Guatemala
Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America. Its 42,000 square miles are made up of high mountains, volcanoes, jungles, coastal plains and tropical forests. Guatemala could fit into the area of the United States 90 times, and yet has a population of 14.7 million, approximately five percent the population of the United States.
Twenty-three different indigenous people groups inhabit rural Guatemala. These groups have their own languages, some as many as ten different dialects, and this has led to cultural, social and economic isolation. As a result, the rural people of Guatemala have many needs.
The indigenous people suffered greatly as a result of the 36 years of civil war. Many children lost parents, witnessed atrocities and grew up in an atmosphere of fear and apprehension. The country’s preoccupation with internal conflict drained its resources and rural medical services, and educational facilities are inadequate or nonexistent
Twenty-three different indigenous people groups inhabit rural Guatemala. These groups have their own languages, some as many as ten different dialects, and this has led to cultural, social and economic isolation. As a result, the rural people of Guatemala have many needs.
The indigenous people suffered greatly as a result of the 36 years of civil war. Many children lost parents, witnessed atrocities and grew up in an atmosphere of fear and apprehension. The country’s preoccupation with internal conflict drained its resources and rural medical services, and educational facilities are inadequate or nonexistent
Las Verapazes
Impact Ministries is working in the mountainous Verapaz area focusing on the Poqomchi people. 27,00 people populate the municipality of Tactic alone. In the rural ares around Tactic, more than 80 percent of the people are illiterate, and this debilitates and isolates them from the "outside" world. Impact Ministries' primary goal is to open up the Word of God to these precious people through Christian School Education.
The people of the Verapaz area are very poor. The average man earns a wage of 35 Quetzals ($5.00) for an 8-hour day of heavy farm labour, dairy work, or cutting and selling firewood. Many families have 5 – 7 children and approximately 40% of these children are living in a home with only one parent. Many parents don’t understand the value of education and prefer to put their children to work, to help earn money to sustain the family. Some of these children have never had a pencil or crayon in their hand.
Guatemala has seen a revival that has brought more than 35% of the people into evangelical Christianity. Tactic, on the other hand, has been dominated by a religion that combines Roman Catholicism, ancient Mayan traditions and witchcraft. This oppressive religious spirit has kept them in fear, bondage and ignorance. Although the evangelical churches of Tactic have grown in number and size, today, only 1% of the people in the Tactic area are Christians. Impact Ministries is committed to loving, serving, and discipling the people of Tactic.
The people of the Verapaz area are very poor. The average man earns a wage of 35 Quetzals ($5.00) for an 8-hour day of heavy farm labour, dairy work, or cutting and selling firewood. Many families have 5 – 7 children and approximately 40% of these children are living in a home with only one parent. Many parents don’t understand the value of education and prefer to put their children to work, to help earn money to sustain the family. Some of these children have never had a pencil or crayon in their hand.
Guatemala has seen a revival that has brought more than 35% of the people into evangelical Christianity. Tactic, on the other hand, has been dominated by a religion that combines Roman Catholicism, ancient Mayan traditions and witchcraft. This oppressive religious spirit has kept them in fear, bondage and ignorance. Although the evangelical churches of Tactic have grown in number and size, today, only 1% of the people in the Tactic area are Christians. Impact Ministries is committed to loving, serving, and discipling the people of Tactic.
Impact Ministries Sponsorship Programs in Alta and Baja Verapaz
Click on a photo below to read more about each school.
Vida Chamche AM & PM
Elementary Schools
Vida Purulha AM Elementary and PM Jr. high school
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Vida Chicoy AM Elementary School
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Vida Mocohan AM Elementary and PM Jr. high school
Vida Nueva AM Elementary and after school program
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Vida Chijacorral AM Elementary and PM Jr. high and Sr. high school
Sponsorship
Impact Ministries' sponsorship program is quite unique in that every child who is sponsored will be under the direct care of our over 100 Guatemalan staff. The teachers in the Impact Ministries six elementary schools, three junior high schools, one senior high school and two after-school programs have personal relationships with each child in their care and are committed to them as they develop into responsible men and women of God.
Sponsors play an important and influential role in the lives of their children. Your support of $38 per month will ensure that your child's education continues through the years. Further, your financial assistance will be used to purchase a daily nutritional meal, a new pair of shoes at Christmas, and a gift for their birthday. Medical attention is provided by short-term mission groups at various times of the year and emergency medical care is given at the time it is needed.
Most importantly, however, your involvement in your child's life places him or her in an environment of love and discipleship. He or she will be trained to apply biblical principles that will change his or her quality of life, role in society and destiny.
Mailing a void check and completed Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) form to Impact Ministries, or using our secure online giving site activates your sponsorship. Please ensure that your child's name and Identification Number are clearly marked on the check. As your account is automatically debited each month, you will be impacting the life of your child. Thank you for blessing them in this way.
You will be issued a tax receipt for donations made to the sponsorship program annually in January.
Sponsors play an important and influential role in the lives of their children. Your support of $38 per month will ensure that your child's education continues through the years. Further, your financial assistance will be used to purchase a daily nutritional meal, a new pair of shoes at Christmas, and a gift for their birthday. Medical attention is provided by short-term mission groups at various times of the year and emergency medical care is given at the time it is needed.
Most importantly, however, your involvement in your child's life places him or her in an environment of love and discipleship. He or she will be trained to apply biblical principles that will change his or her quality of life, role in society and destiny.
