Wellspring’s sister church is Peniel Four-Square Gospel Church in Zambrano, Colombia. Peniel Church serves Zambrano, a small farming and fishing town on the Magdalena River in the Bolivar province of Colombia. Zambrano is in one of the most heavily mined areas of Colombia, and the decades of conflict between various government groups and guerillas has left the people with limited hope. Wellspring has contributed to a new building for Peniel Church, and we support them in prayer as they find ways to bring a future for their children and youth. Peniel Church supports activities for children, families, and youth who have been displaced by the conflict, and there are plans to begin new microbusinesses.
Peniel Church is part of an ecumenical project begun by Ricardo Esquivia, a Mennonite leader and partner of the United Church of Christ’s Central Atlantic Conference and Connecticut Conference. During the past 10 years, Esquivia organized Protestants from diverse theological backgrounds into a Council (CEDECOL) that works to improve security and development within local communities. During the past year, some of these churches have joined together with Roman Catholics in the Foundation for Development and Peace of Montes de Maria. he Foundation works to attract grants from EU and NGO’s, to support economic development projects in local communities.
The photo below shows Wellspring friends and members Jerry Foltz (first row, second rom left), Alice Foltz (first row, third from left), Myra Flemister (first row, fourth from left), and Barbara Gerlach (first row, fifth from left) on a visit with our Colombia partners in July 2006.