Iglesia Evangélica Peniel
- Cabimas, Estado Zulia, Venezuela
Organizational Overview
Fundación Yo le Creo a Dios is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding the Kingdom of God through the proclamation of the Gospel, with a strong focus on social engagement and community development. As the social outreach arm of the Evangelical Church Peniel, a thriving congregation with over 1,200 members which was established in 1977, the foundation is committed to both spiritual and practical outreach. The organization operates across various municipalities in Venezuela’s northwest, including Cabimas, Simón Bolívar, Valmore Rodríguez, and La Guajira Venezolana, where it works to uplift vulnerable communities and disciple people, offering biblical education and spiritual growth opportunities that enable individuals to become active participants in extending the Kingdom of God. Fundación Yo le Creo a Dios has implemented numerous social programs, including Comedor Peniel, a nutrition program which has served over 30,000 meals to address food insecurity; Servicios Médicos, providing healthcare services throughout the region to over 350 patients each month. Other initiatives include the Complejo Educativo Antonio Acosta, which trains young people in vocational skills, Iglesia Peniel Kids, a community radio station, and academies focused on dance and music. The organization also reaches rural areas through its MIEL home cells, promoting spiritual development and social support. Through its holistic approach, the foundation serves as a beacon of hope, addressing both spiritual and material needs, and making a significant impact in the communities it serves.
Beneficiary Population
- Urban Poor
- Children & Youth
- Women
- Families
- Leaders
- Entrepreneurs
- Vulnerable Populations (street kids and indigenous)
Focus Areas
- Spiritual Transformation & Faith Communities
- Leadership Development & Training
- Community Development
- People & Family-Centered Development
- Wealth Creation & Economic Development
Organizational Track Record
The Evangelical Church Peniel, founded in 1977, has a long-standing legacy of spiritual and social impact in the Zulia State of Venezuela. Founded by Pastor Antonio Acosta, the organization began as a small congregation with a modest church building and 80 members. After Pastor Acosta's passing in 2011, Pastor Paul and Germailit Ramotar-Chacin assumed leadership, catalyzing significant growth. The church now serves over 1,200 active congregants and has expanded its outreach to include 70 home cell groups (Células MIEL) across four municipalities, engaging 800 individuals weekly. In addition to its spiritual efforts, its social outreach arm, Fundación Yo le Creo a Dios, has made a tremendous social impact through its comprehensive programs. These include Servicios Médicos Fundación Yo le Creo a Dios, which has provided medical care to over 5,000 patients and conducted close to hundred medical campaigns, and Comedor Peniel, which has served over 30,000 meals to vulnerable individuals. The organization also supports leadership development, children's ministries, and community radio programming. In 2023, its diverse programs reached thousands. The foundation continues to make a deep, holistic impact by addressing both spiritual and material needs in the communities it serves, particularly also through its new mobile clinic.
Additionally, we have carried out impactful social projects within communities through our MIEL cell groups. These initiatives include cleaning and beautifying green areas in the city, collecting and disposing of trash from common areas, restoring sports courts, creating murals with messages of hope and Christian values, donating toys, school supplies, and uniforms to children and adolescents, repairing and improving the homes of economically disadvantaged families, providing free food bags and medications, conducting personal hygiene days, offering barber and hairdressing services to those in need, and supporting evangelical activities in the city, such as the March for Jesus in Venezuela, Municipal Bible Day, and Mass People Pro-Family Gatherings. Furthermore, we have been pioneers in training Municipal Chaplains in various specialties, including police, education, penitentiary, and healthcare. These chaplains serve as counselors, teachers of values, and proclaimers of the Word of God, making a meaningful presence in public institutions in the municipality.
Key Leader Biosketch
Dr. Paul Ramotar is a dedicated medical professional and pastor, born on April 9, 1981, in Cabimas, Zulia State, Venezuela. He holds a doctorate in Medicine and degrees in theology and specializes in Mastology and Oncoplasty. Since October 2011, Dr. Ramotar has served as the senior pastor of Iglesia Evangélica Peniel, where he has significantly expanded the church's outreach through a thriving cell group ministry and by founding the Renuevo community radio station, Comedor Peniel, and the Medical Services of the "Yo le Creo a Dios" Foundation, all of which aim to support the most vulnerable in the community. In 2022, Dr. Ramotar was appointed as the Director of Religious Affairs for the municipality of Cabimas, where his focus is on uniting various religious denominations to engage in community work and bring the word of God to homes throughout the region. His contributions to both the medical and spiritual well-being of his community has made him a respected local leader and underscore his commitment to holistic care. Dr. Ramotar is married to Pastora Germailit de Ramotar, and together they continue to lead impactful initiatives that transform lives through faith and service.
Funding History with Camino Alliance
In early 2024, Fundación Yo le Creo a Dios received a $45,000 USD grant through Camino Alliance to launch a comprehensive project aimed at improving healthcare access and community development in Zulia State, Venezuela. This initiative will deploy a mobile medical clinic to deliver essential medical services across four municipalities, focusing on General Medicine, Pediatrics, Gynecology, and Internal Medicine. The clinic is expected to serve 600-800 individuals monthly, impacting 7,200–9,600 people over the course of a year. As part of its health campaign, the project includes a deworming initiative targeting over 50,000 children, and a vaccination drive to immunize 40,000 children. Additionally, over 25,000 individuals will benefit from medication distribution through the mobile clinic. Alongside these health services, Peniel is committed to vocational training, planning to certify 120 young adults in new trades, providing them with employment opportunities. The project furthermore aims to reduce the number of street children and youth, impacting over 1,000 individuals, while combating malnutrition to directly impact 270 severely malnourished children and elderly. The initiative also involves recruiting 375 new volunteers annually to support these efforts, fostering a strong network of community care and spiritual support. Through these outreach efforts, the church expects to expose approximately 6,000 people to the Gospel annually, deepening its evangelistic and discipleship mission in the region, and fostering long-lasting transformation in health, nutrition, education, and spiritual well-being across Zulia, demonstrating the enduring love and care of God.