Missionary Spotlight: Will and Ella Faircloth
Family Has Wide-Ranging Involvement with Methodist Church in Costa Rica
Christ Community is a long-time supporter of Will and Ella Faircloth, who have been serving as missionaries with the Methodist Church of Costa Rica, an independent Methodist church with over 100 years of ministry.
In what ways do you obtain funding for your outreach?
We were invited by the Church to serve alongside them, but all of our financial support comes from individuals and congregations in the U.S.
Describe your work with the Methodist Church of Costa Rica.
Will teaches each month at the Methodist Seminary, training pastors and lay leaders in courses on the Bible, liturgy and ethics; we are Board members and fund-raisers for the Methodist Children’s Home, where we also train the staff to be trauma competent caregivers and host work teams from the U.S; and we support local pastors and congregations in various ways.
What challenges have you faced while serving in this role?
A major challenge we have faced is seeing first-hand at the Children’s Home the effects of childhood trauma and the variety of ways that children still suffer and struggle, even when placed in a safe environment. This was made much clearer to us after the adoption of our daughters, as we saw the many areas where they needed help to heal, grow, and have healthy attachment and connection with us.
How have these challenges impacted your ministry?
This awareness led us over the past two years to receive training in trauma-informed childcare, which has been a deep source of healing in our family. We’re now implementing this training at the Children’s Home where we hope to create an environment of genuine healing, where children learn about the love of their heavenly Father, but also develop connections with caregivers and other children that promote growth in many ways and give them a greater hope for tomorrow.
Do any particular successes stand out in your time there?
In our ministry, stand-out moments include ribbon-cuttings for the first two houses (so far) at the Children’s Home and welcoming the precious children who live there, as well as Seminary graduations each December. In our family, the most meaningful moment has been the arrival of our daughters through adoption in June 2013.
How do you see God at work through the Costa Rican church?
We see God at work through the development of the children at the Methodist Home, as we see them start to grow into their true selves in an environment filled with love and free from fear. We also are blessed by the witness of the student pastors at the Seminary, whose sacrifice, dedication, and hunger for learning are a testimony to God’s call on their lives.
What is a fun fact about the culture where you live or the people you minister to?
A fun fact about Costa Rica is that although it represents only 0.03 percent of the earth’s surface, it has 6 percent of its biodiversity (different plant and animal species).
What about the country is the most God honoring and / or the most challenging?
One God-honoring facet of Costa Rican culture is the emphasis on family, including extended family. Costa Ricans spend a lot of time together as family and take for granted that many people will be a part of their lives from childhood on. This is a warm, supporting vision of how God wants us to live and be present for each other. A challenging part of the culture, though, is the general religious “feeling” many people have, but that doesn’t translate into being committed followers of Jesus. Almost everyone is familiar with the Bible and the Gospel story, but that can give them a false satisfaction that makes it harder to see the need for a Savior and a personal relationship with God.
How can we pray for you?
Please pray for:
In what ways do you obtain funding for your outreach?
We were invited by the Church to serve alongside them, but all of our financial support comes from individuals and congregations in the U.S.
Describe your work with the Methodist Church of Costa Rica.
Will teaches each month at the Methodist Seminary, training pastors and lay leaders in courses on the Bible, liturgy and ethics; we are Board members and fund-raisers for the Methodist Children’s Home, where we also train the staff to be trauma competent caregivers and host work teams from the U.S; and we support local pastors and congregations in various ways.
What challenges have you faced while serving in this role?
A major challenge we have faced is seeing first-hand at the Children’s Home the effects of childhood trauma and the variety of ways that children still suffer and struggle, even when placed in a safe environment. This was made much clearer to us after the adoption of our daughters, as we saw the many areas where they needed help to heal, grow, and have healthy attachment and connection with us.
How have these challenges impacted your ministry?
This awareness led us over the past two years to receive training in trauma-informed childcare, which has been a deep source of healing in our family. We’re now implementing this training at the Children’s Home where we hope to create an environment of genuine healing, where children learn about the love of their heavenly Father, but also develop connections with caregivers and other children that promote growth in many ways and give them a greater hope for tomorrow.
Do any particular successes stand out in your time there?
In our ministry, stand-out moments include ribbon-cuttings for the first two houses (so far) at the Children’s Home and welcoming the precious children who live there, as well as Seminary graduations each December. In our family, the most meaningful moment has been the arrival of our daughters through adoption in June 2013.
How do you see God at work through the Costa Rican church?
We see God at work through the development of the children at the Methodist Home, as we see them start to grow into their true selves in an environment filled with love and free from fear. We also are blessed by the witness of the student pastors at the Seminary, whose sacrifice, dedication, and hunger for learning are a testimony to God’s call on their lives.
What is a fun fact about the culture where you live or the people you minister to?
A fun fact about Costa Rica is that although it represents only 0.03 percent of the earth’s surface, it has 6 percent of its biodiversity (different plant and animal species).
What about the country is the most God honoring and / or the most challenging?
One God-honoring facet of Costa Rican culture is the emphasis on family, including extended family. Costa Ricans spend a lot of time together as family and take for granted that many people will be a part of their lives from childhood on. This is a warm, supporting vision of how God wants us to live and be present for each other. A challenging part of the culture, though, is the general religious “feeling” many people have, but that doesn’t translate into being committed followers of Jesus. Almost everyone is familiar with the Bible and the Gospel story, but that can give them a false satisfaction that makes it harder to see the need for a Savior and a personal relationship with God.
How can we pray for you?
Please pray for:
- Health and strength to minister in the ways God has called us
- Flexibility and vision to serve the Costa Rican church in new directions of ministry
- Wisdom and patience as we raise our children to love and serve the Lord
- Committed financial partners for our growing family