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The Nicaragua Project
What we do and who we are
Matthew 5:16 Ministries was established in
Frederick, Maryland in 1995 by Rev. Glenn Stephan Schweitzer
and his wife, Lynne Schweitzer after a visit to Nicaragua.
In 2000, for the purposes of raising support for their
future missions work in Nicaragua, Matthew 5:16 Ministries
became an affiliate of The Missionary Church International,
a 501©3 in the U.S.
Lynne and Glenn moved to Nicaragua in July
2001 and in November 2004, after three years in the mission
field, the Asociación Ministerio Mateo 5:16 en Nicaragua*
was established.
As of April 2006, Ministerio Mateo 5:16 was recognized as an
affiliate of Redeemer International Ministries Inc. in
Frederick, Maryland. At that time, Glenn and Lynne
Schweitzer became licensed as legally authorized ministers
and representatives of Redeemer International Ministries set
apart to preach, teach, and publish the gospel of Jesus
Christ; to establish churches and be the spiritual leader of
a congregation; to officiate at all sacraments, rights,
ordinances, including the Marriage ceremony, pray with the
sick and afflicted; and to perform any and all other
functions which by common law and Christian custom
constitute the responsibilities of a Minister of the Gospel.
*a non-denominational, tax exempt association (NGO #2847) in
Nicaragua with RUC No.251103-9056
Focus
Protecting, providing for and preparing the
youth of Nicaragua; liberating them from their economic,
physical and spiritual poverty; preparing them for the Great
Commission.
Vision
To preach the Good News to the ends of the
earth that all persons might know Jesus Christ as their
personal Lord and Savior.
Mission
Ministerio Mateo 5:16 was established in
Jinotepe, Nicaragua with the purpose of preaching the Good
News and providing a legal, non-profit channel of aid to
Nicaragua . The ministry was established to primarily focus
on:
- Rescuing lost souls through preaching
the powerful message of the gospel.
- Constructing children’s feeding
centers and orphanages.
- Constructing learning centers to
include:
a) Preschool, primary, vocational
b) theological studies for the preparation of
missionaries, seminary students or individuals seeking a
better knowledge of the word
c) Preparing nationals to reach their own people.
- Providing free medical clinics
staffed by local doctors and visiting medical teams.
- Obtaining sponsorship, scholarships,
construction teams, and medical teams.
- Obtaining help for the disabled who
are in financial distress.
- Providing Christian shelters for the
homeless (similar to Salvation Army).
History
July 2001: Rev. Glenn and Lynne Schweitzer arrived in
Jinotepe, Carazo, Nicaragua to teach the youth, evangelize,
and provide aid to the needy.
September 2001 – September 2006: Matthew 5:16 Ministries
opened its school where “at risk” youth studied a vocation
in a Christian environment, most by way of scholarships. To
date, approximately 25 students have received their
certification in auto repair. The school is currently moving
and will reopen adding classes such as sewing, electricity
and other courses to its syllabus.
June 2003: Matthew 5:16 Ministries began facilitating
feeding programs, orphanages, church planting, health
clinics, and other community projects staffed by nationals
with financial and medical assistance from the U.S. An
example of one project is “Hogar Rancho Hebrón” located near
Las Esquinas, Carazo. Initiated and administrated by a
Nicaraguan family, this facility comprises a pre-school,
orphanage and feeding program. Seventy-five preschool and
primary school children are fed through this feeding
program. Three nights a week there is bible study, praise
and worship. Ministerio Mateo 5:16 recently enabled the
purchase of a building, which houses approximately 20
children and serves as the preschool. One donor provided for
a chicken house, another for replacing dirt floors with
concrete. Other donors have provided food, medication,
clothing, Christmas presents, etc.
July 2003: Matthew 5:16 Ministries started hosting visiting
teams for medical clinics, evangelistic outreach,
construction, research, etc. providing them with lodging,
translators and transportation.
May 2004: “Asociación Ministerio Mateo 5:16 en Nicaragua”
was officially recognized by the National Assembly as an NGO
and was accepted as a member of the Alianza Evangélica
Nicaraguënse.
September 2004: With the help of Redeemer International
Ministries, Ministerio Mateo 5:16 purchased three lots from
the city to build a church, preschool and feeding program in
conjunction with Iglesia Libanon Filadelfia, located in one
of the poorest neighborhoods of Diriamba, Carazo.
October 2004: Ministerio Mateo 5:16 began offering seminary
training in churches located in Carazo using the ISOM
(International School of Ministry) program and Leadership
training to cell groups.
October 2004: A committee was formed to head up Casa de
Esperanza, a home for abandoned, orphaned and abused
children in Quinta Esperanza located on 4 acres in Diriamba.
Plans were drawn up for the development of the orphanage.
February 2005: The initial phase of repair to existing
buildings at Quinta Esperanza was started. Preliminary steps
are being taken to raise funds and obtain work teams to
continue the repairs and to initiate the construction of the
additional buildings required. Plans are to include a
feeding program for local impoverished children, a clinic
for residents and needy non-residents, a thrift store for
the neighborhood, and a preschool for residents.
