WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO	Click on photo for a larger picture.

Matthew 5:16 Ministries was established in Frederick, Maryland in 1995 by Rev. Glenn Stephan Schweitzer and his wife, Lynne Schweitzer after a visit to Nicaragua. In 2000, for the purposes of raising support for their future missions work in Nicaragua, Matthew 5:16 Ministries became an affiliate of The Missionary Church International, a 501©3 in the U.S.

Lynne and Glenn moved to Nicaragua in July 2001 and in November 2004, after three years in the mission field, the Asociación Ministerio Mateo 5:16 en Nicaragua* was established.

As of April 2006, Ministerio Mateo 5:16 was recognized as an affiliate of Redeemer International Ministries Inc. in Frederick, Maryland. At that time, Glenn and Lynne Schweitzer became licensed as legally authorized ministers and representatives of Redeemer International Ministries set apart to preach, teach, and publish the gospel of Jesus Christ; to establish churches and be the spiritual leader of a congregation; to officiate at all sacraments, rights, ordinances, including the Marriage ceremony, pray with the sick and afflicted; and to perform any and all other functions which by common law and Christian custom constitute the responsibilities of a Minister of the Gospel.

*a non-denominational, tax exempt association (NGO #2847) in Nicaragua with RUC No.251103-9056

Mission

Ministerio Mateo 5:16 was established in Jinotepe, Nicaragua with the purpose of preaching the Good News and providing a legal, non-profit channel of aid to Nicaragua. The ministry was established to primarily focus on:

Rescuing lost souls through preaching the powerful message of the gospel.
Constructing children’s feeding centers and orphanages.
Constructing learning centers to include:
a) Preschool, primary, vocational
b) theological studies for the preparation of missionaries, seminary students or individuals seeking a better knowledge of the word
c) Preparing nationals to reach their own people.

Providing free medical clinics staffed by local doctors and visiting medical teams.
Obtaining sponsorship, scholarships, construction teams, and medical teams.
Obtaining help for the disabled who are in financial distress.
Providing Christian shelters for the homeless (similar to Salvation Army).
History

July 2001: Rev. Glenn and Lynne Schweitzer arrived in Jinotepe, Carazo, Nicaragua to teach the youth, evangelize, and provide aid to the needy.

September 2001 – September 2006: Matthew 5:16 Ministries opened its school where “at risk” youth studied a vocation in a Christian environment, most by way of scholarships. To date, approximately 25 students have received their certification in auto repair. The school is currently moving and will reopen adding classes such as sewing, electricity and other courses to its syllabus.

June 2003: Matthew 5:16 Ministries began facilitating feeding programs, orphanages, church planting, health clinics, and other community projects staffed by nationals with financial and medical assistance from the U.S. An example of one project is “Hogar Rancho Hebrón” located near Las Esquinas, Carazo. Initiated and administrated by a Nicaraguan family, this facility comprises a pre-school, orphanage and feeding program. Seventy-five preschool and primary school children are fed through this feeding program. Three nights a week there is bible study, praise and worship. Ministerio Mateo 5:16 recently enabled the purchase of a building, which houses approximately 20 children and serves as the preschool. One donor provided for a chicken house, another for replacing dirt floors with concrete. Other donors have provided food, medication, clothing, Christmas presents, etc.

July 2003: Matthew 5:16 Ministries started hosting visiting teams for medical clinics, evangelistic outreach, construction, research, etc. providing them with lodging, translators and transportation.

May 2004: “Asociación Ministerio Mateo 5:16 en Nicaragua” was officially recognized by the National Assembly as an NGO and was accepted as a member of the Alianza Evangélica Nicaraguënse.

September 2004: With the help of Redeemer International Ministries, Ministerio Mateo 5:16 purchased three lots from the city to build a church, preschool and feeding program in conjunction with Iglesia Libanon Filadelfia, located in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Diriamba, Carazo.

October 2004: Ministerio Mateo 5:16 began offering seminary training in churches located in Carazo using the ISOM (International School of Ministry) program and Leadership training to cell groups.

October 2004: A committee was formed to head up Casa de Esperanza, a home for abandoned, orphaned and abused children in Quinta Esperanza located on 4 acres in Diriamba. Plans were drawn up for the development of the orphanage.

February 2005: The initial phase of repair to existing buildings at Quinta Esperanza was started. Preliminary steps are being taken to raise funds and obtain work teams to continue the repairs and to initiate the construction of the additional buildings required. Plans are to include a feeding program for local impoverished children, a clinic for residents and needy non-residents, a thrift store for the neighborhood, and a preschool for residents. Accommodations for visiting groups, a building for worship and an area for recreation are also part of the vision for the orphanage.

April 2005: Iglesia Nuevo Amanecer was formed. The church is located at Quinta Esperanza and is directed at the poorest neighborhoods of Diriamba. Many of the children have spent their lives scavenging at the landfill, selling tortillas, or begging for money. Most of the children have not heard the gospel and most come from single parent homes.

April 2005 – November 2006: During this period the church has grown to approximately 180 children and 60 adults. Pastor Glenn Schweitzer has performed baptisms, weddings, baby dedications. Pastor Glenn focuses much of his time on visitation and Premarital Counseling. Our other pastors are involved with cell groups, evangelizing and leadership training.

We have built a worship area that holds approximately 200 people, a clinic that serves our congregation, and a nursery. We have a feeding program on Sunday for the children of our church and a clothing program for the members of the church. Each child receives a birthday present on his/her birthday. For most of these children this has never happened before. At Christmas, thanks to our donors, we hold a party where everyone enjoys a Christmas dinner and presents.

November 2006: The ministry is finally breaking ground for our first orphanage house where eight children will live with house parents. We now need to build a larger church and turn our current worship center into the Sunday school building.


CASA DE ESPERANZA – Home for Abandoned, Orphaned and Abused Children

Goals:

To provide a home for orphaned, abandoned, battered or indigent children in Diriamba, Nicaragua.
To provide for their physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs.
Provide bilingual education for the children.
Teach computers at an early age.
Teach hygiene and childcare to children and staff.
Facilitate higher learning for older students in the form of vocational or university educations.
To provide modular buildings within which “foster” parents will live with 6-8 children.
Each modular building will provide bedrooms for the children, a bedroom for the foster parents including bathrooms and small kitchen.
To construct a main building which will serve as dining room, auditorium.
To construct a building which will provide classrooms for preschool and primary school.
To provide for a feeding program for neighborhood children.
To build modular structures to house visiting teams.