The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colon, Panamá, recently joined the local mayoral office in a comprehensive initiative that helps vulnerable children in the Altos de los Lagos Community—an area affected by escalating crime and violence.

More than 200 children were gathered for a special program where they were taught about values by Seventh-day Adventist leaders, were gifted school backpacks, and took part in a program, which is part of the “Getting to Know Values” educational program laid out by the newly elected Mayor of Colon Province Diogenes Galván and his wife Julissa Galván.

Mayor Galván expressed his unconditional support for the initiative and underlined the importance of instilling values in the new generations as he reaffirmed his commitment to local authorities and attendees. “Our province needs values, and they should be taught to those who are growing,” he added.

Organized by Julissa Galván, the event was the first event that Adventist leaders were invited to connect and lead out in presenting the values it carries throughout its schools and congregations.

The gifted backpacks not only included school supplies but also materials to specifically teach about being truthful, courteous, respectful, grateful, forgiving, punctual, responsible, obedient, full of integrity, optimism, and kindness as well as being willing to serve, said Jeimy Rojas, Children and Adolescent Ministries director of the Atlantic Panama Conference. “We also included a card pointing to our Radio Nuevo Amanecer 105.1 FM frequency so that children and their parents can tune in to our live children’s program at 3 p.m. each day,” said Rojas. “Children will learn about the 12 values to help them in their personal development,” Rojas added.

Children were happy and engaged and full of joy to participate in engaging activities, enjoyed special drama performances illustrating values, sang and had fun together, explained Rojas.

Mrs. Galván expressed how happy and proud she was of the initial event in partnership with the Adventist Church. “I am so moved at how the Adventist Church works,” she said. “I never thought that we would work together so much. Seeing the children smile and the program flow even though we had some challenges was something that really moved me,” she said, adding that the program would be replicated in other communities in the Colon district in collaboration with the wives of the district leaders.

The plan is to reach the 15 districts that make up the Colon district that is expected to reach more than 3,000 children in the region, organizers said.

Domingo Ramos, president of the Atlantic Panama Conference, is delighted that the mayor and his wife asked the church to take part in the initiative.

The positive influence with local authorities and the public in general is a great opportunity for the church, he said. “It is crucial to coordinate activities that not only benefit the community but can allow children to know Jesus,” said Ramos.

This is the first project of this scale that the Adventist Church has been able to organize with the mayor’s office, said Ramos. Previously, the church has approached government leaders with literature including a visit to Panama’s current President José Raúl Mulino, in Panama, he added. “This is a significant effort on behalf of the Adventist Church to offer a comprehensive solution through education and the promotion of positive values among children.”

The initiative opens opportunities for the message of the gospel to enter vulnerable communities in the district, said Ramos.

The church will continue to expand its radio programs to reach the children in the region and their parents with the kind of Christian values that can make a difference in their lives and offer the hope of salvation, Ramos said.

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division website.