Our Beliefs

We desire to see the culture in Pichiyacu (and other villages along the river) transformed by the gospel.  We do not endorse or wish to bring the prosperity gospel, but Christ-centered living does often foster a sense of responsibility, a stronger sense of work ethic, and love for one's neighbor.  Together these can lead to more prosperous living, and many third world communities have seen cultural shifts brought about through the spreading of the gospel.   As we seek to help build a community of Christian believers, we intend to focus on the following core areas:

Outreach

In order to reach the non-churched in the community, LCM has created outreach programs, to help attract those who do not attend the church.  These programs include youth and children's activities, marriage and parenting seminars, and games, arts, and crafts for all ages.  This summer, we plan to run two soccer leagues (one for children and one for youth) and show movies on an outdoor screen a few times a month.

Economic Opportunity

One area in which village leadership has already expressed interest is that of economic growth.  We believe that we could teach fundamental economic principles and provide some basic economic outlets for monetizing their work.  Without yet formalizing a "pipeline" for their work, we have already sold 15 duffel bags of baskets (roughly 500 baskets) in USA markets.  We would like to create stateside outlets for selling woodwork, baskets, and other crafts.  Additionally, LCM created a woodshop - complete with wood-working tools - for those in the community to build projects from the wood they harvest.

Education

The second request by village leadership upon the arrival of LCM was help in the area of education.  Education levels in the area are poor, and as outsiders, LCM can offer experience that could benefit the people.  It is our desire to (1) help the current teachers bring better academic standards to the school and (2) introduce Christian education to the school as well.  If God leads us to do so, we would be willing to begin a Christian school as well. 

Healthcare

Through several short-term medical mission trips, nurses and doctors have provided health clinics and training in the areas of medical treatment, hygiene, diet, first aid, and the long-term effects of lifestyle choices.  In addition, LCM has facilitated the construction of a medical building in the village of Pichiyacu, which is staffed by a local nurse who holds regular hours and is able to treat many common illnesses and injuries in the village.