Guatemala: Adventist families open their homes for prayer during Constant in Prayer initiative

June 18, 2011 – Totonicapan, Guatemala…Gustavo Menendez/IAD Staff

More than 10,000 Adventist families in Guatemala transformed their homes into houses of prayer as families, friends and neighbors gathered to pray and worship during Inter-America’s Constant in Prayer revival initiative on June 10-11, 2011. The initiative focused on strengthening the family unit and reaching out to those in need of hope and prayer.

Themed “My House will be called a House of Prayer” under the leadership of the family ministries and women’s ministries departments, thousands accepted the opportunity to testify and share Jesus in their homes through the special prayer programs and evangelistic campaigns led by women.

In the Totonicapan, Ezequiel Hernandez was among the thousands of families that opened their homes for prayer and Bible study. Pastor Benjamin Carbalo, youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America, joined Hernandez’s home and prayed for the needs of the family, God’s protection against the threatening violence in his community and stressed the need for a life of constant connection with Jesus in the home.

Hernandez has been studying the Bible with local leaders and was blessed by the initiative.

“I have seen a change in the way I am and in my character, thanks to prayer and the study of the Word,” he said.

According to church leaders, the large initiative to pray and testify in homes has been a great blessing for families spread out in Guatemala. So far nearly 7,000 people joined the church because of the ‘Constant in Prayer’ initiative launched earlier this year, testified Pastor Guenther Garcia, president for the church in Guatemala.

It is the kind of aggressive initiative that “has driven us to purchase a radio station to boost the coverage in San Marcos to carry this wonderful message to all corners of Guatemala,” said Garcia. He added that another frequency was bought last year for the Petén region.

“We have seen an incredible revival in all Guatemala,” added Garcia.

As spiritual revival has brought about spiritual renewal, church congregations have been experiencing challenges, Garcia said. “In Guatemala City, thieves burned down a church building. In another church on a Sabbath morning, during the worship service members were assaulted. In yet another church, robbers stole the tithes and offerings, yet our brethren said ‘we will continue being constant in prayer for God will protect us, God will bless us”, concluded Garcia.

In the western region of Guatemala, there were more than 1,300 houses of prayer. In east Guatemala there were more than 830 families, and in the central region there were 636.

To date, more than 400 new members have joined the church and some 7,961 were given Bible studies, according to local church leaders.

Following the family home prayer initiative, a special baptismal program was held in the church in Totonicapan on Saturday, June 11, to end an evangelistic campaign led by women’s ministries department.

Pastor Carballo spoke to a congregation of 400 during the morning and shared with the membership the progress of the Constant in Prayer initiative throughout the Inter-American Division territory focused on children, youth, pastors, and at school sand universities.

“This Sabbath morning, we are rejoicing in this double celebration of ‘Constant in Prayer’ and women’s ministries. I am glad to happy to join you and see that Guatemala is ‘Constant in Prayer’, closer to the Lord, in harmony with heaven,” concluded Carballo.

To view photos of the Constant in Prayer initiative in Guatemala, click here

For more on the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Guatemala, click here