The Velez Family Missionary Work Since 1980

Lucho & Lorna Velez are missionaries commended by Smyllum Gospel Hall of Lanark-Scotland, Agape Center of Medellin-Colombia and Seagate Evangelical Church of Troon-Scotland. They are associated with mission supporting groups as Interlink in Scotland, Echoes of Service in England and International Teams in the USA. They launched their community development missionary work in Trinidad-Beni, Bolivia in 1985. Teamed with neighbors and the initial support of “World Vision Bolivia”, the seed of a new church planting project has been growing since then, under continually progressing banners as “ San Jose Zone Project” (1980-1985), “Children, Teenagers & Families Community Development Project” (1986-1995) and “La Palmera” Christian Cultural Center (CCC) (1996 - present). This ministry has grown in more than two decades to become a leading developmental missionary work, Bolivia-based, expressing the biblical ethos of Psalm 92:12-15

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree…they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; Planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish in the courts of God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming: 'The Lord is upright! He is my Rock!'”

Continual growth has been made possible by the grace of God and the prayers and financial efforts of our sponsors, supporters, eventual donors and co-workers, all of them, committed to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and work.

Contextualized planning and empathic leadership has been key in the establishment and progress of the CCC, featuring an Educational Center, Human & Christian Development Center, Health Center, Sports Center and the Christian Evangelical Community Church, serving through its many arms, a continually growing neighborhood.

“La Palmera” C.C.C. has trained and empowered neighbors in administration and provision of services to its many beneficiaries by creating jobs for the community, promoting trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging the expansion of Christian witness.

“La Palmera” C.C.C.'s main achievement is registered from a group of 100 primary school children enrolled in its services two decades ago, 95 graduating from high school, 60 choosing to trust Jesus Christ and being baptized with their parents’ consent, 45 becoming current members of the church, 25 attending university, 12 graduating in Law, Civil Engineering, Physiotherapy, Dental Surgery, Systems Engineering, Accountancy, Education, Theology, Civil Engineering, Business, etc and an increasing group of Christian young couples getting married and committing to Christian service. These are results in a country where out of 1000 children starting Primary 1 (1st Grade) only 6 finish university, 2 get a proper job and most people won’t have any spiritual input in their lives through their educational process.

Original Project Building

“La Palmera” CCC has been developing its own premises in a very strategic corner of the town on 4000 square meters of land bought from its surrounding neighbors in a chain of miracle stories. These premises provide room for school classrooms, offices and recreational space, room for hospitality, cooking and food serving facilities, community and church meeting place, pastoral housing. All this patrimony is now under the legal protection of La Palmera Foundation, a Bolivian registered charity run by a board of directors from La Palmera church’s members.

“La Palmera” CCC’s social impact in the community has been reported in the national media as an exemplary development project. In 1996, the Bolivian president’s wife, Sra. Ximena Iturralde de Sanchez de Lozada, visited the Center to express the government's gratitude for private initiatives bringing blessing to Bolivia's most vulnerable people. The municipality and regional authorities have visited and interacted with La Palmera C.C.C. staff and beneficiaries, offering several distinctions that we have postponed for later, ‘till current plans will be concluded.

“La Palmera” CCC has been visited in a decade by more than 300 people, sponsors & short term volunteers from a variety of countries. Visitors have been always welcome to see what is going on daily, to participate in our activities and to provide encouragement to its national workers and many beneficiaries.