| A present challenge in missions is to love and minister to the whole person---spiritually, physically, psychologically, and socially. Latin America ChildCare (LACC) is endeavoring to rise to this challenge throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Although, LACC has over forty years of numerical growth and international advancement, the need to investigate the implementation of its holistic ministerial philosophy exists. This examination serves to identify and resolve conflict between developmental/relief practices and evangelization.;The purpose of this community field investigation project was to discover the contemporary causes for the low assimilation of LACC Light and Truth students into the Sunday worship services of the sponsoring local church, Ebenezer and to seek ideas to resolve this situation. Since evangelization is a primary objective of LACC, the lack of assimilation exposes a possible conflict between development/relief practices and evangelization. This project integrates principles of transformational development through the act of involvement of the Light and Truth community in the decision-making process, programming, planning, implementing and evaluation of the community development. Furthermore, this study serves as a guide for training and evaluating ministries working within a development/compassion and holistic framework setting.;Research, surveying, and forums were the methodological combination used in compiling data on the reasons and responses to the problem. Participatory community investigation was implemented as a survey was distributed to all Light and Truth High School students, followed by a series of three strategically targeted focus groups---parents, teachers, and students.;The findings of this study suggest that statistical analysis does not adequately represent the complexities of poverty and can omit vital information when dealing with compassion developmental ministries. While the results of this study indicate numerous sociopolitical dynamics of the poor that prevent students from attending the local church on Sunday, approximately two-thirds of the high school students claim they are faithful followers of Jesus Christ. |
