guatemala

Guatemala is located in Central America and was once the heartland of the ancient Maya civilization. In the 16th century, it became a Spanish colony. Although Guatemala declared independence from Spain in 1821, it did not achieve full independence until 1840. After independence, most of its rulers governed with personal interests, resulting in long periods of authoritarian rule. In 1957, peasant organizations opposing the dictatorship formed guerrilla movements, leading to a civil war that lasted 36 years between the government and rebel forces. The conflict finally ended in 1996, leaving over 100,000 people dead and more than one million displaced.

Even today, Guatemala faces serious social and economic challenges. More than half of the population lives below the poverty line, and problems such as corruption, crime, violence, lack of education, and child malnutrition remain widespread.

Our River of Life daughter church in Guatemala is located in the capital city, Guatemala City, and is led by Pastor Salvador, who was formerly a highly respected pediatrician. He came to faith in 1998, and after believing in the Lord, he began to serve actively in church while studying at a local theological seminary, where he earned his theology degree after four years. He was ordained in 2009. In 2013, together with three other families, he started what is now the current church. For several years, Pastor Salvador served bivocationally, continuing his medical career while pastoring, until 2018, when he left the hospital to devote himself fully to church ministry. During that same year, he met a short-term mission team from River of Life, joined them in prayer walks throughout Guatemala City, and developed a close partnership.

In January 2019, Pastor Salvador visited River of Life Christian Church in the United States and deeply resonated with the church’s vision and burden. After much prayer and discussion with his coworkers, they decided to officially join the River of Life family, becoming our first daughter church in Central America.

In 2022, the Guatemala church began supporting the Camino de Salvación Church, located in the La Limonada community — one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the capital — serving local residents with compassion and care. In April 2023, they planted another branch in San Lucas Sacatepéquez, named “ROL God is Good Church.” They sent Pastor Antonio Rivera and his wife Beatriz Bran to lead this new congregation, which serves a community in great need.

As of 2025, the Guatemala church has established three daughter churches, and this year, new pastoral teams have been added to each of them. We pray that God will continue to bless and sustain His work in Guatemala, and that these churches will become a great blessing to their region, bringing glory to God’s name.