Historical Facts about the Foundation for Peace Mission Trips
This unique ministry model grew out of a 12 day mission trip led by Mitch Gore in 1989. Ken Culver participated as an assistant group leader on the trip that was organized by the National Presbyterian Church through Young Life. On that trip he first met Doctors Alberto and Rosalina Martinez and they have been serving together with his wife, Reverend Cindy Alloway and their three children ever since. Because Ken found the trip to be extremely valuable for both Dominican people and North Americans, the trip age range fhas been expanded from adolescents to people of all ages.
The trip now focuses on building relationships with members of the local community of all ages, includes multiple modes of ministry through the local churches and includes families.
The focus on relationship building with the people with whom we work and expanded participation to all ages has facilitated significant growth, first in the summer program and more recently in the fall, winter and sping seasons to more than 550 people during 2007. This growth required the creation of a foundation to support the increasing numbers and broader geographical participation. During 2007, 551 people have worked in the DR (488), Haiti (48) and Kenya (15). These groups were composed of participants ranging in age from 6-74 with many family groups. Participants came from 20 states plus the District of Columbia. This sustained growth has allowed us to expand to Haiti in 2006 and then to Africa in 2007.
Due to increasing demand to accommodate more people and to meet the year round needs of the Dominicans and Haitians with whom we serve, we have been developing fall, winter and spring mission trips. Church and non-church groups from the United States can schedule fall, winter and spring mission trips under the leadership of Foundation for Peace staff. These trips are multi-faceted: focused on developing friendships with the Dominicans and including construction, medical care and educational programs. While the summer programs are all Christian mission trips, trips in the fall, winter and spring may or may not be Christian mission trips depending upon which group is organizing them. However, all of the groups will work with our local church partners in the communities where they are serving. The cost will also vary depending upon the length of the trip and the type of construction project undertaken.
If you are interested in participating in the "Fall, Winter and Spring Mission Trips" program, please contact ken@foundationforpeace.org or sign up online on this web site.
If you would like more information on our DR Mission Trips, please contact ken@foundationforpeace.org