Guatemala experienced a devastating earthquake in 1776.

Brian Dennett with AMG says that the organization first started working in Guatemala in February of 1976, in response to a devastating earthquake. This earthquake resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and displaced 1.2 million people, a quarter of the entire population.

“AMG responded very quickly,” Dennett says. “About a week after the earthquake, we already had people on the ground doing relief work, which has long been a way that AMG has entered a country and responded to really deep needs, while all along sharing the gospel at every opportunity.” 

After rebuilding houses and communities, AMG built a child care center.

Today, AMG has 35 schools in the country reaching thousands of students, as well as hospitals, clinics, and children’s camps. 

“(It’s) just a very vibrant gospel-centered ministry that has led thousands of people to Jesus over the years and continues to do so well,” Dennett says.

Photo provided by AMG International.

Through the ministry, countless lives have been changed.

“One very notable story when I think back over our history is the story of Nydia,” Dennett says.

Nydia grew up in a violent neighborhood in Guatemala City and began attending an AMG school at three years old. 

During the course of her education growing up, she gave her life to Jesus Christ, graduated, got a scholarship, and later went on to pursue a master’s degree in finance. 

Today, Nydia serves as the Chief Financial Officer of AMG in Guatemala City.

“Not only is she a beneficiary, but she is a passionate disciple maker herself, now mentoring and leading other young people in our program, sharing her story and really being a shining example of what the Lord can do and how you can emerge from poverty and your life can really mean something,” Dennett says.

With countless stories like Nydia’s of students who have grown up through the programming, Dennett says, “Everything we do revolves around the gospel and bringing Jesus, really our only hope, into dark situations like this.”

“50 years is just amazing, and for me to think back at just the tens of thousands of lives that have been touched and the church that has been strengthened as a result of the work there, (it’s) very emotional to think back.” 

Dennett says he spent 12 challenging and beautiful years in Guatemala with his family. 

“I saw tremendous change even while I was there,” says Dennett. “And when you see someone come really from darkness into light with the gospel, it’s just a beautiful thing.”

To join in the celebration, Dennett and the CEO of AMG, Tasos Ioannidis, and several others will be in Guatemala to speak at a large event this Saturday.

Please pray for travel safety for the celebration and for God’s continued blessing over the work happening in the country. 

Photo provided by AMG International.

AMG will soon celebrate 50 years of work in Guatemala. AMG has built schools, medical projects, clinics, and hospitals, responding to others’ needs. Today, it works with a large network of churches and schools in the country.

Over the last ten years, one of the biggest focuses within the country has been combating the widespread abuse, neglect, and trauma in the lives of children.

Even more alarming are the numbers of children, both girls and boys, suffering at the hands of sexual violence in desperate situations.

The local statistics show that on average 17 reports of child abuse are filed daily, and numbers are much higher than this because so much goes unreported.

Brian Dennett with AMG says, “Much of the abuse is happening very close to home, with seven out of 10 aggressors being family members.”

Over 10 years ago, AMG partnered with International Justice Mission (IJM) from Washington, DC, to open a child protection facility that works to rescue children, prosecute abusers, and provide Christ-centered counseling for children and their families.

AMG also provides legal support for families by working to put abusers behind bars. 

To be a part of restoration and transformation and really focusing on their dignity and hope for them is such a blessing. 

Abuse is especially common in areas of Guatemala City. (Photo by Juan Carlos Pavon via Unsplash)

Dennett says that the organization has seen great results from their work in Guatemala City, and has become a model or test site in how they will combat these issues in other countries as well.

AMG and IJM are also both working to create systemic change within the government.

“Together with IJM,” says Dennett, “We’ve co-written a groundbreaking law that speeds up the process of child abuse cases and avoids re-victimization of those kids. The law was actually passed by the Guatemalan government, by Congress, and has been a major victory for children’s rights.”

“Our vision to restore these children and build a culture where abuse is not tolerated has been just one of the greatest endeavors that we have undertaken,” says Dennett.

As AMG seeks to provide the healing of Christ, their work is seeing fruit.

At just 10 years old Camille was being abused by her grandfather. Her world collapsing, her teachers and the AMG team noticed her complete lack of joy.

“She had lost her happiness, her voice, any hope,” says Dennett. “But through our child protection program and our team there, she found healing, including her family. She received counsel, legal protection, spiritual care, and really just a lot of love surrounding her.”

Today, Camille is smiling again. She has hope and is dreaming of a future, possibly even helping other girls like her.

“Her story really represents a lot of children in Guatemala and other countries, where we’re able to rescue, heal, and really provide a new life, all wrapped in the joy of the Lord, coming to know Jesus, and who they are in Jesus. And of course, like everything we do, the gospel is at the heart of our work. The love we have for and from Jesus motivates us.”

