Witness

“My name is Adrian and I’ve been a Project Joel volunteer for many years in the Province of Chiriqui. I currently live in Puerto Armuelles, and I’ll never forget all the training received with this project, which I think is the most comprehensive training I have received in a spiritual level. As my fellow volunteers say “We worked like dogs” but the greatest satisfaction is that we do for God. Currently, I’m a fifth year student at a high school and a Sunday school teacher. 

The Bible studies of Christ for all Nations have been very useful for children and young people to come to the Lord and thus to the church. I really enjoy this labor but the Christmas Tour is the most I love. This tour had been divided in three parts: the collection of toys and the program development, which I supported, and two evangelistic follow-up activities during January. 

My Christian life started studying a CPTLN Bible course, “Towards a New Life”. I met the Lord Jesus in the classroom and through the counseling, today I attend to the church I want to be a successful professional. God bless all of you. “

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Axel Medrano.- I come from the province of Bocas del Toro (farthest from the city), I moved to Panama City to finish my studies in high school. It kept me alone and away from my family, which affected me much. Thanks to Project Joel, I got involved, along with a group of young people, in Gloria Dei Lutheran Church located in Los Andes. Then, for reasons of work and my studies in college, I had the opportunity to travel to different places where I’ve been sharing the seed of hope that Jesus sowed in me through the years I supported the ministry. 

Today, I have a beautiful wife and a fantastic girl; working as manager of a sailing ship allowing me to travel around the world. 

God has been good to me and I have gone through different experiences as facing the death, but the Lord has always been by my side. Even today I have yet storybooks, booklets and materials Project Joel gave me, which I reread forever.  

Thank you for the little seed of faith planted into me and this new life in Christ.

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Antonio - My name is Antonio and I’m a Project Joel volunteer and presenter. I have been involved in the tours to schools, especially at my school. I do not participate in drama, or singing, or with the puppets, I’m a presenter (as a Master of Ceremonies). I used to think to be presenter only to stand out from other young people, perhaps without malicious intent, just wanted to be the most important of the students and tried to shine in front of my peers.

In the last devotional in which I participated, shared a thought that I liked. The reflection that he spoke publicly to present great personalities must first go through a number of steps you must meet many requirements and learn about the person who is being introduced, and I wanted to meet the presidents, kings or of great artists. Today, after meeting my Savior through His Word, rather than introduce Project Joel, I present Jesus Christ, and now I know that of all personalities, He is the most important. I learned a lot about Him in devotions and Bible studies, also from Christ For All Nations booklets, and now I understand the importance and value of Jesus in my life. When I introduce Him, I am proud to present Him very well.

On November 27 the “Student Day” was celebrated in Panama and during the day some students are chosen for their good grades and behavior to replace a teacher or professor. I was Professor of Music and Project Joel Coordinator.
I studied the Bible Course “Towards a New Life”, and will be participating in the Christmas Campaign Project organized by Joel.

Thanks to the Word of God I can truly know Him, and I advise the boys of my age that if they play to present or talk about Jesus, they have to know, love and learn a lot from Him, first. This was certainly my case. May God bless you.

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Aurora.- “Hello to all, my name is Aurora, a mother of two beautiful boys. Currently, I’m studying at the University a career on Orientation. Right now, I’m in my season of Professional Practice and this is where I started a dumbbell with Christ For All Nations, especially with Project Joel. 

As a mother, the videos and Project Joel’s materials have been much benefit to my children’s education. The booklets they received in the school are used as a reading and study session in family; my kids always are watching the videos over and over again. Gradually, Christian values ​​were seeping into my family and one day my sons asked me to go to the church where we had been invited to watch the film of El Pastorcito during Christmas. I concluded, as a mother and teacher, that the best way to learn the true values ​​was through the Church. 

I used to be a very sad and depressed easily, and after the death of my husband in a terrible accident this was my way of being. This began to change when I started a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, with my Savior Jesus Christ. 

Today, I develop my Professional Practice and I’ve got many copies of the booklet History of Creation. I will use these ones to teach children and graduate them. This latest booklet on disasters will be used with other educators and bring the message of God. “

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José Daniel.- My name is José Daniel, I am a student of eighth grade and Professor Susana Pérez, who developed the program Project Joel, is the counselor of my group. In the past, I was not interested on the advice from teachers, and I just wanted to look like the guys older than me, but they were not a good model, but some of them impressed me for the bad things they did and that made them look strong. Those guys live in the community where I live.

