Category: Ministry

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from the Sims

Published on by John And Deborah SimsLeave a comment

happythanksgivingbannerDear Friend, Family and Mission Partners,

This has been a incredible year of traveling far and wide to share with our churches, as well as meeting some of you for the first time! We are so GRATEFUL for the support we have received from so many of you towards our missions work. Your giving is making a difference

This coming January, I will be traveling to Chile to help complete the new phase of construction at the Santiago Children’s Ministries Outreach Center. This new addition will accommodate many more children.

God continues to perform miracle after miracle through SCMOC, which is one of Builders International’s current construction developments. Children are rescued from despairing life situations, then provided with a lasting hope and an everlasting future, as a result of the effectiveness of this brick and mortar project!

Their own home, the place you would expect them to be the safest, is actually the most threatening place for many of these children. Raised by prostitutes, drug dealers, addicts, and gang members, many of these children have no idea which “John” fathered them.

SCMOC is unique in that it is a church that grew out of a children’s ministry. While ministering to children, the families begin coming in with their children and receiving Jesus! It has gradually expanded from a children’s ministry outreach, to a church, and soon to include a school as well.

Playing with a little neighbor girl one day in the shack where he lived with his drug dealing, squatter parents, four-year-old Victor suddenly had a gun pointing right at him. His little friend found it lying around, and she playfully pulled the trigger . . . CLICK, nothing happened! Victor explained the incident nonchalantly, but the reality is that drug dealers’ guns are always loaded! GOD HAS A PLAN FOR VICTOR!

Pastor Danny (of SCMOC) discovered that little Victor’s father was abusing him sexually. The four-yearold was removed from the home, and placed in foster care. Eventually, Victor was adopted by a family in the church.

Countless children like Victor wander day and night on the treacherous streets of Santiago. Your faithful support has helped to bring about a positive change in the lives of many at-risk children in Chile!
 Continue reading “HAPPY THANKSGIVING from the Sims” →

17% TO GO!

Published on by John And Deborah SimsLeave a comment

CURRENT MINISTRY . . . Deborah and I serve as Regional Project Managers for the Latin America/ Caribbean Region with Builders International/MAPS Construction. As project managers, they assist in the building of Bible schools, churches, and training facilities that help meet the needs of rapid church growth in the LAC Region. Their work includes project management, on-site project assessment, team leading, project promotion, and development of training facilities that will carry the gospel to the nations. They have served more than 20 years as missionaries to Latin America in church planting, evangelism and building, giving them a wealth of knowledge and experience to help facilitate reaching the lost.

Our fellowship is experiencing a supernatural growth rate of up to 13,000 new churches and three-million adherents per year. Much of this is among the suffering and persecuted church. – Doug Clay, General Treasurer

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Rahab Foundation Safe – House Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking Costa Rica, Central America

Published on by John And Deborah SimsLeave a comment

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An incredible ministry opportunity is underway, by Assemblies of God World Missionaries. Four months ago, in partnership with the Costa Rican Rahab Foundation (NGO), new construction began on the very first government-recognized, safe-house shelter for victims of human trafficking. Let me take a moment to tell you just one of the reasons why this is a vital ministry.

At just 17 years old, young Mariel (name changed for protection) was presented with the promise of a job that she so desperately needed. Unfortunately, she did not realize that she was being lured into a trap. She would later be held captive and forced into the world of human trafficking.

Using false documents, her captor moved her from Costa Rica across the border to Nicaragua, Guatemala, and then on to Honduras, where she would be used for the sole purpose of sexual exploitation.

Mariel was beaten and raped over the next two months by her kidnapper. He even threatened to kill her family if she tried to escape.  

Terrified, broken, and helpless, she wanted to die. She once put a knife to her throat, but could not bring herself to take her own life.

Mariel continually complained of an ear infection, in hopes that her kidnapper would take her to a clinic. He finally did; and while in the exam room alone with the doctor, she was able to confide in him about her situation. The doctor quickly called in authorities, and the captor was arrested!

Mariel was assured that he would be put away for a long time, only to find out he was released after three short months! She hasn’t seen or heard from him; but he has likely returned to his normal pattern of kidnapping, beating, and raping girls in preparation for the terror of the sex trafficking industry.

Although Mariel has now found help at the Rahab Foundation’s day facility program in Costa Rica, she sees her captor’s face every day when she looks at her son . . . the son of her exploiter.

Sex tourism is a severe problem in Costa Rica, with most of the sex tourists coming in from the United States and Europe. According to the Rahab Foundation, exploitation “recruitment,” begins around the age of 14.

Because of incredible answers to prayer, the Rahab Foundation has developed close ties with local police and government, and is now building the safe-house shelter for adult and minor victims of human trafficking (labor- and sex- related).

Once the shelter is complete, victims can expect to receive medical care, vocational training, tutoring, counseling with licensed professionals, legal assistance, weekly discipleship encouragement, and so much more. Currently they are offering services at their day facility, but cannot offer safety and security for them throughout the night.

The goal? Building a place where young women discover what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as a place where they can find freedom, hope, and restoration.