Ciudad de Refugio

The lights are low. The music is loud. It must be study time at Ciudad de Refugio! I had the opportunity the last time I was in Cochabamba to attend Ciudad de Refugio (City of Refuge). Ciudad de Refugio is a new youth outreach that my coworker JJ Guerrero is leading. Its goal is to reach university students in Cochabamba with the good news of Jesus.

Ciudad de Refugio is open on Friday evenings. Currently it meets in the top story of a two story house. The doors open late afternoon and students are invited to come and enjoy a game of ping-pong, table games or just talk and hang out. Later the evening Bible study will begin with a bang. (Literally - the drums are both loud and well played.) There is enthusiastic singing led by a small but talented band of young men. After the singing ends there will be a time of straight forward Bible teaching. The night I was there the teaching was combined with a couple of short skits as well. Following the teaching the kids were encouraged to each take and wear a tee-shirt with a provocative statement on it that would help open conversations during the week about Christ. They were to report back the following week on any conversations that they had. (I was not there the next week but heard that there were indeed some positive results.) The evening ended with more music, snacks and those final hugs good night.

There are some very definate needs for this ministry that I would call to your attention for your prayers. Eventually Ciudad will need to be in a larger place. that requires money and an available spot. Also leadership will need to be developed. JJ is currently actively discipling a couple of young men to help with the leadership but they need to only be the beginning. Finally, pray that the entusiams of Ciudad will spread and that these young people will take it to their own churches and see a more effective work youth begun in each of them. Thanks.