CHRISTIANIZING A COUNTRY?

I recently returned from my trip to Guatemala and I am so impressed with what God is doing there that I would like to share it with you. Last month I mentioned that Francisco Bianchi, who has been serving as international director for Verbo Ministries, has been guided by God to enter the race for president of Guatemala in elections that will occur in October. For a number of years Francisco has received prophecies concerning this call that clarified that he would not have to seek it. The main event that brought forth this decision is that the Evangelical Alliance, the main organization of Protestant churches, voted unanimously that they should participate actively in the coming elections. Secondly they voted by a majority of 85% to support Francisco as candidate.

This event is especially amazing to me as I remember when Efrain Rios Montt became president through a coup in 1982. The prevailing posture of the church at that time was that politics is dirty business and that Christians should not get involved. However many Christians are now convinced that they should express God¹s love for their country through participating in the political process. This focus is not one of seeking a government that will favor evangelicals but one that will provide a just and righteous government for all Guatemalans. For a number of years Francisco has been involved in an organization called ³Lider² that has sought to study the Biblical view of civil government, so there is quite a large team of professionals who have developed their thinking on this area. They have given seminars with speakers from other countries that have drawn large audiences.

Meanwhile God has been moving in a massive way in Guatemala. When we first arrived in Guatemala in 1976 less than 10% of the population were evangelical. Now that number is close to 50% and there are many large congregations of thousands. There has also been great growth among Catholic Charismatics. On this last trip I visited our churches in the west of the country ending up in Malacatan near the Mexican border. We drove for over an hour on rough dirt roads to a coffee farm where we spent part of the day in a retreat with three leadership couples. I was amazed to see many small church buildings in such a remote area. The gospel has spread everywhere in the country. Part of the vision that many have felt is that God may be moving to bring a whole nation to himself. One of our evangelists is leading a major outreach involving many other churches and ministries in Esquintla, a city near the coast. While most of the world is falling into immorality, violence and sin, God could be raising up a nation to be an example to the rest of the world.

However the task is not easy. There still is much violence, kidnapping and corruption in Guatemala. I want to ask you to pray for Francisco and his team for wisdom and discernment in the difficulties they will face, as well as clarity to continually keep God's purpose in mind. Please pray that they will be able to keep a heart of love in the midst of the attacks that will come. Most of all pray that God do His will. Thank you for your interest in what God is doing in this part of the word as you partner with us in this ministry.

        Yours in Christ,

        Jim & Mary DeGolyer

On February 4th, 1976, there was a disastrous earthquake in the Central American nation of Guatemala. As a result of that event, a small group of disciples from the California ministry called Gospel Outreach responded by moving their to help rebuild homes for the thousands of thousands of people who were affected.

Through the preaching and the practice of the word of God, a church was born that grew not all in numbers, but also in quality of Christian living. Faithful to the early teachings which these brethren received in their days in California, they passed on to faithful men and women the basic principles of discipleship, evangelism and service to others through love out of a pure heart. We of a vision and commitment to fulfill the work that God had called them to do, our first missionary payment was sent to Nicaragua in early in 1980. At the same time, a Christian school was started for children of our congregation, first kindergarten and primary school. In subsequent years we added junior high and high schools. Presently, foundations are being laid for a Christian University in Guatemala City.

Today in Guatemala, there are over 30 congregations, several Christian schools, medical clinics and orphanages. The Lord has blessed the works there in an incredible manner, and we can only be grateful for all that He has allowed to be accomplished.

A pictorial overview of the early days! back to Verbo Christian Ministries

---

Recent News - November, 1998 Indians Take Gospel To Remote Towns

Their leader, Tomás Asicona, came into a vibrant relationship with Jesus in the middle of the savage guerrilla war of the late 70's and early 80's that killed many of his countrymen and forced others into refugee camps.

"A move of the Holy Spirit swept over our town [Chajul]. Suddenly more than a thousand people were using the Catholic Church for huge charismatic meetings," Tomás recalls. "Eventually we had to move elsewhere. As the leader of several hundred new Christians, I searched for greater understanding of God and His Word. During that period I met some of the men who were working for FUNDAPI [Verbo's Foundation for Aid to Indigenous Peoples].  They helped me learn more about organizing and pastoring a church."

As a result of his involvement with Verbo ministers and their efforts to bring emergency relief to the Ixil Triangle, Tomás decided to join the group.  Since then he and his fellow workers have trained many Indians and sent them into the aldeas (villages) surrounding Chajul to establish nine more Outreaches.  Today, the main church, which is still under construction, is home to more than 800 Indian believers.  Some outlying congregations have200 or 300 members.  Tomás hopes that they will be the jump-off points for outreaches into areas where ancient shamanistic beliefs mixed with Catholicism have held sway for hundreds of years.

In fact, though the descendents of the ancient Mayan tribes are generally a very reserved, tradition-bound, and quiet people, the Chajul have learned to sing, clap their hands, and even dance during their praise services.

Their enthusiasm in church alleviates some of the hardships of daily life.  Tomás says, "Providing spiritual covering isn't easy.  The people are poor.  Sometimes they have barely enough money for food.  That's why we started a feeding and basic schooling program for the youngsters with the help of "Compassion" ministries.

"Most of our people - including some of the elders - don't speak Spanish, and that makes it difficult for our non-Indian brethren to work without constant use of a translator, especially in the aldeas.

"Distance and time also affect our ability to maintain solid spiritual covering for all the brethren.. Most of the ter-rain is very mountainous.  There are no roads into some of the villages, just horse and foot trails."

Tomás, who in common with all the other local elders has no car, explained that some villagers walk 10 hours to attend special events and seminars at the main church.  Even four-wheel drive vehicles can't take the brethren any closer than a two-hour walk from some aldeas.

Another complication is that there are three Ixil dialects.  The Chajul find it difficult to understand the Nebaj and Cotzal Ixil, who speak different forms of the language.  Wycliffe missionaries have translated most of the New Testament into the local linguistic variants, but those who want to delve into Bible study have to learn Spanish because of the lack of written information in Ixil.

Further, a very high percentage of the population is illiterate, and of those who have some schooling, few have progressed beyond fourth grade.  Tomás' son, Higinio, is perhaps the onlv Chajul Indian with a university degree.  He studied agriculture so that he could help his people (who are mostly subsistence growers of beans, corn, and a few other vegetables) be better farmers.

To overcome all these obstacles, Tomds and the brethren who work most closely with him visit the aldeas by foot or horseback on a regular basis, training the local elders and ministering to the congregations.  Verbo regional supervisors or their team members also regularly visit and provide materials and Bible instruction.

For very special events, such as a recent ordination ceremony or a pastors' training seminar, Tomás and other elders make the 12-hour-plus bus trip to Guatemala City where they're lodged by members of the capital city's church.

Despite the hardships, the Chajul Ixil have joyfully joined themselves to Jesus, and more make the commitment every day.  Tomás estimates that perhaps 40 percent are now Christians.  He and his congregations are determined to make that an overwhelming majority!