In spite of the economic difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the church is on the move in the Mexico Oaxaca District. 

In the month of September, Oaxaca District Superintendent Nicolás Guzmán presided over several church year-end meetings throughout the district, which has 80 organized churches and over 7,000 members. 

“People in the communities have shown a great commitment to God's work by giving their offering,” Guzmàn. “They also participate in all church activities, and whenever district leaders visit [the community] that makes me very happy.”

In the community of Rincón Juárez, a small fishing community with very limited economic resources, Nicolás was prepared to hear stories of how the church was not able to meet their budgets due to the financial impact of COVID-19. Instead, the church greeted him with their district offering and world evangelism offering in plastic bags. Nicolas said that he was reminded of the Philippian church that supported the Apostle Paul.

“God has blessed our district,” Guzmán said. “Even amidst the pandemic, once again we have seen miracles happen. Last year we only raised 80 percent of our yearly budgets, but this year we raised 93 percent. Because of that, we are able to send more [funds] to the WEF. God is always faithful.”

In another trip that week, Guzmán visited Shaddai, a mission-type church located in Tehuantepec. A little over a year ago, the leaders of this new work told him that they were “sowing” concrete columns by faith as they were not sure how they would be able to raise funds to progress with the construction. In spite of the economic difficulties that their community is facing, the church has been able to pour the concrete floor and has just finished putting on the roof. Although it is not yet an organized church, they have 50 people meeting there.

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region