Guatemala City, Guatemala…[Libna Stevens/IAD Staff]
In less than four years the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Guatemala has grown from one conference to a union with three fields. In May, the church organized two additional fields to tend to the growing needs of its more than 155,000 members
The newly organized South Guatemala Mission, boasting more than 32,000 members, sprung out of the 80,000-member strong West Guatemala Mission, comprised of two geographical regions: one high in the mountains and the other on the coast, according to pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America. Pastor Leito was present as the mission was officially organized.
“It became necessary to reorganize this huge field [West Mission] both in membership and territory,” says Pastor Leito. “The South Mission has a 106% operating capital, 325% liquidity, and a brand new office built and supplied with all modern equipment necessary for the operation of a local field in this Division,” he adds.
The South Guatemala Mission is located in the city of Mazatenango in the southern part of the country.
Another mission in the capital city was officially organized recently, as well. The Guatemala conference. which covers Guatemala City and the surrounding areas, has recently been reorganized, leaving the capital city solely for the conference to cover. This created the Central Guatemala Mission. The new mission began with approximately 14,000 members, 100.6% operating capital and 160% liquidity, according to Pastor Leito.
“The ministers and lay people have shown great dedication in working in this new field which had been operating as an experimental field for over two years, and now has been formalized as a new mission,” explains Pastor Leito. “It starts with a good financial position, with several schools and numerous church buildings, and all the resources in place for the construction of its new headquarters,” he adds.
The North Central American Union, located in Guatemala City, is comprised of five fields in Guatemala and one in Belize, and over 183,000 members worshiping in 618 churches and congregations.
