The Guatemala North Verapaz District celebrated the official organization of the El Shaddai Church of the Nazarene on June 1 in the community of Las Cruces, in San Juan Chamelco, Alta Verapaz. Some 1500 people, including pastors, district leaders, neighboring churches, friends and members of the mother church, San Juan Chamelco Central Church of the Nazarene, attended the celebration.
The activities began with a walk from the village of Santa Cecilia accompanied by a band. Then they held a thanksgiving and organization service in Las Cruces. District Superintendent Rev. Francisco Cho Si said that the people entered the church building with great joy to be present at the organization of the church.
After a time of praise specials, Rev. Carlos Cucul, representing the lead pastor of the mother church, Rev. Gregorio Bin, symbolically presented the Las Cruces mission to the District Superintedent Cho Si. Then Rev. Cho Si spoke a few words to the congregations and completed the act of organizing the church. He thanked God for the congregation that began the work in 1986 with a small group of people. The church currently has 170 members and regularly has an attendance of 200 people.
Then church board was officially installed and the NYI leaderships was presented, followed by a prayer time with the new church and their leaders. The sister congregations congratulated the pastor of the church, Juan Si, and the congregation with gifts and hugs.
“We give glory to God because he is fulfilling the affirmation of Jesus in this district: ‘ . . . I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.’ The Holy Spirit is doing marvelous things in this community. The church continues advancing for the glory of the Lord,” said District Superintendent Francisco Cho Si.
With the new church, the district has 105 congregations.
Source: Abimahel Cuz, Guatemala Verapaz North District communications / District Superintendent Francisco Cho Si, Guatemala North Verapaz District
Photography: Abimahel Cuz
