ROACH, Mo. (ABP) — Discovering women and children living near or in a trash dump on the edge of Guatemala City to scavenge for food to eat or items to sell for food, Carol Bercian, who served for many years as the Guatemala Baptist Convention's director of children's ministries and coordinator of international partnerships, decided to respond.
Carol Bercian (left), founder of Tabitha Ministry in Guatemala City, displays items women who live in or near the city dump make to earn a living. (Bill Webb photo)
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Four years later she ministers primarily through Tabitha Ministry, but she continues as partnership liaison with Churchnet, formerly the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. She spoke recently at a mission banquet at Windermere Baptist Conference Center in the United States that raised nearly $10,000 to help the ministry continue.
The ministry provides a safe place for children while their mothers search the dump. Currently, about 75 children receive two meals and a snack each day and early childhood education to prepare them for school.
Tabitha Ministry also reaches out to the women, many of whom have been abused or involved in prostitution. Some have been rescued from human trafficking. Many women have come to Christ and participate in discipleship training the ministry offers. They also are offered job-skills training, such as sewing, carving and jewelry-making.
"While we may not be able to get rid of poverty, we are able to give them what they need — the love of Christ," Bercian said through Gary Snowden, who translated for her.
Churchnet has concentrated its efforts in western Guatemala, primarily through leadership training with pastors and in helping churches minister to their neighborhoods.
Annual meeting participants responded to the challenge to raise $10,000 for continuing ministry in Guatemala. By Saturday morning, they had given or pledged $9,520. Funds donated above the goal in the weeks ahead will be earmarked for the Tabitha Ministry. Bercian also raised money by offering the Guatemalan women's craft items at the convention meeting.
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Vicki Brown is associate editor of Word and Way.