today

CanYou See Me Now?

in Covenant World Mission
Spring2008

bringing god's health and hope to the people of mexico

I
By Laura Rodriguez
n November, Covenant mission-
aries Doctor Cindy Hoover, Jo
Ellen Reaves, and I drove to meet
a U.S. mission/vision team. Our
purpose was to put on a free health
fair for a small town. We were also
going to train a group of volunteers
from the church to do the same once
we were gone.
We were not preaching to people
as they came through the health fair.
We just served in love and trusted
the rest to God. The first three days
of the health fair, over 100 people A child who was part of the health fair.
came each day. People began bring- street. By the end of the week, we
ing back family, neighbors, even had met over 500 people!
people they had just met on the Continued on next page

Mexico Facts at a Glance

Mexico, with a population of over 107 million, is the world’s most populous Spanish-
speaking country, with 274 other languages spoken. Covenant mission involvement in
Mexico began in 1946.
The city of Oaxaca, where Covenant missionaries Cindy Hoover, Jo Ellen Reaves
and Laura Rodriguez serve, is the capital of the state with the same name. This state
has the highest indigenous population in the country, estimated to be between 60%
and 70% of the total population.

Global mission. Local vision.

Continued from page 1
Apart from dashing back and
forth to help translate, one of my
main jobs at the health fair was to
help give out reading glasses. Jo
Ellen and I took turns with the long
line. Though it was a tiring job, it
was a little thrilling each time I could
find the pair that helped someone
see better.
By Wednesday evening, we were
running quite low on the glasses.
We had been giving out almost 100 a
day, and we were down to about 30
pairs. After trying to look at the situ-
ation from all sides, we decided that
Two health fair participants who received
evening that we had better just stop
glasses.
giving out glasses – it seemed like
the fairest thing to do. returned from the store, she was sur-
Come Thursday morning, when prised at the change of plans. I told
people were coming up to me, ask- her I would explain later, and we
ing for glasses, that idea somehow both began helping people.
didn’t seem so fair anymore. Fewer people came to the health
People on Thursday needed fair on Thursday and Friday, but we
glasses just as much as the people still gave out quite a few glasses.
on Monday did. I didn’t want to And, somehow those 30 pairs of
run out of glasses halfway through glasses lasted us the remainder of
helping people, but it was hard to the week – with about a dozen left
say no when there were more in to spare.
the van. Perplexed about what to Near the end of our visit, Pastor
do, I sat down on a bench to think. René and his wife Evalia held back
Pastor René, who is the pastor of the tears as they shared how the health
church hosting the fair, joined me, fair was already having an effect
and I explained the situation to him. on the community. People in town
After a moment, he said, “Well, what who had never spoken to each other
would Jesus do?” before were now greeting each other
“He’d multiply the glasses,” was in friendship. Walls were breaking
my immediate reply. We chuckled down as people became more inter-
and then fell into silence. Then, with ested in who their Christian neigh-
a sigh, I said, “Oh, alright God. I’ll bors were.
give out glasses, and you can multi- Laura Rodriguez is a Covenant
ply them if you want.” short-term missionary serving in
I pulled out the suitcase with the Oaxaca, Mexico. She is part of a team of
remaining reading glasses and began Covenant missionaries in this location.
giving them out. When Jo Ellen
La Fonderie
Exploring the ties between art, culture, and faith
By Francisco and Stephanie

L
Ramos
a Fonderie is a minis-
try building connec-
tions among
Christian artists which also
offers an opportunity to
reach out to the art com-
munity in Paris, France.
This is a community that
explores ties between art,
culture and faith. It is a
place to value, encourage,
inspire and embolden
La Fonderie members at a recent gallery reception.
Christians working in the
arts. La Fonderie has opened doors so Please pray for the Lord’s anointing
artists can gather together around to be on these services and for the
subjects that concern them. Through Holy Spirit to inspire the planning
a series of evening meetings and and messages that are shared.
events, they spend time in praise, At this time we are preparing a
prayer and sharing. series of four weekly gatherings for
Late last year, La Fonderie held its artists. Each evening will include a
first monthly worship service. In dinner, a time of worship, Biblical
spite of the transportation strikes teaching - this time on the subject of
that were taking place at the time, character - and time of prayer.
there were approximately 30 people Francisco is working with others
who attended. These services were from the team to plan and coordi-
started in response to the growing nate this series. We pray that invita-
number of individuals who see La tions will fall into the hands of
Fonderie as their spiritual home. Christian artists needing encourage-
Worship services continue to be held ment in their faith and work.
one Saturday evening a month. Continued on back page

France Facts at a Glance

With a population of 63 million, France is one of the largest countries in Europe. Its
rich history has given it an influential role through the centuries in the arts, politics
and industry. Few French people attend church and most consider it irrelevant for
today, however, there is a growing interest in spirituality, faith and God. We are work-
ing to bridge the gap between the church and general French culture through the
arts, discussion groups and friendship evangelism. In partnership with national evan-
gelical churches, Covenant work began in France in 1996.
 La Fonderie has been meeting at
the Pavé d’Orsay (the name of the
meeting location) for a year and a
half. We continue to be amazed at
God’s goodness in giving us this
location in the very heart of Paris. It
is near well-known art museums
and local galleries. We are able to use
this space for meetings such as those
mentioned above, but the vision is
that it also be a place where the gift
of art can be celebrated. A place
where Christians can present their
art and non-Christians can see that
we celebrate their artistic gifts
because it is the expression of the
creative God who created them.
These artists invite friends,
coworkers and family to concerts,
expositions, theatre pieces and other
events, opening many doors for con-
tacts.
We are thrilled to see a growing
number of artistic events filling the
calendar for the coming months. At
the same time, we do not want to
simply be busy with events. Please
pray with us, for wisdom and dis-
cernment in the choosing and plan-
ning of these events, and that the
Lord would really bless the contacts
made.
We pray that it will be a place
where people come in contact with
the hope and light and love of Jesus.
We would like to see more artists
who are spiritually searching to join
the group at La Fonderie, to be
encouraged and to grow in their
faith through the fellowship and
teaching. Pray that the Lord would
send them to us.
Francisco and Stephanie Ramos are
Covenant missionaries to France serving
in development of church ministries and
teaching ministry through the arts.

What can I do to help?

Get involved. Your financial and prayer support have made ministries in Mexico
and France possible. Without you, it would also not be possible for Covenant mis-
sionaries to serve in over 25 countries around the world. We need your help
to reach the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. Covenant churches and
Covenant people are strategic in supporting missionaries and ministries for that task.
Consider how you might support Covenant World Mission through praying, giving
and going out in mission.
Learn more. Call 773.907.3316, email world.mission@covchurch.org or visit our
webpage at www.covchurch.org/mission

Covenant World Mission

Today in Covenant World Mission is a publication of the Department of World Mission of the
Evangelical Covenant Church, and ©2008 by Covenant World Mission, 5101 N. Francisco Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60625. Questions? Call 773-907-3316 or email to world.mission@covchurch.org