The Church of the Nazarene on the MAC South Field is composed of the countries Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
The evangelistic work of the Church of the Nazarene in Nicaragua began with the Nicaraguan Dr. David Ramírez who rededicated his life to Christ in a Church of the Nazarene in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The message of holiness impacted his life, and the glorious experience of entire sanctification purified his heart and ignited within him a burning missionary zeal to preach Christ to all who did not know Him. In 1937, he arrived in Nicaragua to settle and begin “unofficial” missionary work, since he did not have Kansas City’s authorization. He settled at Puerto Lacustre of San Jorge in the department of Rivas, and from there he began as an itinerate evangelist to visit towns and communities, taking them the Lord’s message.
In 1943, the Church of the Nazarene’s headquarters sent the first North American missionary couple, Harold and Evelyn Stanfield. This couple’s 18 years of service in evangelical ministry made a great missionary impact on the country. Rev. Stanfield served the Lord’s cause as an outstanding pastor, District Superintendent, mission director, professor and director of the Nazarene Bible Institute (Instituto Bíblico Nazareno). In 1944, the First Church of the Nazarene was organized in San Jorge in the department of Rivas with 19 full members.
The Church of the Nazarene in Costa Rica began with Nazarenes from Nicaragua, not North American missionaries. Since Costa Rica and Nicaragua are neighbors, a mission was begun in the 1950s in the border town of los Chiles.
Around 1960, the National Evangelism Crusade under the coordination of the Latin American Mission came to Nicaragua. Because of his assistance with this crusade, Pastor Ignacio Hernández was awarded a scholarship for Post-Graduate studies at the Latin American Bible Seminary in San José, Costa Rica. Pastor Hernández immediately contacted the District Superintendent, Rev. C. G. “Bill” Rudeen, with the purpose of beginning a church in San José. Rudeen affirmed the idea, but they also needed the approval of the Board of General Superintendents in Kansas City to actually begin the church. This approval came in January of 1963.
The organization of the First Church of the Nazarene in San José, Costa Rica took effect March 2, 1964 in the presence of the District Superintendent, who at that time was Rev. Dean Galloway.
The Church of the Nazarene used two different avenues to establish the work in Panama. The first involved the Canal Zone, and the other was later in the actual Republic of Panama.
The Church of the Nazarene began its activities in the Canal Zone on August 22, 1953. Through the Department of Home Missions the work was begun in Ancón, in a school gym. Later they acquired a piece of property. The church was organized with 15 members. On May 29, 1955, the couple Elmer and Dorothy Nelson arrived to lead the work. In 1959 another congregation was organized near the city of Colón. The Nelsons traveled through several zones of the country and found an extensive mission field. They began to take the necessary steps for recognition by the government, and in 1957 the Church of the Nazarene was officially registered.
In October of 1961, the first services were held with 16 people who spoke Spanish. In January of 1962, the church was organized. In the city, the church grew quickly, and they began starting the work in places near Panama City. August 14, 1969, the Panama District celebrated its first District Conventions and second Assembly.
Currently, the Church of the Nazarene in MAC South has 8 districts, 210 churches and 12,994 full members.
The challenge is great in this area, but the church is responding to the needs through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and Theological Education. We pray that God would give guidance to the pastors, superintendents and missionaries as they spread the message of holiness in a holistic way.
Theological Institutions:
Nazarene Seminary of the Americas; San José, Costa Rica