The mother-in-law of Regional Director Saenz  presents the ordination  certificate to her daughter as Dr. Gunter looks on. This mother, an elder herself, now has two daughters who are elders, including Rosa Saenz, the wife of  Dr.Saenz.

Dr. Nina Gunter, jurisdictional general superintendent for the Mexico and Central America Region, recently made a tour of three nations, holding district assemblies in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. In each setting, growth statistics, reports of celebrating the denominational Centennial, and praise gatherings were noted.

The Costa Rica North District Assembly, held on the campground of the San Pedro Poas Church of the Nazarene, welcomed two new congregations with plans to become organized churches in the near future and four previously closed churches now reopened. The district had 800 in attendance for the Centennial Celebration with 98 percent of the churches participating. Pastors’ reports focused on the mission to make Christlike disciples in the nation.

Dr. Gunter, Regional Director Carlos Saenz, and others were greeted when driving into San Jorge Iribas, Nicaragua, by a huge banner stretching from one side of the main street to the other congratulating the Church of the Nazarene on 100 years of ministry. Here Dr. Gunter conducted the assembly for the Nicaragua South District where four pastors were ordained as elders and statistics showed a 19-percent increase in membership and five new churches organized.

At the Nicaragua Central District Assembly in Managua, the district reported six newly organized churches and a ten-percent increase in membership. The district is collecting a Centennial offering for the Global Ministry Center, which they call a way to “thank the church we belong to.”

The Panama Bocas del Toro District held its first assembly as the East Panama District in Dolega. During the district assembly, delegates voted to change the name to East Panama to reflect that the district encompasses two provinces. These Nazarenes reported a 12-percent increase in membership, three new missions, and a 122-percent increase in giving to the World Evangelism Fund. Four Work and Witness teams from the United States had come during the previous year to show the JESUS Film, bringing new converts to their churches for discipleship. Dr. Gunter ordained one woman as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene.

An ordination candidate (the sister-in-law of Regional Director Carlos  Saenz) stands with her husband.

The Panama Central District reported an 11-percent increase in membership, a 34-percent increase in worship attendance, and a 38-percent increase in Sunday School attendance. They had an outstanding Centennial Celebration with special kits for the children and received a Centennial offering of $700 for the Global Ministry Center. Of special interest in this assembly was the ordination of two ministers, including the sister of Rosa Saenz, wife of the regional director. “It was a special moment when Rosa’s mother [also an ordained pastor on the Panama Central District] prayed the prayer of consecration with another daughter, also a pastor and elder, standing with her,” said Dr. Gunter. The Panama Central District is unique in several ways, including having more women than men serving as pastors.