Mell Winger
Mell Winger, director of the Bible Institute at El Shaddai Church in
Guatemala City, Guatemala, writes about Almolonga, a city in Guatemala
transformed by God’s power.
Before and after: two simple words frequently used to describe a
city in western Guatemala named Almolonga.
The locals consistently refer to their city in terms of two eras: before
the power of God came in the mid- 1970s, and after, when it is reported that
90% of the 18,000 residents became born-again Christians. The way the people of Almolonga say “before”
is reminiscent of how others might say, “in the dark ages.”
After: The word signals
a new epoch for the city, marked by family harmony, prosperity and peace in the
Holy Spirit. The contrast is stark and
real to these people who remember how, just 25 years ago, demons, fear,
poverty, disease, idolatry, and alcohol dominated their region and their
families.
Some call Almolonga the “Miracle City” because of the radical transformations in many dimensions of this
ethnically Quiché society (descendants of the Mayans). Some Christian leaders say Almolonga is the
best example they’ve seen of how intercession, spiritual warfare, and evangelism can transform a community.
Driving into Almolonga, one is immediately struck by the brilliant
green hues of the fertile fields spreading throughout this magnificent
valley. Even before the onset of the
rainy season, when much of the Guatemalan landscape is still dry, Almolonga
remains vibrant and lush. Hence,
Almolonga is nicknamed “America’s
Vegetable Garden”.
But it wasn’t always so. About
25 years ago, the Church was small and weak, the fields were undeveloped and
the city was characterized by an alcohol-induced lethargy - the fruit of
serving an idol named Maxirnon. This
perverse idol is associated with the vices of smoking, drinking liquor, and
immorality. Maximon is a 3-foot idol
consisting of a clay mask and a wood and cloth body. He receives the kisses of the faithful who kneel before him. Placing at his feet bottles of liquor
purchased with their meagre earnings, they hope against hope that their
offering will bring blessing and healing.
The priest offers lit cigars to
the idol, and taking a mouthful of the liquor offering, spews it over the
devotees. The followers leave expecting
a blessing, perhaps receiving a demonic display of power, but nonetheless
slipping deeper and deeper into an abyss of oppression.
Sadly, his influence is so strong that he is considered the patron
saint and protector of many Guatemalan mountain villages. In addition to serving Maximon, many of the
residents of Almolonga once sought the blessing of other idols as well. Pastor Genero Riscaiché, one of the pastors
at Almolonga’s largest church, Mission Evangelical Monte Calvario, notes,
“Before, this was a very idolatrous town.
There were many different types of idols. Many worshipped the silver image of Almolonga’s patron saint,
San Pedro.”
But in 1974-75 the Kingdom of God dramatically started clashing with
Maximon and the ruling powers of darkness controlling Almolonga. Following the pattern of historic revivals,
God first began this community transformation in the heart of one of his
consecrated servants. Mariano Riscaiché
(no relation to Genero), now the pastor of El Calvario Church, was a typical
young man of Almolonga who sought the protection and blessing of idols before
he encountered the living God.
At his conversion, Pastor Mariano heard the Lord say, “I have elected
you to serve Me.” He said it was like
waking from a dream; his understanding was opened and the promises of the Bible
became real. Pastor Mariano’s burning
desire was to see people come to Christ and find freedom. Then, one by one, his own family was
saved.
A new season of power encounters with Maximon began shortly after
Pastor Mariano’s surrender to Christ.
Mariano and other pastors in town, such as Guillermo Satey, founding and
senior pastor of Mission Evangelical Monte Calvario, saw more than 400 people
delivered from demons. When believers
asked a demon to identify itself, “Maximon” was sometimes uttered by the
oppressed one. This mass deliverance
was similar to the book of Acts where people burned their possessions that
linked them to a past consumed by witchcraft and idolatry. “Those who practiced magic brought their
books together and began burning them.” (Acts 19:19, NASB). The eviction of these demons not only
brought freedom to individuals, but the spiritual oppression over the city
began to lift as well.
The early days of spiritual warfare were extremely intense. Those being set free were sometimes thrown
across the room, and at times coughed up blood. The Church continued steadfast in intercession, spiritual
warfare, and evangelism as the name of Jesus was demonstrated to be the
dominant force in this battle. Pastor
Mariano asserts that the enemy had to be confronted directly and boldly.