Restoration is beyond emotion and the organization uses a spiritually motivated methodology with a child’s identity being rooted in Christ.

“Every child we work with is hearing the truth about who they are and who Jesus is, and that they are loved, they are valuable, and that they are just beautiful masterpieces created by the Lord and never forgotten,” says Dennett.

AMG is trying to raise around $50,000 to expand its program in Guatemala to provide safe environments, counseling, individual and group therapy, and spiritual formation for children, bringing relief and restoration.

Please join AMG in prayer and advocacy for these victims of abuse and give if led to break the silence and bring hope and justice.

Header Image by Kaufdex from Pixabay

The Bibles were specifically hand-delivered to communities of widows who often live alone and have never heard the Bible in their native tongue. Many of them do not speak Spanish and are unable to read. They rely only on oral communication and speak one of two Indigenous dialects: Poqomchi’ or Qʼeqchiʼ

The following is a testimony from LaTonya Lewis, a missionary involved in the distribution. She recounts the initial reaction of the widows upon receiving God’s word for the first time in their tribal tongue:

As we prepare to distribute the audio Bibles, we can’t help but wonder if the recipients will be able to learn how to use these audio players. Most of them have no formal education, and learning to operate even a simple electronic device can be a significant challenge. Personally, knowing the dedicated individuals who have spent their lives translating for the Pokomchi people, and now seeing the fruits of their labor produced on these small devices, fills me with awe. Acting as a bridge to connect these two worlds—those who translated and produced the Bibles and the women receiving them—brings a profound sense of purpose and excitement. We understand the importance of follow-up; these women will need continued guidance and encouragement to fully utilize and benefit from the audio Bibles. Ensuring they can listen to and engage with the living Word is our ongoing mission.

One of the widows responded with “I live alone, but this will be my companion now, I will have God’s word with me and I will not be alone”. She practically hung the Bible around her neck from the moment we handed them out and didn’t stop playing it the whole time we were there! Her words really impacted my heart because most of the 64 widows live alone or have a couple of young grandchildren (that were left with them to take care of from parents that have taken off or died). They’ve told me over and over again “thank you for coming to visit us because no one comes to see us.”

(Photo courtesy of MegaVoice)

In the picture, we see Rosa, a lady who initially stood back, watching others receive their audio Bibles. She observed intently, her shyness apparent as she hesitated to receive her own Bible.

With great focus, she tried to comprehend how to use the audio player. Once she put it around her neck, she had to hold it close to her face to see the buttons, as her vision isn’t very good. Rosa can’t read or write, but now, with this audio Bible, she has the profound ability to hear God’s Words spoken in her language. Living alone, this device brings the comforting presence of His Word into her home. We hold great hope that this will bring her life and transformation, for His Word is Life.

Header and story images courtesy of MegaVoice.

“He suffers from a condition called osteogenesis imperfecta — what they refer to there as crystal bones disease…. His mother explained that any sudden movements can cause serious injury,” says Brian Dennett with AMG International.

Children born with this genetic disease have very brittle bones that are easily fractured or broken.

Elmer, a child in Guatemala sponsored through AMG International. (Photo courtesy of Brian Dennett/AMG)

For young Elmer, life with crystal bones disease means his legs have become injured and twisted.

Dennett recently traveled to Guatemala with his family to visit one of AMG’s newer school projects. Dennett’s daughter, Abbie Paull, sponsors Elmer. A highlight of the trip was when Elmer and Abbie got to meet.

“We were able to love on them and provide some needs for their family and some gifts,” Dennett says. “We’re hoping to be able to provide some equipment to make [Elmer’s] life more comfortable as quickly as we can.

“They live in a bamboo home that provides little protection from the coming rainy season. We just couldn’t imagine living in a home that’s soon going to be kind of a floor of mud, so we’re also hoping to pursue helping them with a more secure home.”

Dennett and his family spent 12 years serving with AMG in Guatemala before moving back to the United States three years ago. His children all grew up in Guatemala and their family still has a heart for the country and the beautiful people.

“We have, over the years, met a number of the kids that we sponsor and watched them grow up and graduate and thrive, which is just exciting. This particular family, this was the first time we had met them. So it was just wonderful to know them and their situation.”

Along with AMG’s child sponsorship program, the ministry operates 37 schools with 8,500 students. They also run several medical projects, clinics, and a hospital.

Through sponsorship and schooling for Guatemalan kids, AMG seeks to “…share God’s Word with them, mentor them, disciple them, but also to see them come up out of poverty and have opportunity through learning.”

