This is the question we continue to get so since it does not yet seem clear to all about our role in Guatemala I wanted to take some time and explain exactly what we are doing in our ministry in Guatemala.
In January 2018 we planted a church. It began with 10 or so people in our apartment and now it is a church with a leadership team, Guatemala leadership and pastor and self-supporting. But the goal of this church was never just one church but a church that plants churches. A movement of churches all throughout Guatemala.
(our first discipleship group that finished the 2yr discipleship process)
We began this church in cooperation with New Life Network. New Life Network exists to "Form and reproduce disciples, healthy churches, and servant leaders that are faithful and trained all among the Hispanic community globally." For more information on New Life Network you can visit our website here.
In each country where the network exists the network president has assigned a country coordinator. This is our role in Guatemala. Our job in this role is to expand the network here in Guatemala by establishing a a multiplying network of churches. So what does this mean?
- Coaching and encouraging pastors and leaders: Right now there is only one completely establish church and so I can coaching and encouraging this pastor, Carlos Lopez.
- Training New Pastors and Church Planters: We have a group of about 5 guys that are in the pipeline to become church planters. We are training these guys and other leaders through a variety of ways.
- One way we are training is our Bible institute which contains two one year programs. The first year is how to plant a church and the second year is how to pastor a church.
- Another way is through our pastors school which gives more theological depth to those we are preparing.
- We have also established a program that includes our discipleship route, retreats, books and other things to help train several guys in church planting. Here is an example of one such retreat.
- Looking for potential areas to plant new churches.
- Develop Pioneers Program: This program allows existing churches to enter the network and use the tools and training we have developed.
- Form and develop operations team/staff in Guatemala that will serve to help us carry out training, processes developed, and coaching of church planters.
- Form and develop the board of directors in Guatemala that will help with the legal side of things. (We are autonomous and yet in related with New Life Network International)
- Communicate with and represent New Life Network International in Guatemala.
In addition to these responsibilities. We are working on some missionary mobilization training to help begin mobilize more leaders Latinos to global missions.
This should keep us busy for a while ;-) Thanks for your questions, prayers and support. It means a lot. Please let us know if you have any questions!