Thanks to the message of Jesus, who is strong and good than anyone, my thinking changed. Today, I am thirteen years old and I believe I am an excellent student and a contributor to the Christian cause. It gives me joy that my Sunday School teacher is also a professor at my school, not all young people have that privilege. So I say I get two Christian teaching, because at school also learn about Moses, Abraham, Samson and especially about Jesus, our Savior.

At home, my parents are happy with this and I want to keep learning more and taking my friends to the Church where the Teacher Franco teaches the Word of God. “

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“I am a Superhero“, Luis Tuñón.

Every day I learn more. I like the songs and I’m especially involved with the puppets. I am really very shy but that is gone from me removed. When I studied the history of the book “Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber” I discovered that I can be a superhero and I realized that Jesus thinks that I’m important. So, I feel I can speak without fear. I’ve talked about this to my parents and they are happy; also they want to accompany me to the church and Christian activities of the school.

I can be a superhero to help, share and serve others. Christ has made me a superhero.

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Nelson Araúz.- “God has done great things for me and I bear witness to this. I’m encouraged to talk to you because I know that you will use it to bring glory to God and share it with the people who will rejoice with it.  

At thirteen years old, I started to be part of Project Joel in my school IPT from San Miguelito, where the Principal was the Professor Luz Torres. She invited me to be part of the project and introduced me to Franco, Joseph and Gabriel, who now are my best friends and brothers in Christ.  

My life was facing many changes since we arrived from Chiriquí Province (at Panama’s border with Costa Rica) and moved to “New Libya”, a town in San Miguelito, where people in extreme poverty lived. Because of family conflicts our mother had to leave home and our dad could not take care of us, so as the greatest of all, I got to take care of the family. 

With only thirteen years, all this was too difficult for me. But God never abandoned me. I can not explain how, but we always had food and never miss a roof, but I confess that we had moments of great need.  

All my brothers (we are four) went so fine with the social work at school and Project Joel’s activities. I confess that the two youngest children learned to read memorizing the story of “Red Boots for Christmas”. Professor Luz supplied us with a subsidy covering school fees and Joseph and Gabriel gave us a monthly support from their own money. I made presentations in my free time where we presented videos and distributed booklets of Christ for All Nations.  

I am convinced that all of these moved me away from all the bad things and risks on the streets, but the most important is that led me to approach the Bible, faith and prayer.  

Today, Professor Torres is so proud to introduce me as one of her most successful students and all for the glory of God.  

I graduated from high school and I’m studying at the university. Actually, I’m 22 years and working in the emergency room of Santo Tomas Hospital. I’m a musician in the church and my goal is to become a missionary of Jesus.  

Now my dad lives with us and we learned a lot about forgiveness and the new life in Christ. I’m committed to support the social work at Sin Fronteras School, and this year I represented Project Joel during the parades during the national celebrations.  

Please pray for us and this great task of volunteering, the word of God is being preached through this labor, and the lives of many young people also are impacted”.

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Professor Marta Quintero.- “Our students have been very grateful for all the support received by the Project Joel. We have a full year of exposure of videos, specialized presentations and social work. In the past month several social works were developed. A group of students was prepared and presented puppet theaters, dramas and songs, which expressed everything he learned on Christian values. This caught my attention and I was surprised, because the students here are a special population with a high percentage of families with no father figure, and I thought that it was very difficult getting a change. Apart from, many students who come here have been discarded from the education system and this is their last opportunity to get an education. 

But we also have excellent students and have done a wonderful fusion with Project Joel, where what stand out are the Christian values. 

A strategy that we made to complement this work was the daily Bible readings, as other schools are developing, using the strategy that Joel has been making. We have been three months in this task. 60 young people studied, for two months, the Bible study “Towards a New Life” and “The Power of Prayer”. Both of them were completed. 

With much joy I can say that I am one of the most impacted by the word of God. The daily reading allowed me to better understand what the Lord wanted from me through this experience. I changed my way of looking at young people and today I look at them with hope and the desire that God continues changing their lives. 

For first time, we will have a mass graduation of students who had completed a full workshop of Christian values. 

With all these blessings, I have no doubt that our school has been blessed.” 

