In the city of Santiago is a slum called El Ejido, which simply means “an enclosed space.” In this case, El Ejido was a slum area where illegal drugs were openly sold and used, causing much crime and violence as well as destruction to people.
People of El EjidoIn El Ejido, however, there is also a committee of local leaders trained in CHE. This committee decided to try to do something about the drug problems in their area.
They began by dedicating themselves to two months of intensive prayer. This might not seem very “practical,” but remember that CHE is built on the principle that every problem has spiritual as well as physical dimensions. Effective solutions require an integrated approach, and so they prayed.
During this period of dedicated prayer, things began to happen. One drug lord was shot by a rival. Another was arrested by the police. Even more amazing, they saw a change in attitude among the people living in El Ejido, who normally are antagonistic to efforts to change the situation. Many of them accepted invitations to participate in a Christian summer camp. At this camp, 60 of the most difficult characters from the slum accepted Jesus as their savior!
People of El EjidoIn El Ejido, however, there is also a committee of local leaders trained in CHE. This committee decided to try to do something about the drug problems in their area.
They began by dedicating themselves to two months of intensive prayer. This might not seem very “practical,” but remember that CHE is built on the principle that every problem has spiritual as well as physical dimensions. Effective solutions require an integrated approach, and so they prayed.
During this period of dedicated prayer, things began to happen. One drug lord was shot by a rival. Another was arrested by the police. Even more amazing, they saw a change in attitude among the people living in El Ejido, who normally are antagonistic to efforts to change the situation. Many of them accepted invitations to participate in a Christian summer camp. At this camp, 60 of the most difficult characters from the slum accepted Jesus as their savior!
Of course, when you’re dealing with drug addiction, the process of overcoming the problem is not as simple as “salvation equals freedom.” After discussing possible ways to address drug issues, the committee decided to in
vite a group called Teen Challenge to visit El Ejido and share about the power of Jesus to transform lives affected by drug abuse. They used a flatbed truck as a stage, and various young people told their stories of a joyful life which had been set free from drugs by the power of Jesus.Many more victories in small battles will need to be achieved before the war against drugs is completely won in El Ejido, but the body of Christ there is committed to an ongoing relationship with those who are struggling with addiction.
These positive steps triggered additional ideas among the people of El Ejido. They realized that one of the reasons people turn to drugs is the despair they feel. So they asked themselves, “What can we do to show that this place is changing, and that God brings hope?”
The drug problems in El Ejido are not completely gone, but God has used the CHE vision and program to make a huge impact. When people who used to feel hopeless despair start to achieve enough success to look beyond their immediate problems to the needs of other people, it is a very positive sign. El Ejido is no longer merely “an enclosed space,” but has begun to open up to the wider world, a brighter future, and most of all to the presence and power of God.
