Giving Tuesday: Join Us In Sharing the Hope of Christ

Giving Tuesday is a great day to think about generosity this holiday season. As you think about all the Christmas shopping you have to do, as you make your lists of gifts and those who you will be giving them to, would you consider adding FUNDACION MANOS DE ESPERANZA (Hands of Hope Foundation) to your list and giving financially to this ministry that embodies the reason for Christmas, CHRIST is the HOPE of the WORLD, and we are His HANDS that bring HOPE. Here in Armenia, Colombia, we serve alongside Pastor Jorge and his wife Kristina through Hands of Hope Foundation and New Hope Church.

The church and foundation always look forward to the Christmas season. We plan special activities for the children and youth and an evangelistic event for the families in the community. But ministry to these children and their families does not end when the Christmas season ends. The foundation has plans and hopes for the coming year to continue and/or start programs such as soccer club, meals for children, homework help; classes such as English, job skills, and music classes; outreaches such as the Back to School event we did this weekend, and discipleship Bible studies for all ages as well as continuing to be present in the community to minister to people's spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.

Everything we do has this central purpose: To show and teach the love and hope of Christ and give a life of purpose to children, teens, and adults. Not only do we strive to carry this out in the neighborhood where we have been ministering, but we also recently began to minister in a new neighborhood about 20 minutes from us, a neighborhood where many expressed that they don't know anything about the Bible, but are excited to have us there and to learn.

Unfortunately, funding for Hands of Hope Foundation is depleted going into the new year. Without new funding, we will not be able to continue offering many of the programs, classes, and outreach events that we have planned in the coming year, ministries and outreaches that we've witnessed having a profound impact in these communities. Pastor Jorge and Kristina selflessly give much of their time and energy to minister through the foundation and the church, but without funding it is a challenge for them as well because they need to divert their time and efforts to seek funding for the foundation as well as provide for their family’s own economic needs. As a former preacher’s kid, I can tell you that it is a stressful life ministering bi-vocationally, yet they are seeking ways to do that.

WILL YOU COMMIT TO GIVING TO FUNDACIÓN MANOS DE ESPERANZA?

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF $14,000 FOR THE YEAR TO ENABLE US TO CONTINUE MINISTERING THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, CLASSES, AND OUTREACHES.

Monthly Donation - Would you commit to a monthly donation to Fundacion Manos de Esperanza that will help us make plans for the programs, classes, and outreaches to start and continue in the coming year?

One-Time Gift - If you are unable to make a monthly commitment, then would you give a one-time gift to help build funding for the foundation for the coming year.

Your donation will go to Fundación Manos de Esperanza through South America Mission and will directly support the work of the foundation.

The attached video shows some of the ministry the foundation has had since we came to Armenia, Colombia in 2019. This is the video that we showed in churches when we were in the states last year, so some of you may have seen it. The attached pictures show some of what we have done since we got back to Colombia in February of this year. 

Contact South America Mission to set up your donation.

Phone: 1-803-802-8580

Online donation: https://southamericamission.org/donate/missionaries/chris-cristi-haylett/
Indicate in the comments of your donation that it is for Fundacion Manos de Esperanza

Email: info@southamericamission.org

Address:
South America Mission
1021 Maxwell Mill Rd, Ste B
Fort Mill, SC 29708

Seven Years!

 

Seven years ago today our home church, Mckenna Community Church commissioned us for the mission field, April 6, 2014. Wow! I can hardly believe that it's been 7 years since we left our home to serve as missionaries in Colombia.

If you'd like to join us in the work we do here by becoming a financial partner, click the following link: https://southamericamission.org/donate/missionaries/chris-cristi-haylett/

It was such a blessing at our commissioning service to have the support, encouragement, and prayers of so many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ as we prepared to leave for the mission field.

Our good friend and mentor, Dino, who along with his wife, Elaine had been a missionary in Bolivia with the Chimane for 30+ years, gave our commissioning send-off. Dino and Chris did jail ministry together in our hometown for a couple of years as well, and he and his wife gave us advice and helped us with Spanish as we prepared to serve as missionaries. 

From one missionary to another at our commissioning service, Dino spoke words of advice and wisdom. He said that his #1 tip was to "Stay in the Word!" He also talked about focusing on preaching the gospel of Jesus and allowing Jesus to transform lives, rather than just preaching against sin and trying to get people to change and stop sinning. He emphasized discipleship. He shared testimonies of how he'd seen God transform lives during his and his wife's ministry.

A friend´s post on my Facebook timeline history reminded me of Dino´s closing call to us and the church,
"as I just left the jail to minister to those men there, I asked them 'are you hungry?' And to you (MCC church folks) I ask- 'are you full?' " Are we going to share what we have to help feed the others in this world who don't know Jesus? Or just keep to ourselves our loaves of bread and fish? I am indeed full here in America." 

Dino, Elaine, and the jail ministry team continued to be an encouragement to us when we left for our missionary service by meeting regularly with us for prayer via skype. We were saddened to hear that Dino passed away before we made it back from our first 4 years on the mission field.

Dino´s testimony, his example, and his legacy made a lasting impact on us.

I believe that Dino entered heaven welcomed with, "Well done my good and faithful servant. You served well." And Dino's ministry and impact continues today. Before his death, Dino had begun writing a book to share the mission's journey that God had taken him and his wife on. After he died, his wife Elaine finished putting the book together and got it published. I believe there was also work being done to get it translated into Spanish and also into the Chimane language. This book can be used to teach the Chimane some of their history. Dino and Elaine came alongside the Chimane to help them in many ways, they brought the gospel to them, assisted them with a written language, were instrumental in helping to get the Bible translated into their written language, and helped them establish a form of government to protect their way of life.  If you'd like to read about Dino's and Elaine's journey into missions and their work with the Chimane, go to the link below for their book or message us. 

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Ch%C3%ADmane-Land-Elaine-Kempf/dp/1498499112

Easter Sunday 2021

What a difference a year makes. Easter a year ago we were in lockdown unable to leave the house; this Easter we were finally able to take our kids to church service with us. Starting next Sunday, we are starting Children's church for the kids in our community.

Pray for La Iglesia Nueva Esperanza as we start this ministry to the kids back up. Covid is still spreading here in Armenia, but hospitalized cases are lower, and we will be following biosafety protocols to prevent spread.