OCGA Impact Story – SEPAL Guatemala
In May of 2024, I was invited to speak to a group of pastors in a lakeside village at Guatemala’s picturesque Lake Atitlan. We climbed for a long way on the twisting highway out of Guatemala City and then plummeted down multiple sharp switchbacks into this ancient volcanic crater where the lake sits. Perched on the steep mountainside is the beautiful village of San Pablo la Laguna.
We met in the church of Pastor David. The church was spacious and rustic, filled with traditional Guatemalan charm. The attendance was encouraging and the participants were sharp, but one of the things that really stood out to me was pastor David’s story.
SEPAL leaders Héctor and Patty Pivaral had been training pastors in this area many years ago. David showed up at the church where the Biblical Education Program was being developed. He knocked on the door, and Patty opened it. His voice was soft, deep, raspy, and hard to hear from years of substance abuse, but he was asking Patty if he could be trained as a pastor.
Patty called Héctor to tell him to send David away. But Héctor listened to his story and his desire for biblical training. He was asked to return the next day, and he did. The group of pastors and leaders being trained were afraid of him because they knew him as violent, a drunk, and a drug addict. His life was in ruins, but he had already met the Lord. Patty told Héctor, "I don't think he'll make it, don't waste your time on him." Héctor replied, "I know that God's Word can transform him." The next day, he told David graciously, "If you come to the training, I will disciple you."
David and his wife Carmen faithfully attended the program. David was discipled by Héctor for three years. David's life was being transformed. He grew in his knowledge of the Scriptures, his intimacy with God, and his love for people. David's voice returned, and he was ready to start preaching. David started the church "El Remanente," reaching out to people who were like him. People who were lost and without hope. He began preaching to the drunks, the addicts, the prostitutes, the traffickers, and the gang members; and they began to surrender their lives to Jesus. Today his church is full of beautiful people who are following Jesus and sharing their faith with others.
The church is growing and they continue to start new discipleship groups where more people are hearing the gospel and learning to follow Jesus. One of the men who attended our event was a former gang member who has given his life to the Lord. Once he was pursued daily by the police and he had to spend his days in hiding. The day of our conference, I watched him walk out of the church and have a short conversation with a local police officer who was directing traffic before he rode off on his motorcycle. The transformation in his life has been so profound that the police are no longer interested in him. They have seen the impact of Jesus in his life.
I praise God for the work of Hector, Patty and their team. The impact they have on leaders like Pastor David is radiated out to their churches and communities. The OCGA is making an impact in Guatemala!