Perspective ‘


Whoever welcomes


this child ’ Not too small to reach out in Peru


Text by Ana Maria Jara Photos by Elie Gardner


Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest” (Luke 9:48).


D


o you think your congregation is too small to reach out to children in your community? Don’t be so quick to say so.


My congregation, San Juan Camino de Esperanza in Lima, Peru, has a little more than a dozen adult members. But every week we provide spiritual and educational accompaniment for 60 to 80 children in our community who live in situations of scarce resources. Jesus considered children precious and of great worth, especially those who live in poverty or unjust conditions. Children continue to be a focus for the church’s care, and they will define the kind of church and society we want to have.


I began working with children at church at age 16. It


wasn’t because I was an expert or knew this would be my calling. I just wanted to help. The adults gave me an opportunity to serve, and I did it with love, considering how I would have liked the church to treat me when I was a child.


On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, my congregation, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru, helps children ages 3 to 16 with their


Jara is an educator and theologian in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru.


Nicolás Alaluna, 5, holds up his fin- ished art project. He and his family began attending San Juan Camino de Esperanza in November 2010.


36 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


Venessa Chombo, 6, prays during Satur- day School at San Juan Camino de Esperanza in Lima, Peru. Most of the children who attend, from impoverished com- munities nearby, have parents who weren’t able to go to school and can’t help with school- work, even when they desire to do so.


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