Sharing the History and Thought of the C&MA in Central America

In the northern part of the Chalatenango region in El Salvador, the Alliance Central American Congress was held from September 19-23, 2022. Around 90 representatives of the leadership of the churches of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua participated.

During this event, a workshop on the “History and Thought of the C&MA” was shared by Chilean Pastor Cristian Salgado, who participated in the first AWF ICTE Young Scholars training in 2019. This course is part of the effort the Alliance World Fellowship (AWF) is making to strengthen the identity of the Alliance through a reflection based on the life and ministry of our founder, A.B. Simpson. In addition, the AWF also wants to strengthen the theological aspects of the Alliance based on the centrality of Christ in the life and mission of the church.

Pastor Merari Rodríguez, president of the Central American Alliance Fellowship (CCA) and of the C&MA of Guatemala, was one of the participants in the event. He commented that “it had turned out to be a very pertinent topic. The C&MA in Central America has different denominational and doctrinal roots, so this course contributes to strengthening the unity of the church based on a common identity with solid historical and doctrinal roots sustained in the person of Jesus Christ.”

Similarly, Pastor Jimmy Choguaj of the Guatemalan C&MA, said that “Simpson’s ministry seems very relevant to the current needs of the mission, especially considering its creativity and breadth.” He also mentioned that he was “pleasantly surprised that strategies that are considered innovative today were already applied by A.B. Simpson, especially in his ministry in New York.”

Ricardo Aburto, a leader and counselor with the C&MA Betania, in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, said, “Studying the life and path of A.B. Simpson, understanding how he gave his life to God responding to the call, his continuous search for holiness, the focus and the vision that he never lost, the love for souls without distinction and the missionary spirit that he always maintained, is an example worthy of imitation, and invites us to reflect on our responsibility to proclaim the Kingdom of God by doing works of mercy to the needy without exception.” For this reason, he also considers that “this material should be shared with the pastors of each Alliance congregation, with the goal of encouraging each member to live a life consecrated to God.”

“Personally, I did not know the history of the denomination to which I belong, and I can affirm that it was of great benefit and learning, since it is not only about data over time, but about the victorious as well as bitter and painful experiences of those who founded the Alliance,” said sister Mirian Palma, of Honduras. “It seems to me that our church has a history similar to that of the early church and knowing this gives me a lot of security. We follow a sound doctrine and we are on solid foundations because the very Word of God is its fundamental basis,” she continued. “In a short time, I learned a lot. These are topics loaded with information and the speaker made it very enjoyable. Thank you for this experience of knowledge, fellowship and blessing.”

Another participant, Pastor Mario Barboza, rector of the Alliance Central American Ministerial Seminary (SEMMCA), said: “This workshop was very relevant for each and every one of the leaders who were present. In the first place, it offered a broad overview of the history and thought of the C&MA; secondly, it refreshed and expanded the most relevant aspects of Simpson’s thought in relation to the Fourfold Gospel; and third, it helped affirm the Alliance identity in Central American leaders and pastors.”

The CCA is currently developing an expansion strategy through the planting of new churches, and a training-strengthening plan through SEMMCA. They are planning new forms of cooperation in these areas for 2023, extending the “History and Thought of the C&MA” course to be taught in local churches and as a subject at the seminary level.

Let us continue praying for the Lord to guide and strengthen the Alliance churches in Central America.