Colombia - Joe and Gloria Mendoza serve over 1,000 of the poor in creative and effective ways.

There are few places in the world where the rich and poor are separated as starkly – and live as closely – as Baranquilla and Bajo San Felipe, Colombia.

Baranquilla, the “Golden Doorway” of Colombia, sits on a hill overlooking the Caribbean Ocean.

Beneath it, next to the Magdalena River, sits the impoverished community of Bajo San Felipe.  Its residents are separated from the city’s prosperity by opportunity and education as well as altitude.  These people are largely the descendants of slaves brought to Colombia by the Spaniards.

Poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment are the norm in Bajo San Felipe.  The desperate conditions divide families.  Drug and alcohol abuse are rampant, and men often leave, searching for work elsewhere.

In the midst of these challenges, Joe and Gloria Mendoza lead a faithful team sharing God’s love in word and deed.  If you were to visit the community, Joe and Gloria would make sure you left before dark for your own safety.

But Joe, Gloria, and their team of local servants make the trip down the hill into Bajo San Felipe several times a week to hold services, help children with their school work, and aid single mothers and abused women.  The ministry has an active and involved board, whose members are often found serving in Bajo San Felipe alongside Joe and Gloria.

In a still developing country such as Colombia, Joe and Gloria have made choices running counter to the culture.

After college, Joe began working in the medical field, eventually becoming a hospital administrator.  But God called Joe to a more important task.  No longer content to heal bodies and build buildings, Joe left the prestige and security of his career to serve God and his country people.

Joe and Gloria now raise up volunteer leaders, disciple students, teach job skills, offer parenting classes, and share the good news of eternal life.  The impact of their ministry has not gone unnoticed.  In October 2009, they received a request to begin work in the impoverished communities of Valledupar, over 100 miles east of Baranquilla.  At the same time, they were asked to help minister to children whose families have been displaced by rebel forces.  Many of these children have lost at least one parent to guerrilla attacks.

In addition to regular salary support in 2008, Worldlink was able to raise $1,000 to help Joe and Gloria purchase a building in the impoverished neighborhood of Bajo San Felipe.

This building will be used for a variety of ministry and development activities including:

• Storing equipment needed for large group evangelism and discipleship (300+ children at weekly meetings)
• Preparing meals
• Providing educational assistance to students with difficulty learning because of their home situations
• Teaching young mothers how to care for their children