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Testimony of Vielka Caceres. Vielka is a fifth-grade teacher and she tells us: “God has blessed me with a group of students who have been a challenge to my profession as a teacher. My students came from dysfunctional homes, coming from high risk neighborhoods in social, academic training problems, especially difficulties to recognize and accept their authorities. With this picture many people can wonder why I say I have been blessed.

On June, Project Joel gave recognition for being the teacher with the group that most voluntary social work has been done. From my group have left the specialists in the puppet drama of “Billy and his friends,” the queen of black ethnicity and the queen of the school. All of them belong to my group. Anthony Sanchez was one of my more restless and somewhat rebellious students; but now he become the child with more hours of volunteer work helping children in schools around this school.

Let me make it clear that from the beginning of school year and the presentation of this award have spent many hours training, learning and ultimately, much prayer.

Of course God has blessed me. With this recognition the Principal of this school also stated that our labor is having success. During this year we have all been growing and improving. With these booklets: “Your best Lifeguard”, “Climate Change”, “My Book of Creation” and especially with the reading of the Bible once a week, all we have learned to walk in faith and grace of God. Children have been committed with churches in their communities, and on Sundays we are inviting them to go to church to receive God’s message. For my part, I am so grateful. The Bible given to me as a prize is the best recognition given to me because, it helps me to confirm that we are walking in the things of God. “ 

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Antony Sanchez. – I am an important member of Project Joel. Since I was in first grade, my brother Eivar invited me to Project Joel and, although I was not interested because there were other things that attracted me like games and gangs in the neighborhood. 

I accompany him anyway just to bother him and the first thing that happened was I got a prize for a job with the booklet “My first book of advices”. That motivated me greatly because someone was interested on me and I realized that I was important for Jesus. 

Today, thanks to the dedication and persistence of many people, I’m a volunteer of Project Joel and helped them during the Family Week. We had presentations in several schools and at my school. Today, I am getting another award for my efforts working with puppets. One of the most important things have happened to me is that I won a Bible that try to read every day. Whenever Project Joel is in my classroom I like to participate, but the better are the songs and games. 

During Holy Week I really enjoyed the stories of Jesus and the prayers made by all, especially when we take the presentation to the church where I am attending now. Thanks to Jesus, who now I share for being my Savior. 

In the photo: Karina Campos (Assistant Professor of the school), Antony Sanchez in the center and left, Guillermo Vargas. Professor Karina says, “Since fifteen years ago I know Project Joel and what I’m surprised by the interest that this work draws on children, on the Lord. As part of the directive of the campus, I will give the green light to continue bringing the Word of God who has blessed us all. “

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Carlos Rodriguez is a child of eight years; he is in third grade of his school and has become a Superhero. After several weeks we were dealing with the theme of “Climate Change” and our commitment as Christians, we proposed to the children present their own ideas to the problem. Brainstorming were: from intergalactic speeches to organizations to protest groups, or to act and educate everyone. But the award of this task was for Carlos, who presented the idea that the appropriate people to take action, make the change and care for God’s creation are we. 

He proposed in his task: “I am a superhero to change the situation because God gave me super strength Intelligence and friends to save the world and Jesus saved and I rescued me and gave me super powers to rescue and bring the message of Salvation to all. I want to begin with all the kids in my school, then with my parents, my neighbors and then everyone in the world. “For two weeks, Carlos presented with the group of students the puppets with dramas, dynamics and songs that were liked by everyone. It must be said that he along with the whole group were children selected as group that “needed to improve its behavior,” becoming a good example for everyone. Professor Militza Torres, Campus Director told us “It’s really a very good strategy to involve these children in the task of bringing God’s message. There is no doubt that the word of God improves them and benefits the whole school. “Yes, Carlos is a superhero, God has called us to do great things. Glory to our Lord for all.

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Sergeant Yorkibel Solana. -I am mother and police, two special tasks that I have managed to carry them out. I work in the Social Work Department of the Transit Police and through Lic. Nelkis Mena, I had previously participated in Project Joel presentations, but in this case, when I heard the theme of self-esteem in the family and Wendy’s testimony about her child, I felt motivated to put Christian principles into practice in my 13 year old daughter. My daughter had a problem of self-esteem by the crisis of the early teens and encouraged her to participate together in the Games workshop for children of police, in which Project Joel has a great contribution. Discovering the value of the Word of God and Christian principles, my relationship with my daughter has changed and has been a blessing. God grant that others may have the opportunity to approach the Lord through these presentations, which are certainly more than an orientation; they are like a meeting with our God.  Thank you.