One of those set free from demonic control was a powerful priest of
Maximon named José Albino Tazei. Many
people in Almolonga sought him out to heal their illnesses, foresee their
future, and to bless their businesses.
But one night, José, near death after a month-long drinking binge, cried
out to God to save him. At 11:00 pm,
José woke his family to share the glorious news of his new-found freedom in
Christ. In repentance, the family
burned all of their idols and witchcraft paraphernalia. The following day José went to the mountains
to fast and seek the Lord.
Witnessing this well-known slave to witchcraft come to Christ
intensified the Church’s intercession for God to transform not only individuals
like José, but their whole community as well.
Before his conversion José would abandon the family for eight to ten
days at a time to drink and conduct witchcraft activities for Maximon. He often left his family without any money
for food. As his dedication to Maximon
grew, so did his addiction to alcohol.
José’s oldest daughter, Francisca, grimaces and lowers her voice as she
recounts the memory of herself and the other children kneeling before Maximon,
burning candies and bringing their offerings.
But quickly she diverts the subject to “after we surrendered to Jesus”
and joyfully asserts that God changed everything 24 years ago. She proudly inserts, “We were some of the
first converts during the mid 70s.”
“Before we received Christ, we didn’t have any money, little food, or a
decent house, and only clothes discarded by others,” she continues. “My father started seeking God and
fasting. He began a business and
started working diligently. Now, God
has given us a house, a small store, and a calm, hard-working, godly father.”
Francisca recounts, “The church accepted us and didn’t leave us in the
middle. They loved us and visited us,
and really struggled with us as we became established in Christ.” This care for
new converts is one of the key ways God has used to maintain and deepen the
effects of this revival.
As his grip started loosening, the evil one instigated a persecution
against the Church. Some merchants
would not even sell food to believers recently set free from the old ways. Enemies of the Gospel would go into church
and do witchcraft to disrupt the services.
The believers suffered under this backlash for years, but one particular
incident stands out in Pastor Mariano’s memory. Six men attacked him, tying his hands behind his back. They knocked his front teeth out, then one
man shoved a gun in his mouth. Pastor
Mariano prayed for God to cover him, and as the Lord’s presence descended he
heard the “click... click... click” of
the gun, unable to fire. Bewildered by
this divine intervention, his attackers ran away.
Pastor Genero, a native of Almolonga, describes the early resistance to
the Gospel as follows: “If a person from outside Almolonga came to someone’s
home to share the Gospel, people would kick them out of their house with
sticks, stones, and even shovels. It
was terrible! They didn’t view the
Gospel as Good News, but as something offensive. Unbelievers circulated rumours about the Church and accused the
Christians of being lazy.” Some of the
unbelievers threw stones at houses where the church met for prayer. Pastor Genero notes, “Many of those who
threw stones are now leaders in the church.
Things have now changed, for even the non-Christians respect the
Gospel.”
As one who has pastored a little over one year in Almolonga, Pastor
Joel Pérez agrees and says, “Even
unbelievers in Almolonga recognize the
marvellous work of God. These
few unbelievers acknowledge that the advances in their society and agriculture
are due to the Gospel. They do not
resist the Church now, as we heard about in the early days. More than once, I have been eating in a
restaurant and someone has said, “You are a pastor, aren’t you? I’m not a Christian, but let me buy your
lunch.’”
Since the power of God started transforming the community, crime has
taken a definite downturn. Donato
Santiago, chief of police, can sometimes be spotted resting in the shade during
market days. Armed with a whistle, this
tranquil brother has seen it all during his 23 years as a policeman in
Almolonga. “We used to average 20 to 30
people in jail each month,” he recounts.”
Crowds would gather just to watch the drunks fight. It seemed like I had no rest. I was often awakened in the middle of the
night to stop family violence. Before,
we had four jails and that was insufficient to adequately house all of our
prisoners,” Donato recalls. “Things
were so bad we enlisted around a dozen citizens at night to help the officers
patrol the streets. But now things are
different! The people have changed
their attitudes. Crime has risen in
many places over the past 20 years, but not here in Almolonga.”
