FMC IN GUATEMALA
Present Ministries
Hector and Marissa currently provide leadership and oversight to almost 60 churches within (and outside of) Guatemala. The churches are concentrated in urban areas (Guatemala City, Antigua and Huehuetenango) and extremely remote rural regions. Rapid church planting and a culture of developing and commissioning leaders are hallmarks of the network. Additionally, they emphasize community transformation. Rehabilitation and restoration facilities serve over 100 men and women with chemical and alcohol dependencies, and the churches also minister to children affected by extreme poverty and food insecurity. Though the network is just beginning official affiliation with the FM work in Latin America, the objective is to formally establish the Free Methodist Mission District of Guatemala through pastor Hector and Marissa and the churches of their network.
Origins
While visiting Guatemala in 2010, the then-superintendent of
the Mid-America Conference of the FMC USA met
Hector and Marissa Escobar
through a series of serendipitous connections. Hector and Marissa had already
built quite a network
of multiplying churches and actively pursued belonging
to a larger family where they could benefit from spiritual covering and
accountability. Over the years, the Mid-America conference built
and nurtured
this relationship until there was a clear path towards connecting this growing
Guatemalan network to the rest of the
work of the FMC in Latin America -
a transition began to take place
in 2020.
Country Statistics
- Population: 17,188,000 (52.03% urban)
- Evangelical Christians: 24.64%
- FM Work Opened: 2008
- FM Churches: 60
- FMC Membership: 1,269
- Ordained Ministers: 4
- Conference Ministerial Candidates: 9
- District Leaders: Hector and Marissa Escobar
- Overseer: Ricoardo Gómez, Latin America Area Director
Mission District
- Guatemala City (2.6 million)
Major City:
LearnMore
• the multiplication of committed disciples, the development of healthy leaders, and transformational churches to expand the Kingdom of God in Guatemala
• God's complete restoration of men and women who are struggling with dependency
• provision for those affected by extreme poverty
treatment