Pastor Douglas partnered with local rehabilitation programs
Pastor Douglas serves as a youth pastor at a local church. & Pastor Douglas partnered with local rehabilitation programs and churches while ministering on the streets of Medellin serving the homeless, addicted, and displaced.
Pastor Douglas marries Marilu Alvarez.
The first group of short-term missionaries
Arrives from Times Square Church to support the work in Medellin.
The first Colombian missionary team is trained and sent from Colombia to Russia.
I work on the streets with addicts and homeless people, in partnership with Centro Día (a government facility loaned to Pastor Douglas after the government observed his work on the streets).
Refuge City is legally incorporated in Medellin, Colombia.
Working with homeless men
The programs are initiated in the funeral section of Medellin working with homeless men. The first residential restoration program for men is launched.
Pastor Douglas and Marilú adopt Juan Marcos Calvano.
The women's ministry program is launched and the first cell of the church is formed
First shelter for displaced families opens.
Women's shelter and restoration program launched.
The first donation of meat and vegetables is received from a store in Robledo (the donation continues to this day).
Purchase of a new property in Prado Centro, Medellín, for use with displaced families and future construction.
Pastor Douglas and Marilú adopt María Luisa.
The current shelter/drug program building (garage) was sold by the owner. Pastor Douglas begins construction of a new building using 30 homeless and addicted men as workers.
The farm in San Pedro de los Milagros is purchased.
Completion of new building, ribbon cutting ceremony (August) and first water baptism on the farm.
All existing Sanctuary City programs moved to a new location, being housed together under one roof for the first time.
All existing Sanctuary City programs moved to a new location, being housed together under one roof for the first time.
Launch of the bakery (Ciudad Refugio’s first income-generating initiative).
The first mobile dental and health clinic was launched and implemented in Medellín and Planeta Rica.
Launch of the Manos que Obran program, an income-generating and training project designed to develop manual labor partnerships with local companies in Medellín.
Launch of the City of Children program serving children in at-risk communities in Medellín and Planeta Rica.
The Ciudad Refugio farm is being sold and the funds are used to purchase the adjacent building for ministry expansion.
A relationship was established with Fricar (a local meat packing company), which led to ongoing meat donations, a recycling program, and jobs for people who graduate from the recovery programs.
Ciudad Refugio adopts the project to help children in Manantiales, the second largest settlement of internally displaced persons in Colombia.
First bus purchased for children's ministry, missions, and church needs.
The demolition and construction of the new building is planned, which will include: a parking project for the foundation's vehicles, an auditorium for meetings and workshops, space for the expansion of the church, housing for volunteers, a basic care center for physical and psychosocial care, training rooms and administrative offices.
Demolition and construction began for the launch of the new building (planned parking lot for the foundation's vehicles, auditorium for meetings and workshops, church expansion space, housing for volunteers, basic care center for physical and psychosocial care, training rooms and administrative offices).
structural work & Finishing work
"The auditorium is inaugurated."
