LAIM MISSION STATEMENTLatin American Indian Ministries (LAIM) is designed to provide a networking focus for organizations initiated and led by Native Americans in Latin America, in order to encourage and help them in their efforts to evangelize and disciple their own communities, as well as to help them improve their living standards and to overcome the barriers that have held back their personal growth and community development. LAIM will seek to provide project support, consultant help and technical assistance, and will present these Latin American native ministries to potential supporters and sources of assistance in the developed countries. |
We all have a sense that the Indians in Latin America have been treated even more poorly than those in the United States. But do we realize that, while there are 2 million Indians in the United States, there are 48 million in Latin America?
For centuries, Latin American Indians have lived under extremely difficult conditions. Many indigenous communities have been left out or overlooked by government programs, and by social cultural, educational and even religious institutions. This situation has contributed to the decline of their human, social and spiritual well being.
Latin American Indian Ministries (LAIM) has felt the calling of God to dedicate itself to backing the efforts of Indian leaders to develop programs that would help their communities escape from this situation of abandonment, thus fulfilling the will of God, as expressed by Jesus Christ when He said: "... I have come that they may have life, and that they may have in more abundantly." (John 10:10).
Our vision is the implementation of an integrated or holistic ministry toward indigenous communities of Latin-America, taking as a model the words found in the Gospel of Matthew, when he reports that "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom , and healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (Matt. 9:35). As a ministry, we are committing ourselves to come alongside the indigenous communities in their time of need. We want to bring to them the Word of God, practical helps and "encouragement" that will enable them to build a life full of the peace and love that can only be found in Christ.
LAIM (Latin American Indian Ministries}, based in Pasadena, California, is a ministry committed to encourage, strengthen and support the indigenous communities of Latin America in their efforts to evangelize and disciple their own people, as well as to help them improve living standards for their families and to overcome barriers constraining their personal growth and community development.
To accomplish our purpose, and as a fundamental part of our ministry, we at LAIM are promoting programs that contribute to the reinforcement of ethical, moral and spiritual values of the indigenous communities. We support educational projects that allow indigenous communities to overcome illiteracy barriers and raise educational levels. We also promote and reinforce agricultural, health and community development projects.
FAMILY
Children (educational support and assistance to the
handicapped)
Nutrition and Family Hygiene
Humanitarian Aid
CHURCH
Evangelism
Pastoral Training and Discipleship
Lay Leader Training
COMMUNITY
Health
Training in Various Trades and New Agricultural Products
Emergency Aid
"And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday." (Isaiah 58:10)
For more information, call or write to:
Latin-American Indian Ministries
PO Box 2050
Orange, CA 92850
USA
Tel. (949) 515-9806 -- Fax (949) 515-8412
E-mail -- Dale Kietzman -Dale@Sheperd.com