You + Meals = Sharing the Gospel in Guatemala!

Guatemala is considered a beautiful paradise by many in the US and Canada. Yet, the people living in paradise are struggling…

Hunger and Malnutrition in Guatemala

Hunger and malnutrition are a reality in Guatemala. 

Since 2013, hunger has spread rapidly in Guatemala, according to reports by USAID. In the countryside, crop damage, weather extremes, and migration are causing food shortages.

The World Food Programme (WFP) explains that Guatemala is among the ten countries in the world most vulnerable to disasters and climate emergencies. Over the past three years, extended dry seasons have had a severely damaging impact on the livelihoods of subsistence farmers who rely on rain-fed agriculture, especially in the Dry Corridor.  

In 2023, data showed that one in two minors suffer from chronic malnutrition in Guatemala. The country ranks first in Latin America and the sixth in the world in cases of child malnutrition.

Even now, the month of May has been extremely hot and dry, creating serious problems for farmers and undoubtedly impacting food costs and food insecurity in the near future.

A Solution for Families: Lifeline Meals

Lifeline meals offer a healthy option for kids, with each meal providing 75% of a child’s daily nutritional needs. When kids are well fed, parents can focus on stabilizing their family’s economic situation.

And It’s More Than a Meal…

Lifeline's approach to ministry is modeled after Jesus’ example of sharing the gospel and demonstrating love. At Lifeline, we call that “proclamation and demonstration.” Lifeline meals are a tangible way to express God’s love.

The church in San Jose Pinula, on the outskirts of Guatemala City, is reaching into nearby communities in the mountains, developing meaningful relationships, establishing house churches, and being “good news” in communities that are often neglected.  

However Deybee, who leads Lifeline Guatemala, encountered a challenge: when you get beyond the city, people who are not from the village are often distrusted and not allowed to visit. Trust needed to be built with the local leaders. 

To build that trust, Deybee discovered that Lifeline meals open up conversations about the gospel. So, Deybee and the church leaders distribute Lifeline meals to bless the community and demonstrate good news. They want people to realize God sees them, understands their needs, and wants to help. Every meal is offered in Jesus' name.



You + Meals = Sharing the Gospel in Guatemala!

Hunger continues to be an issue in Guatemala. And when you fund and pack meals with Lifeline, you help Deybee and the leaders in Guatemala share the gospel!

In June and July, Lifeline is inviting you to help share the gospel in Guatemala. Join a local Lifeline Centre to fund and pack meals for Guatemalan kids facing food insecurity. All ages and abilities are welcome! Find your local Centre to fund and pack meals! You’ll find them in Colorado, Indianapolis, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio.

If you are unable to join in person, you can still make a difference by donating meals. You’ll donate meals that support Lifeline’s efforts worldwide, including those in Guatemala.

About ministry in Guatemala

Deybee’s heartbeat is for the gospel and for people. The initial church that began in San Jose Pinula (on the outskirts of Guatemala city) reaches into nearby communities in the mountains, developing meaningful relationships, establishing house churches, and being “good news” in communities that are often neglected. Today the ministry includes 2 churches, 4-5 house churches, and a children's ministry, along with outreach partnerships with the elderly, a local halfway house for alcoholics, and mobile medical clinics.

Article sources:
https://www.wfp.org/countries/guatemala
https://www.usaid.gov/guatemala/our-work/food-security
https://reliefweb.int/report/guatemala/malnutrition-guatemala-devastating-children
https://lifeline.org/news-and-stories/news-detail/a-shepherd-for-guatemala