Bible Society brings God’s love
to troubled young people

NICARAGUA — “I was addicted to alcohol,” says 18-year-old Roberto Ortega. “What happened to me happens to many young people.” Roberto, who lives in Managua, explains that, faced with difficult situations at home, “kids go onto the streets and, under the influence of troubled friends, they fall victim to addictions and other bad habits.”

“The situation became so desperate,” says Martha Ruiz, Program Director at the Bible Society of Nicaragua, “that the Ministry and the police ran an advertisement in newspapers pleading for somebody to find a solution.”

The Bible Society responded, telling the Ministry that, if students were taught biblical values and given the hope found in God’s Word, they would change. This approach appealed to the Ministry and it invited the Bible Society to launch a pilot project in the seven worst schools in Managua.

Presented with this tremendous opportunity, the Society called on churches to help put together and carry out an outreach program. After much prayer with his congregation, former high school teacher and pastor Ernesto Silva Nazarew stepped forward. His passion for Christ and his compassion for young people have equipped him well to guide students towards God’s Word and to help them find a way out of loneliness and depression.

“I give them wisdom to live by,” he says.

This wisdom includes biblical values: justice, love, peace, honesty and the fear of God.

“I want to see the Gospel produce fruits,” he continues, “to see change in their lives that results in good relationships between themselves and with God. I talk about respect, obedience and how to love each other.

“I tell them that Christ offers them understanding. If they can’t find this at home, the result is confusion. I offer them Jesus Christ, who can understand them. He will bring peace to their own lives and their family life.

Reject drugs, accept life

“God’s Word gives them the power to reject drugs and accept life. I want them to know the way. I present Jesus as a friend who is interested in them. Participating in this program has been an honour for me. It’s my calling to bring hope and act as an agent of change for young people.”

The Scriptures for Young Alcoholics program, which aims to reach 117,000 young people, is now under way. On a visit to one school, Pastor Nazarew moves about the classroom, gesticulating energetically and talking to the students about the parable of the Sower from Matthew’s Gospel, while Karla Largaespada, another member of the Bible Society team, interviews several students identified by the teachers as being the most troubled. She counsels them about problems at home, financial problems, substance abuse and any other difficulties the students mention. She provides a written report so that local church members or other Bible Society staff can follow up.

“This is a people-intensive project,” she explains. “The Bible Society can’t do it without a lot of church support. We are looking for church members with a gift for counselling to work with students. Christian young people need to get involved too, witnessing to troubled classmates. For this to succeed, the churches must own the program.”

In an adjoining classroom, another Bible Society visitor, Martha Ruiz, talks to the students about the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke’s Gospel. She tells them about the father’s never-ending love and about the place of respect for parents.

“These students are the future of our country,” she says. “They are as lost as the prodigal son was. We are trying to equip them to make the right choices. We take a long-term view.”

School principals have welcomed the program. Guillermo Artola, whose school has more than 1,000 students, says, “Martha convinced me to participate. I am a Christian and interested in students following Christ. Our school doors are open whenever the Bible Society can come.

“We have two or three teachers who are Christians. They make a difference, but that’s not enough. What the students really need is values. God’s Word is full of values and love.”

Pointing to the high walls which now surround his school, Mr Artola explains, “Last year, before the walls were built, gangs entered the school to sell drugs.” The situation has now improved a little, but he estimates that around 10 per cent of the school’s students use drugs and 80 per cent drink alcohol.

Exposed to dangers

Maria Auxiliadora Navas heads another school where the students are also exposed daily to the dangers of drugs, alcohol, gangs and prostitution. Her school, too, has a high wall around it. She takes several knives and a pistol from her desk drawer, all confiscated from students.

“The police call this the ‘red zone’,” she says. “It’s a dangerous area with many risks. The Bible Society’s program is very positive, contributing to the development of biblical values. It moves the students to be more reflective.”

And for one young man, at least, the Scriptures for Young Alcoholics project has clearly borne fruit. “I am now liberated from my addiction,” says Roberto. “Thanks be to God!”