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At Willow, our Compassion & Justice Ministry team is dedicated to showcasing the incredible work of our global partners. Through our annual Celebration of Hope, we’ve had the privilege of sharing the transformative stories of organizations making a lasting impact worldwide. In this blog, we connect with some of these partners to hear how their ministries are changing lives and communities. From reaching the unreached in South Asia to empowering leaders in El Salvador and Malawi, these partners are doing remarkable work, and we’re honored to support them. Discover how God is moving through their efforts and how, together, we can continue making a difference globally!

In El Salvador, we’re proud to partner with Enlace, an organization dedicated to empowering leaders to create sustainable solutions for their communities. By training local leaders to address critical issues like healthcare, housing, and clean water, Enlace is making a profound impact. In 2024 alone, they trained 407 leaders, reaching over 30,000 people and helping them combat extreme poverty. Through their efforts, communities are being transformed, and lives are being improved with lasting, practical solutions.

What does the partnership with Willow Creek mean to you?

ENLACE began to build a partnership with Willow Creek at a critical time in our history. We had been working in El Salvador for over 10 years, and there was a growing demand for churches in El Salvador wanting to work with ENLACE. Willow listened, encouraged, and resourced to help start in a new region of the country. The long-term commitment to friendship and partnership has allowed us to equip more churches to address multidimensional poverty in their communities. 

During Celebration of Hope, we highlight the stories and ministries of global partners (like you) to encourage our congregation to serve and give generously. How has Celebration of Hope made an impact on your ministry?

We have been honored to participate in the Celebration of Hope for many years. It is truly inspiring to see an entire congregation get so excited to engage in strengthening churches to bring holistic changes to their communities. More specifically, COH programming and funding have allowed us to equip more churches, complete community-led projects such as improving schools, building clinics, and helping us launch new programs, such as agricultural, fish, and chicken farm programs.

You’ve been receiving teams from Willow for a while. What does God do through those serving teams?

We have had the enormous privilege of hosting teams from Willow for many years. The long-term impact of the teams is to encourage and strengthen the vision and service of local church leaders. By creating relationships and working alongside church and community leaders to implement a project, they affirm church leaders’ hearts for transforming their communities and strengthening the relationship between church and community leaders. Teams have played a critical part in lifting the hands of church leaders and contributing to real change in the communities. We also believe that team members come back with a new vision of God’s work through His church that reinforces their understanding of its mission and hopefully increases their engagement in community service through Willow Creek.

What do you hope will come from our churches continuing to partner together?

We hope God will continue developing a shared vision of church-based community transformation. There is a rapidly growing demand for churches interested in serving their communities in El Salvador and the region. I pray that we will continue to dream, innovate, and resource new strategies to equip more churches in the Central American region.

As we celebrate the powerful work God is doing through our global partners, we invite you to be a part of this amazing journey! Your financial generosity is more than just a number—it’s a powerful act of kindness that creates real change. Every contribution helps local organizations on the ground make a meaningful impact in communities that need it most. From providing clean water to supporting life-changing education programs, your support empowers these organizations to carry out their essential work. No matter the size of your gift, you’re playing a vital role in transforming lives and building a brighter, better future for all! 

Ways to give: 

• Online – Click here  and select “Celebration of Hope” in the dropdown menu.
• In Person – Drop a check with “Celebration of Hope” in the memo line at any Willow location offering box.
• By Mail – Mail a check with “Celebration of Hope” in the memo line to 67 Algonquin Rd, South Barrington, IL.