Published November 5, 2018

1,300 Leaders Trained, 14,000 People in Relationship with Jesus, 100’s of Children Out of Poverty

My grander vision

Eddy Morales hosting the GLS in Nicaragua

Eddy Morales hosting the GLS in Nicaragua

The thought that four million people live in poverty in Nicaragua can be overwhelming. Though we may not reach all four million people, we can reach one life at a time, creating a ripple effect.

My grander vision is for every Nicaraguan to have a personal relationship with Jesus. At the end of the day, we can be the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, but we really want to bring Jesus to Nicaragua so the people can know there is hope—eternal hope. I also believe Jesus wants people to have a fulfilling life on earth. So I am committed to work every day of my life to help break the cycles of poverty in my country.

Ultimately, we want to bring a piece of heaven on earth to these kids who live in poverty, and we also want them to experience heaven with Jesus.

I started working for ORPHANetwork in 2008. Through the local churches, we are working in communities in abject poverty and doing nutrition programs, health programs, education and job programs. We are also working with teenagers and college students on leadership development. Ultimately, we want to bring a piece of heaven on earth to these kids who live in poverty, and we also want them to experience heaven with Jesus.

None of this would be possible without leadership.

When I started with ORPHANetwork, I got connected with The Global Leadership Summit for the first time. We definitely wanted to take advantage of this great movement and bring it to the churches in Nicaragua. Everything we do is through the local church, because we believe the local church is the hope of the world. With that in mind, we knew we had to build into the leaders and pastors.

As a result of hosting the Summit, for the glory of our Lord, we are reaching our goals as an organization. And it’s only the beginning of what God is doing in Nicaragua.

All of this is possible because of the leaders we have at the orphanages, and the pastors and leaders we are partnering with to bring kingdom impact to approximately 200 different communities in 35 different denominations. We are building their leadership skills through the Summit and it’s making all the difference.

What it takes to bring the GLS to Nicaragua.

Attendees watch the GLS in Nicaragua

Attendees watch the GLS in Nicaragua

The GLS team in Nicaragua does six events across the country with approximately 1,300 pastors and leaders who attend each year.

My staff, my team, friends and my brothers make up the group of volunteers who drive hundreds of miles around the country to bring the Summit to these pastors and leaders so we can accomplish our two goals: reach people for Jesus and break cycles of poverty.

Even some of the orphans from our programs who are now grown have volunteered at the GLS. We serve six orphanages, and one of the goals for kids in the orphanages is for them to learn to play music. Some of these kids who grew up in our program can play all the instruments; they drive hundreds of miles to do all the worship at the GLS sites. Can you imagine how they’re feeling to know that they were part of an orphanage, and now God is using them to minister to pastors and leaders?

The outcomes are incredible.

Girl eats meal in NicaraguaMost of the pastors we are serving come to the Summit and say, “you know our denomination is not training us in leadership. If it were not for the GLS and ORPHANetwork, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”  Seeing these pastors achieve results in their communities comes only from God. God has given us the opportunity to be a part of what He is doing. We have this great privilege to be His hands and His feet in Nicaragua.

As a result, we’ve reached over 14,000 people for Jesus in all the communities where these pastors are serving. Hundreds of kids who were in the orphanages and in our programs have grown up and now have jobs. They are breaking cycles of poverty!

Thank you for making the GLS possible in Nicaragua.

I don’t think I would have come this far or achieved so many results if it were not for The Global Leadership Summit. Thank you for calling me and equipping me year after year. It is shaping me to be a great father, husband, friend, boss and leader for my staff and other pastors.

Thank you for calling me and equipping me year after year. It is shaping me to be a great father, husband, friend, boss and leader for my staff and other pastors.

All of this is possible because of donors. We prefer to call them investors and the ROI we are shooting for is taking kids out of poverty and bringing them to Jesus. And it is happening! Praise God!

So thank you so much for your investment; for all the resources that you are giving. We are committed and will continue to work really hard to make sure the return on your investment is happening by developing leaders and transforming communities. At the end of the day, we’re helping these people transform their community by breaking cycles of poverty, and reaching people for Jesus. All of this is possible because of you!

About the Author
Eddy Morales

Eddy Morales

Director

ORPHANetwork, Nicaragua

A native Nicaraguan, Eddy Morales was born in Puerto Cabezas. His post-graduate degrees in Social Management, Education, and Business prepared him well to invest his talents in improving life of his fellow Nicaraguans. “Together with the ORPHANetwork team, I want to see these children develop their potential by responding to God’s call on their lives." His vast work experience includes serving as a consultant to the United Nations World Food Programme, and currently Eddy serves as the Director of ORPHANetwork, Nicaragua. Three pillars of strength in Eddy’s life are his faith in Jesus, his wife Claudia, and their son Mattias. Additionally, Eddy leads the volunteer team that’s been hosting The Global Leadership Summit in Nicaragua since 2008.