Zarate Family

Planting Churches In Bolivia

The Ministerial History Of The Zárate Family

In 1963, the Zarates began serving as pastors of the Evangélical Christian Church. Taking the Gospel to the rural areas they met many families that lived in extreme poverty and total illiteracy, who had no hope of improving their lifestyle.
	Motivated by Christian love and the call to serve poor children, they received into their own family and parsanage four children and enrolled them in school in 1964. Through faith they worked hard to cover the childrens´ needs. Mrs. Zarate worked as a seamstres and baker, and Pastor Marcelino worked in carpentry. The parents of the children also brought agricultural products as they were able. Faced with such great need, they asked their mission for permission to use the the whole parsanage complex to house more boys and girls.
For ten years it was very difficult for them economically , but they always thanked God that they did not have to abandon the children, and each day, they were able to say: "Thus far God has helped us" (Eben-Ezer). In 1974 they had the privelege of meeting with KINDERNOTHILFE - GERMANY (KNH). This German organization immediately began supporting 24 of their children with $40 a month, which was a great help to them. Since then they have put 60 young people through different college majors. When they handed the orphanage over to their successors, there were 170 children in the home, with 33 of them in Bolivian colleges. The orphanage continues to be maintained through KNH, and the minimal support of the children's parents. Their goal was for each student be educated for life with a foundation of Christian principles. Now Planting Churches in the lower mountains!

Since January of 2002, the Zárate family has handed over their responsiblilties of the orphanage to a younger family. Marcelino and Ignacia are now working with Piedra Viva, planting churches in the bushes and villages among the people they have come to know and love so well.

	Pastor Marcelino ministers to his neighborhood church. He and his wife Ignacia started this church in 2001.
Ignacia teaches Sunday school in their neighborhood church, under the shade of the front door.
	Leading song service with the Guarani Indians. Pastor Marcelino started this church at the same time as his neighborhood church. The the Indian church has now been built, and you can see a picture of it by clicking on the Guaraní link below.

Go to Church in Monteagudo | Go to Church with the Guarani Indians

Meet the Grant Family | Go to Church in Sucre

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