New Year will 'flood' in

Flooding in Colombia has damaged
 thousands of homes (Photo courtesy
 of Nick Violi)

Colombia (MNN) ― The New Year will start out soggy for those living in Colombia. Intense flooding has been ongoing since the start of the rainy season in September, and it’s not looking to stop any time soon.

According to AlertNet, Colombian authorities say this is one of the worst rainy seasons Colombia has experienced in decades. Nearly 170 people are dead and 38 missing due to heavy floods and landslides.

On top of that, the lives of 800,000 Colombians have been affected at least in some way, and around 135,000 homes have been damaged.

Compassion International recently announced that this flooding damaged the homes of more than 50 Compassion-supported children. Additional Compassion families have been affected in other various ways.

The influence of La Nina’s unusually warm climate conditions doesn’t help the situation. Because of this, flooding is predicted to continue on into the first few weeks of 2012, according to official meteorological service forecasts.

Home flood damage is disastrous to a family as it not only displaces them, but it also destroys their belongings, clothing, and school supplies. These things are vital to the children who already need support through Compassion’s ministry. Flooding has grown the need, but Compassion is stepping it up.

Over the course of this past rainy season, Compassion has provided shelter for displaced families in their child development centers of churches. Their in-country staff also works to come alongside flood victims in Compassion’s intervention for Disaster Relief and Stability.

This method of intervention practiced by Compassion provides immediate relief as well as spiritual help and counseling.

They understand that it is equally important to heal the body as well as meet the soul’s needs. Incorporating the Gospel into every outreach and following Christ’s commands to help the downcast is what Compassion is all about.

Please pray for Compassion’s ministry as they aid families of children affected by the flooding. Pray for safety of Colombians throughout the rest of the rainy season. To get involved in supporting Compassion’s ministry, click here.

Colombia's drug violence leaves women and children in poverty

Colombia (MNN) ― Colombia is often associated with drugs, cartels and violence. Cartel violence and guerilla warfare continue on a daily basis.

But Rody Rodeheaver with I.N. Network says the consequences run much further than disorder. "Underneath all of that is the hurt, the devastation that's really not talked about; and that's to women and children. As these terrible, evil things go on in these countries -- the killing, the drug trafficking -- all of those things take its toll and impact the most vulnerable."

Read more...

Radio Ministry Goes Where Missionaries Can't: Drug Zones

Colombia is well-known as a hotbed
 for drug trafficking. Spanish World
 Ministries is reaching those involved
 with the terrible ordeal.

Colombia (MNN) ― Drug trafficking brings an estimated $6 billion into Colombia each year. The country's government is fighting against it, but still the market continues.

One aspect that greatly affects the lives of thousands of people in Colombia is the constant conflict between the government and the FARC, a guerrilla movement that has proclaimed itself as a socialist anti-imperialist organization. To fund their terrorist activities, they get as much as $2 million a day in illicit drug proceeds. Some FARC units in southern Colombia are reported to be directly involved in drug trafficking activities such as controlling local cocaine base markets.

Regions controlled by this guerrilla group would be the last place you'd expect to find Christians, and Spanish World Ministries has found that the terrorist group likes it that way.

"There is one specific [region] that is called Guaviare," says Daniel Sandoval, with Spanish World Ministries. "This terrorist group has increased the planting, processing, and trading of cocaine. Of course, the lack of government programs, the lack of transportation, medical services, and, above all, the control of the Guerilla over this place makes this region a difficult missionary field--either for nationals or for foreign missionary organizations."

The terrorist group in this area considers Christian activity suspicious, Sandoval says.

"If any Christian organization pretends to reach the small towns in this region of Guaviare, the guerilla movement will consider them spies sent by the DEA, or informants for the government," explains Sandoval. "The question is: should the people from Guaviare die without having the opportunity to hear about Christ? We're talking about a population of about 25,000 people."

Sandoval adds, "Of course, we know the answer: they need to hear about Christ."

How to do this in an area so hostile--not to mention dangerous--to believers, though? Spanish World Ministries has found a way. They are transcending all boundaries through an unlikely medium: radio.

God has used radio to transform hearts in these hard-to-reach areas in a number of ways. For instance, one man involved in planting and harvesting marijuana and the coca plant and in processing cocaine was injured on the job. As he sat there bleeding, waiting for someone to come to his aid, he turned on the radio. A Spanish World broadcast "happened" to be playing.

After hearing about sin and Christ's forgiveness, the man immediately surrendered his life. In fact, he even burned his plantation. When he explained the reasoning to his workers, all of them accepted Christ as their Savior as well. And it all stemmed from one radio broadcast.

Spanish World Ministries has been able to break down barriers in Colombia and has also become an encouragement to Colombians in difficult times. During the recent flooding that killed over 400 people and affected three million total, the ministry's broadcasts provided the peace of Christ to many.

"In the midst of these difficult situations, our programs represented a great blessing for many people that needed desperately to hear words of hope and encouragement," says Sandoval.

Spanish World Ministries is making a difference in Colombia and throughout the globe by reaching out to unbelievers and spreading Christ's peace. If you want to participate in this transformative ministry, visit spanishworld.org.