Mothers
Salla started this ministry to help pregnant girls and young mothers in the rural communities and the low-income neighborhoods. For a long time, teen pregnancies have been an increasing social problem in Costa Rica that the government has been unable to respond to. Through the courses we have offered, the girls learn about family, health, education and micro business. We also visit and support individual girls. Care packages are given out to newborn babies.
OUTREACH TEAMS
We organize short-term outreaches for groups from different countries, churches, schools and ministries from one week up to three months. We take care of the housing, transportation, food, ministry and translation so that the group can focus on the ministry in in different villages. Most groups are encouraged to participate in the Bible Distribution project, but they also work with local churches, schools, children, youth, do construction projects etc.
CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH MINISTRY
Costa Rica is a country full of children and youth! Many of them struggle with violence and abuse in their homes. There are thousands of fatherless kids in our communities that are hungry for love, acceptance and guidance. We believe in the importance of reaching out to them with God’s love while they are still young. We run regular children’s and youth programs at the base and through visiting teams in other communities as well.
SPORTS
Soccer has been an important tool to connect with the youth.There is a soccer field in every village and soccer games gather whole communities together regularly. The soccer field has been a place to start relationships, to mentor and to disciple. We have also done fruitful projects with sports outreach teams.
DTS (DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL)
DTS starts every September. It is a 5-6 month training course for Christian youth and adults from any country. With 3 months of theory at the base and 2 and 1/2 months of outreach in another culture the students learn to know God and make Him known. A great foundation and investment, no matter what you plan to do afterwards! Schools are bilingual (Spanish-English).
HOMELESS
Thee is a team going to feed the homeless in the center of Nicoya once a week and share God’s love with them.
LOCAL CHURCH AND MISSIONS
We believe God has placed us to minister in Guanacaste and more generally, in Central America, to support the local church, to train the leaders and the believers to take their part in world missions to reach the unreached. The Central Americans have many open doors in so called “closed countries” because of their culture, physical characteristics and social abilities. We want to raise a generation of Latinos to go to all the nations!
TRAINING AND TEACHING
We love to teach and train especially the young generation and the local church. We teach in Discipleship Training Schools, youth meetings, church meetings, staff trainings on different topics of Christian life, discipleship, leadership and team work.
Besides these ministries, we also work with local churches, community development and implement many other projects as God provides workers and resources! Join us in making a difference and raising a generation of God-loving world changers from Guanacaste!
HOW TO BE PART?
- Pray (e-mail us to get updates)
- Become a monthly supporter
- Volunteer or join the staff
- Bring a team