In the Great Commission, Jesus instructed his followers to share the gospel, but He left the method up to them. The Poás Church of the Nazarene on the Costa Rica North District found a creative way to reach hundreds of young people and their families.

More than 13 years ago, the Lord led the Poás church to acquire a 22,000-square meter (65,000 square feet) property. The 200-member congregation partnered with Work & Witness teams, local families, and a few contractors to build a multipurpose hall that can hold up to 5,000 people. Hundreds of people attend soccer championships there, and the church uses these events to share the gospel.

This year the church began an evangelism project called Patines (skate) by renting the hall to a company that held skating events in the evenings. People in the community and other nearby cities started coming every night, and at least 150 young people meet to skate.

All church ministries have joined to spread the gospel through videos, tracts, and sharing the message personally with them. More than 70 young people have accepted Christ into their hearts, hundreds have heard or seen the message of salvation through the videos, and families have come to know Christ.

Many young people are already involved in youth services, where the Holy Spirit is changing their lives and ministering to them.

“Young people who have visited drink alcohol or do drugs, use vulgar language, and [act like] a person who does not have Christ, but the church has made a difference because since the project started, they insisted that all visitors shouldn’t do these things in our church and we have seen wonderful testimonies of many who behave appropriately, because they realize they are in a different place," said Karla Diaz, NYI president. "They have learned to have fun in a healthy way.

"It hasn’t just become a skating court, but a restoration center to heal and bring hope to the hearts of many in need. The church has been willing to collaborate through security, food sales, and much more. Of course, some have criticized us for allowing people with skates in our church, but if I think: What would Jesus do in my place? ... I believe that He himself would wear skates and look for any way to get to those needy people to share His love, embrace them, and transform their lives. Therefore, our NYI put on skates to share a hope and create a fun time, but even better, a time of salvation.”

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region