Guatemala is the most evangelical country in all of Latin America. One hundred and twenty years ago the Quakers sent missionaries to Guatemala and started a denomination of churches called “La Iglesia de los Amigos” (The church of friends). Even though their denomination is smaller, they want to be able to make an impact in the world. Pastor Maudiel came to one our our Global Focus intensive training’s at Miramonte in El Salvador a few years ago, and saw that the focus and excitement of the entire church was on fulfilling God’s mission. He said, that is what I want for my church, and what I want for our denomination.
Luis Marti and I had the privilege of teaching the initial Global Focus seminar to about 70 of their leaders. We started Friday evening and taught and preached all day Saturday. It was amazing to see the people, many of whom had been in church most all of their lives, and the lights started coming on, that the purpose of the church if to fulfill His mission!
Then the pastor got excited as he saw his leaders do the case studies in our seminar, and in group discuss how their church could be more strategically involved in missions both locally and globally. It was evident that God was igniting a passion for them to take the same Gospel to the unreached that Quaker missionaries had brought to them 120 years ago.
That evening Pastor Luis preached a tremendous word from the Lord on how to reach unreached people groups, and on Sunday am, they invited me to preach their anniversary service. God did an incredible work, and 8 people publicly confessed Christ as their Savior and several dozens surrendered their lives to a missionary call.