Nazarene Compassionate Ministries on the South America Region recently held a training about how to start a support center for children and youth who are differently abled. The training was held together with the Mirada de Amor ministry.

“It was a time full of challenge and calling to start and develop ministries that serve persons with disabilities,” one of the participants commented. “Thank you so much for this training. Our hearts are burning now. We didn’t know how to minister to them.”

The WHO reports that 15 percent of the world’s population lives with a disability. In the southern hemisphere of the Americas, there are approximately 85 million people who fall into this category.

An average of 160 people participated in the training during the three sessions, Friday night, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon. The participants received training in the following areas:

Family and Disability: The Importance of a Holistic Approach

Developing a Program to Serve Children Who are Differently Abled

Youth and Disability: Challenges in Ministry for the Church in the 21st Century

Theology and Disability: The Pastoral Role in the Context of the Ministry

Different Aspects of the Organization and Implementation of a Ministry for Children and Youth who are Differently Abled

Disability Ministries in Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

The church believes that those who live with disabilities matter to the Lord. There were numerous testimonies celebrating and thanking the Lord for the opportunity to learn and be equipped.

“It was all excellent, very motivating, and challenging,” said one participant. “Thank you for everything that you have taught us. May God continue using you in His power to continue impacting lives through the love of our Good Father.” 

The participants included pastors, leaders, and brothers and sisters from the different countries on the South America Region. Some also joined from countries in other regions, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Cape Verde, Panama, and Nicaragua.

The presenters, who are already involved in work with children and young adults at the Mirada de Amor ministries in Chile and Brazil, provided the participants with an overwhelming amount of motivation and inspiration. 

Before the pandemic, a pastor was in the process of opening a Mirada de Amor center in Brazil. Everything was put on hold when the pandemic began. 

“God has accomplished so much here,” she said after the training. “My team is excited and motivated. We are going to pick up where we left off.”

--Church of the Nazarene South America