Two young men from the new Youth Soccer League started by the Zone 10:14 community development center – a CMF partner in Mexico City — recently put their new Community Health Evangelism (CHE) knowledge to work in a “seed project.”

“At the close of the soccer season, Jose, the goalkeeper of one of the teams, suggested painting the neighborhood speed bumps so they’d be more visible to drivers,” said Mariana Luna, a CHE leader at Zone 10:14. “It is common for drivers to miss the bumps and hit them going downhill, causing the car to fly over them, putting pedestrians and vehicles at risk.”

Leaders from Zone 10:14 approached the regional government for their neighborhood, Fuego Nuevo, for permission to paint public property, which was granted. Then Jose and Uriel, another young soccer player, worked with two members of the CHE team at Zone 10:14 to paint two speed bumps in about three hours.

“Some of the resources used for this project – brooms, water, detergent and brushes – were from the community,” said Mariana. “Our center helped the young men purchase the paint, thinner and masking tape.”

A “seed project” is a simple, low-cost, one-time project led by the local church to help a community become more aware of its own resources to help themselves, according to Steve Palich, CMF’s Director of Ministry Center Development.

“The projects are designed to motivate others to look for ways they can make a difference, as well, and that happened in this situation,” said Steve. “After the speed bump painting, a group of parents and their sons who play in the soccer league, 18 people in all, worked together to clean up the park where the soccer field is located. And now, people are reluctant to litter there because it looks so good.

“A seed project is an entry point into the community that gives CHE some visibility,” Steve added. “And it brings people together – the people who serve and the community that sees the project and realizes that somebody cares about them, paving the way for further ministry.”