AGAPE
Vision
AGAPE exists to edify the body of Christ in areas of difficult access within Guatemala. To this end, they work to empower the leaders of local congregations through Biblical and Christian training so that they may in turn impact their respective communities.
AGAPE exists to edify the body of Christ in areas of difficult access within Guatemala. To this end, they work to empower the leaders of local congregations through Biblical and Christian training so that they may in turn impact their respective communities.
Current Activities
Based on material from the local seminary SETECA, AGAPE has developed a four year program for church leaders in the rural Ixil region. This curriculum is designed to provide each student with a strong understanding of Biblical theology and leadership, along with the ability to administrate and grow their respective communities.
To maximize impact, AGAPE offers their program in three towns simultaneously. Though the towns chosen are as centralized as possible, both the students and teachers have to travel hours over Guatemala’s mountainous terrain for the monthly courses. The level of dedication shown by the students has been incredible, with only a handful having ever dropped out of the program since its initiation.
Once a group of students have finished the curriculum, AGAPE’s teachers continue to follow up with them on a rotating monthly basis for an additional two years. This allows AGAPE to both serve its alumni while simultaneously starting new branches of the monthly program in new towns.
Upon graduation, each student is awarded a diploma in Biblical Studies, and is well equipped to lead their communities. This is in no small part due to the stress the program places on the importance of cooperation and reconciliation in fostering growth. From this, AGAPE has seen tremendous stories of success. Here are just some of them:
Based on material from the local seminary SETECA, AGAPE has developed a four year program for church leaders in the rural Ixil region. This curriculum is designed to provide each student with a strong understanding of Biblical theology and leadership, along with the ability to administrate and grow their respective communities.
To maximize impact, AGAPE offers their program in three towns simultaneously. Though the towns chosen are as centralized as possible, both the students and teachers have to travel hours over Guatemala’s mountainous terrain for the monthly courses. The level of dedication shown by the students has been incredible, with only a handful having ever dropped out of the program since its initiation.
Once a group of students have finished the curriculum, AGAPE’s teachers continue to follow up with them on a rotating monthly basis for an additional two years. This allows AGAPE to both serve its alumni while simultaneously starting new branches of the monthly program in new towns.
Upon graduation, each student is awarded a diploma in Biblical Studies, and is well equipped to lead their communities. This is in no small part due to the stress the program places on the importance of cooperation and reconciliation in fostering growth. From this, AGAPE has seen tremendous stories of success. Here are just some of them:
PUBLIC WORKS IN CHEL
In the town of Chel, 12 pastors formed an association after completing the Pastoral Program. Due to denominational differences, they had refused to work together previously. Since completing the program, these 12 pastors have repeatedly joined together to create community outreach programs and have collaborated on multiple public works projects.
ASSOCIATION OF PASTORS IN ILOM
Similarly, after completing the program a pastor in the town of Ilom chose to actively lead the creation of an Association of Pastors. Currently 15 pastors are involved in the growing Association, and 8 of them are graduates of AGAPE’s Pastoral Program. With the help of some of his colleagues, that same pastor is also overseeing the creation of a steadily growing theological library in his home.
RECONCILIATION IN ILOM
Also near Ilom, two pastors and their respective congregations had been in constant conflict for 9 years. Tensions had on more than one occasion come to physical altercations between the two groups. When AGAPE initiated the Ilom branch of their Pastoral Program, one of those two pastors enrolled. After completing it, he independently chose to publically reconcile himself with his rival. Their choice to end the conflict prompted both congregations to reconcile as well, and they have been in co-operation since.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP IN TRAINING
AGAPE also has a program that is very similar in scope to the Pastoral Program, but aimed directly at young people under the age of 23 who have demonstrated leadership in their church. Comprising both Biblical studies and leadership training, the curriculum emphasizes how to care for and disciple youth.
Though a much newer program, AGAPE has already seen success with students from the town of Ilom. Graduates from there have already begun to do their own outreach to even more remote villages, focusing on the youth.
Though a much newer program, AGAPE has already seen success with students from the town of Ilom. Graduates from there have already begun to do their own outreach to even more remote villages, focusing on the youth.
