Transfer of the Vision | August 2022 Update 2

El Salvador

“And Elijah…said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives…there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word (I Kings 17:1)…..And it came to pass after many days, that the Word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, God, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain (I Kings 18:1)…Elijah said unto Ahab, get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.….And Elijah….cast himself down upon the earth with his face between his knees, and said to his servant, Go up now, look….There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times…at the seventh time….the servant said, behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” (I Kings 18:41-44)

Pastor Leader Group with Cuervo Board. Back Row: From Left Jose Elias - Board President, Roberto Choto - Board Member, Pastor Gabriel Aguilar - Board Secretary; Back Row 3rd from Right Pastor Jorge Burgos - Board Member, 2nd from right Pastor Enrique Martinez - Board Member

During the past 22 years we’ve made more than 50 trips to El Salvador to serve Pastors and their families. Eighteen years ago, God gave us the vision to build a Ministry Center in El Salvador to provide a place for Pastor Couples to get away and create a complex that would augment the ministry to Pastors, as well as serve the surrounding community. For many years, the seed was in the ground but seemingly dormant. We are currently witnessing the beginning of the fulfillment! We are seeing “a little cloud the size of a man’s hand!!”

An independent board is established: In 2019, we began the process of establishing a nonprofit ministry in El Salvador. Despite lengthy governmental processes and COVID 19, Ministerio Cuervo was recognized by the Salvadoran Government officially as a non-profit in the beginning of 2021. The Board of Ministerio Cuervo is made up of 3 Pastors and 2 businessmen.

The new Board starts to receive the vision and responsibility: During a meeting with the Board in May we saw & heard an understanding take place…Ministerio Cuervo is not coming alongside Ron and Luan and their Vision. Raven Ministries US are now coming alongside Ministerio Cuervo and their Vision. Prior to that, it fell to Ron to initiate and lead the Board Meetings. In early August they held a meeting (without us) to put together final plans for our visit. throughout the 22 years, we (Ron and Luan) have set the vision and established the plan for each trip to El Salvador. This time was different: Ministerio Cuervo invited Ron and Luan, taking care of all on-the-ground expenses.

The new Board hosts sharing the Vision and begins ministering to Pastor Families: The Cuervo Board organized four small group meetings, two on the east side of the country and two on the west side, and asked Ron to continue casting the vision to key Pastor Leaders in the Country. Most of the 80 Pastors that attended (combined total of four meetings), lead, or hold key positions in Pastor groups or denominations and collectively represent over 900 Pastors/Churches. The Board also requested that Luan speak to the wives of the Pastors that attended the meeting in San Salvador, to begin to establish awareness that Ministerio Cuervo is now serving the Pastors and their families in much the same way that Raven Ministries U.S. has in the past.

As we debriefed the first three meetings, it became clear that we were witnessing the transfer of the mantle. The first meeting with Pastors began like all those before, Ron was introduced by the local Pastor who was hosting the meeting and he shared the background on Cuervo, the vision for the Ministry Center and finished by speaking to their hearts. By the second meeting, later the same day, Pastor Gabriel was introduced by the host Pastor and shared briefly about Ministerio Cuervo, and the Ministry Center followed by Ron speaking to the Pastors’ hearts. By the third meeting, the next morning, Pastor Gabriel explained the formation of Ministerio Cuervo, introduced the other Board Members and the vision for the Ministry Center. He then introduced Ron. What a glorious gift to experience this transition! Like Elijah’s servant, we see the cloud that’s the size of a man’s hand, and we know the abundance of rain (the completion of the Ministry Center) is coming, because the Word of the LORD (the vision) came to Ron and by faith, he has been and continues to declare it. YHVH God always fulfills His Word! To Him be all the honor and glory forever!