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Jose Arcia.- My name is Jose Arcia and I am a professor at the Panamanian Institute for Special Capabilities (IPHE in Spanish). I have great visual limitations and my problem is degenerative. This has led me to train in rehabilitation centers for the blind as the “Patronato Luz del Ciego” (Blind’s Light Patronage) in Panama. I learned basic things about using the computer and I have made it my profession. 

This rehabilitation center also had the good fortune to meet and make friends of Project Joel volunteers. They, like other volunteers, helped us to read and transcribe Braille (writing for the blind) many books and educational materials. The volunteer Danilo, blind mate, gave me a portion of the New Testament in Braille produced by a printing Lutheran in the U.S. Project Joel volunteers continue providing me these copies in Braille, and also they recorded on cassette tapes, with their own voices, interesting CPTLN booklets that have been of invaluable help to me. 

Today, as a professor in the IPHE, I have welcomed the proposed to study with my students (those who wish to participate) the Bible study “Towards a new life” and the first step is to record the audio of these studies. These Bible studies will be of great help and blessing to my students and prepare me for Easter and for life here and beyond. To God be the glory and I can sing the verses of the old hymn that I learned recently: “Oh, sing again, beautiful words of life, are my light and my guide, which are beautiful, they are beautiful, beautiful words of life”.

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Mr. Eduardo Espinosa.- My name is Eduardo Espinosa and I am captain of the Police in Panama City and I have long been a volunteer of Project Joel. Ten 10 years ago I went to the ministry’s office with a group of fellow students of the police career. I noted the contents of the booklets. I studied with them the Bible in a Saturday study group and I became a distributor of CPTLN booklets.  Honestly, that became part of my life. 

In recent years I was suffering an illness that has started to dry my bones and limit my body mobility. This affection depressed me. I experienced many treatments and I isolated myself from the things I used to do. I needed a lot God’s help, and thanks to the prayers and support of many Christians that I knew through the project. 

Today I rejoined my work and I returned to the offices of the ministry to confirm my decision to continue being a volunteer and to distribute the booklets and Bible studies. 

Right now, I am helping my mother, who is a leader in a Christian church near our house, to develop a Summer Bible School which includes boys from the streets. As the police that I am, I know all the logistics of keeping the order and discipline of these guys. I asked the support of the Project Joel and they moved to present videos and develop a good Bible program. Our hope is that these guys continue attending the church. Before this invitation, they and their parents were not related to any church. 

During the week, 112 children received our program and we prayed so that the Lord continues helping them to grow on Him. In my workspace I’m also going to become a contributor to the cause of Christ. Being volunteer of CPTLN has inspired me to be strong and face the challenges of life. May God bless you always”. 

* Eduardo Espinosa (yellow t-shirt man)

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Ana López – This is the testimony of one of the students who participated in the campaign Red Boots for Christmas, where we bring the stories of the Red Boots and presented the video to all children in the schools. The children received candies, prizes and the storybook of the Red Boots. The message of God’s love, sharing and helping others was sung, hummed and experienced by all children. In that magical moment we presented the boot full of gifts and explained to children the message that Jesus is God’s gift to mankind, with Him in our hearts we are bearers of eternal life. There were shouts of joy, some children cried, the joy was really great, but especially for Anna who says: 

“I had read the story in primary school, the video on VHS gave me illusions, but that time passed and I went into the busy life of high school. I had not God present in my daily life, only at special times. Actually I’m in fourth year academic course and as part of Project Joel; I enlisted in “The campaign of Red Boots for Christmas.” It was the task of finding sponsors, among students of secondary school for children from Loma Cova. Each sponsor would give a Christmas gift to a child in particular. All the gifts were put into a big red boot the day of the event, after a day of weeks leading to Christmas stories and children’s videos.  

“In the Guidance Department, with Project Joel, I have lived the recent days with a lot joy and happiness, I became a child. The labor as volunteer to collect toys, prepare and deliver them has filled me with excitement for me and my friends. I can say that boot helped me to understand the true meaning of Christmas, first as a child and now as a teenager. Above all the message has reached the bottom of my heart, Jesus is my best gift and share Him with others is the best thing that has happened in my life. “ 

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Prof. Maria Sanchez – “Prof. Maria Sanchez works at the Fernando Lesseps High School. Since Project Joel started in this school, Professor Maria has become a devoted helper of God’s message. She says, “I was not a person very interested in the things of the Church but I wanted to help my neighbor. Every year for Christmas with my family I traveled to the indigenous region of Chiriqui for a social trip. This year, during the development of Joel program, many aspects of my life changed. I can speak freely from my heart and my soul, speeches in the classrooms not only carry the message of prevention but also presents and invites young people the message of Jesus.  

