Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre Fund
Guatemala
The Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre Fund was established as a Wider Church Ministries permanent fund to benefit Global Ministries in 2004 at the request of the Christian Outreach Committee of First Church of Oberlin, Ohio, which has a long-standing commitment and care for the poor in Guatemala, through its sister relationship with the Guatemalan village, Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre.
On the basis of a generous bequest of church members, Doctors Jim and Jeanne Stephens, this Fund recognizes the lifelong commitment of Drs. Stephens to global mission and First Church, Oberlin, Ohio’s, long and abiding interest in the church’s wider mission. Doctors Jim and Jeanne Stephens served the Oberlin,Ohio, community as an orthopedic surgeon and a pediatrician respectively for many years. When they retired from practicing medicine in 1976 they went toKenyaand worked as volunteers for 18 months in a hospital inChogoria,Kenya. From 1985 to 1990 they were members of a peace and justice effort in Oberlin, the Oberlin Overground Railroad, that helped Central American refugees with housing, food, English language lessons, and medical care as the refugees waited for Canadian visas and permission to immigrate toCanada.
The Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre Fund provides an opportunity for donors, especially constituents of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but not exclusively, to make contributions to a permanent fund that provided scholarship support for members of the Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre community for the first years, and now provides Global Ministries ministry partner program, Accion Cultural de Guatemala (ACG – Guatemala Cultural Action), with resources for its programs including those in community development, spiritual support, communications, and empowerment of women.
Contributions may be made to the principal of this Fund at any time. Gifts for the Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre Fund should be directed to:
Wider Church Ministries
700 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland,Ohio44115
Questions regarding the Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre Fund are welcome. Please contact the Global Ministries Resource Development Office at 317-713-2555 or gifts@dom.disciples.org.