History
AGAPE was founded in 1976 by Don Donaldson. Don, a pilot and evangelist from Texas, came to Guatemala with his family in 1966 as a missionary. They came during the early stages of Guatemala’s civil war, which began in 1960 and had claimed tens of thousands of lives by its end in 1996.
In the midst of that conflict, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck on February 4, 1976. Between the war and the then-common adobe-style construction, the aftermath was devastating and aid to many rural areas was greatly hindered. In response, Donaldson used his plane to fly to areas unreachable by road transport. His flights provided key life support to isolated communities damaged by the earthquake.
This experience led Donaldson and his family to found AGAPE (Guatemalan Aerial Association for Edification), with the purpose of reaching areas of difficult access with the gospel and providing emergency medical flights. In the late 1970s, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) began to partner with AGAPE. They aided the growing organization by providing technical support for the aircraft and training in leadership.
In 1982, Ludin Reyes, a Guatemalan pilot and the longtime director and visionary of AGAPE, began to fly with AGAPE and MAF. During this time the violence of the civil war had intensified. Human Rights groups have estimated that between 30-40 Guatemalans were killed every day during this time period. At the heart of this conflict was the geographical area of Quiché. This part of Guatemala served as the base for many of the guerrilla forces and was intensely contested during this time. As a result, churches and schools were devastated.
Ludin’s role was crucial in reaching out to the Quiché communities where North American MAF pilots were heavily distrusted by the guerrilla forces. The close relationships Ludin built during this volatile time began the foundations that still impact AGAPE’s programs in those areas to this day. In 2015, Eri Alas became the Director of Agape. He first joined as a volunteer aviation mechanic and quickly became a key developer and teacher in the Pastoral and Youth training programs. Today, he continues Agape’s vision of community-based, Christian leadership training.
HOPE’s partnership with AGAPE began in the mid 1990s as the civil war came to a close. Since then, HOPE has worked with AGAPE to develop biblical and leadership programs for pastors, Sunday school teachers, and youth leaders. HOPE also provides AGAPE with resources, financial support, and an office training center in Guatemala City.
AGAPE was founded in 1976 by Don Donaldson. Don, a pilot and evangelist from Texas, came to Guatemala with his family in 1966 as a missionary. They came during the early stages of Guatemala’s civil war, which began in 1960 and had claimed tens of thousands of lives by its end in 1996.
In the midst of that conflict, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck on February 4, 1976. Between the war and the then-common adobe-style construction, the aftermath was devastating and aid to many rural areas was greatly hindered. In response, Donaldson used his plane to fly to areas unreachable by road transport. His flights provided key life support to isolated communities damaged by the earthquake.
This experience led Donaldson and his family to found AGAPE (Guatemalan Aerial Association for Edification), with the purpose of reaching areas of difficult access with the gospel and providing emergency medical flights. In the late 1970s, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) began to partner with AGAPE. They aided the growing organization by providing technical support for the aircraft and training in leadership.
In 1982, Ludin Reyes, a Guatemalan pilot and the longtime director and visionary of AGAPE, began to fly with AGAPE and MAF. During this time the violence of the civil war had intensified. Human Rights groups have estimated that between 30-40 Guatemalans were killed every day during this time period. At the heart of this conflict was the geographical area of Quiché. This part of Guatemala served as the base for many of the guerrilla forces and was intensely contested during this time. As a result, churches and schools were devastated.
Ludin’s role was crucial in reaching out to the Quiché communities where North American MAF pilots were heavily distrusted by the guerrilla forces. The close relationships Ludin built during this volatile time began the foundations that still impact AGAPE’s programs in those areas to this day. In 2015, Eri Alas became the Director of Agape. He first joined as a volunteer aviation mechanic and quickly became a key developer and teacher in the Pastoral and Youth training programs. Today, he continues Agape’s vision of community-based, Christian leadership training.
HOPE’s partnership with AGAPE began in the mid 1990s as the civil war came to a close. Since then, HOPE has worked with AGAPE to develop biblical and leadership programs for pastors, Sunday school teachers, and youth leaders. HOPE also provides AGAPE with resources, financial support, and an office training center in Guatemala City.