Four years ago, the Mennonite Brethren churches of Chocó decided that they would start a social ministry as a way of evangelizing and meeting needs in the surrounding region. Through the support of MCC, the regional churches, and other organizations, Ministerio Social provides workshops and programs in several different areas of need. These initiatives range from an agricultural foundation aimed at promoting alternatives to growing coca to providing micro loans for small businesses; from an HIV prevention and sexual health education program to other workshops promoting political advocacy, responding to trauma, and peace building. Another project provides training to different churches in the region with the goal of strengthening and organizing church ministries. Through MCC’s Global Families program, the church sponsors children in different communities through teaching them about self-care and values while also providing a meal or snack. The context of Chocó is complex and often difficult, but the churches are responding in real ways to Jesus’ call to work for peace and healing.
All: We pray for Chocó and the Mennonite Brethren Church
Group 1: for the pastors
Group 2: for the congregations
Group 3: for their ministries
All: We pray for the rural farmers
G1: who have faced crop fumigation by the government
G2: displacement by armed groups
G3: or destruction of available farmland by multinational mining corporations
G1: We pray for those with HIV
G2: those who face stigma and discrimination
G3: and for the women who are victims of oppression and sexual violence
All: We pray for the children and youth of Chocó
G1: For the ones who don’t have hope
G2: For those who go hungry
G3: For the church volunteers who give of their time to these children
All: We pray for the indigenous people of Chocó and the discrimination they face
All: We pray for peace
G1: We pray for those living amidst ongoing violence
G2: Those that live with trauma
G3: Those that work for healing
All: We recognize that working for peace is complicated
G1: Building peace can be messy
G2: Building peace can be painful
G3: Building peace can be a slow process
All: But we pray for strength and wisdom for those following the example set by Jesus as they work for peace and justice for the marginalized in Chocó
Seed Colombia 