Church Planting Conference, Quito Ecuador

This past weekend was quite different than my normal weekend. It consisted of staying in Quito the whole weekend helping out with a conference Compassion Connection/Fuente de Vida put on. Taylor and I went down early to help set up, prep and give support to our friend, Juan Manuel aka Juanma, the director of the conference. It was such a nice change of pace to our normal schedule because for once we were not in charge of making plans to fill our schedule but had people tell us where to be and what to do. Now if that were my normal schedule I wouldn't like it all that much, but it is nice to take the back seat once and while and let other people lead and direct.

The conference was a success and it was great to see what kind of people would come to a Church Planting Conference in Quito. We even had speakers from Honduras and Guatemala come in speak to a reggae-style band from a safe house for street boys play Spanish worship music. I feel blessed to have been a part of this conference!

One thing that was good to witness, along with all the positive aspects, was how much we (CC) are in need of our own Training Center. For example, the conference was held at one church and halfway through the weekend we had to change locations to another church. Also, the crowd that came to the conference was varied and came from all over Ecuador- we had city people (Quitenos), people from Tena, a city in the Jungle and indigenous people attend the seminars. This Spring we hope to start construction on our Cotopaxi Training Center which will be centrally located in Latacunga, Ecuador so that people that travel to our conferences can meet in a more convenient place that is halfway between Quito and Tena. Additionally, at the Cotopaxi Training Center, we will have sustainable/ sustenance farming (that I am planning---ahhh!! :) )so the overhead cost for lodging and food will be dramatically lower than renting a Church and catering food for the conference. If you are interested in donating to the CTC, PLEASE consider sponsoring a walker from the states or Ecuador in our fundraiser "Walk for Ecuador" which will take place on Feb. 19th. Visit http://www.compassionconnection.net/donations/walk-for-ecuador for more information about how to get involved!!

manning the registration table- in Spanish :)

free books for all participants

Introducing the Band:

 

 

 

 

 The youngest member of the band- Phin on the 'tar 

 The Band from Casa Gabriel: a safe house for teenage street boys

Scenes from around the Conference:

The long braid is the traditional way men from Otavalo wear their hair

 

glory.be.to.God.