Almost immediately after missionaries John and Lois Bueno arrived in El Salvador in 1961, their hearts became burdened for the nation’s children. As John drove from his house to the church each day, he passed by street kids selling newspapers, shining shoes, and even begging. He often bought newspapers he didn’t need just to help them.

“But I knew that was just tokenism,” he says, “We needed an avenue to show them that Christ loves them. Then we had to help them out of their poverty. I knew from the beginning we weren’t just to feed the poor and hungry. We also had to teach them how to provide for themselves and help others.”

That vision was transferred into the heart of John’s son, Ron, and ultimately birthed the ministry of Enlace. Meadowbrook has partnered with Enlace over the past five years, to show the love of Christ to people in poverty. We have helped build a church, a water tank, and provided medical services to the poor. I know my life has been personally enriched and challenged by participating in one of the five mission trips we have taken to El Salvador.

It is my firm belief that when people know Jesus Christ and experience His saving power – in all of the blessings that come to us through redemption – that relationship will in some way burden our hearts to the physical and spiritual needs of the world. God puts a love in our heart not only for Him but for our fellow man, and a natural result of our born-again experience will be a response to the needs around us and around the world.

We are focusing on the value of outreach this month as we take two Sundays and focus on the world and the great commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We will give you opportunity on Sunday, February 10, to make an investment in world missions. Your faithful giving to missions helps us address the needs of the world through the support we give our missionaries stationed in countries around the world. Our world mission’s effort is supported by your giving throughout the year. We have not missed a single monthly support check to our missionaries who depends up on us for their ability to stay in their field of calling.

I’m confident that our perseverance in world missions has affected countless lives for eternity. What a privilege! How rewarding! What a wise investment! Thank you for the privilege of serving with you at Meadowbrook. ~ Ron Strack