(Photo courtesy of Brian Dennett/AMG International)

You can sponsor a child in Guatemala (or ten other countries) through AMG for just $36 a month!

Right now, a generous donor with AMG is doubling every new child sponsorship!

If you choose a child to sponsor today, a second child will also be sponsored through the matching donor and their information will be included with your welcome packet.

In Guatemala, there are 105 kids still waiting for a sponsor (at publication time).

Click here to sponsor a child with AMG!

“Many families there are struggling with food security, housing, [and] education,” says Dennett. “By sponsoring children at AMG…we’re able to give children access to education and we’re also able to reach their entire family.”

Header photo of Elmer and his sponsor, Abbie Paull. (Photo courtesy of Brian Dennett/AMG International)

It’s in this difficult context that Guatemalan pastors are ministering Christ’s hope and trying to support families.

Greg Yoder, executive director of Keys for Kids Ministries says, “These churches are kind of oases within Guatemala City itself where the problems really exist, where there’s gang activity and the like.

“Many of them have been working for years and years, and there are no accolades at all. I mean, they are in the trenches. It’s like a battleground for them. Some of them are in [areas with] gang activities and there’s extortion going on all around them. In fact, one church is even closed because they couldn’t pay this extortion that they were asked to pay by these gang members.”

Boys share a Storyteller.
(Photo courtesy of Keys for Kids)

Keys for Kids recently partnered with World Orphans to provide critical Gospel resources for these pastors. World Orphans provides holistic support for pastors and families in Guatemala. But they need resources for parents and pastors to teach the Gospel to kids in a consistent and accessible way.

Yoder explains, “One of the things that’s a challenge for them is, what do they offer families that are maybe are limited in their education? Maybe they don’t read well or maybe they’re illiterate completely. How do you offer families material that will really help them grow in their faith or even understand who Jesus is?”

This is where Keys for Kids comes in. The ministry’s Spanish translated materials like Unlocked teen devotionals or Creature Feature Storytellers can encourage children and teenagers with Gospel hope.

When he spoke with the pastors in Guatemala, Yoder says, “They are dreaming of ways they can use it. They were telling us these stories are perfect for kids that are non-churched. They’re going to understand Jesus in a way that they have never been able to tell them before. It’s not going to be like using their Sunday School material. It’s going to be using unique material that will help them share the Good News of Jesus with these kids and families who are really struggling.”

There are still several details to work out. But one thing is certain: This partnership is an answer to many prayers.

“We had been praying for probably seven or eight years that God would find a partner with us that could use our Spanish material in a way that we couldn’t even imagine. We believe that God has opened this door. And they told us yesterday that we’re an answer to their prayer!”

(Photo courtesy of Keys For Kids)

Please continue to pray with Keys for Kids as they grow this new partnership with World Orphans to encourage children’s ministry in Guatemala.

“We’re really asking people to pray for us, that God will provide the resources needed both in terms of people (because we can’t do it with our current staff) and then also the funding that we need to really ramp up our Spanish program,” Yoder asks.

“Pray that God will protect these churches, that these oases will continue to provide hope for many in these communities.”

If you’d like to support Keys for Kids, click here!

Header photo courtesy of Perry Grone via Unsplash.

Esquipulas

In Guatemala, many mourners will gather on January 15. Dennett says, “There is a very small town in Guatemala called Esquipulas, and there’s a basilica there. Every January, busloads of people arrive in this little town to pay homage to a statue. It’s called the Christo Negro, or black Jesus. It’s a dark wood statue believed to be the source of miracles.”

Dennett says the statue was first commissioned by Spanish colonizers, and it has become an important part of the Catholic Church narrative. “One of the most famous popes of our time, John Paul II, actually visited this basilica in Guatemala. And it was noted as being the smallest town or the smallest city that he visited in his time as Pope.”

“So it really is an important place for Catholics.”

Going back to the Spanish conquest, Guatemala has a huge population of Catholics. But AMG has seen a massive shift in the country, Dennett says. Over the last 20 years, the population has shrunk from 65 percent Catholic to 45 percent Catholic. “Interestingly, Guatemala is now the most Protestant country in Latin America, sharing about evenly the share of the population.”

Pray AMG’s ministry in Guatemala would display Jesus’ love.

You can get involved in AMG’s Guatemala work or their work in other countries around the world. Learn more at amginternational.org.

The header photo shows the statue in the basilica at Esquipulas. (Photo courtesy of Roberto Urrea, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Dennett and his family served in Guatemala with AMG international for 12 years. He talks about his experience in the country. “One thing that we’ve observed over a number of years is just how underserved the elderly population of Guatemala and really all of Latin America is. Post-COVID, our team in Guatemala had brought this to our attention, saying that they really would like to try to make a difference.”