Mailing a void check and completed Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) form to Impact Ministries, or using our secure online giving site activates your sponsorship. Please ensure that your child's name and Identification Number are clearly marked on the check. As your account is automatically debited each month, you will be impacting the life of your child. Thank you for blessing them in this way.
You will be issued a tax receipt for donations made to the sponsorship program annually in January.
Other ways to be involved
You may correspond with your child by sending letters to:
IMPACT MINISTRIES
Attn: Sponsorship
PO Box 550
Duvall, WA 98019-0550
Please do not send packages or large envelopes as the customs, taxes and postage to Guatemala become excessive.
You may send emails to your sponsor child through the online form at http://www.impactministriesusa.org/write-your-child-today.html. Children treasure the letters that they receive from their sponsor and make them feel special and important. When you write to your child they will respond although you can expect it to take a few months to make a full circle.
You may bless your sponsor child by sending extra funds to Impact Ministries. A gift will be purchased and presented to your sponsor child in Guatemala on your behalf. A thank you card and photo of the gift presentation will be emailed to you.
You may visit your sponsor child. Contact Impact Ministries to join a short-term mission team that is especially organized to accommodate sponsors who wish to visit their sponsor child. By joining a short-term mission team, you will have many opportunities to be a blessing. Short-term mission teams may also be involved in construction, evangelism, church ministry and relief projects. Email our short-term mission teams coordinator at teams@impactminusa.org
You may become a church contact person for Impact Ministries and promote others being involved in child sponsorship and/or on short-term mission trips.
Contact Impact Ministries for details at info@impactminusa.org
IMPACT MINISTRIES
Attn: Sponsorship
PO Box 550
Duvall, WA 98019-0550
Please do not send packages or large envelopes as the customs, taxes and postage to Guatemala become excessive.
You may send emails to your sponsor child through the online form at http://www.impactministriesusa.org/write-your-child-today.html. Children treasure the letters that they receive from their sponsor and make them feel special and important. When you write to your child they will respond although you can expect it to take a few months to make a full circle.
You may bless your sponsor child by sending extra funds to Impact Ministries. A gift will be purchased and presented to your sponsor child in Guatemala on your behalf. A thank you card and photo of the gift presentation will be emailed to you.
You may visit your sponsor child. Contact Impact Ministries to join a short-term mission team that is especially organized to accommodate sponsors who wish to visit their sponsor child. By joining a short-term mission team, you will have many opportunities to be a blessing. Short-term mission teams may also be involved in construction, evangelism, church ministry and relief projects. Email our short-term mission teams coordinator at teams@impactminusa.org
You may become a church contact person for Impact Ministries and promote others being involved in child sponsorship and/or on short-term mission trips.
Contact Impact Ministries for details at info@impactminusa.org
Impact Ministries' purpose and priorities
1. TRAINING -
Training national children and adults to become spiritual leaders in developing nations through Christian day schools for children.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Through a Bible training center where pastors and Christian school teachers are trained.
“The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach
others.” 2. Timothy 2:2
2. EVANGELISM -
Reaching into remote areas of the developing world nations and bringing them the Gospel through North American short-term mission teams holding outreaches. Through fully trained spiritual leaders being sent out and supported in church planting. Through teachers trained in Christian education being sent to plant Christian schools.
“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6b
3. COMPASSION -
Demonstrating God’s heart for the poor in the Developing world by providing basic life necessities “in the name of Christ”; through the church and school projects in their area. By providing a home for abandoned children and orphans.
"If there is a poor man among you brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord our God is giving you, do
not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother, rather, be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he
needs...Give generously to him as do so without any grudging heart, then, because of this the Lord your God will
bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hands to. There will always be poor people in the land.
Therefore, I command you to beopenhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
Deuteronomy 15: 7-8, 10-11
By developing a sponsorship program for North American Christians to support individual children, spiritual leaders, families, schools and churches in developing world nations. By impacting North American Christians with a desire to help the poor through leading them on short-term mission trips and facilitating them in longer term missionary endeavors. By keeping the needs of people in the developing world in front of North American Christians through newsletters, videos and visits.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be
in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” John 3: 17-18
For a faith statement and further information click here.
Training national children and adults to become spiritual leaders in developing nations through Christian day schools for children.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Through a Bible training center where pastors and Christian school teachers are trained.
“The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach
others.” 2. Timothy 2:2
2. EVANGELISM -
Reaching into remote areas of the developing world nations and bringing them the Gospel through North American short-term mission teams holding outreaches. Through fully trained spiritual leaders being sent out and supported in church planting. Through teachers trained in Christian education being sent to plant Christian schools.
“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6b
3. COMPASSION -
Demonstrating God’s heart for the poor in the Developing world by providing basic life necessities “in the name of Christ”; through the church and school projects in their area. By providing a home for abandoned children and orphans.
"If there is a poor man among you brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord our God is giving you, do
not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother, rather, be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he
needs...Give generously to him as do so without any grudging heart, then, because of this the Lord your God will
bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hands to. There will always be poor people in the land.
Therefore, I command you to beopenhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
Deuteronomy 15: 7-8, 10-11
By developing a sponsorship program for North American Christians to support individual children, spiritual leaders, families, schools and churches in developing world nations. By impacting North American Christians with a desire to help the poor through leading them on short-term mission trips and facilitating them in longer term missionary endeavors. By keeping the needs of people in the developing world in front of North American Christians through newsletters, videos and visits.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be
in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” John 3: 17-18
For a faith statement and further information click here.
