By: Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
As I write this, it is March 24, a momentous day. Today is the first full day that Shane and Abby Holcomb are on the ground in Costa Rica. Yesterday evening, the Holcomb family boarded a flight that took them from their earthly securities, family and friends to a new and exciting adventure. Shane and Abby will be leading the work of Youth-Reach at our next campus in San Ramon, Costa Rica.
When this plan was first proposed, all I could see were red flags. There are many complications that come with the operation of a ministry presence in a foreign country. There were the issues of in-country NGO status, a fresh 501c3 designation in the US and concerns regarding staffing, regulations and support. Yet one by one we have seen the red flags fall. For the Holcombs, the challenges were many. Shane had to resign his position with a company in Nashville, they had to sell their home and attend to the many details of ending a life in the States to begin a new life and new ministry work in Costa Rica.
A few months ago, a group of us traveled to San Ramon. In that group were staff members from our Houston and Alabama campuses, along with a few board members. We met with local church leaders and government officials. We spent time with an American-trained Costa Rican attorney who walked us through the official application to become a recognized charitable organization located in San Ramon. We signed documents and looked at possible campus locations.
Back in the US, the 501c3 application for Youth-Reach Costa Rica has been filed, and all of this has been carried out under the wisdom and guidance of the boards of Youth-Reach Houston and Youth-Reach Gulf Coast. The Holcomb family has now landed, and they will spend the next few weeks settling in before they begin the work to build support, gain key relationships and share the vision.
Where we need your prayers:
- Guidance, provision and protection for the Holcomb family
- For the Father to guide us to the location where the work of Youth-Reach can operate.
- That the favor of the Lord will be upon all that we do for the kids of Costa Rica and beyond
Thank you for all your prayers and support of the ongoing work of Youth-Reach!
