Guatemala (MNN) — AMG International is celebrating 50 years of ministry work in Guatemala, which has seen the fruit of thousands of people coming to Christ.
Guatemala experienced a devastating earthquake in 1776.
Brian Dennett with AMG says that the organization first started working in Guatemala in February of 1976, in response to a devastating earthquake. This earthquake resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and displaced 1.2 million people, a quarter of the entire population.
“AMG responded very quickly,” Dennett says. “About a week after the earthquake, we already had people on the ground doing relief work, which has long been a way that AMG has entered a country and responded to really deep needs, while all along sharing the gospel at every opportunity.”
After rebuilding houses and communities, AMG built a child care center.
Today, AMG has 35 schools in the country reaching thousands of students, as well as hospitals, clinics, and children’s camps.
“(It’s) just a very vibrant gospel-centered ministry that has led thousands of people to Jesus over the years and continues to do so well,” Dennett says.
Photo provided by AMG International.
Through the ministry, countless lives have been changed.
“One very notable story when I think back over our history is the story of Nydia,” Dennett says.
Nydia grew up in a violent neighborhood in Guatemala City and began attending an AMG school at three years old.
During the course of her education growing up, she gave her life to Jesus Christ, graduated, got a scholarship, and later went on to pursue a master’s degree in finance.
Today, Nydia serves as the Chief Financial Officer of AMG in Guatemala City.
“Not only is she a beneficiary, but she is a passionate disciple maker herself, now mentoring and leading other young people in our program, sharing her story and really being a shining example of what the Lord can do and how you can emerge from poverty and your life can really mean something,” Dennett says.
With countless stories like Nydia’s of students who have grown up through the programming, Dennett says, “Everything we do revolves around the gospel and bringing Jesus, really our only hope, into dark situations like this.”
“50 years is just amazing, and for me to think back at just the tens of thousands of lives that have been touched and the church that has been strengthened as a result of the work there, (it’s) very emotional to think back.”
Dennett says he spent 12 challenging and beautiful years in Guatemala with his family.
“I saw tremendous change even while I was there,” says Dennett. “And when you see someone come really from darkness into light with the gospel, it’s just a beautiful thing.”
To join in the celebration, Dennett and the CEO of AMG, Tasos Ioannidis, and several others will be in Guatemala to speak at a large event this Saturday.
Please pray for travel safety for the celebration and for God’s continued blessing over the work happening in the country.
Photo provided by AMG International.
