Driving to the Panama Viejo neighborhood is easy on a late Saturday afternoon.
Once I found the right spot (not an easy task since I wasn’t familiar with the area), I met with the Panama Viejo Young Life team to join them in a prayer walk for their neighborhood.
We spent about 2 hours walking their community, praying for the various areas on our journey. Each spot they shared with me had some significance, some call to prayer, some reminder of events that will happen or have happened.
We began at the soccer field, an artificial turf surface where some kids were practicing their skills. The team is working to build relationships with kids at this field.
From there, we meandered on to a church that is working with the community. We spent some time praying with the pastor and asking God to bless their work. The worship team was practicing and the pastor was there praying for the Sunday services.
As we walked to the next place, I listened in to the dreams of these Young Life leaders – dreams of reaching kids for Christ and bringing hope to a community infested by gangs and other poverty related problems.
Poverty is visible at every corner. But the neighborhood is alive with birthday parties and celebrations. The music is loud, the adults are gathering to drink, and others are getting their hair done by neighbors who might know what they are doing. Some are grilling their dinner out of tire-irons that hold the charcoal.
Right now, the neighborhood is “at peace,” I’m told, very unlike January when Vida Joven’s work had to stop because of violence in the community. We prayed at one corner that was a hot-spot of gang conflict, asking God to bring His peace to that area.
Next to the church is the gym where Vida Joven will have its meetings.
The first meeting was coming up the following weekend, so we spent time interceeding for the Young Life Club meeting
As I walked the neighborhood with eyes wide open, it didn’t take much to hear and see the community need.
As I listened to the heart of these Young Life leaders, it’s clear they have gotten God’s compassionate heart for the area. As I regularly teach other churches to get a heart for the community, these leaders get it. They are spending themselves in that community, looking to reach kids for Christ.
It’s a privilege to walk along side of them and encourage them in their ministry.
Leave a Reply