23 July 2025

Mesoamerica Region

Guatemala

Guatemala is known as the place of origin for the Mayan civilization, which flourished there for the first millennium AD. In 1821, Guatemala won its independence from Spain following three centuries of Spanish rule. The Church of the Nazarene established work in Guatemala in 1904, making it one of the earliest mission fields in the Mesoamerica Region. In 1996, its government signed a peace agreement that ended a 36-year guerrilla war. Over 31% of the Guatemalan population is under the age of 14 years. Some of the challenges facing children and youth in Guatemala are the “usual suspects:” significant and widespread poverty, child malnutrition, and social unrest leading to violence, of which children and youth are often victims. With ‘Engaging Children and Youth’ as a top priority for Nazarene Missions International (NMI), the Church of the Nazarene is intentional in its efforts to reach and help children and youth find their way to a brighter future. That future is to be found in Jesus. Camps like the ones described in this story help in many ways to value, encourage, and empower children and youth to participate in the mission of God to transform their nation with his love and grace.

106,256 Members

782 Fully Organized Churches; 119 Not Yet Organized Churches

371 District Licensed and 483 Ordained Ministers on 14 Districts

ENGAGING CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN MISSIONS

Currently, the youth have many opportunities to learn and participate in missions in the Church of the Nazarene, but there are almost no opportunities for children.

The Children's Missionary Orientation Camp (COMI—its acronym in Spanish) offers the youth and children the opportunity to develop in God's mission: MAKING CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES.

Many years ago, God placed in the heart of the regional coordinator of Nazarene Missions International (NMI) in the Mesoamerica Region the desire to involve children in missions, under the premise that "little had been done to integrate the youth, and even less so children, into this ministry, and that experience taught us that the outreach to children had not been comprehensive...they were instructed in the message of the Word, but it had rarely been put into practice..."

This was the beginning of a project that became a great blessing over the years, thanks to young women interested in making this dream a reality in  several districts of Mexico and the creation of the Manual for the Children's Missionary Orientation Camp (COMI).

During the 2024 holiday break, the Missions Mobilization coordinator of the Guatemala Central District, along with an excellent team of young volunteers who participated, and several churches that supported the event by sending their children, held the first COMI in this district.

This COMI was attended by 45 children, not only from the organizing district but also from other districts, who traveled several kilometers to attend the event. It was held at a campsite on the outskirts of Guatemala City.

A team of 35 young people, regional and district NMI leaders, supported the activity. They helped with logistics, shared in the decoration of the place, taught different workshops, and of course, supported those children who felt God's calling on their lives.

They paraphrased the verse in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up children for missions, so that when they grow up, they may be willing to serve."

Could You Serve?

Is God calling you to join in missions on the Mesoamerica Region?

For more information, click here.

NMI Central is available in a curated PDF archive.
To read previous editions, click here.