A former guerilla solider in El Salvador turns into a mighty warrior for Christ, winning drug dealers and gang members to the Lord
BY JARED EAKIN BMAA Staff
day he accepted Jesus, it was Christ who protected him the remainder of the war. Today, Alfredo works in a mission in
El Sunza, El Salvador, with the support of Rigoberto Jimenez, the BMA Missions Coordinator in El Salvador. Through life experiences, it is Alfredo’s toughness, determination, and desire to serve that has led him to develop a unique ministry to reach gang members within the area. Alfredo and Rigoberto met about 12
years ago, and they quickly developed a friendship. Alfredo eventually shared his heart and vision to begin mission work in El Sunza. They took a trip to the village and the location that Alfredo wanted to build the church. They started to clean the place up and invited children and families even though they didn’t know to whom the place belonged. A week later, the owner of the building came and offered to sell them the place, and after some negotiation, a deal was reached. Eight months later, a BMMI team visited El Sunza on a medical trip, and the work there was moving forward. But, Alfredo and the mission soon
faced serious difficulties. When the community began to learn what they were doing, especially the drug dealers and gang members, they threatened him and vandalized the property. One day,
when Alfredo was preaching, some drug dealers came in yelling. They called him a liar and a fake and told him they were going to kill him and harm his family. Alfredo became very discouraged, but
through prayer and continued support from Rigoberto, he kept pushing forward. In a meeting with Rigoberto, he brought up ideas to reach gang members and drug dealers. The plan was to invite them for a meal at the mission. But, Rigoberto suggested they do more—teach them a trade. They soon began to invite teenagers
who were falling victim to gang violence to a meal. At the first meeting, 16 teenagers arrived. They played soccer and shared a meal together. During the meal, Alfredo began to share Jesus and invited them all back again the next week to show them how to weld. The next week, 12 teenagers came back,
and four accepted Christ. The teenagers and gang members are the ones who constructed the roof of the building that they once helped vandalize. This ministry in El Sunza is still continuing based on the principle of helping people better their lives so they can overcome the situations they are in and become productive citizens in their town or
village. Though the teenagers that come to the church and meet with Alfredo are learning a new trade, they are also and most importantly hearing the message of Christ. In December, during the Christmas
Shoebox trip to El Salvador, a new welding machine was donated to the mission in El Sunza so they can continue the ministry. “I am very grateful for these
resources and for you to be here today,” said Alfredo. “The support and demonstration of love is encouraging.” Discipleship drives this ministry. By
spending time teaching the teenagers to weld, Alfredo has the opportunity to invest time into their lives, share the Gospel, and teach and train them to tell others about the Gospel themselves. Despite the difficulties and threats he
has faced, Alfredo continues to push forward, trying to do all he can with time he considers a blessing from God for letting him make it through the war alive. n
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