One of the first things I noticed was that one can not share Jesus if Jesus is not an integral part of our life. It’s just so when a good teacher can advise and show the right things. I think this is one of the most important lessons learned this year. Now that with Project Joel we are making the campaign “Red Boots for Christmas” for poor children from Loma, I have clearly learned that not only I must take the social message and humanitarian aid but must present the plan of salvation of our God.  

For that reason, when we receive the donation of shoes from CPTLN, for poor children of Chiriqui, we’re going to implement the Christian focus and compare the shoes with the shoes of the Gospel that we should never miss. This has changed the style of our social work as a family and now is an Evangelistic social work. Then, we will detail the results of this experience to celebrate Christmas 2009. Thanks for helping me fit in with the shoes of the Gospel”.

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Professor Betsy Rodriguez. – “This 28th October, the Juvenile Police represented by Sergeant Jose Atencio, Professor Betsy Rodriguez, Counselor, and Project Joel made an agreement to work together with the strategy known as “Mr. Heart”. This trains the Juvenile Police to present messages of Christian values, particularly related to “The Forgiveness” “Respect” and “Solidarity”. 

In the agreement, after a successful work of “Mr. Heart “with hundreds of elementary school children who have received the Gospel through this toy, the officers committed to use our booklets, to seek Christian policemen who present the dynamic of showing a heart damaged by the bad things of this world (sin) and how it feels with all these bad things. Then, he explains how God through Jesus Christ can restore us and make us new. The children, during the course of the dynamic, take Mr. Heart in their arms and talk about their experiences about it. 

For Professor Betsy Rodriguez: “This strategy has helped us greatly to me and the Psycopedagogic  Committee to deal with children. Personally, I have been blessed applying these dynamics to children. I thought of applying it to my own person and I’ve really come to understand that my heart needed the forgiveness of God and that only He could give me a new heart.  

Today, after seeing Project Joel young people developing this dynamics with the children, I feel very excited. That is why I worked in the Juvenile Police to apply it to children at schools where they are working. Thanks to this strategy, many children receive the forgiveness of God in their hearts.”

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Nodier Villarreal.- “My name is Nodier Villarreal and although the last 4 years of my life has been remarkable, not all the time has been as that way. I am involved in Project Joel tasks and I could bear witness to thousands of children in all parts of Panama. I had many difficulties to complete my secondary education due to a serious health problem, I had a “nervous breakdown” because of financial problems of my family and I fell on this great responsibility to help them. Thank God and his mercy he managed to finish high school and even now I interrupted my studies because I am working part time in my free time, but I continue serving with the cause of Jesus in the Project Joel. This month I committed to support the celebrations of the Month of the Bible. This led me to read the Bible in public activities in 10 schools, making video presentations dealing with the Bible and presentations with puppets. My favorite verse is Philippians 4, 13, I’m really happy to belong to this team of volunteer work that God has blessed me and every time I go to church I thank Him in person”. Nodier is Joel team member, participated in the recording of the Video Joel 2007, this year will be awarded as the volunteer N. 1 for having collaborated with certified 375 hours of volunteer work. Through his witness and dedication we have chosen him to participate in the contest “Outstanding Young Persons” of Junior Chamber International Panamá, we thank God for this exemplary young man and helping him in this major health crisis for which he was hospitalized.

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Mr. Jorge Lasso .- My name is Jorge Lasso, may God bless you. For some time now we have worked as volunteers at Project Joel, following the work of my son home with this beautiful ministry. As a Pharmacist in charge of staff training at several venues in the country hospital, I worry to form in all Christian values. I felt a deep call to bring the gospel to every patient in the waiting room and the first step has been close to Joel Draft, present in the waiting rooms, several educational videos with Christian values. This in morning and when the rooms are crammed together to complement training staff and volunteers from Project CPTLN Joel deliver leaflets and carry the message of life. But this does not happen by chance as we have more than a year of training seminars dictate where the Project intervenes capsules Joel Christian messages and leaflets CPTLN delivery, after this season the whole staff is agreeable to the information is carried patients attending the hospital daily. We begin this month and God has been glorified, impressions have been the best for this educational format is innovative and has the best conditions for reading the brochures. The videos begin and end with biblical message.  “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1”. 

