Guatemala

Global CHE Enterprises brings hope to impoverished rural and urban communities through sharing the Gospel, preventing disease, and engaging in holistic community-based development.

The Story

In 2011 Mark Connelly (Lead Pastor) and Karl Mueller (Justice Pastor) visited Guatemala and the ministry of Dr. Hugo Gomez. Based in the city of Quetzaltenango in the mountains of Western Guatemala, Dr. Gomez and his wife Miriam began working among the Mam and Quiche indigenous peoples of Guatemala in 1984.

Since then the work has grown and today Global CHE Enterprises (GCE), the ministry that Dr. Gomez leads, works in 8 countries in Meso-America. The team of 45 staff and over 575 volunteers work in 52 villages throughout the region. People are being taught to be followers of Jesus, and whole communities are being lifted out of cycles of poverty and disease. As a result, in the the last 3 years more than 1,500 people have made professions of faith in Christ, 25 new churches have been planted, and literally thousands of people are experiencing greater health and dignity. The vision of Dr. Gomez and Global CHE Enterprises is to see the lives of all the indigenous peoples of Meso-America transformed as the Gospel is declared in “word and deed”.

As Mark and Karl spent time with Dr. Gomez and his staff and volunteers, God knit their hearts together and it became clear that Mission Community Church and Global CHE Enterprises were being called to work together to see God’s kingdom come to Meso-America.

What We Will Do

The focus of our partnership with GCE will be two-fold.

Our first focus will be on the Quiche villages of Chicoz and Chirramos. These two villages are located about 45 minutes from Quetzaltenango. More than 500 Quiche families live in these two communities.  Mission will help to complete the construction of the two newly planted churches, provide help with micro-finance projects for widows and other women, work with children, conduct medical clinics and assist in many other ways.

Our second focus will be to help with the construction of the CHE Center. In 2008 the Lord provide GCE with 20+ acres of land on which to build a ministry and training center to serve all of Meso-America.  This center will provide training in Community Health Evangelism (CHE) to pastors, community leaders and missionaries from across Latin America.

Looking Forward

Our partnership with Dr. Gomez and Global CHE Enterprises will begin with Mission sending four short-term teams to Guatemala before the end of 2012. These teams will work alongside GCE staff and volunteers as they share the Good News of the Gospel and meet the physical, social and economic needs of the people of Chicoz and Chirramos.

If you would like join us in what God is doing in Guatemala, click on the "Opportunities and Trips" link on the right side of the page, or contact the Justice Ministries office.