How to Make A Donation
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In the spring of 2003 several
The Cielo Azul Fund is a mission of The
Simple Way, Central Baptist Church and
Iglesia Bautista Shekina. Checks can be
written to The Simple Way/Cielo
Azul Fund and mailed to:
Cielo Azul Fund
PO Box 211
Wayne, PA 19087
For updates and online donations go to
our Cielo Azul blog:
http://www.cieloazulfund.blogspot.com/
Over the years, several programs of Iglesia Shalom (the center for Alex’s work in Antiquzaya) and Iglesia
Pledge Form
Many folks make a regular monthly
contribution to the Cielo Azul Fund. To
register that commitment, please send or
email the information below:
I pledge $10_____, $25____, $50______,
$100______other______________,per
During the same six years, Alex’s
month.
Name __________________________
Address__________________________
__________________________
It is the intention of the
Phone __________________________
Email __________________________
Payments and pledge forms can be mailed to
Cielo Azul Fund
PO Box 211
Wayne, PA 19087
Or email us at
cieloazulfund@gmail.com
e History
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u t a n on
b si
f a ces, d mis
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Sam expan
and
Cielo Azul Fund
(formerly The Orantes Fund)
Mission:
• To insure a basic living stipend
so that Salvadoran Baptist
pastors Ruth and Alex Orantes
can continue their work in the
communities they serve.
• To support the outreach
programs of the communities
where Alex and Ruth minister.
members of Central Baptist Church,
Wayne, Pa. traveled with some folks from
The Simple Way in Philadelphia to visit
long time Salvadoran friends Alex and
Ruth Orantes. The visit deepened the
connection between the Orantes family--
Alex, Ruth and their son, Victor Hugo--
and The Simple Way and CBC. This
family’s commitment to faith based
community development and ministries of
justice, peacemaking and healing in the
communities where each member works
has become a cherished model for both
CBC and The Simple Way.
The original Orantes Fund emerged from that visit in 2003 when we realized that the economic realities
of life in El Salvador were threatening the ability of this talented family to sustain themselves without the help of
the folks who had been inspired by their commitment. Our goal was to provide a stable basic income that would
allow their work to continue uninterrupted.
Shekina (Ruth’s church in Santa Ana) have been funded by other groups in the United States and Europe. The
Orantes Fund was intended to provide basic support for the Orantes family.
The Present Reality
Over the past six years, Iglesia Shekina has grown in size and vision, from a small group of worshippers
in a rented store front, to a vital community of adults, youth and children who have purchased land, built a church
and then added a large parcel to the church property with a vision for a community center to serve all of their
neighborhood. Already, they have begun to
offer programs on that new property.
struggle with rheumatoid arthritis has
limited more and more his ability physically
to accompany the people in Atiquizaya who
he loves, and who love him, so dearly.
There is great joy and great
sadness in this present reality.
reconstituted Cielo Azul Fund to take
up the original task and commitment
of the Orantes Fund to support this
exceptional family--especially as they
consider the best medical treatments
for Alex’s illness--and to support the
many programs that have arisen out
of their ministries. Those projects
are highlighted on the following page.
The Cielo Azul Fund is administered by a volunteer advisory committee from Central Baptist Church,
The Simple Way and the Pastoral Council of Iglesia Shekina.
 Opening the new community center property

Projects Supported by the Cielo Azul Fund

• Shekina “Open Doors” Month

Community based art and craft activities for women
and children
• Shekina Youth Children’s project
Day long play time and distribution of school supplies
and school uniforms organized by Shekina youth
• Youth “encounter” workshops
• Building fund for Shekina community center on newly Examples of How Your Contribution Can Help
acquired property adjacent to the church
Basketball court, roofed meeting court, workshops,
$20 School supplies and uniforms for one child
clinic facilities
$50 Food for one “community soup”
$90 One square meter of the Shekina basketball court
• Community corn festival celebrations in Atquizaya $350 One square meter of the two story community center
• Community Romero Anniversary celebrations in Atiquizaya structure
• “Community soup” gatherings in Atiquizaya $1000 One month of Orantes family living expenses
Community bible study, organizing meetings, and
$3000 One month of the Open Doors community program
children’s activities in marginal neighborhoods
Or, your monthly pledge supports all these possibilities

Alex with Conchi and her daughter

(Conchi is a volunteer at Shalom)