youthworld

Casa Gabriel

Casa Gabriel

History

The Quito Street Kids Training Ministry began informally in the summer of 2000, when Youth World missionary Phil Payne saw a need for teens living on the streets. He offered a meal, a change of clothes and a Bible study one or two days each week. This ministry operated out of our former Youth World office. Jeff Swenson, another team member, helped Phil Payne facilitate and reach out to these troubled teens. Phil Payne began praying for another person to help disciple and care for the boys. Gabriel, a young Peruvian Christian who had been reaching out on his own to street kids, heard about the ministry and approached Phil Payne about working together. Phil Payne said that it was obvious that the Lord was bringing Gabriel to this ministry. There were several younger children that needed 24 hour care and a full-time parent. Gabriel wanted to meet that need.

Gabriel and the younger boys, along with Miguel Angel who was at that time 15 years old, moved into Youth World’s former office. Youth World had recently changed locations and allowed the boys to remain there. At this time, several of the older teens not living at the house, became physically threatening to Gabriel and the younger boys. These teens had continued in their destructive behaviors and needed serious intervention and rehabilitation. Phil Payne and Jeff Swenson were not prepared for, nor had the resources to meet these needs. As the ministry developed, the difficult decision was made to focus on the younger boys. Today Phil Payne continues to have contact occasionally with these teens and prays for God to heal and redeem them.

When Phil Douce and his family arrived in Ecuador two years ago, Gabriel and the boys had now been living in Youth World’s old office for approximately six months. The Douce family was naturally drawn to this ministry due to their former background of working with children at risk. Often, they brought pizzas and just spent an evening hanging out and playing together. They would end the evening gathered together in prayer. It was their favorite place to go, and always, they left feeling that they had received much more than they had tried to give.

In the summer of 2002, a family from Jesus for All Nations Church came to visit the Douces and do some evangelistic outreach. Together, with the Douce family, they spent an evening teaching Gabriel and the boys dramas that could be used as an evangelistic outreach. This was the start of many dramas and choreographies that the boys have developed and used in churches, parks and at a soup kitchen nearby to share the gospel and their personal story of redemption.

In September of 2003, Phil Payne asked Phil Douce if he would consider taking over the leadership of the street kids ministry. Phil Douce was stirred to respond and after prayer, took on the challenge. He soon realized that if the ministry were to continue, it needed to be under the umbrella of Youth World. After much prayer and team discussion, the street kids training ministry became a formal part of Youth World International in the spring of 2003.

“The Quito Street Kids Training Ministry” is now formally called Casa Gabriel (Gabriel's House). Its purpose is not just to provide housing and basic care for kids in crisis, but to provide a training program in all areas of life, that will give these boys the opportunity to achieve their God-given potential as leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ. The training is an intentional and integral part of every attribute of Casa Gabriel. Each aspect points to developing a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Our hope is that every child in the training program will become a successful Christian leader in their home, church, community and world.

All of the boys come from very poor and often dysfunctional families – the reason they found themselves living on the streets. All of them have amazing testimonies of God’s redeeming love and how He brought them to Casa Gabriel.

The ministry is also concerned about the biological families and works to reunite the child with their family if it is in their best interest, as well as offer help and resources to these families. There are tremendous opportunities in this area of the ministry as God provides the resources. For all of the boys who have parents that can be contacted, the parents have given signed letters asking for their child to be in the training ministry. Every parent has been extremely grateful for the teaching and help that has been given and continues.

You may wonder if there are other children or even possibly girls that also need this type of ministry. The answer is YES! Our hope is that the vision for Casa Gabriel will become a model that can be multiplied to include these other children.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED...

YouthWorld • Casilla 17-17-691 • Quito, Ecuador • South America
tel +593 2 2255-254 • info@youthworld.org.ec