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Diana Almendra.- They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31. Hello everyone. Today I’m celebrating the child’s day with the team of Joel and young people in my church. My name is Diana Almendra and I’m member of Joel. About eight years ago, I gave my firsts steps on the road of the Lord. I have grown up as a Christian alongside to the project, thank to the work we have developed I’ve matured in the faith. One of the most beautiful experiences of my life has been to assist in the delivery of thousands of Bibles, especially the giant Bibles of the Panamá Centennial. In this labor, an interest for reading the Bible and applying the scriptures to my life awoke into me. One of the first verses I learned was “Acts 16:31″ and today I discovered that I have a big family and that the Lord has been saving everyone, even my friends. We (connected) followed up on the networks many children, and in the special celebration of the day the child, we got 35 children and youth who have been reached by the Gospel, this is a task that as Christian I have taken in the Christian Church. Now I understand that the fruit in my life is given by the Lord. My dad and my mom attend the church, my sisters know and try to live the Gospel and I am a teacher and leader in the church where I use the CPTLN materials and Project Joel brochures. On Sunday July 12, we celebrated the Child’s Day with games, candies, prizes, gifts and a Christian teaching. We also recognized the work of voluntary youth who carry the Gospel to these children.

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Ailin Sanchez – “During June, we held in Panama, the Month of the Family and the Father’s Day. This year through a special campaign, 316 children from several schools called our office to request a certificate with the following message: “For being the Best Dad in the world.” 

Ailin Sánchez, a 6 years old girl, and a first grade student, listened carefully about the campaign and the day we visited the school with “Mr. Heart” she answered to the question “Do you think your dad is the best in the world?” with the following statement: “My dad is not very good with our family, but Mr. Heart said that our Father God can make us better, and carry us to forgive. So, I want to forgive my dad and I ask the Lord Jesus to help me be the best daughter in the whole world for my family and that this will help my daddy be the best daddy in the world.”  

This month we try to reinforce the family values and encourage parents to have a better communication with their children. Mr. Heart is a plush red heart-shaped that we use as an example and model of the heart of every one of us. Children hug and talk to the Mr. Heart and open their hearts telling him secrets and to talk about spiritual issues. “

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Ana Lopez – “My name is Ana Lopez, 15 years and I study at the high school  and thanks to the Bible study “Towards a new life in Christ”, now I can say that I know who is Jesus in my life.  

At the beginning, when Joel began the program in our classroom, I did not want to get involved because I always thought that I was far from the things of God and that He and I did not have any links.  

After participating in presentations and acted in dramas, I felt that God spoke to me specifically in these biblical stories. The word of God has become important to me and I felt the commitment to attend the church. 

 Not because it is a requirement to be part of “Team Joel,” but because I want to be a better person and succeed in life. Now that God is near me, and understand that in Jesus we are winners, just like the song I dramatized, says! I want that my classmates at school are also winners. God bless you, thanks”.

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Mr. Juan Herrera- “Hello everybody, my name is Juan Herrera and I am very happy to give this testimony of life to this group of educators from different schools in Panama.  

I am a teacher of a sixth grade group in the school where I work and in 2008 we began a task that has produced excellent results.  

With Project Joel we began reading the New Testament as a program whose goal was that the students read the New Testament completely in one academic year. For ten years I’ve been volunteer of Joel and always I was dealing with students from areas of high social risk. At first, I did not understand how the word of God and Christian values taught to a population of students who had grown up without the basic knowledge of the things of God, a population of children without father and who lived with their grandparents and didn’t attend the Church, so it seemed a waste of time.  

The time was passing and I understood that “when the word of God changes me and guides me, then it may serve to guide others through my life”. Not only I read the booklets distributed by Joel to students, I began to read them at home to try to understand them. 

Today, my whole family is involved in things of God and even now I am a teacher in the Church too. I have learned to give priority to spiritual things, before that were not at all important to me. Jesus is a living reality in my life and now I preach with power.

