This project will help: 35 youth
Completion date: August 2028
Country: Colombia
Executive summary
Compassion’s frontline church partners in Colombia work hard to serve registered children and youth by providing them with nourishing meals, offering educational support and teaching them about their God-given potential. Our church partners are dedicated to ensuring each youth who graduates from the program finishes well and is equipped for young adult life. However, centre staff around the country have seen the need to enhance youth ministry programs to ensure that every young person is fully supported in their transition to adulthood.
Children who enter the Compassion program learn about God’s love through mentorship and discipleship from caring, Christian adults. As children reach adolescence, they become less likely to adopt the faith as their own and often struggle to stay engaged with traditional youth ministry programs that do not meet their complex needs. Many youth ministry programs in Colombia are focused on the conservancy of youth, upholding ecclesiastical structures and providing entertainment rather than focusing on meeting young people where they are and offering contemporary discipleship. These youth programs lack leadership development opportunities and relevance, something that is crucial for empowering the next generation. Sadly, many churches lack resources to establish effective youth programs, limiting the ability to provide these essential leadership development opportunities. Without access to empowering, interesting and purposeful youth ministries, staff worry that the young men and women who graduate from the program will leave uninterested in their faith and without support from a strong Christian community.
Centre staff from eight Compassion centres in Colombia have identified 35 high-achieving young people who have a strong desire to serve the Lord and support other young people in their communities. These students would like to attend seminary school to further their theological education and leadership skills—but their caregivers simply cannot afford the high university tuition fees.
This intervention will allow 35 young people to attend university and complete a four-year degree in theology and Biblical studies. With your support, each young man and woman will gain the experience, skills and knowledge necessary to become empowered leaders who can spiritually nurture and empower other young people in their communities.
Summary
Background
Since 2019, Compassion Colombia and each frontline church partner has been working together to support youth pastors and potential youth leaders to learn about Biblical principles and youth ministry, strengthen youth ministries and develop community leaders among the youth from each church. Compassion’s mission is to prepare and empower each registered child and youth in the program and promote their holistic development, including their physical, spiritual, cognitive, social, emotional and economic well-being.
Compassion centre staff fully dedicate themselves to the development of children with the hope that they will be responsible, self-sufficient young adults when they graduate from the program. Through mentorship and skills development, it is the goal that all graduating students become leaders in their communities, mentoring other young people to helping those who want to learn more about God.
The need
Young people living in Colombia need improved access to youth ministry programs that help empower them and encourage them to further develop their faith. Thirty-five young adults are excited to grow their faith, study theology and learn Biblical truths but lack access to further theological training due to economic constraints and limited ministries and resources in their communities. Your generous gift will cover the tuition fees for these 35 highly driven young men and women to attend seminary.
The selected 35 students have shown a strong interest in ministry and theology and have a deep desire to learn more about God and minister to other young people in their communities. With your support, these students will attend a four-year theology degree program at a local university. While in university, each student will learn important Biblical truths and develop important life skills such as leadership, time management, healthy communication and self-sufficiency. Centre staff will also provide students with support and life skills training during this intervention. Centre staff look forward to seeing these young people take leadership roles in their communities as they help implement effective youth programs in their churches. Your gift will ensure each student will not only grow in Christ but also become agents of change who transform their communities.
What your gift will do
Your gift will allow 35 young people in Colombia to study theology at university, including:
- University tuition for four years for 35 students
- Internet connection
- Educational tools and materials
- Graduation fees
-
Monitoring and evaluation
- Life skills advisory support
- Administrative expenses
- Transportation
Logistics
- Local contribution: $48,480.00
- Handling of funds: Compassion Colombia will work with centre directors and staff to ensure this project stays within budget.
- Monitoring and follow-up: Compassion centre staff will monitor students’ academic performance and progress and provide support and mentorship to the students.