Kidfest Ecuador (or Festiniños as we called it) was everything we could have dreamed of and MORE! God shook our little campground and moved in life-changing ways among the teachers and the children.

We hosted a group of 45 people from Living Waters Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley, California as we collaborated with the Church of God in Ecuador to host the first ever Kidfest event. The team from California offered intensive teacher training in Children’s ministry as well as a weekend camp for the kids.

We began the event with around 100 teachers. These are Ecuadorians who are currently teaching in Sunday school or have a desire to work with kids in their churches. The event was kicked off as National Overseer, Richar Mendoza, shared his passion for children’s ministry to become a priority in Ecuadorian churches. Then, the teachers spent an intense day learning creative methods they can use in their ministry. On the final day, we had a commissioning service where each teacher was confirmed in their calling and sent forth to do the work of the Kingdom.

Then the fun REALLY began as 300 kids arrived for a weekend of camp! For most of these kids, this was their first time to ever attend any type of camp like this. One hundred of these kids were from the local social ministries (ministries that reach out to street kids). This was a life-shaping weekend for sure.

There were lots of time for fun and games, but the most amazing part was what happened during the worship services. In the very first service, I could tell the teachers were getting frustrated because the kids were VERY restless and not listening well. Imagine, a room crammed to capacity with kids who are NOT used to this type of service. But as the altar time began, the Spirit of God moved in a mighty way and there was a sweet hush as the kids really plugged in. Many children came forward to pray with the team, but afterwards they began to huddle in little groups praying for each other! They were weeping as God touched them! The Ecuadorian adults were amazed, as they had never seen God move among children in this way.

Throughout the weekend, God continued to move like this in our services. Children were speaking in tongues and worshipping God in pure joy. One man, who heard about the service from a counselor, showed up 5 hours early for service so that he could be there (at this KIDS service) to receive the Holy Spirit. A little girl who lives in an abusive situation, prayed with the team and later told her counselor that she knows now that God is with her and loves her. Another child felt called to become a preacher. REVIVAL was sparked among the children of Ecuador during Festiniños.

The teachers are HUNGRY for more training, and we are going to help provide that. The pastors are beginning to understand the importance of children’s ministry and are working to establish that in their churches. The churches are DESPERATE for that type of worship. God is going to do some miraculous things!

We want to thank those from Living Waters who sacrificed to make this event happen. Also, thank you to our many friends and family members who gave to help sponsor the children from the social ministries. And as always, thank you to everyone who continually supports our family, allowing us to be a vessel for God’s blessings.

Here is our video recap:

Festiniños

Blessings,
Bobby, Tamitha, Jonathan, Jordan & James Lynch
http://www.lovegodserveothers.com

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1. Children’s Outreach in Ecuador

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Child labor in Ecuador is is no small problem. The Ecuadorian government say’s that out of a country population of 13 million 1 million are working children.

Currently, the Ministry Center offers a full range of services to children and adolescents who have immigrated to the city to work, teaching them about children’s rights, and offering them hope through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Service Areas:

Physical: Hot nutritious meals, Rest and play area, Hot showers, Clothing and Shoes, Medical and dental services

Emotional: Spiritual counseling, Psychological Services, Ministry to the entire family

Spiritual: Daily devotional and prayer, Worship service each Saturday

Intellectual: Reinsertion into the educational system

Social: Fun, games, and a safe place to come off the streets and “ just be a child…”

Visit their Site

COGWM Project #102-4038

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We were invited to lead a children’s outreach service in a small rural community. When I say rural…. I really mean it. We drove 1 hour south of Quito, and then after we got off the highway, we drove another hour over the mountains and through the woods. But right in the middle of nowhere, a community popped up.

This church has been around for 35 years and they have one of the most successfully discipleship programs of any of the rural churches we’ve seen. There were approximately 120 children in attendance. They were so excited and engaged in every part of the service. This is a really great group of kids – eager to worship and learn more about God.

The kids loved the clowns and games and songs. Jaciel, one of the SEMISUD students who travels with us, taught an interactive lesson on the Fish & Loaves miracle. We were blessed by how intently the children were listening and soaking up the Word of God.

After the service, the community honored us with a special meal. They served us chicken soup, then a plate of potatoes with guinea pig, lamb and rabbit. To us, this meal seems hard to stomach, but they were giving us a royal feast in their terms. This was such a sacrifice for them to bless us so richly. We always feel awkward in these settings, because just outside our building, all the kids were sitting in the dirt eating just a bowl of soup while we were presented with this feast. We would so much rather give the food to them, but at the same time we would never want to offend these precious, generous people … so … we eat.

I mentioned earlier, how this church has one of the best discipleship programs we have seen. This event was a special, extra outreach because we were coming. But, they do have a children’s service EVERY Saturday. A former community member travels from Quito each weekend to teach the children. It shows! This group of children already knew more of the Word than we expected. We are so encouraged and hopeful for this generation of children who are growing up with solid guidance and teaching. Please pray for this church and consider helping them provide food on Saturdays or expand their building with classrooms.

>> More about the Lynch’s ministry to Ecuador <<

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1. FACES … Fighting Child Labor in Ecuador

A few years ago, the Lord gave us a creative idea for a way to celebrate Children’s Day and the World Day Against Child Labor in Ecuador.  Young people from area middle class Hispanic churches, who have never had to go to work in the streets the way the FACES children have done, volunteer to change places with a working child.

This June, 70 volunteers came out to our ministry center to meet their assigned partner for the day.  The FACES kids bring their shoe shine kits or boxes of candy and turn them over to their volunteer “buddy.”  Then the volunteer teens hit the street shining shoes and selling candy and gum, while the FACES children go on a field trip, play, and relax all day.  The Christian teens compete informally among themselves to see who can earn more money for their child worker buddy, which they turn over to them at the end of the work day at a special ceremony.

All the excitement serves to draw attention to the problem of child labor.  The volunteers wear bright yellow tee shirts that say “Childhood is for studying and playing, not working.”  We invite the area media to come out and do stories featuring the event.  We have found that it is one day in the year where “everyone wins”.  The young people learn a little of what the life of a working child is really like.  The child workers get to really relax, knowing that even though they are taking a time off, at the end of the day they will get as much or more earnings that they need for their essentials such as rent and food.   And the public is reminded once again that child labor must not be the norm and that as a society we must work together to eradicate child labor once and for all in Ecuador.

“Boy, I never knew how hard shining shoes could be,” said one teen.  “My back is killing me.”  One teen came back to the center.  “Can I change my shoe shine kit for a box of candy?  This shoe polish is getting me dirty.”  “Wow, the public is so rude to you when you try to sell them something,” said one. “I’m never going to be rude to the street kids again.”

Visit the FACES website

COGWM Project # 1024038071

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1. FACES … Fighting Child Labor in Ecuador