Family Life Network plays lead role in Latin American convention

More than 3,500 broadcasters and other media people from all over Latin America registered at this year’s Convention of Latin American Christian Communicators (COICOM) hosted in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Staff from Winnipeg’s Family Life Network (FLN), the Mennonite Brethren media agency, played a crucial role. FLN director Delbert Enns was conference program coordinator.

“This year’s event was the most moving ever,” Enns reports. Leaders came hungry to get equipped and trained. Seminar rooms were packed out with people sitting on the floor, spilling into the hall. There was an incredible spirit of gratitude.”

Ernesto Pinto, FLN Spanish radio producer presented two workshops on his specialty – creating programs with interviews of ordinary people. Ruth Klassen, long-time MBMSI missionary who now coordinates FLN’s Spanish follow-up ministry, assisted Enns and Pinto and managed the Family Life Network booth.

In Ecuador, Ruth Klassen registered 60 new Latin American radio stations that requested Family Life Network’s Spanish program, Encuentro.

“On the day before the convention,” says Enns, “we offered the Purpose Driven Seminar to some 400 pastors and leaders from all over Ecuador. Church leaders from various denominations signed a covenant to support each other and work together. There was also reconciliation between leaders and indigenous church representatives of Ecuador. More than 200 native leaders from Ecuador came to COICOM for training – a first ever.”

Since the convention, letters and testimonies have poured into the COICOM office praising the Lord for experiences of personal change.

The five-day convention offered 96 workshops and seminars. COICOM plans to re-broadcast the conference via satellite into about 100 Latin American cities. Next year’s conference will take place in Guatemala.

—FLN Release