Pentecostal Church of Chile (IPC)

Chile has moved to democracy slowly after a repressive military regime that left large sectors of the Chilean people in poverty and suffering the effects of 17 years of human rights violations and exploitation. The ghost of the military regime still haunts the country in many ways, even though democratic government administrations, sectors of Chilean Congress, social organizations, and churches have challenged and continue to challenge the legacy of impunity of those who violated human rights for almost two decades.  Reconciliation continues to be an issue of justice that still keeps the wounds open for many Chileans. The Shalom Center, a non-profit Foundation of the Pentecostal Church of Chile (IPC), a long-standing Global Ministries partner, endeavors to develop programs and resources that provide leadership in the reconciliation of this country.  

The development of the Shalom Center is an ongoing project of the IPC and is divided into three components: Programs, Infrastructure, and Organization.

Programs

At the Shalom Center, programs are centered on healing one's relationship with God creation, community, and self. Programs are designed to give children, teenagers, and adults a sense of self-worth, develop conflict resolution skills, impart the relevance of environmental stewardship, and create self-management skills.

The current programs and activities of the Shalom Center include:

• Peace education
• Environmental education
• Spiritual development
• Staff training

Programs have long been the heart of the Shalom Center's ministry. 

Infrastructure

In recent years, the Shalom Center has begun to develop its infrastructure thanks to the offerings of sisters and brothers in Chile and the United States and the many hours of work enthusiastically  provided by participants from Mexico, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Chile, Texas, Connecticut, Indiana, and Massachusetts in the Conpaz (Peacebuilding) Camps. The Welcome House was completed at the end of 2007, with 24 beds in three bunkrooms, two small bathrooms, a first aid room, and a common living space. A larger bath house including flush toilets, cold showers, and large sinks for washing out clothes was next on the list. The Shalom Center has developed a fifty-year construction plan with over 25 different buildings projected in specific places across the 240 acres of land, located in the mountains of southern Chile. 

Before any plans to build permanent structures could be carried out, it was necessary to complete a comprehensive environmental impact statement.  In 2006, the Impact Statement was approved by all the governmental regional ministries as required by Chilean law (including the Commission on the Environment, the Commission on Forestry, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture) after a thorough evaluation of the environmental effects of the overall project, with specific attention given to sewage treatment and waste disposal, drinking water, alternative energy sources, erosion control, biodiversity, and environmental education.  

Each projected structure that will become the Shalom Center will be meticulously studied. Program specialists and environmentalists work alongside the architects and master builders to develop each new structure as a separate project depending on its particular location and use. The initial building phase was made possible through the generosity of regions, conferences (especially the Ohio Region and the Massachusetts Conference), congregations, and individuals giving to Global Ministries. The Pentecostal Church of Chile has destined ten percent of its annual budget to the Shalom Center, and local IPC churches have been involved through volunteers, material offerings such as blankets and kitchenware, and activity participation. 

Graduate engineering students of the local Catholic University have completed detailed plans for providing potable water, producing electricity from a small stream, and treating sewage. Graduate forestry students have finished a biological inventory identifying the species of plants and animals found on the property and underscoring the measures to be adopted to protect those that are endangered or vulnerable. CONAMA (the Chilean equivalent of the EPA) estimates that there are over 120 species of endangered plants and animals on the Shalom Center property which is the principal corridor between the Altos de Lircay National Reserve and the El Morrillo private reserve.

Volunteers also have given their time and energy in completing fencing, a central path, a lookout over the waterfall, and the main entrance. 

Organization

A permanent non-profit foundation is being created and hosted by the IPC for the purpose of making the Center self-sustaining. 

The unique importance of the Shalom Center is best summarized by a recent participant who said, "Being able to see and feel 1OO-year-old trees, being close enough to touch blue skies and touch majestic mountains, I was finally able to understand for the first time in my life the magnitude of the gift that God has given us."

Below is a list of special ways in which you can help the Shalom Center:

• $5.00 can provide a crate of delicious Chilean peaches as a special treat during summer camp
• $10.00 can buy a warm blanket for one of the beds at the Welcome House
• $15.00 can send one Pastor or Lay Leader to a conflict transformation course
• $20.00 can provide a school or a church a packet of environmental education materials  
• $200.00 can buy a month's worth of craft supplies or first aid supplies for the summer camp program
• $250.00 can send ten youth to environmental camp (including transportation)