Regional Snapshot

Regional Snapshot

From Charles & Carmen Fleming, Latin America

WCG congregations
in Latin America:
in mission with Christ

ORLANDO, Florida—Jesus promised that those who received the Holy Spirit would be transformed, not only in what they do, but in who they would become. They would be his witnesses.

As we observe what the Spirit is doing in our churches in Latin America, we see that a number of our congregations are experiencing that transformation. In preparing this report, we asked our leaders to pay special attention to the ways in which God is leading us to have more of a concern for people outside our church (non-Christians, backslidden Christians and needy people in the society around us). I hope you enjoy the reports that we received.

Charles Fleming

David Agreda compiled the following reports.

Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico we have a congregation in the town of Cayey, with an average attendance of 18 people.

From April 9 to 11, we carried out a seminar with the participation of Charles Fleming and his wife, Carmen, and with Hector and Paulina Barrero of Colombia. Our immediate vision is to serve a section of Cayey. Carlos A. Garcia.

Argentina

In Argentina we have congregations in Ezeiza and Buenos Aires, with an average of 44 in attendance. The church takes care of prayer requests from people of the community, and those people are invited to our meetings with an evangelistic message.

Breakfast is offered to about 50 children of the community who attend the small Sunday school for children and youths of the church and the community. The women offer free meals during the week for children.

Some members take classes in how to evangelize children.

Our vision is to extend the good news of salvation in Christ and to equip the believers for Christian life and service. Carlos Espinosa and Julio Fernandez.

Baptism of Carina Soto in Ezeiza, Argentina

Ezeiza, Argentina

Guatemala

In Guatemala City, between eight and 12 people attend services, not regularly. We support a national program for the reintegration of young people who belong to gangs. Also we collaborate in a continuing education program for pastors in the interior of the country. Cesar Najera.

El Salvador

This year we developed several activities to invite new people to the church. Among them are dinners for married couples, a mother’s day celebration, youth afternoons and Pentecost Sunday.

On Good Thursday we celebrate a Journey to the Cross in the town of Tamanique.

On Aug. 6 and 7 we had a spiritual retreat with the subject “Why I Am Here on the Earth.”

David Agreda, the leader of our pastoral team, maintains the WCG web page in Spanish and publishes El Noticiero, the official publication of the WCG in Spanish. This publication is distributed in electronic form to the members and congregations of Latin America and Spain. It is also e-mailed to about 400 people who have asked for it through our web page. David Agreda.

Spiritual retreat in Coatepeque, El Salvador

Colombia

Popayan: Last August we made a plan to increase the number of attendants to our congregation through cell groups in homes. We initiated this effort with a barbecue and a Bible study for nine people.

We have developed the Bible study with diverse subjects, but basically with the Discovery series. We help poor students or children of displaced people, and we collaborate with a school lunch for 12 children. Efren Giraldo Rincon.

In Bogota, we have 60 members with an average attendance of 95 at services. We share the love of God with non-Christians through small groups and with the My Hope project of the Billy Graham Association.

In addition, we have attended seminaries, produced radio programs and received invitations to different churches. Aside from weekly services, we have Bible studies, tours, activities for youths and activities for the leaders. We celebrate congregational fastings and vigils.

Our vision for the future of the congregation is to develop servant leaders, to multiply as a church and to plant new churches in the city. Hector and Paulina Barrero.

Leaders in Bogota, Colombia

Bogota, Colombia: Hector and Paulina Burrero

Mother’s day in Popayan, Colombia

Honduras

The WCG congregation in Tegucigalpa has 45 members. We have several activities to share the gospel: The film The Passion of the Christ was presented where one of the members lives.

We have formed several cell groups in various areas. We print copies of our church publication El Noticiero to give to those who ask for it, and to distribute it in barber shops and hospitals. We make visits to hospitals and to elderly members of our congregation.

We have participated in a youth radio program. Pastor Mauricio Diaz has been invited to preach at several churches and has been invited to participate as a counselor at the Christian University of Tegucigalpa.

When our brother Alex Martinez died, the church paid for some of the funeral expenses.

Fund are being collected to buy sound equipment for the church. The church in Honduras wants to equip members to make more disciples in their communities. We are uniting to buy our own church building.

We plan to have several members take courses to play musical instruments. Joel Vicente Aleman.

Lima, Peru

We have 21 members, and we distribute 50 copies of El Noticiero each month. The activities are made at the individual level as we do not have programs at the congregational level. We take advantage of the opportunities that our members have, for which they have already been prepared. Our vision consists of having a healthy, growing congregation. Jose Kasum Bustios.

Hit Counter