Makarios
Executive Director Sharla Megilligan founded Makarios in the spring of 2004. Makarios, named using the ancient Greek word for ?blessed,? is a faith-based organization that focuses on educational development in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Makarios? initial projects provide improved educational opportunities in the Haitian villages, called bateyes, on the D.R.?s north coast. In addition to working in the bateyes, we support several existing educational programs targeting poor Dominicans in Santiago, the D.R.'s second largest city.
While helping to improve the educational opportunities of the youth, we also desire to point them to the loving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18). We have been called by God to minister to this forgotten people group, and we believe that one of the best ways that we can communicate the love of God is to address their physical needs (Prov. 31:9, James 2). However, while educational development is important, it will ultimately mean little if these children are not introduced to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
After establishing a presence in the D.R., Makarios plans to expand its ministry to meet the educational needs of children in Haiti. In the future, we hope to help sponsor existing projects in other impoverished areas around the world.
Makarios is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educational development in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other impoverished areas of the world. We are committed to a child's spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual growth, to provide hope for a better future.
Statement of Faith
1. We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God and is the final authority in faith, life, and conduct. (1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and 2 Peter 1:21)
2. In the Scriptures, God reveals Himself as the living and true God, Creator of all things. Perfect in love and righteous in all His ways, this one God exists eternally as a Trinity of persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Exodus 34:6-7, Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 12:29, John 4:24)
3. God made man in His image that He might have fellowship with him. However, because of his sinful nature, man is estranged from God and is incapable of a right relationship to God apart from divine grace. We believe that all mankind is conceived and born in this lost and fallen state and that the result of this sin is death and eternal separation from God, our creator. (Genesis 1:27. Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27)
4. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, death, bodily resurrection, personal return and present exaltation at God's right hand. (Matthew 1:23, Mark 16:19, John 1:1-18, Acts 1:11, Colossians 1:15-17, 1 John 3:5)
5. We believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again as a substitute payment for man?s sin and that salvation and eternal life are available only through personal faith in Him. (John 3:16)
6. We believe in salvation by God's grace through faith alone in the perfect life, death and shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savoir. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 2:24)
7. We believe in the resurrection of the saved to everlasting life and joy in heaven and the resurrection of the unsaved unto everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:32-41, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Revelation 20)
8. We believe in the Holy Spirit as God?s empowering presence in us, both individually and corporately. The Holy Spirit renews our hearts, persuading us to repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord. (John 16:7-11, John 16:12-15, Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 1:13-14, Titus 3:5)
9. We believe that God's great commission to His people is to live lives obedient to His Word and to go into all the world and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people, baptizing and making disciples of all those who believe. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, 1 Peter 2:9)
