Dominican Republic Evangelical Campaign

Crieve Hall Church of ChristMarch 17th-24th, 2013

Purpose• To edify the members of four congregations

northwest of Santo Domingo• To bring Spanish speaking non-Dominican

leaders to a leadership conference• To do puppet shows and other activities for

the local children• To have specific classes for women• To learn how the Dominicans live, work, and

go about performing their ministry

Team Members• Team Members in the Campaign

• John, Judy, Justin & Jacob Hammond• Jacabo & Marcela Chalco• Tracy “Girl” Blair• Courtney Walton• Toni Tarole• Joel Boone• Julio Estrada – flew in from Costa Rica

group at the airport ready to go

Leaving Nashville on Sunday

Julio Estrada, former Crieve Hall member, joined us from Costa Rica

Missionaries

• Pueblo Nuevo • Edilio & Inez de los Santos• Emiliano & Gisela Roble

• Los Americanos• Pedro & Reina Vasquez• Eulalio & Sara Mejia• Rafael Urbaez

• Valle Encantado• Luis Matos*• Esaul Urbaez*

• Cotui• Natalio & Idalia de los Santos• Francisco Vasquez

*not supported by Crieve Hall

The Average Dominican – blue can is for non- potable water used for bathing or flushing the toilet

• Average laborer makes less that $200 a month• Hourly wage may project to $600 on an American work week, but consistent

employment is the problem• Minimum wage for non-agriculture workers is $130 in the free trade zones• Minimum wage for non-agriculture workers is $120-190 outside free trade zones• Public sector employees make less, maybe $70 a month• Agriculture workers can expect $4 a day, $2.50 for sugar cane• Our missionaries are making about 4-6 times the average

Notes on Compensation

• Rent runs $5000 to 7500 pesos a month or $130-$200

• The average person does not own a car, but they are a valuable tool, transportation limited

• Gas is at $6 a gallon• Food prices are much lower, but they eat less

and never eat out: $200 for a family• Utilities will run $40 for electricity, $20 for water,

$20 for television, do not have lots of clothes• Missionaries are very comfortable, and wages

are sufficient; they are saving money• 1 person with a decent income supports as

many as 8-10 individuals

Cost of Living

A unique blend of European, African, and Native American

Dominican children

typical Dominican houses

Typical Dominican houses

Chuch of Christ in Los Rieles – many churches meet in shacks

Sunday evening - Monday• Sunday

• eat dinner with the main group• ½ group attends church at Pueblo Nuevo• ½ group attends church at Los Americanos

• Monday• Bought food and some basic supplies• Julio & Jacobo attended preacher’s

conference at Pueblo Nuevo• Visited “shut-in” members of Pueblo Nuevo

including Bro. Mercedes• Tracy and Marcela teach women’s classes in

the afternoon upstairs• Puppet show downstairs for 120 kids

house where we all stayed

lodging for campaigners

kitchen for campaigners

Pueblo Nuevo• Congregation of 45 members• Ownership of building is secure with title• Crieve Hall has provided about $16,000 of

assistance on the building• Building appears to be a good investment• Classrooms and divisions of groups such as

women, younger vs. older children, and new believers are very important to church growth

• Building is quite stout, but 2nd floor still lacks, windows, electricity, plumbing, and paint

• Crieve Hall is not quick to invest in buildings, but there are no options to rent nor are there open fields; homes can hold only about 30

Edilio de los Santos

• baptized in 1974, supported by Crieve Hall since 1985

• Established several churches with father, Santo Vasquez & brother, Pedro Vasquez

• 58 yrs old, in good health• 2nd oldest of 14 children• educated at Baxter• caretaker of vehicle

purchased by Crieve Hall• Married to Inez, not pictured

Emiliano Roble & wife, Gisela

• performs the work of a deacon

• capable teacher

• splits preaching with Edilio

• wife is on dialysis

Men gather for preacher’s conference

Church in March 2012

Church in March 2012

Church in November 2012

Unfinished but much improved interior – March 2013

Joel discusses puppet show scripts with Sara, Benjamin, and Carlos

From the roof of Pueblo Nuevo

Sisters who prepared lunch

Toddler falls asleep on Judy’s shoulder

Some women and children from the congregation with CH ladies

- roasted chicken*- bell peppers- rice - potatoes- tomatoes & onions- lettuce & mayo garnish- plantains

Monday lunch

*typical Dominican chicken marinated in a mojo of sour orange juice and smothered in oregano

Tracy teaches the women in 2nd floor of Pueblo Nuevo

Marcela starts her class

120 kids show up an hour early for puppet shows and class

conference breaks in evening

Some of the men after conference – attendance @ 40

Visiting “shut-ins” in Pueblo Nuevo; Roman Mercedes (left) helped teach at church, but now has kidney cancer

TuesdayValle Encantado (Enchanted Valley)

• Distributed literature in the morning• Had puppet show, bible class and singing for

no fewer than 235 children• Tracy & Marcela evangelized the women of

the community in bible classes• Socialized with members of the community

including some impromptu baseball• At night 2 hour praise and worship service

with Julio preaching an invitational message

Valle Encantado

Luis Matos & Esaul Urbaez

Luis Matos

• educated through Baxter correspondence courses

• very capable speaker• Congregation 4 yrs old• Has had at 17 baptisms

in 2012• Making in roads with

young men of the community

• Works a great deal with Edilio and Pedro

• not supported by CH

On a hazy morning Esaul door knocks in Valle Encantado

Rafael & Judy about to door knock; white man next to Judy is Martin Cerneus, a Dutch Christian who lives part of the year in the D.R.

