This past, July 24 through August 1, the Fountain of Praise Church led a global mission to San Andres, Colombia, marking the fifth year that the church has traveled to the country and left a major impact on the people of the island. The trip coincided with the annual Emancipation Celebration on the island, and carried the theme “Freedom to Worship.”
The Fountain of Praise global mission team, led by Senior Pastor Dr. Remus E. Wright and Co-Pastor Mia K. Wright, partnered with the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in San Andres for the purpose of increasing the spiritual and community work.
“We take our mission work very seriously,” said Dr. Remus E. Wright. “San Andres is a beautiful island that faces many challenges. We are committed to enhancing the spiritual and physical quality of life for the people.”
“We decided on San Andres because mission work is often focused only on Africa,” Dr. Wright continued, “but we believe there are people of African descent in need not only in Houston or Africa, but other places around the world.”
San Andres is located off the coast of Nicaragua but is a member state of the Republic of Colombia. The sovereignty of San Andres has long been a debate in international courts as both Colombia and Nicaragua have fought for the island. The people of San Andres are primarily of African descent, but have seen a drastic increase in population as people from the mainland have moved to the island creating an issue of over population.
During the week long effort, members of The Fountain Praise focused on developing programs for youth, married couples, singles, men, and women. Members facilitated workshops in dance and music, while also establishing the first drill team outside of the continental United States. In addition to the work around ministry areas, this year The Fountain of Praise conducted trainings on asset based community development with both church and community leaders represented.
“This year we decided not to only meet the church’s spiritual needs, but to also help them recognize their obligation to improve their community,” said Co-Pastor Mia K. Wright. “Whether it’s Colombia, Brazil, or South Africa we are committed to making a transformative change throughout the globe.”
While The Fountain of Praise makes annual visits as an essential part of its mission work, they also support partner international churches throughout the year monetarily. The Fountain of Praise Church is located in Houston, and has a membership of approximately 25,000 members. The church is very active in the community both domestically and internationally.