Accommodations for visiting groups, a building for worship
and an area for recreation are also part of the vision for
the orphanage.
April 2005: Iglesia Nuevo Amanecer was formed. The church is
located at Quinta Esperanza and is directed at the poorest
neighborhoods of Diriamba. Many of the children have spent
their lives scavenging at the landfill, selling tortillas,
or begging for money. Most of the children have not heard
the gospel and most come from single parent homes.
April 2005 – November 2006: During this period the church
has grown to approximately 180 children and 60 adults.
Pastor Glenn Schweitzer has performed baptisms, weddings,
baby dedications. Pastor Glenn focuses much of his time on
visitation and Premarital Counseling. Our other pastors are
involved with cell groups, evangelizing and leadership
training.
We have built a worship area that holds approximately 200
people, a clinic that serves our congregation, and a
nursery. We have a feeding program on Sunday for the
children of our church and a clothing program for the
members of the church. Each child receives a birthday
present on his/her birthday. For most of these children this
has never happened before. At Christmas, thanks to our
donors, we hold a party where everyone enjoys a Christmas
dinner and presents.
November 2006: The ministry is finally breaking ground for
our first orphanage house where eight children will live
with house parents. We now need to build a larger church and
turn our current worship center into the Sunday school
building.
CASA DE ESPERANZA – Home for Abandoned, Orphaned and
Abused Children
Goals:
- To provide a home for orphaned,
abandoned, battered or indigent children in Diriamba,
Nicaragua.
- To provide for their physical,
emotional, educational and spiritual needs.
- Provide bilingual education for the
children.
- Teach computers at an early age.
- Teach hygiene and childcare to
children and staff.
- Facilitate higher learning for older
students in the form of vocational or university
educations.
- To provide modular buildings within
which “foster” parents will live with 6-8 children.
Each modular building will provide bedrooms for the
children, a bedroom for the foster parents including
bathrooms and small kitchen.
- To construct a main building which
will serve as dining room, auditorium.
- To construct a building which will
provide classrooms for preschool and primary school.
- To provide for a feeding program for
neighborhood children.
- To build modular structures to house
visiting teams.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
In September 2001, after remodeling a warehouse, the
Schweitzers opened Escuela Taller Mateo 5:16, a vocational
school for indigent youth. Initially, free ‘hands-on’
training was given to 10 students from the local polytechnic
who, after graduation, continued their instruction at the
school. Several later became student teachers.
In April 2002, the Schweitzers made 30 scholarships
available to needy youth. These young people started the day
in prayer and devotions and were taught the importance of
ethics and integrity in their lives. In June 2004, 25
students graduated and most are now gainfully employed.
The school, now located in Diriamba, continues with small
groups of students taking three-month modular classes, which
result in a 2 ½ year degree. Advanced training is available.
DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING
The ISOM program (International School of Ministry) is
offered to 40 Pastors and church leaders in Carazo with the
goal of better equipping the church in Nicaragua and
providing Leadership Training.
HOSTING TEAMS
For two years, the Schweitzers hosted teams of up to 25
people in their home. As of June 2005, the ministry took
over the administration of Hotel Casa Grande. Now known as
Hotel Casa Mateo, it is primarily intended for ministry use
with the goal of supporting the orphanage. In this location
we are able to host encounters, retreats, seminars, and
weddings. We also make arrangements for medical clinics,
evangelistic outreach, and provide transportation and
translators. Casa Mateo specializes in evangelistic, medical
and work teams. For more information contact: casamateo2000@yahoo.com.
DONATIONS
Our ministry is supported entirely by donations. If you
would like to support our ministry, please contact us at:
mateo516ministry@yahoo.com or send your check to: Redeemer
International Ministries Inc., P.O. Box 1606, Frederick, MD
21702. Please indicate that it is for: Ministerio Mateo 5:16
in Nicaragua.
We can be reached by phone at: 410-878-2252. Or, if you are
in Nicaragua, our phone number is:
011-505-532-3284 or (cell) 850-5073.
Ministerio Mateo 5:16 is located at: Casa Mateo, BDF 1 ½
cuadras al oeste, Jinotepe, Carazo, Nicaragua.
If you would like to visit us in Jinotepe or volunteer your
time, please write to us and we will tell you about our
facilities.
Statement of Faith
1. We believe that the Bible, in its entirety in the
original writings, is the inspired, inerrant, infallible and
authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe in one God, eternally existent in three
persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His
virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His
vicarious death and the atonement through His shed blood, in
His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand
of the Father, and in His imminent personal return in power
and glory.
4. We believe that, for the salvation of lost and sinful
man, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ provides the only
grounds for justification.
5. We believe in the regenerating ministry of the Holy
Spirit by whose power the Christian is enabled to live a
godly life.
6. We believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection
of the body and life eternal.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of the Church, which is
the body of Christ, composed of all who are regenerated
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. We believe in the reality of heaven, hell and Satan,
which gives urgency to Christ’s command to reach all of the
world with the Gospel.
See
Photos of Nicaragua here
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