Fulfilling the Great Commission

The Church of the Nazarene in North Riobamba, in the Sierra Centro District of Ecuador, is pastored by Pastor Mayra Robalino and her husband Mario Paredes who serves as District Superintendent. On January 31, 2021, the church celebrated a grand harvest through an exciting baptism event held at the Sierra Centro District center. The baptisms were the fruit of evangelism, discipleship, and mentoring of several families who have experienced miracles of healing and provision during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For more than eight months, during the time of crisis in which many churches are closing, the different ministries of this local church have continued to produce fruit using virtual means like Facebook and Zoom; this church is celebrating the baptism of 36 people including preteens, teens, young adults, and adults. "We believe this is a result of our faithful 5:00 am prayer ministry which stands daily as a pillar for everything that happens in the church," Paredes said.

In the final months of 2020, the church has been working to strengthen this group, (85% of which are new believers) through programs for couples, young adults, women, and children among others. It is a source of great joy to see our new Christian brothers and sisters’ public act of obedience. We believe in a God who has not stopped, in spite of the circumstances, but instead, has used these events to call the lost to an intimate relationship with their creator, and for that reason, we continue raising Christlike disciples. 

“We hope these people too will freely give that which they freely have received,” Paredes said. “We hope they will share the good news with their families so that we may continue winning people for Christ.”

--Church of the Nazarene South America