What do we do as missionaries in Guatemala? This is a question we often get asked and we love to answer. If you’ve been on our blog before you have no doubt read about the religious climate in Guatemala, a partially evangelized nation with a heavy Roman Catholic upbringing. There is a general, yet superficial knowledge of who Jesus is but a deeper understanding of the gospel and it’s place in our lives (the center, that is) is incredibly unknown.
Our desire in Guatemala is to be messengers of Jesus and his gospel, and to be explicit in what it teaches and demands in our lives. Now, how do we actually do that? Here are some ways.
Iglesia Bíblica de Guatemala
Iglesia Bíblica de Guatemala (IBG) is a home church that we’ve been working with in Guatemala since we have arrived. Altogether we are about 30 people, most from humble backgrounds, and we meet in a house in Guatemala city. Our church is pastored by Manuel Valverde, Gaby’s father, who has been a missionary in Guatemala for over 20 years. He has much experience working with churches, teaching in seminaries, and training pastors. I (Steven) have been able to assist him with a variety of tasks around the church (designing and maintaining a website, helping fund resources), including doing some work in their ministries (like Seminario Teológico Francisco Lacueva), preaching (which I’ll be starting in January), and leading worship through song with Gaby.
Please pray that God would provide the people and opportunities to make disciples.
Seminario Teológico Francisco Lacueva
Seminario Teológico Francisco Lacueva (STFL) is the main ministry of our church and focuses on training pastors in Guatemala city in biblical interpretation and pastoral ministry. They are beginning their second year in January and have an average of 20 students each year. Most of these students have been seeking training in the Scriptures but cannot afford more expensive seminaries or online courses (or computers for that matter). In our church in the United States, I was able to use some designing skills for our several ministries. The Lord has provided ways for me to use those same skills to help out the seminary.
One major project that we are currently planning with the leaders at our church is building classrooms for the seminary. Currently, they meet in the open garage at our church, when the weather permits. We are currently looking for means to fund this project and perhaps people who could help us with the building. Please keep this in your prayers.
Christian Academy of Guatemala
During the week, Gaby and I work at Christian Academy of Guatemala (CAG). CAG is a small, yet diverse school located right outside Guatemala City and serves missionary and international kids by providing biblically based quality education to prepare students for lives of Christian service. It is a very theologically and ethnically diverse environment. In my classes I have students from the United States, Canada, Korea, South Africa, Guatemala, and many other countries. Many of them are missionaries from a wide variety of denominations.
I (Steven) teach the Bible class for 6th grade, 9th grade, and 12th grade. With my 6th graders we have been studying through the life and ministry of Jesus. We typically read through a passage from the Gospels, discuss it as a class, and work in groups or individually on projects related to the passage. I have never worked with that age group before so it has been eye-opening to say the least. With my 9th graders we are doing a survey of the Bible as a historical, redemptive narrative. With my 12th graders, we have studying 1 Corinthians verse by verse and are currently in chapter 15. This is without a doubt my favorite class to teach because of the discussion and the relationships I have been able to cultivate with these students. I am starting a Bible study with a few of them next semester outside of school to go a little deeper on some texts. It is very exciting! Despite the fact that the school is a Christian missionary school, the majority of the students do not actually understand the gospel. With every effort and word in me, I have been working to make the gospel clear and to do everything within my grasp and responsibility to share it with them.
Gaby has been teaching Biology, 6th grade Math, and 6th grade Science this past semester but since she is beginning med school in a month she will no longer be teaching.
On top of these classes, I also have been tasked at the school with developing a vision and direction for the Chapel ministry and to work with administration on the overall spiritual formation and theological edification of the student body. What this means is I’m planning out chapel services semesters at a time, teaching student leaders what worship is and how to lead worship, writing up vision statements, values, and the practical implementations of those statements, organizing small group discussions, partnering with other ministries in our community where these small groups serve, preaching in chapel services, and leading students to use their abilities for Christ-centered service. It’s a handful, I know. A lot of this work is administrational but yet, a lot more theological than you would think. All the planning that takes place for the school takes place on a foundation. The problem in the past is that that foundation has been unclear. It is my number one goal in this school to lay a solid foundation of the Word, Jesus Christ, as our foundation on which we can truly teach our kids to love Jesus and to become more like him.
Med School
In January, Gaby will begin attending Med School here in Guatemala. The school is in downtown Guatemala City. Gaby has already earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology/Pre-Med and is excited to continue her career. Guatemala is a country that lacks many things; one all-too-common example is medical care. Although there are a few hospitals in the city, rural areas in Guatemala have almost none. In fact, most Guatemalans have to travel a long distance to find any sort of medical attention. Even then, they will probably only find a clinic, much less a hospital.
We believe it’s our responsibility to share the Gospel, but to also serve our people in whatever way God has set out for us, in hopes that in our service, the message of Christ might be clearer. If you know Gaby, she is incredible at what she does in her field (and I’m not just saying that because I’m married to her). Studying medicine is the first step she is taking in this direction of service and we’ve already experienced several Gospel opportunities.
We’ve told you in the past that Guatemala is a very religious nation. While that remains true, universities (especially in their Science departments) are almost entirely secular. If you’ve seen our previous blog posts, you will remember that Gaby has already faced this by meeting with her professors and the dean of students at the university, explaining her passion as a missionary and sharing the gospel with them. This was a first for them and Gaby. Please pray for Gaby as she enters a secular environment that emphasizes the intelligence of men, over that of God.
Despiertos al Evangelio
Despiertos al Evangelio (Desaleva) is actually a project that I’ve been working on for a few years now but have now have the opportunity to dedicate more time to. Desaleva is a Spanish website that provides theological resources for pastors, students, or any person interested in learning more about Christ and the awakening power of his Gospel. Theological resources vary from original articles and blog posts on varying topics and doctrines, books, videos, software, and links to other online resources (sermons, articles, etc. from Desiring God, TGC, 9Marks, etc.). While I lived in the United States, I became familiar with a number of websites and organizations that offered so many biblical resources in English. Ever since, I have had the desire to take these same resources and offer to people all over the world in Spanish.
So far, Spanish-speaking peoples from Peru, Guatemala, Canada, USA, Argentina, Spain, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and many other countries have accessed the website to browse and download these resources. The nature of this project requires a lot of effort. Translating resources, finding other Spanish resources to publish, promoting the website, gathering analysis and statistics on already-exisiting resources, and maintaining a website all take time.
Please pray that the Lord will provide everything needed to grow this ministry and that I will be able to continue providing more and more resources to equip Spanish-speaking believers across the globe.
These are the things we do as missionaries. Although we serve in numerous settings and in a variety of ways, the message that we teach, proclaim, and hold on to is the same: Jesus saves sinners. We appreciate your support and pray that you consider joining us in this mission of making more disciples.
In Jesus,
Steven Morales
