In Guatemala, church sees dramatic growth in Adventist communication

New transmission equipment on the Anshigua Mountain in el Progreso eastern part of Guatemala. Images by Juan Lopez

July 31, 2015 | Guatemala City, Guatemala | IAD Staff

The Adventist communication system in Guatemala is dramatically growing thanks to the generous contributions made by thousands of Seventh-day Adventists who have committed to furthering the message of hope during the past five years in the Central American country, local church leaders said.

President of the Church in Guatemala Guenther Garcia said the result of the explosive growth in Adventist communication is due in part to the vision promoted by the world church to find new evangelism strategies to reach the post-modern minds across cities.

“We concentrated on a three-pronged strategy which included unifying the management of radio, press, television and social media nationally through the formation of a Adventist communication system, identified the target population, and pulled together incoming funds to finance the strategies,” said Pastor Garcia.

Those funds came directly from collections made across church pews filled with church members who embraced the vision of the church leadership and witnessed growth take place.

Just this month, the church inaugurated two new FM radio repeaters, purchased additional transmitters, acquired a new studio and switched to satellite linking technology.

Praise and Gratitude Offering celebration with Seventh-day Adventists in Valparaiso in Huehuetenango, in west Guatemala, July 24, 2015. Church members have contributed more than 1.2 million dollars towards advancing the Adventist communication system during the past four years. Image by Irvin Calderon

Garcia said that 2.75 percent of total incoming tithe funds from the eight administrative regions set in Guatemala go directly to operate the Adventist communication system.

The church has operated its main radio station, “Union Radio”, for 37 years. Since 2010 two additional radio stations have joined together and seven repeaters have been added reaching some 9 million people, or 60 percent of the country including the capital city, the north, eastern, western and central regions and even across the borders, church leaders said. Part of the south region is also covered by the radio stations.

“Five years ago only 35 percent of the population was being reached,” said Gustavo Menendez, communication director and personal ministries director for the church in Guatemala. Menendez said the key to expanding communication has been “returning the sense of mission to the church members.”

New dish being is set up for satellite linking of the radio repeater in Huehuetenango, in west Guatemala. Image by Irvin Calderon

“Each one of the 242,503 church members has the privilege of making the mission his/hers and become ‘angels of hope’ by providing a gratitude and praise offering so the message of salvation can reach where they cannot get to, not only in Guatemala but across Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize and worldwide through the internet,” explained Menendez.

Church members have contributed more than 1.2 million US dollars in just four years, noted Menendez.

There are endless testimonies of those who have given their lives to Jesus thanks to the strategic plan put in place, said Menendez. One testimony was shared by Dr. Veronica Campos in Poptun, Peten in the northern part of the country. There, the Adventist radio waves were heard in the convent where she worked and there, together with her daughter, she was baptized at the cost of losing her job.

Pastor Guenther Garcia, president of the church in Guatemala prays for Dr. Veronica Campos who joined the church after listening to the church’s radio station in Peten, Guatemala. Image by Juan Lopez.

The future of the Adventist communication system in Guatemala is very promising, said Menendez.

Church leaders are looking to purchase more radio repeaters and building a multi-media production center to reach 16 million people in the country.

“We do not have a church rich in material goods but our members are committed to fulfilling the mission of the church and are thankful God is continuing to bless us,” Menendez said.

The Adventist Church in Guatemala oversees 1,151 churches and congregations, runs 28 primary and secondary schools, 3 clinics, a drug rehabilitation home and a nursing home.

For information regarding the church in Guatemala, visit uniondeguatemala