Because of the parallel interests of CC and IRCU there are times and places of intersection where the relationship is symbiotic and the two organizations work in tandem. One such opportunity comes where a church willing to sponsor classroom space, recruit students for studies in IRCU and host ministry to youth and families in a community. The church is considered an “anchor” church for a community development/ministry project of IRCU and IRCU invites CC to partner in helping the anchor church to plan and implement the project. The following is a prime example of this type of activity.
A church in Puerto Viejo, near the large city of Puerto Limon on the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica offers the church, outbuildings including a small kitchen and a large gated covered activity space where children and youth can come and play in a safe environment. The space offers skateboarding props. The church would like to expand the outreach to more children, youth and their families to come under the watch-care and ministry of the church. They also expressed the desire to feed the hungry children and families who come to the center. CC was invited to speak at the church, see the facilities and be with the children playing in the center. A CareProject called CarePoint was proposed as an opportunity to incorporate much needed vocational training for locals needing to learn a job skill while capitalizing on the appetites of the locals and tourists visiting the area from all over the world desiring fresh bread, pastries and pies. Starting a business for marketing those food products while training and hiring those receiving the training would then enable the profits from the bakery sales to sustain the business, train students for jobs in the area, or to be hired by the CarePoint, and then purchase the food to be prepared in the kitchen to donate to those in need in the community. Children and families served at the CarePoint will receive individual care including “triage” services and connection to resources needed for stability and growth. A win-win-win proposition. Cost of each of three identified sites in Costa Rica is approximately $5000 per site. The 3 areas determined suitable for piloting the projects are San Jose, San Jose Heredia, and Puerto Viejo. The first site to be developed is currently Puerto Viejo. While in Costa Rica, the connection with IRCU is documented as CC participates in graduations of university students by speaking the inspirational challenge message and confers degrees on behalf of the University and those involved with the university living in the US.