Needs of God’s People in Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America with a population of approximately 5,900,000. It has widespread underemployment, one of the highest degrees of income inequality in the world, and is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The median age is 22.1 years.

The widespread poverty causes multiple problems for evangelical churches. The vast majority of Nicaragua’s religious community is Roman Catholic. Evangelical churches are small in number and small in membership. The availability of theological education is extremely limited, so most pastors lack formal training. Except for the largest churches, most church buildings are rented. Financial support for pastors is usually very minimal. However, the zeal for which the pastors feel their calling is expressed in their enormous dedication.

The people receive God’s word with eagerness and the society is very open to hearing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. Testimonies and Bibles can be shared in public schools. The fields are white unto harvest. What is lacking are resources with which to minister.

All the initiatives of UCM are designed to strengthen the local church and utilize it as the main source of evangelism and discipleship. By supporting UCM you have the opportunity to know exactly how your funds are used and to go see first hand how your mission dollars are spent. Listed below are some of the needs you can help meet:

Stretch Your Missions Giving and Know 100% Will Be Used As Designated

For those individuals, churches, civic organizations, Sunday School classes or mission groups who desire to provide funds for specific ministry efforts the following opportunities are available:

Bibles ……Very few individuals posses a Bible because they simply cannot afford one. In fact, at UCM’s School of Pastoral Leadership over half of first time students enrolled had spouses that did not have a Bible.

Sunday School and Discipleship Training Material …… Imagine Sunday School or discipleship training without literature. Children are told Bible stories and the pastor often teaches adults with his Bible being the only resource available.

Food for the Hungry …… It is hard to share the gospel when the person with whom you are witnessing has no food. Many homes are lacking in fathers and thus many women are forced to manage the best they can in a depressed society.

Pastoral Scholarship …... Imagine feeling called by God to serve as a pastor with little or no resources to purchase a study Bible, a Bible dictionary, a commentary and no opportunity to receive Biblical training. The first classes conducted by UCM revealed that only one of 28 students had a study Bible.

Gospel Tracts …… A gospel tract is sought after and cherished. Often a gospel tract is the only source of written Bible teaching a person may possess.

Pastoral Support ……Very few pastors can afford to go away to school. Instead, they must work and provide for their family. Often what little pay a pastor receives from the church is used up in meeting the needs of the church family.

Church Support …… The most basic needs Nicaraguan churches have are taken for granted in most societies. Just some of the needs are Bibles, Sunday School literature, Vacation Bible School material, chairs, roofs that don’t leak, doors for the church, bathrooms and even electricity. Yet when they worship one can feel an overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit.

Educate a Child Sponsorship …… Very few children attend school past the 6^th grade because they are needed to help provide an income. School uniforms, which are required for a child to stay in school, are a financial obligation many families cannot afford. Most of the poor children who ask a visitor to their country for something request shoes. Usually it is evident that it is a reasonable request.

Tools for Working ...… UCM’s Skills for Life initiative enables the church to provide tool kits to individuals enabling them to earn a living and thus help meet the needs of the church and the families in the church. A bent nail is never discarded. It is straightened and used again. Cement is mixed by hand on the ground. Many would welcome the opportunity to work if they could only afford the tools with which to work. Grass is cut with a machete.

Help for the Elderly …… Can you visualize a nursing home with 14 iron beds to a room with one toilet and a big bucket for a tub? We have found nursing homes with no pillows or blankets, only rice or beans to eat, and not even an aspirin for pain. Food, medicine, cleaning supplies and the necessities of life are badly needed.

Prison/Jail Ministry …… Visualize cells built with two cement bunk beds containing 12 inmates. Each cell has one light bulb, no running water and a bucket for a toilet. Imagine being a police officer and walking over mountainous terrain with no flashlight, radio or handcuffs. Mission opportunities abound to both law enforcement and inmates.

Operational Funds …… Gifts of any amount designated for the operational needs of the ministry enable the ministry to grow and reach more for Christ. Running an international mission organization requires funds just like running a business does. The ministry can only expand as it has funds to do so.

Prayer Partners are Needed

Whether you can go on a mission trip or contribute funds to this ministry or not, we need the prayers of individuals, families and churches. Pray that we will join God in the ways and with the means He would have us work. Pray for discernment for UCM’s leadership. Pray for UCM’s Field Coordinators. Pray for the pastors. Pray for UCM’s teachers. Pray for the children sponsored through our Educate A Child program. Ask your Christian friends to pray for us regularly, too.

Mission Team Members Needed

If you want to appreciate your life as never before, then go with us on a mission trip. It will change your view of the world. You will feel inspired and closer to God than you ever dreamed possible. There is nothing like experiencing missions up close and personal, and feeling the presence of God that enables you to do things you never dreamed you could do. In fact, churches are encouraged to send a representative as part of a team to see UCM work first hand UCM and learn how their church can partner with UCM. Many needs in the churches can be met by church mission teams working with UCM’s coordinators.