Venezuela has the most faltering economy in South America, a result of the populist measures adopted by ‘chavismo’, a political movement initiated by the late ex-president Hugo Chavez, and maintained by the current President, Nicolas Maduro. Faced with this, all public services are struggling, including hospitals. An example is the dilapidated state of Central University Hospital Antonio María Pineda in the city of Barquisimeto, in terms of its cleanliness and infrastructure. It has motivated a group of evangelical Christians to generously invest money and personal effort in its restoration. Local church, the “Iglesia Evangélica Pentecostal Misionera Primitiva” has contributed over 3 Billion Bolivars in restructuring work, including much they themselves have done by way of an altruistic contribution to their community.

Pastor Carlos Garcia said they began to intervene in the medical centre in December 2016. At the time of writing, the areas they have restored include, delivery rooms, cardiology, neurosurgery, pavilion, dialysis, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), day care for children and surgery (men’s section). According to García, the intervention includes provision of services – to construction, electricity and lighting, carpentry, plumbing, reconditioning walls and equipment, cleaning and fumigation.

“When we started the works, the services were in the maximum state of deterioration and abandonment; there was rotting and trash of all kinds,” Garcia said. One of the areas most dilapidated was men’s surgery. They called it “Batman’s Cave”, Nataly Valenzuela, a member of the volunteer team, explained that one of the things most worrying them is that the areas continue to be maintained and cleaned, after the enormous effort that they have put in. For this reason representatives of the Church meet weekly with relatives of inpatients to discuss the measures they need to follow to maintain the hospital.

Source: Mundo Cristiano TV

Bible Study: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

DECEMBER PRAISE God for this local church deciding to take responsibility for their community hospital, and for being willing to raise a large sum of money and spend almost a year restoring it. PRAY this witness may speak loudly.