What accounts for this dramatic change in the townspeople? Donato is quick to respond, “The Word of
God! Once people were converted they
changed their customs and left behind drinking. They gained respect in the community. Day by day the rest followed and joined the church because of the
changes they saw in the lives of Christians.
People living with a deep respect for God accounts for the changed
attitudes. Crime and drinking are now
viewed by the people as a waste of time and a waste of money.”
The last jail closed in 1989!
Now remodelled and called “The Hall of Honour,” it’s a place for
celebrating weddings, receptions, and community events. In addition to the drop in the crime rate,
great societal changes can also be observed by the absence of prostitutes and
the number of bars turned into small stores with new names like “Little
Jerusalem” and “Jehovah Jireh.” Before,
there was a house of prostitution and people often waited in line to get into
the packed bars. “There was even a
custom in which we threw a party and gave alcohol (in small portions) to the
little ones,” says Pastor Genero. In
the 1970s, 34 cantinas did a brisk business in Almolonga; today there are only
three. After the bars started shutting
down, a new one opened but the owner closed the doors when he met the Lord
three months later. He now plays in a
Christian band called “Combo Israel.”
God’s mercy over Almolonga is evidenced in many ways, but one
often-repeated display of grace is the incredible number of miracles. Many have come to Christ through signs and
wonders. Teresa and her family found
new life in Christ after she received a last-chance miracle. In 1984, the incision from her poorly performed
Cesarean section became infected. This
gangrenous state progressed to the point where she couldn’t eat; drinking was
extremely difficult.
Teresa continued to weaken.
Different doctors each said that she was in a very dangerous state. Valeriano, her husband, remembers the days
of just hopelessly waiting for her to die.
She died about 10:00 pm one night.
Her husband checked for a pulse and placed a mirror beneath her nostrils
to see if she was breathing, but there were no signs of life. For three hours she lay motionless. Grief stricken, at 1:00 AM Valeriano went to
look for Pastor Mariano to make funeral preparations. As Pastor Mariano and Valeriano were walking back to the house,
Pastor Mariano heard the unmistakable voice of the Lord saying, “Do not prepare
for the funeral; pray for her. I will
lift her up.’
Pastor Mariano recalls coming into the home seeing distraught people
frantically running back and forth. He
grabbed Valeriano and they began to pray for God’s miraculous intervention. After 10 minutes, Teresa suddenly began
stirring. Her colour returned and she
sat up on the bed! Valeriano was astounded at this display of God’s power. Pastor Mariano began to preach the Gospel to
all the neighbours and family who had gathered at the home that night. And in the days that followed, many
believed.
Teresa’s strength was restored day by day. In deep gratitude, she and Valeriano also gave their lives to
Christ. Now people come to their home
to receive prayer for healing.
Remembering her miracle inspires faith when Teresa prays for others; she
has witnessed many miracles as a result.
Valeriano now preaches the Gospel and testifies of a miracle working
Heavenly Father. He joyfully says, “God
is the only one who is on our side and only he can do these miracles.”
Just as Vateriano and Teresa’s family opened their hearts to the Gospel
after this powerful miracle, in many cases the revival has spread through
family units. Pastor Mariano
articulates a truth held dear in Almolonga when he says, “True success is when your
whole family comes to the Lord.” Therefore believers seriously fast and pray to
bring their family into God’s family.
Although the women still weave and wear the beautiful indigenous
dresses and carry heavy loads upon their heads (like Quiché women have for
hundreds of years), they walk in a new dignity - a result of the redemption of
the family. Prior to God’s inbreaking,
Pastor Genero recalls, “The majority of
men drank and the homes were disorderly.
Neglect and physical abuse were rampant. It was common for men to hit their wives, sometimes even with
sticks.”
“The family system before was at the bottom,” comments Pastor Francisco
Garcia of Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia Universal. Women were largely viewed simply as servants. Pastor Genero comments, “Before, the custom
was that only the men would study. We
believed that schools were not for women.
Since the Gospel came, we teach that both sexes have the same
opportunities. Today we see some women
who are professionals.”
