Latin American Alliance Leaders Gather in the Dominican Republic to Renew Their Commitment to God’s Mission

Alliance leaders from 14 countries gathered in the Dominican Republic for the 2026 CLA Assembly and Symposium, renewing their commitment to prayer, unity, and mission.

Alliance leaders from 14 countries gathered in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from September 21-23, 2026, for three days of prayer, fellowship, and reflection on God’s work across Latin America. Guided by the theme “Vision, Prayer, and Action in God’s Work,” the Assembly and Symposium of the AWF CLA (Latin America) Region called participants to follow the example of Nehemiah and work together to fulfill the mission God has entrusted to his people.

At the heart of the gathering was a reminder that the work of God advances when his people share a vision, seek him in prayer, and act together.

The 2026 CLA Assembly and Symposium brought together 152 participants, including national church presidents, pastors, ministry leaders, theological educators, and representatives of mission projects supported by the AWF CLA Region. Evening worship services also welcomed members of local churches in Santo Domingo, bringing total attendance to around 200 people.

Delegations traveled from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay. Though they came from different countries and ministry contexts, they gathered as one family in Christ, united by their desire to serve him and see the gospel reach more people.

The theme, drawn from the book of Nehemiah, centered on the conviction expressed in Nehemiah 2:20: “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (NIV).

Throughout the gathering, this biblical account offered a framework for considering the responsibilities of Christian leadership. Nehemiah’s response to the condition of Jerusalem began with a burden for his people, continued through prayer and careful planning, and led to collective action despite opposition. His example invited participants to consider how the same principles could guide their service in their own countries and ministries.

The opening evening set the tone for the days ahead through worship, fellowship, and a message by Rev. Jura Yanagihara, president of the Alliance World Fellowship (AWF), on “The Burden for God’s Work,” based on Nehemiah 1.

Through nine plenary sessions, speakers explored the relationship between spiritual conviction, leadership, and the practical work of ministry.

Rev. David Muthre, president of CLA and the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) Church of Ecuador, addressed “Planning and Action Guided by God.” Other sessions examined the unity needed to build God’s work, perseverance in the face of opposition, integrity and justice in leadership, and the importance of remaining focused on the mission.

The program continued with messages on restoration through God’s Word, renewing the covenant and commitment to God, and continual reform. Together, these sessions followed the progression of Nehemiah’s story, encouraging leaders to move beyond recognizing needs toward responding to them faithfully.

Prayer was central throughout the gathering. Participants prayed in groups and spoke about the realities their churches face in their respective countries. These moments provided opportunities to listen to one another, bring shared concerns before God, and strengthen relationships across national boundaries.

The assembly also included reports from CLA’s leadership and its finance, missions, and women’s ministry teams, as well as theological education institutions, along with updates from the ministry in Spain. These presentations offered participants an opportunity to hear about work being carried out across the region, review progress since 2025, and consider plans for the next year.

Eight students from the Latin American Theological Faculty (FATELA) also celebrated their graduation, marking a milestone in their preparation for ministry. Their achievement pointed to the importance of investing in those who will serve the church and carry the gospel into future generations.

One Family, Many Stories of God’s Work

Beyond the formal sessions and reports, the gathering created space for conversations that helped leaders understand one another’s ministries more deeply. Shared meals, worship, and informal exchanges gave participants opportunities to learn from experiences beyond their own countries.

For Rev. Enrique Rosa Reyes, president of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) of the Dominican Republic, hosting the gathering was an opportunity to welcome the wider Alliance family.

“We are more than delighted to have national presidents, pastors, leaders, and brothers and sisters from other nations with us,” Reyes said. “All the plenary sessions, based on the book of Nehemiah, had a great impact on those who participated.”

He also expressed gratitude to God and the CLA leadership for choosing the Dominican Republic as the host nation.

For Rev. Francisco Cerrón, a Peruvian missionary pastor serving in Spain, the value of the gathering extended beyond the formal teaching sessions. With support from CLA, he attended the assembly to present the work of the Alliance Institute for Ministry Formation (INFORMA) and his ministry at a church in Yuncos, Toledo, Spain.

“Being in contact with leaders from the region enriched my experience,” Cerrón said. “Much of what we take home comes from conversations and the exchange of ideas during meals and free time.”

His testimony reflected one of the gathering’s central purposes: creating opportunities for leaders to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and recognize how God is working through different ministries and national churches.

Timothy and Melanie Wendell, regional directors for Latin America with the C&MA in the United States, also emphasized the significance of gathering across cultures.

“Seeing churches from different contexts and cultures united in worship, exalting Christ with one voice, reflects the beauty of the body of Christ in Latin America,” they said.

Their experience included hearing about new churches being planted, workers being sent to other nations, and efforts to prepare future leaders through ministries serving children, women, and adolescents. They also celebrated the planting of the first Spanish-speaking Alliance church in Panama, the fruit of a vision that began ten years earlier and developed through collaboration with the Grassals family.

These accounts offered a glimpse of the many ways the Alliance family is participating in God’s mission, from theological education and leadership development to church planting and cross-cultural ministry.

The 2026 gathering continued a pattern of regional meetings that have brought Alliance leaders together to strengthen relationships, learn from one another, and renew their commitment to the mission of Christ.

In 2022, more than 200 delegates gathered in Armenia, Colombia, under the theme “Let Us Return to God.” The following year, leaders met in Lima, Peru, to consider spiritual leadership and the work of theological education across national borders. In 2024, 130 leaders and delegates gathered in Guadalajara, Mexico, under the call to be “Witnesses of Christ Everywhere.” Each gathering provided space to consider the needs of the region and celebrate the work taking place through its churches and ministries.

The 2026 assembly carried this shared journey forward, placing particular emphasis on the connection between vision, prayer, and action. It also provided an opportunity to recognize progress, strengthen cooperation among ministries, and look toward the work still to be done.

As the gathering concluded, Rev. David Muthre encouraged the Alliance family to recognize and share what God is doing in each country through its national churches and ministries. He called leaders to strengthen their unity, learn from one another, and renew their commitment to the mission entrusted to them by the Lord.

The next CLA Regional Conference will take place in Uruguay in 2027, offering another opportunity for the Alliance family to gather, celebrate God’s work, and consider how to serve together.