Mesoamerica Region - Costa Rica

The Church of the Nazarene in Costa Rica was started by a Nazarene missionary from Nicaragua, Ignacio Hernández, who planted a church while attending an interdenominational seminary in San José. As there were no funds available to support him, the Nicaraguan Mission Council helped pay traveling expenses and provided rent for a house which was used as a Preaching Point. The Nicaraguan church also prayed!

There were prayers arising from Costa Rica as well. The Mendozas, a Nicaraguan Nazarene family living in Costa Rica, had been praying that the Church of the Nazarene could start work there. The first Sunday school was celebrated on 20 February 1963, with 20 people present. During Sunday school on 17 March 1963, the first person accepted the Lord.

Allen and Elizabeth Wilson, who served for 12 years as missionaries in Costa Rica, are also important to the history of the Church of the Nazarene in this nation, which now has two districts and 3,555 members. We praise God that last year 249 people found Christ through the Church of the Nazarene in Costa Rica.

That the World May Believe

A prayer that Jesus prayed in John 17 verse 21 says, “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

How did a district in the Church of the Nazarene answer Jesus’ prayer?

At the invitation of district leadership and District NMI President Fabiola Castro, more than 70 participants gathered at Muelle San Carlos in northern Costa Rica. The group included pastors and leaders from Nazarene Missions International, Nazarene Youth International, Nazarene Discipleship International, and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Though the individuals serve with different ministries, they experienced a oneness just as Jesus prayed they would.

District Superintendent Rev. Alexander, who opened the gathering, recognized the importance of this event where all of the ministries approached the mission in an integrated manner. She applauded the district for implementing a strategy of collaboration. 

After Rev. Alexander’s reflection, Ana Maria Crocker, the Regional NMI Coordinator, offered training titled “What We Do, How We Do It, and Why We Do It.” 
Participants then prayed that the young people who were present would continue to serve God with passion and commitment, and that God would keep and guide the next generation. 

The Regional Missions Mobilization Coordinator, Rev. Erika Chaves, encouraged attendees to look for more young people like Jeimy. Rev. Chaves provided guidance in how to discover, develop, and deploy those who are experiencing a call to serve God, not only in missions but also in the various ministries in the Mesoamerica Region and beyond.

Ana Crocker said, “We thank God for the opportunity to provide this type of training, which not only helps us discover where God is calling us, but also helps us be part of the mission of being and making disciples, bearing witness from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).”

Costa Rica North plans to continue these integrated training events with the next event focusing on Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Their collaboration offers an inspiring example as well as a reminder that when those of various ministries come together, it pleases the heart of Jesus and helps the world know him more.

Thank you to Ana Maria Crocker, Mesoamerica Regional NMI Coordinator, for sharing this story.