Ramon Cotzoy’s wife recalls the earlier days. “My husband would sometimes treat me harshly and try to throw me
out of the house. Things have
changed. Now he is a humble man of
God.”
Ramon admits that he neglected and mistreated his family prior to
surrendering to Christ. Now he ministers
to men in the community and exhorts them to stop drinking and start loving
their families. Ramon observes,
“Because the unbelievers see the peaceful example of how the Christian men are
living with their families, they are treating their wives better now.”
“Today there is more communication within families and very little
abuse in Almolonga. In the church, we
teach a lot on biblical family orientation,” says Pastor Genero. “Couples solve their problems through
dialogue and communication.”
This renewal of family harmony has opened the way for the Spirit of God
to span the generations and impact all age groups, including the youth and
children. The youth do not view
Christianity as simply something for the older people. There is a new thrust of youth-motivated
home groups with the focus to bring the remaining unsaved youth in the city to
Christ. Pastor Joel observes, “The
youth are getting hold of God. In
different churches some of the youth groups even go on special fasting
retreats.”
Chief of Police Santiago says, “The parents are taking better care of
their children now.” Santiago explains why there aren’t teens loitering around
town. “The youth work hard to buy farm
trucks. This atmosphere of diligent
work is the best atmosphere to grow up in.”
Seeing the youth and children cheerfully working alongside their
parents in the fields and marketplace evokes a smile in visitors to
Almolonga. Pastor Mariano’s father, one
of the oldest men in the city, observes, “Everyone in Almolonga works. Even the 12-15-year olds fill a truck with
vegetables to sell. They throw
themselves into God and into their work.”
This work ethic has produced an economic renewal, an incredible
dimension of community transformation throughout Airnolonga. There is no evidence of the unemployment,
the beggars, the drunkards asleep in alleyways, or the loiterers that so often
characterize similar places. In other
cities around this region people often appear exhausted with life. Not so in Almolonga.
The people’s diligence and tenacity have seen this valley come alive
with multiple harvests each year.
Celery, leeks, cauliflower, turnips, cabbage, potatoes, carrots,
radishes, and watercress thrive under the skilful care of Almolonga’s farmers. These vegetables are often incredibly larger
than the size of those grown in the surrounding villages. Pastor Joel attributes this agricultural
blessing to the Lord of Glory. He
mentioned a time when agronomists from the U.S.A. visited Almolonga to test
their scientific principles to produce better crops. The result? Pastor Joel
says, “The wisdom God gave the farmers of Almolonga produced more than the
scientific methods yielded.”
A subterranean stream provides a constant source of water for the farms. These lucrative products have elevated the
lifestyles of many of the believers.
Pastor Mariano’s father was one of the former bar owners who now runs a
tienda (small store) and raises vegetables.
He reports that the greatest changes in commerce came in the 80s because
the farmers not only quit spending their money on liquor, but they began to
incorporate principles from God’s Word, saving and investing their
profits. Before the farmers would farm
just enough to support their drinking habit; they had no vision beyond that.
Then God started giving the farmers understanding. They began to plan ahead and invest in
topsoil and fertilizers. Some farmers
have even paid cash for Mercedes trucks, emblazoning them with names like
Regalito de Dios (“Little Gift from God”).
Many farmers have now hired others to work their fields. They are even developing farms in the
surrounding communities as they shift from being farmers to businessmen. Mariano’s father marvels, “We never dreamed
of selling our produce outside of Guatemala, but now we export to other
nations.”
Since this relatively small town has so many growing churches, a
question often arises concerning the relationship between the pastors. Pastor Joel describes the fellowship among pastors
as “a tight fraternity of ministers.”
He further notes, “We have an
agenda of prayer and fasting. We go
outside the city to a hill to pray and earnestly seek the Lord ... When we have little things come up or if the
enemy tries to interrupt our unity, we quickly restore it through seeking the
Lord for more souls to come into the Kingdom.”
Pastor Genero says, “Presently we are strengthening our
fellowship. Years ago there was an
association of pastors, but it faded out because of individuality. This year we have restored the pastoral
association again.” Two Christian radio
stations service Almolonga. Pastor Joel
reports that these stations enhance unity by allowing air time for all the
evangelical pastors to use for a token price.