Tuesday lunch: Sancocho – typical Dominican Three Meat Stew

Julio gets ready to do puppets; Rafael hugs his niece

235 kids watch a puppet show in a church smaller than this room

Toni surrounded by children

Team members, missionaries, and some VE members at sunset

Evening service at Valle Encantado

WednesdayFree Day – Colonial Zone

• Worn out from the heat and lack of sleep• Went to la zona colonial in Santo Domingo• Ate lunch at a local restaurant; relaxed• Did some shopping and walking• Ate a light dinner• ½ group attends church at Pueblo Nuevo• ½ group attends church at Los Americanos• Jacobo spoke at Pueblo Nuevo

Downtown Santo Domingo

Downtown Santo Domingo

on the shoreline

Old Cathedral from 1500’s

Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo

Simple $6 buffet – good, but not the Dominican home cooking

strolling the old square

Wednesday evening worship / ½ group to Los Americanos

Wed. eve: ½ group g to Pueblo Nuevo; Emiliano’s grandson thanks Crieve Hall for the Magi boxes

ThursdayCotui – hill town in the Cibao

• Morning commute took 2 hours• Met with missionaries and saw local lake

and countryside, and ate lunch• Distributed literature in Varrio La Cruz, a

section of Cotui• Performed puppet show for 40 local kids• Returned for dinner at Natalio’s house• Had singing and puppets for 160 kids• Had worship outside in the street with Julio

speaking; campaign continued Fri & Sat.

Natalio’s rented house in Cotui

Cotui• 35 years old but has 30 members• attrition is a huge problem• Impoverished, few men• well-to-do often move away for jobs• no public transportation; • church on edge of town• has produced evangelists• core group perseveres

Cotui – Nov 2011

Cotui – Nov, 2012

inside of Cotui church –chairs removed

outside class space on north side

Francisco Vasquez

• Baxter graduate• Speaks best

English of group• Very intelligent• Single with no

plans to marry• Would like to start

radio ministry; this is still a viable medium in the DR

Natalio de los Santos & wife,Idalia Vasquez

• Both Baxter graduates• Have 3 school aged children• Natalio could be an elder in 10 years

Presa Hatilo – back side of 2nd largest dam in the Caribbean

Lago Hatilo - the lake

views from the dam

Door-knocking in Cotui

Just a shack, but well-maintained

girl sits outside her house

Puppet show behind educational building

Puppet show behind educational building

Kids waiting for puppet show

children watching puppet show in Cotui

Joel Boone with Cotui’s 1st baptism of 35 years ago, America Mosqueo (age 97) – her grandson Christian Cruz is supported by North Jackson coC

Worship Service in Cotui

Hotel in Cotui – good for $12.50

FridayLos Americanos – Day 1

• Came back from Cotui• Los Americanos is called such because it is

home to a hospital established by American pentecostals; relatively new area.

• Ate a lunch that was pura dominicana• In the afternoon Marcela and Tracy spoke to

women of the congregation and community• Men distributed literature in the meantime• Round table discussion regarding

maintaining orderly worship & bible classes• Two hour worship service where Julio spoke

to 165-180 in attendance

Coming back from Cotui

typical road side vendor

Nursery of Martin de los Santos

Pedro Vasquez & wife, Reyna;Benjamin & Jazmin

• Full sponsorship started in 2012, • Pulpit minister and Baxter grad• Helped grow congregation to 175 in 12 years

Eulalio Mejia & wife, Sara

• Both Baxter grads• Eulalio is like their Mike Baker• Taking some courses in counseling• Sara works with the 60 or so children that

come every Sunday to Los Americanos

Rafael Urbaez

• 42 years old• Pedro’s “right hand”• No formal theological

training, but well studied• wife abandoned him with

5 kids; 3 live with him, 2 live in foster home,

• Suffered lead poisoning and unable to do difficult labor, but helps the church a great deal

Los Americanos• 175 members, attendance 200+• will give $35,000 to help expand building• will be able to complete 1st floor and

prepare for but not complete 2nd floor• net gain from last year +10• Dealing with some attrition, but had 20

souls baptized last year• Very constrained by space• cannot acquire field or rent auditorium• only feasible option is to build• members need to contribute

Women’s class at Los Americanos

Women’s class at Los Americanos

roundtable discussion on classes, maintaining orderly worship, etc…

more home visits and distribution

Friday evening worship @ 165

Saturday

Los Americanos – Day 2• puppet show and Bible class for 200 kids• Attended four baptisms at river• Visited Rafael’s house• Distributed literature and made home visits

with the local missionaries• Socialized with missionaries and members

of the congregations; fellowship meals• Had a 2 hour worship service where Jacobo

spoke to about 260; worshipped in the street

Pedro baptizing Eulalio & Sara’s daughter

Pedro baptizing Eulalio & Sara’s daughter

La Casa de Rafael

La Casa de Rafael

COCONUTS!!!

COCONUTS!!!

Coconuts @ La Casa de Rafael

Edilio’s House (rental)

Jacobo saying goodbye to Julio as he leaves early to return home

more home visits and distribution

Santo Vasquez (85) & wife, Maria de los Santos (80), parents of Edilio, Pedro, & Sara

• Responded to radio broadcast in 1973 • Founded congregation in Zambrana near Cotui• Had 15 kids, 10 of which are in the church, along with

dozens of grandchildren

light Friday dinner – lots of rice

Saturday evening worship @ 260

• Help then place elders in each of these congregations within 3-4 years

• Understand why congregations level off at 40-50 members; multiple buildings?

• Help them address attrition – retention is more difficult than baptism

• Insist that they start some sort of preacher training school or organized curriculum

• Have them plant additional churches• Consider supplementing their work through

radio broadcasts and literature

Challenges

new friends

Team Members• Needs – wish list

• $100 more per/mo – Rafael Urbaez• $100 more per/mo – Emiliano Roble• $400 per month for Luis Matos• contribute more for building fund 2014

Budget