GUATEMALA MISSIONS
The preacher in Poptun from 2000 to 2003 was Gregorio Rodriguez, a graduate of Baxter Institute in Hondurus. In January, 2004, Carlos Delgado moved his family to Poptun, where he served for a year as their preacher. In the spring of 2005, Brother Jose Chepin Simon, began preaching in Poptun. Chepin is continuing an outreach to Chepin is continuing an outreach to other communities in Peten, the northernmost district of Guatemala. During each month he travels to Melchos and to encourage the Christians who live in these locations.
Our congregation has been involved in the work in Poptun, Guatemala since 2000. Originally it was sponsored by the Bethel Grove congregation in Judsonia, Arkansas. The Poptun congregation was revitalized after a period of nearly 25 years. Dr. Bob Waldron, Director of Missions Resource Network in Amarillo, Texas helped plant the seeds of the Poptun congregation by preaching there in 1973-75.
The Bethel Grove congregation raised funds for materials to build a building in Poptun. The labor was provided by the congregation and the building was completed in 2002. We have provided funds to support the preacher in Poptun after the work in Guatemala grew beyond Bethel Grove’s ability to fund this new work in Poptun. Bethel Grove continues to provide financial support for the congregations in Southeastern Guatemala at Puerto Barrios, Morales and Santo Tomas.
It has been the policy of our elders since the beginning of our involvement in the work in the Guatemala missions that the work would benefit by the presence of representatives from School Avenue visiting in Poptun. This has regularly been carried out with at least two of our members traveling to Guatemala on each annual visit.
Financial assistance of $25 to $50 or more a month from several sources would be beneficial in providing support to fund another preacher in San Juan de Dios and other locations. The elders at School Avenue have authorized Brother Scott Martin, a former preacher at School Avenue, to seek funds for expanding the work in Peten. Scott traveled to Poptun in 2005 and is familiar with the work of the church the to Poptun in 2005 and is familiar with the work of the church there.
It is with a sense of humility and honor that the School Avenue congregation is engaged in this mission to assist the congregation in Poptun. We believe that this is a great opportunity for God to work through us and spread the Gospel in Guatemala. We hope that others will be a part of this work.
During our visit in 2006, we met Brother Fitadelfio Azul from the congregation in San Juan de Dios. Brother Fitadelfio expressed the desire of his congregation to receive support to provide a preacher for them. In consideration of the limited financial ability of the Guatemalan people to adequately fund their activities, it is our desire to reach out and partner with others for financial assistance to fund an expansion of the work in the Peten district of Guatemala.