Reaching 90% of the city with the Gospel doesn’t satisfy the pastors’
evangelistic zeal. Pastor Francisco
emphatically asserts, “We are applying God’s guidance for the churches to keep
growing. We have the goal to reach the
whole town!”
Pastor Mariano believes God is giving the Church insight into the
strategies to deepen and extend this community impact into future
generations. His heart breaks when he
hears about powerful revivals which were not passed along to the next
generation. To maintain the results already
reached in Almolonga, Pastor Mariano’s strategy encompasses a fivefold focus:
living in the fear of the Lord,
maintaining intense prayer and fasting,
building Christian schools,
caring for new converts,
and establishing strong families.
Firstly, he urges his flock to, “always live under the direction of the
Holy Spirit. Live your life in the fear
of the Lord as a good testimony. When
we truly live the Christian life, demonic principalities are more easily
overthrown.”
Secondly, to maintain the results won through intercession and
spiritual warfare, the Church must continue steadfast in prayer and
fasting. Long past the breakthroughs in
the 70s, many believers in Almolonga continue weekly disciplines of prayer and
fasting. At El Calvario Church, people
are held accountable to participate in prayer and fasting.
Thirdly, Pastor Mariano is taking steps to build a Christian school,
which he believes is critical to sustain the revival. He says that the children not only need an education, but a
Christ-centred education taught by Christian teachers. “Education without Christian teachers can
set up a counterattack from Satan by introducing traditions outside of
Christianity. Then all that we have
reached [in the revival] can crumble.”
A fourth ingredient to maintain revival is an intentional plan to care
for the new Christians. Someone from
the church personally visits the new believers. They hold special discipleship meetings focusing on basic Bible
doctrines. Deliverance and a clear break
with their past life are important. “We
inspire them toward diligent hard work, debt reduction and to live in the fear
of God. New believers are instructed to
prepare themselves for baptism. Fasting
is one of the first spiritual disciplines taught to the new Christian,” reports
Pastor Mariano.
The fifth and final major focus to sustain the revival’s impact is
establishing strong families.
Christians are instructed to only marry fellow believers. One counter-cultural measure El Calvario
introduced in the late 1970s was the concept of letting people decide for
themselves whom they would marry.
Today, parents are consulted and there is a process of obtaining
parental blessing and approval in mate selection, but the decision rests with
the couple. Before, the parents would
determine whom their children would marry.
A courtship period was also unheard of in their culture; now they
recommend a 6-month to a year courtship during which the couple gets to know
each other. This has increased marital
harmony within the Christianity community.
Consequently, other churches in the community also follow similar
plans.
Testimonies of individuals being changed relationally, spiritually, and
financially by God’s power are common in Christianity. But the amazing distinctive of Almolonga is
that Christians there tell their testimony not simply as individuals, but
collectively, as families and as a people.
Visiting a service at El Calvario Church is a little taste of
Heaven. The church building is one of
Guatemala’s largest and most beautiful.
This debt-free sanctuary (seating 1200+) is the gathering place of
exuberant worshippers. Their release
of emotions toward the Son of God is noteworthy because culturally these people
are generally stoic and very reserved in expressing their emotions. To watch this passion for Jesus, especially
among the youth and children, it is hard to imagine that only a generation
back, their families were in bondage to alcohol, idols, and demons. Perhaps that legacy of suffering explains
the great abandon with which they worship Jesus: these people know they have
something to celebrate!
__________
Mell Winger has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological
Seminary.
This article is reproduced with permission from Chapter 17 of The
Transforming Power of Revival, edited by Harold Caballeros and Mell
Winger (Peniel Press, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1998).
A video called Transformation, including a report on Almolonga
in Guatemala and Cali in Columbia, is available from Toowoomba City Church, PO
Box 2216, Toowoomba, Qld. 4350. Ph: 07
4638 2399. E-mail: tccemail@tcchurch.com.au
See also Renewal Journal # 17 Unity: “Shapshots of Glory” by George Otis Jr.
© Renewal Journal #16: Vision (2000:2) www.renewaljournal.com
Reproduction is permitted so long as
the copyright acknowledgement remains intact with the text.
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