At the school we have the freedom to teach a Christian education. Booklets, videos, training given by Joel had played a decisive role, but above all is the blessed and sacred word of God which has begun to affect educators, students and parents. Last year the entire school celebrated the Bible Week and we could arrange a Biblical Cultural program.

Twelve of my students of sixth grade have begun to attend a church with some of their parents. God does the work. Pray for me and go ahead.”

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Jobed Rodriguez - “I’m Jobed Rodriguez and I recognize that I was a very rebellious student when I started the high school. My “friends” are more interested in delinquency than studying. When I talked, 7 of 10 said words are so bad. I did not take care on my responsibilities and my teachers said that I was a wrong model.

 

There were so difficult times. Some of my friends abandoned the school and some others were arrested by police. I’ve lived hard times for several years but I’m sure the God changed my life.

I’m convinced that God put me in this position, giving me the opportunity to get graduated. He gave me good friends as my professor Dexter, who is part of the orientation commission and volunteer of Project Joel. Joel invited me to be volunteer and present speeches to my classmates. 

 

Today, I’m proud to say that I’m a seventeen Christian boy, I’m part of the musicians of my church, I collaborate and I want to continue working with Joel.   

 

My professor Dexter Reyes participated with Joel in a Christian orientation program to young people in the community of Arraijan, located some hour from Panama City. He and Joel developed several programs and this year presented a conference to high school students of the last level.  

 

I know that God called me to do this job with the style of Project Joel: proclaim His message in every place and opportunity I Have. The Glory belonged to Him.”

 

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Marcial Rios - “My name is Marcial Rios, my wife is Marjorie Rios and we want to give testimony that our son Brayan, only 3 years old boy, is a bearer of the Word of God. The child received in his school the storybook “The Little Shepherd”, which we have read many times, but also won the video and, at the request of the boy, we had seen it over one hundred times.

We were a little disturbed by the messages and songs that the child taught at the school and especially about values such as honesty, truth and collaboration, which recited the songs of children, we asked the teacher about the origin of the storybook and brochures (CPTLN) that she gave us. She said that a support group (Project Joel) who gave lessons to children of Christian values and children carried the message to their parents.

Brayan gave me the bracelet of Project Joel a gift also won in the school and during the Christmas Eve he invited 12 children from the neighborhood and we saw “The Little Shepherd” video. “What joy to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas”.

 

In the Christmas Day, Brayan said: “Today is Christmas, we have to visit Jesus in the Church” and we got ready to visit Jesus at The Lamb of God Church where Brayan attends with other children. When we were visiting the church with other friends and children, the teacher of the church said: “This three years old child is a minister of the Word of God”.

People had invited me to the church before but I always was reluctant to participate in this things, but now I have no doubt that my son not only knows Jesus, but also presenting Him to me as anyone had made, as him.”

 

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Alicia Martinez - “Since 8 years ago Alicia Martinez is known by the ministry. She was living a hard moment, she lived alone, and also, she felt so alone. Se hasn’t a permanent job to cover her basic needs and at the same time, she was studying Social Labor at the university. In the middle of that situation, Alicia enrolled in League of Friends, one of the ministry programs, and started the Bible Courses. Since then, we had a constant communication with her, motivating her to put her confidence on God, Who will help her to overcome all of those difficulties.

 

After that, some time passed and some months ago, Alicia called the ministry to invite us to give a presentation to the Department where she works. That invitation made us feel so happy. She works as social worker developing orientation programs for collaborators.

 

But the marvelous of this story is the blessing made by God. He touched her life and it’s a pleasure for us listening how she thanks God for all He’d done for her and the joy that she feels in the heart because He put the ministry in her life, a place in where the people who work in the name of Jesus sow the Gospel and Hope seeds. Now, she is a new person in Christ. Her words were: “Believe it or not, you was my spiritual mother and shared the Word of God with me, that changed my life; now, I’m attending a church, I’m not feeling alone because God is with me and I’m sharing the seeds with my coworkers”.

 

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Aldair Pinzón- “My name is Aldair Pinzón and I’m studying the second year high school. I’ve participated in several activities with Project Joel as facilitator, using muppets and singer to children of elementary (primary) schools.

 

Some days ago I was the judge in two contests, one developed in my school and the second developed in the school. I was a very shy boy and talking to public made me feels very afraid. But now, I’m feeling different. God made a change on me. I’m a leader and I want to be as my cousin Eibar Sánchez who is member of Joel, too.”