Six pastors in Bogotá, Colombia, shared their experiences with us. Pictured from left to right: Hector Mauricio Martines and Rosa Ines Bernal (Iglesia Cristiana El Poder de Dios), Doris de Trejos and Jorge Eliecer Trejos (Iglesia Cristiana Misionera el Sol), Jeimy Fabiola Soler Corredor and John Elias Cañon (Cannon Church Oasis of Blessing)
In September, we sat down and talked with pastors, mentors, and students in Colombia to learn how they are working together to power the exponential growth of the ministry. We are using what we learned to develop materials to share with churches and prospective leaders to encourage their involvement with the ministry.
The conversations affirmed that the approach used by Hans Daza, regional director of Latin America, is the reason for the rapid growth in Colombia. The key ingredients are an unshakable belief in the value of the program and conveying the value of participation to their churches and pastors.
“When we present the benefits Crossroads offers mentors and churches, especially in small churches in Colombia, we have sixty to eighty percent of people saying, ‘Yes, sign me up!’ Not the whole church, but almost the whole church, more often than not, wants to get involved,” Hans said.
One of the main reservations that pastors have about Crossroads is the fear that it will take members from their flocks, but in a meeting with several pastors on a recent visit to Colombia, they shared how the opposite is true.
Jorge and Doris Trejos from Iglesia Cristiana Misionera el Sol told us this approach helped them sign up thirty mentors in their first year.
“We had people that would not get involved in any ministry in our church. When we presented Crossroads, those people saw this program as an opportunity to get involved,” Jorge and Doris said.
They said mentoring for Crossroads from home makes participation easy. When they speak to others, they emphasize how easy it is to volunteer. With this message, they have enlisted entire families, with children decorating the letters and envelopes.
Pastors of several churches also say service to Crossroads students has spurred unity and spiritual growth among their congregants. Jeimy Fabiola, a pastor at Cannon Church Oasis of Blessing, said, “In our church, this ministry has awakened love for those behind bars and changed their perceptions; our people now see them the same way Jesus sees them.”
Mauricio and Rosa of Iglesia Cristiana El Poder de Dios said, “The Crossroads program has helped bring our church together. This program has changed the perspective of our church, where, before this program, we did not care for people in prison, and now, this program has increased the sense of compassion in the church. It has brought our church from lukewarm to on fire for serving God and others. Now, other members are asking mentors how they can get involved.”
The group of pastors we met with agreed that having members of their churches participate in the Crossroads mentorship program has created greater unity and deepened the faith of their members. As mentors spend more time praying and studying God’s Word, their communities grow in faith and unity.
“We are very grateful for Crossroads. We wanted to do something for people in prison but did not know how. Now, we have been equipped to serve people in prison. It has united a passion to serve people in prison,” said Mauricio and Rosa.
Pictured from left to right: Hans Daza (regional director of Latin America), Jesus Huerta (member of Crossroads’ board of directors), Laura Julieth Sandoval Pardo, Norma Cristina Herrera Mendiago, Maria Adela Mendoza Lopez, Darianis Gamero Ramos, Brian Kamstra (director of international ministries)
Why should someone consider becoming a Crossroads mentor?
Maria Adela Mendoza Lopez, a mentor from Oasis Bendición Sede Norte Bogotá:
“I signed up to become a mentor to obey Jesus’ Word. I fell in love with the ministry as presented at my church [last year]. I went to workshops to learn more, and I feel I’m serving God through the ministry and serving someone in prison by discipling someone to serve Christ. I was surprised at how much a letter can impact someone in a short amount of time. . . .
“Before, I viewed people in prison as people rejected by society. Now, I see the value they have in society through Jesus. If Jesus loves me, a sinner, He also loves them.”
Norma Cristina Herrera Mendiago, a mentor from El Lugar de Su Presencia:
“My biggest motivation is to bring joy and Jesus to people in p rison. . . . This program has also been healing for me. My brother was in prison, and no one brought hi m God’s Word. When my brother left prison, he was worse than when he entered. I want to give to so meone else what was not given to my brother.
“Crossroads not only impacts me, but it also impacts my whole family. I use Crossroads to teach my girls and talk to them about the process. Jesus loves us the same way—all of us. . . . My grandchildren now help me in writing letters, and I can teach them God’s Word while we work on letters. My grandchildren understand no one is higher or lower in God’s eyes. They are aware that everyone needs Jesus.
“The Crossroads program is also a way of growing personally and spiritually and gaining more knowledge and understanding of the Word of God while being used by the Holy Spirit by giving students the Word of God. One day, a student wrote back, saying, ‘Because of what you wrote in your letter to me, I will not commit suicide.’ I have cried many times. I could feel what they were feeling through the letters.”
To learn more about mentoring, visit cpministries.org/mentor. If you are interested in mentoring internationally, visit cpministries.org/international.