Hey Everyone!

I would like to take a moment to share with you regarding the door God has opened for me to be his hands and feet in Central America. On January 5th I will be Boarding a plane in Toronto, Ontario and heading to Guatemala to work with a local missionary named Pastor David. I am very excited to join with Pastor Davis in what he is doing there. Most people don’t know that Guatemala is the 6th worst country in the world for malnutrition. In response to this, Pastor David planted a church back in 1982 in one of the most remote poor and malnourished villages in Guatemala. When the church was planted in the village it was run by gangs.  Because of the hunger and poverty in the area, children in the village join gangs as a means to survive. Some join gangs while they are still as young 8 years old. For many kids joining gangs is a way of getting food but for the gangs, kids are very useful for gun running, drug dealing and prostitution and in time, kidnapping and murder. Most men in the village were not living to see their 30th birthday.

After seeing the needs in the community, Pastor David and his small church started a small feeding program for the children of the community. Children could come and get a good meal 5 mornings per week. The program has been running strong now since 2002 and kids no longer have to join gangs to eat. In fact, over 250 kids are a part of the program that now provides basic needs like: school supplies, shoes, health care and clothing. They also provide after school tutoring, as well as computer, vocational and english training. The Kids also hear from the Bible on a daily basis in the program. Since the implementation of the feeding program, gang involvement in the city has dropped exponentially in the village! The church is seeing miracle after miracle in the lives of the people in the community. God is at work in the this little Guatemalan church.

Ok, here is the really exciting part! God has now given Pastor David and his church a vision to do “feeding program planting”. The church is now working in 15 other remote Spanish and Mayan villages with local pastors to plant the same kind of feeding programs. At least one day a week people travel from Pastor Davids church to provide meals, vitamins, medical care, hygiene training, bible teaching and fun games for to over 1700 kids!! Wow! This is the church being the church.

So here is what I will be doing:

1. I will be the church along side of Pastor David and his congregation to these children in serving in whatever capacity is needed. As a community we are really excited about what God is doing through Pastor David’s church. We believe the way they are being the church in their community is an example to all of us here in North America. The opportunity is huge to come along side of this ministry and hopefully catch some of their zeal and passion for serving!

2. I will encourage the local body in the sharing of music, the Word and fellowship. I know very well what serving in full time ministry can take out of you. I hope to be an encouragement and blessing to these men and women of God.

3. I will be seeking the heart of God to find out how the Atlantic Community (that’s you too!) can be apart of what they are doing to spread the Gospel beyond these 3 weeks. It has been a consistent and growing passion on my heart and the heart of the other guys to be further involved in mission work. This is true specifically concerning those who are marginalized and on the outside - what Matthew 25 would call “the least of these among you”.  I hope to come home with many tangible things that our greater community can be apart of in spreading God’s Kingdom in these Guatemalan villages.

My plane lands back in Toronto January 25th with just enough time to get all set to head out on tour (set to begin January 31st). I know that if you are reading this you are most likely someone who is all ready praying for our ministry. My heart is warmed all the time as I get feedback all the time from you. Your continued prayers are what keep us going so please be specifically praying for this trip.

If you are reading this and would like to financially be apart of helping me get to Guatemala there are a few ways you can give.

1. You can go to our web site - www.myspace.com/atlanticcommunity scroll down and click on the yellow donate button (just follow the instructions on there).

2. Write a check or some form of that made out to “Atlantic Community” and send it to:

Atlantic Community

10 Conant rd.

Presque Isle ME, USA

04769

3. Feel free to email me at corydoiron@gmail.com about any other methods

Thanks Guys!

- Cory

Here is a link to a video that was made about child sponsorship in the Pastor David’s village.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxFg_N46Fzo

Here is a link to Pastor David’s testimony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1QGEOGecyo