Our History
Welcome to CRISPAZ – Christians for Peace in El Salvador.
For over four decades, our mission has been guided by a commitment to faith, justice, compassion, and solidarity. Our organization was founded during a challenging period in El Salvador’s history by three American Christians who were deeply moved by the suffering experienced by the Salvadoran people. They sought to make a difference, inspired by their faith and the teachings of Christ.
Today, CRISPAZ stands as a symbol of hope, fostering meaningful connections and transformative experiences through mutual accompaniment. Whether you’re interested in joining our delegations or participating in our virtual immersion programs, we invite you to become bridge builders, working hand in hand towards a world filled with peace and justice.
1980-1984: The beginning
In the early 1980s, El Salvador was engulfed in a civil conflict between the Salvadoran government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). The conflict lasted more than a decade, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of many people. In response to the suffering in El Salvador, three American Christians with years of experience in peace-making and social justice ministry decided to act. They were Catholic priest Peter Hinde, Quaker activist Paddy Lane, and Lutheran pastor Daniel Long.
1984-1995: Establishing CRISPAZ
In the fall of 1984, Long and Hinde traveled to El Salvador, where they met with Salvadoran church leaders and proposed that U.S. churches work for peace by “accompanying” the people of El Salvador. Their proposal was two-fold: (1) recruiting U.S. volunteers to live in Salvadoran communities to help protect them, and (2) organizing visits of U.S. citizens (called “delegations”) who would return home and counter the U.S. government’s narrative about the war from a Christian perspective. Salvadoran Lutheran, Episcopal, and Emmanuel Baptist leaders joined the Catholic Archdiocese of San Salvador in approving this plan.
In 1985, the first delegation of twelve people traveled to El Salvador to participate in events commemorating the fifth anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop (now Saint) Óscar Romero. These delegates represented Christian faith communities from across the U.S. They agreed to serve as Board members of the new organization, Cristianos por la Paz en El Salvador or CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador). On this trip, they heard a clear message from the Salvadoran individuals and communities they met: “Accompany us.” This request has informed the mission of CRISPAZ ever since.
1995-Present: Answering the Call to Accompany
Hosting Delegations and Volunteer Programs As the situation in El Salvador has evolved over the years, CRISPAZ and its programs have adapted in response. Hosting delegations from the U.S. and Canada has remained a central feature of CRISPAZ’s work. These were originally called “Christian Education Seminars in El Salvador” (and later “El Salvador Encounter”). Over the years, many long-term volunteers lived and worked in El Salvador in often-challenging situations as part of the “Christian Volunteer Ministry Program.” Eventually, partner organizations in El Salvador requested volunteers with specific skills, and CRISPAZ responded by requiring volunteers to be appropriately qualified and to commit to a minimum of 15 months’ service.
In 1998, CRISPAZ launched a Summer Immersion Program to offer an intensive service-learning experience in rural Salvadoran communities. They also provided more in-depth orientation and training on cultural adaptation. Additionally, CRISPAZ established connections with the Fundación Óscar Romero (sponsored by the Universidad Centroamericana and the Archdiocese of San Salvador) and started an internship program with Santa Clara University in California.
In 2009, CRISPAZ initiated an annual CRISPAZ Peace Award, “inspired by the testimony of the Martyrs of El Salvador, which seeks to recognize individuals or organizations that embody the preferential option for the poor in their work for the promotion of peace and social justice.” This award not only honors recipients but also helps to promote awareness about the work of CRISPAZ.
The Peter Hinde CRISPAZ Peace Award in 2021, our annual CRISPAZ Peace Award was renamed the Peter Hinde CRISPAZ Peace Award, in honor of our co-founder, Fr. Peter Joseph Hinde O. Carm. (1923-2020) and his lifelong commitment to peace and justice for the marginalized.
Office Locations and Pandemic Response Over the years, CRISPAZ has maintained central offices in both the U.S. (at different times in San Antonio, Cincinnati, Boston, and currently Louisville) and in San Salvador. In response to the 2020 pandemic, CRISPAZ had to make significant adjustments. These included giving special attention to overall financial security, closing the office in San Salvador, and finding new ways to carry out our mission. Executive Director Francisco Mena Ugarte, Development Director Stanley DeVoogd, and staff members Andreína Barrientos and Rafael Garcilazo responded by designing a creative virtual immersion experience for groups unable to travel to El Salvador. This has proved highly successful.
Ongoing Mission While the future cannot be known, the spirit of CRISPAZ remains vibrant and its mission unchanged: to build “Bridges of solidarity between communities in El Salvador and communities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other countries, while fostering cross-cultural experiences through mutual accompaniment.”