He says the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed so many elderly people into poverty that AMG has shifted its ministry focus to better care for them, providing, “food, shelter, and medical care. And we have a goal of reaching thousands of elderly people specifically in Guatemala over the coming months, and providing very much needed relief to them.”

Discrimination against the elderly

Once they pass their most productive years, the elderly in Guatemala face a lot of discrimination. And the government does very little to help them. Dennett says many end up fending for themselves.

But Jesus offers a new way to see the elderly, one that values the Image of God over productivity. Dennett says, “And they have so much wisdom and love to share themselves that we should be drawing closer to them. And certainly, when we are seeing those in need, we should be providing for them.”

You can support AMG’s work with the elderly in Guatemala by visiting amghelps.org.

Header photo courtesy of marcoreyes on Pixabay.

Guatemala has one of the worst COVID-19 situations in the Western Hemisphere. Only five percent of the population has been vaccinated against the virus.

Harsh crackdown on protests

Guatemalans have been protesting against the government’s response, but the president of Guatemala cracked down last week. Dennett says, “The president of Guatemala pronounced that the entire country was now in a state of emergency, or like martial law. And that due to this state of emergency, any protesters would be sent immediately to prison. Our leader there actually said he felt as though they were no longer a democracy.”

AMG works in 35 different Guatemalan communities to provide food and healthcare. Ask God to encourage the Christians there, and pray their love would lead many to Jesus. You can also contribute to this work at amghelp.org.

(Photo courtesy of codyvanscyoc from Pixabay)

Guatemala has the largest economy in Central America. Even so, chronic childhood malnutrition and food insecurity have plagued the nation. The onset of COVID-19 made things worse, slashing Guatemala’s GDP by 1.8 percent – which translates into lowered personal incomes, retail sales, and industrial production.

Guatemalan flag (Photo courtesy of Shalom de Leon via Unsplash)

So it’s no surprise that churches in Guatemala have also been impacted.

Byron Aguilar, the director of Crossroads Prison Ministries Guatemala, says, “Our churches have been closed during the whole pandemic time. Many of the members of churches here, especially in Latin America, lost their jobs and also lost their businesses.

“In our church, for example, we weren’t able to pay rent. So we do not have a location right now – a physical location for our church.”

Even without a physical building, Aguilar’s church is still being the Church.

“More of our budget is allocated for food for the members of our church that are in need,” Aguilar says. “And there’s many more now needing food than before.”

The church members are also financially supporting Crossroads Bible Studies in El Boquerón Prison, one of three maximum-security prisons in Guatemala.

(Logo courtesy of Crossroads Prison Ministries)

Now, Aguilar says, “We are planning another activity with the prisoners inside El Boquerón Prison. The prison is now allowing relatives of the prisoners to visit. We’re going to help process the necessary applications to get the necessary permissions with the prison authorities so that we could have a family visitation day and bring the children and relatives in and have a snack with the prisoners and their kids and their families, and also bring in additional Crossroads lessons!”

Please boldly pray for this faithful church in Guatemala! Ask the Lord to provide a physical building for the congregation. Pray for spiritual encouragement as they support the hungry and needy in their communities and the prison system.

And most of all, pray for many lost and searching souls in Guatemala to find hope in Jesus Christ!

“The best is yet to come,” Aguilar says. “The pandemic was not able to stop the advancement of the Gospel.”

Click here to learn more about Crossroads Prison Ministries!

Header photo representational, courtesy of Ronald Cuyan via Unsplash.

But Brian Dennett of AMG International says that must involve hope for eternal life. “What we believe is that hope through Christ is the only true and lasting hope that we have. So with an eye on eternity, people have true hope in their life.”

The Vice President made a trip to Guatemala this week, looking to help improve living conditions in the country. In this way, the administration hopes to slow the tide of immigration into the U.S. and surrounding countries.

Investing in Guatemala

Dennett talks about why conditions would make people desperate enough to flee their homeland. “Urban families experience local gang violence, hunger caused now by the complications of COVID-19, and unemployment. And then in rural areas, you just have a complete lack of opportunity.”

Dennett says with large government efforts, a lot of money usually gets lost. AMG helps invest directly in small Guatemalan businesses. “[We helped] a single woman selling tortillas in the street. One project I remember from last year was a couple that wanted to open a small karate studio.”

They also partner with local churches to share the Gospel and foster strong communities. You can join this work or learn more at amghelp.org.

(Header photo courtesy of Kaufdex from Pixabay)