Pedro graduated from a
well-known university in Venezuela and did graduate work in the US. He works for
large international corporation and, through family and other connections, has become one of its
many vice-presidents. However, he constantly worries that his job will be eliminated
because of the unstable economy in Venezuela. He
fears that he will become just another statistic in the
high unemployment rate that is currently plaguing his country. The loss of income would be
devastating, but it would also crush Pedro’s self-worth since his sense of value is
based on his ability, as husband and father, to support the family. |
|
MORAL BREAKDOWN
(43% Single Parent Families)
Marisabel worries a lot too, although not about her job.
She is a pharmacist and is well respected and sought after for her medical advice. She
worries a lot about her marriage and her children. Infidelity in marriage is accepted and
even expected in their circle of friends.
|
COLLAPSE OF HOME
(Divorces Doubled from 1996 to 1997)
The divorce rate has increased dramatically, and
several of their friends are now divorced. She loves her children and works hard to
provide them with the best of everything, from US and European designer clothes to private
music lessons. Her children are able to attend private schools and will naturally go to
college and probably study abroad. Unfortunately, work does not permit Marisabel to spend
as much time with her children as she would like, and as societal values decline, she is
afraid they will be affected negatively in the form of premarital sex or drugs.
Since materialism is so important to Venezuelans, in their eyes the Chirinos -- with their beautiful house, cars, club memberships, designer clothes,
and well paying jobs -- seem to have it all. Their maid, Marta, who can barely read and
write, is in awe of them. Even though they talk down to her and assume she will work
constantly both day and night, Marta feels very fortunate to be their maid. When Marisabel
gives her any cast-off clothes, she is happy to take and share them with her relatives.
The Chirinos are pillars in the community and are active in
civic affairs. They belong to a prestigious social club where they can swim, play tennis
and mix with people of their same social class. They also belong to several civic
organizations which allow them to have powerful friends, which is all important in
maintaining one’s standing. Loyalty to these friends is expected and anyone who
"steps out of line," is dealt with quickly. |
MEANINGLESS RELIGION
(10% Attend Mass Regularly)
Both were baptized in the Catholic church but
seldom attend. Often Marisabel feels empty inside. She is looking for meaning and purpose
in life and frequently consults with
 her astrologer so she
can find out what advice the stars have for her. For Pedro, church is for women and
children. Just last week, Maria Luisa had her First Holy Communion, and the party
afterwards was written up in the local paper. Pedro is disturbed, however, because his
son, Ramon, has started attending a youth group at a local evangelical church. Though he
agrees with Ramon that the rituals of the Catholic church are meaningless, Pedro worries
that his friends will find out about it and that his standing in the community will be
affected. After all, his friends believe that if you’re not Catholic, you’re not
a true Venezuelan. Religion and culture go hand in hand in their minds.
The Chirinos family, like other professional
in the state of Aragua, will not be an easy group to reach. They have much to lose by
professing Christ as their Lord and Savior and having a personal relationship with Him.
Nevertheless, with the current instability in the country, both economically and socially,
many are beginning to look for an anchor in the storms of life. Christ can be that anchor,
that rock, that will give them the stability for which they seek. We have a wonderful
opportunity to befriend this family and many like them by presenting the gospel in a
relevant way that will open their eyes to the truth of Christ and bring them into a
personal relationship with Him.
*The Chirinos family does not exist but is an
accurate composite
of a typical professional class family living in the state of Aragua,
Venezuela today. |
Their neighborhood is a gated community with a
full-time security guard. The quinta is furnished with expensive furniture, all the latest
"gadgets" from the US, including computers, CD players, cable or Direct TV, and
beautiful art work. There are two cars in the driveway that are late model US imports,
equipped with alarm systems and kept behind locked gates. A fear of their
"things" being stolen permeates their lifestyle.