Costa Rica Giving - Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.

Newsletter Blog

Ministry Description

The Word of Life ministry in Costa Rica began in 1986 with the arrival of Edgardo and Silvia Vidaechea. Today, Samuel and Carol Pabon lead the ministry in Costa Rica. They arrived on November 11, 2021.

Our ministry team currently consists of 23 missionaries and ministry partners. We also have 26 Bible clubs meeting in local churches throughout the country.

God has opened many doors for us to share the Gospel in schools through a prevention program called Supermatch. Through this program, we have opportunities to connect with students and share the hope of the Gospel with them.

In 1997, the ministry purchased a 32-acre property that we call “La Hacienda.” Since 2004, we have been holding camps there. Today, La Hacienda hosts camps for children, teens, and young adults, as well as retreats for schools, evangelism and work teams, and groups from churches in the United States.

None of this would be possible without the Lord’s provision and the faithful support of many brothers and sisters in Christ. Many have not only supported the ministry financially, but have also come to Costa Rica and worked alongside us in developing and building the property.

After praying for several years for a place where we could continue expanding the ministry in San José, the Lord provided a building for us to develop the Word of Life Costa Rica Youth Center.

Our prayer is that God will use this place to create opportunities for Gospel conversations, evangelism, and discipleship, allowing us to reach more young people and help them grow in their relationship with Christ.

We are also working toward developing the ministry throughout the country by establishing five regions: the Greater Metropolitan Area, Northern Region, Caribbean Region, Southern Region, and Western Region. Our desire is to reach the entire country by making all of Word of Life’s programs available through local churches and by partnering with churches to reach, disciple, and equip the next generation for Christ.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future, our desire is to remain faithful to the calling God has given us: to reach young people with the Gospel, disciple them in their faith, and equip local churches to reach the next generation for Christ.

We are grateful for all that God has done in Costa Rica and for the many people He has used to make this ministry possible. We trust that He will continue to open doors, provide what is needed, and guide us as we seek to serve Him faithfully.

Our vision is not simply to build facilities or expand programs, but to see lives transformed by the Gospel and a new generation raised up to live for Christ and serve His Church.

We invite you to pray with us as we continue moving forward, trusting God for what He has ahead for Word of Life Costa Rica.

Country Description

Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, the tiny Republic of Costa Rica has coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
One of the most prosperous and politically stable countries in the region, Costa Rica is the only Central American state without a permanent standing army, after it was abolished in 1948.
It also enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the region, although a significant percentage of Costa Ricans - or Ticos - continue to live below the poverty line.
Known for its beaches, mountain ranges, volcanoes and varied wildlife, Costa Rica's rich biodiversity makes it a popular destination for eco-tourists. Traditionally a producer of agricultural goods such as coffee and bananas, its economy has diversified and tourism now ranks as the country's number one earner.This 51,000 sq. km coastal country is known more for its natural beauty than its cultural heritage. It is one of the richest and most diverse biological areas in the world with wide variety of climate zones and extraordinary wild life. Costa Rica is famous for its exports of bananas and coffee as well as its highly developed tourism industry. The current population of Costa Rica is 4,904,067. 70.5% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholics (with 44.9% practicing, 25.6 percent nonpracticing), 13.8% are Evangelical Protestants, 11.3% report that they do not have a religion, and 4.3% declare that they belong to another religion.