It is clear that up to this point we are losing the battle. The first step toward a solution is for the Christian world community to recognize that all of us can have a part. If only we would respond to the word of God, then we would reach out to these urchins, believing that, indeed, it is our responsibility to do so. Extending the love of Christ to these kids is the most important aspect of any solution. And yet the national church must be involved in designing a strategy to solve the problem.
Many missionaries go to the field with the idea of working themselves out of a job.
I believed that after talking to churches about the problem, the leadership would race out to solve it. In Colombia, the national church, with very few exceptions, is not ready to address social issues in the name of Jesus. In this unique ministry, both boys and girls are cared for at a ranch-like setting north of the city. Although not a Christian ministry, perhaps the best-known program in Latin America is the Children of the Andes. Its director, Jaime Jara-millo, a man of genuine compassion, has received much media coverage for his rescue of children from the sewers of Bogot .